The Great Leap East: Wham! 's Fateful Foray into China's Closed Markets The story of Wham! 's 1985 tour of China is often told as a lighthearted tale of pop stardom and cultural exchange.
However, beneath the surface lies a complex web of politics, commercialism, and artistic compromise that has much to teach us about the uneasy relationship between art and commerce in the age of globalization.
At its core, Wham! 's Chinese adventure was a shrewd business move by Simon Napier Bell, their manager.