Agency Threatens to Report Idol Ju Jingyi for 'Serious Economic Crimes'

Chinese talent agency Siba Media issued a notice today to one of its top stars, actress and singer Ju Jingyi, demanding she cease "infringement and smears" and threatening to report her and her associates to regulators for alleged "serious economic crimes."

The move marks a dramatic escalation in a bitter public contract dispute that has captivated China's entertainment industry. At the heart of the conflict is the validity and duration of Ju's management contract. Siba Media claims the agreement is legally binding until 2033, while Ju asserts it terminated in June 2024.

The dispute erupted publicly on December 15 when Siba Media filed a lawsuit, revealing details of its contract with Ju. The agency presented the 2013 "SNH48 Exclusive Artist Contract," which contained a 20-year film and television agency clause, and a 2018 supplementary agreement that purportedly extended the full management term to 2033.

Hours later, Ju Jingyi's team issued a forceful rebuttal. They declared the management contract had lawfully ended in June 2024 when Ju turned 30, pursuant to the original 2013 terms. They alleged that the 2018 supplementary agreement was "forged" and that Ju's signature on it had been fabricated.

The following day, December 16, saw both sides dig in with competing evidence. Siba Media released what it described as a handwriting appraisal report. The agency stated that during a lawsuit Ju filed in August 2024 to terminate the contract, a court-appointed forensic institution — agreed to by Ju — examined the 2018 document. Siba said the appraisal "did not conclude the signature was not her own," and noted that Ju withdrew that lawsuit in September 2025.

Ju's lawyers challenged this account. They asserted that the court-commissioned appraisals had actually resulted in a finding of "unable to determine the authenticity of the signature." They reiterated that Ju had refused a renewal offer from Siba in June 2024.

The battle then shifted to financial claims. Siba Media accused Ju of spreading false narratives about "extremely low pay, no profit shares, and long-term exploitation." The agency claimed to have paid Ju approximately 139 million yuan (US$20 million) (pre-tax) over 10 years, including a monthly salary of 250,000 yuan, and to have provided a Bund-view apartment, a chauffeured Mercedes-Benz, and coverage of personal expenses.

Ju's side countered that her actual profit share was only 15 to 20 percent, below the 30 to 50 percent industry standard for top artists, and that the housing and car were merely provided for her use, not ownership.

The standoff intensified today. In a "final notice," Siba Media demanded Ju stop all "infringement and smearing," and announced it possessed evidence of "serious economic crimes" by Ju and related individuals. It stated an intent to file a formal real-name report with relevant authorities, a step that could trigger a criminal investigation.

Ju Jingyi, born June 18, 1994, rose to fame as a member of the Siba-managed idol group SNH48 after her 2013 debut and later built a successful solo career as an actress and singer.

Siba Media, founded in 2010, helped pioneer the idol fan-economy model in China. Its launch of the large-scale girl group SNH48 in 2012 proved a landmark success, propelling Ju and others to stardom.