Ring the changes(3)

Hunan Satellite TV vice-supervisor Li Hao says the station spent more than six months communicating with Faye Wong's agency.

"We made the greatest effort ever to invite her," Li says.

Wong's 2011 comeback tour earned more than 100 million yuan ($15.88 million) - more concert revenue than Lady Gaga, who, as Forbes magazine's "top earning female singer of 2011", rakes in $90 million a year. Her concerts earned $13 million in 2011.

Although Li didn't confirm the rumor that the station paid 2 million yuan for Wong's 10-minute performance, he admits it was a lot of money.

Wong's performance, which was widely considered off-tune, sparked hot online debate.

"Good or bad, she was the night's most welcomed star," Li says.

"The fans want to see her. That's most important."

Singers-songwriters such as Jonathan Lee, Wakin Chau and Jolin Tsai turned the gala venues into massive karaoke bars with their classic songs.

Foreign gala performers are undertaking their China tours.

Lavigne will tour the country in February. Her song Girlfriend has been used as the opening song for the popular dating show If You're the One on Jiangsu Satellite TV.

International operatic pop quartet Il Divo will also stage concerts in China in 2012 and were invited by Jiangsu Satellite TV to close the Dec 31 gala.

"Their performances at the New Year's Eve gala were a warm-up for their 2012 China concerts," Li says.