Prince Chiu is a Taiwanese singer, actor and television host. He is a member of a trio boyband, JPM, with Liao Xiao Jie/Liljay and his younger brother, Mao Di.
He was a former member of Lollipop, a Taiwanese Mandopop boyband, which consists of six members, Zhuang Ao Quan/Owodog, Liao Xiao Jie/Liljay, Yang Xiao Yu/Fabien, Liao Wei Lian/William, Liu A-wei, and himself. They were all chosen from Channel Taiwan's show Bang Bang Tang (BBT 模范棒棒堂), a show which sought to create new male artists in the entertainment business of Taiwan.
Lollipop signed under the label Gold Typhoon (formerly EMI Capitol) and Channel [V] Taiwan in 2006. However, their artist management contract with Channel [V] Taiwan ended at the end of 2009. From 2010-2015, Chiu worked with A Legend Star Entertainment Corp., a company founded by former Channel [V] Taiwan director, Andy Chang. From 2015 onwards, he signed under HIM International Music.
Chiu Wang Zi was born in Taichung City, Taiwan on April 14, 1989. His family consists of his parents and a younger brother. His younger brother, Mao Di was a former member of Choc7, and currently his co-member in JPM under Sony Music Taiwan. He is of Hakka descent. He attended in Taichung County, then transferred to Taipei County Zhuangjing Senior Vocational School where he graduated in high school. After that, he started studying English in Hsing Wu College Division. However, because of his school hours was not enough even though he participated in the midterm and final examinations, he was expelled from school; thus he transferred to Southeast University and attended the University of Science and Technology
Chiu has been a bright student and was getting good grades during his school years. Not only that, but he was also active participating in school and outdoor activities.
When he was young, he joined Taiwan's track and field team where he was placed 9th in a 100-meter race project. He also used to learn Taekwondo, where he achieved red and black belt. Because the upgrade fee was too expensive, however, he did not participate in the black belt level test.
His stage name Prince (or Wang Zi) started when he played as a prince in a Shakespearean play during his high school years. Thus, when he first entered the entertainment industry, the former Channel [V]'s director, Andy Zhang, suggested that the name will be used as it is catchy and easy to remember at the same time.
In 2006, Chiu went to Bang Bang Tang (BBT) Taipei audition and was selected into "Bang Bang Tang" variety show. On November 27, the episode in which six members of Lollipop were selected and revealed was aired. He was the second member to be selected into Lollipop, after Liao Xiao Jie. The members signed a contract to Channel V, and Dora Ao became their agent. They, then, officially signed a contract with EMI Capitol on December 2, 2006, appointing Zhuang as the leader of the newly formed group Lollipop. On December 9, 2006, Lollipop made its first public performance as a group at the V-Power Music Storm Concert.
Lollipop's first EP, Colorful Lollipop was released on January 26, 2007, with six different covers, each featuring a member of the group. Four months later, on May 25, a second EP titled Summer's First Experience was released along with a photobook compiled with photos taken in Okinawa, as well as a DVD. Lyrics were written by Qiu and himself for the song "Summer's First Experience."
During the summer of 2007, Chiu and the other members of Lollipop made their acting debut in the drama Brown Sugar Macchiato, a collaboration with Hey Girl. The first episode was aired in Taiwan on July 15, 2007. Later, Lollipop admits on Kangxi Lai Le that the drama had been more of an introduction of the two groups instead of a major acting challenge, as the members were told to act like themselves, and that many subplots were explained only briefly due to the large number of main characters. After thirteen episodes, the drama ended on October 7, 2007. They released an official soundtrack, then, with songs from Lollipop and Hey Girl. The said television drama allowed Chiu to receive the Best Onscreen Couple with Gui Gui(Emma Wu), a member of Hey Girl.
Chiu also starred in the drama They Kiss Again as the older Ah Nuo (阿諾) or Nobu.
On September 26, 2007, Lollipop visited Hong Kong to promote their television soundtrack Brown Sugar Macchiato. This was their first overseas promotional activity ever since their debut, and a huge fan turnout caused a great commotion at the shopping mall where they were having their autograph session At the same year, Lollipop began hosting their own show Lollipop Gyashan (LOLLIPOP哪裡怕) on October 27 until April 19, 2008, when the show stopped airing.
Lollipop's debut album Gyashan (哪裡怕) was released on December 28, 2007. Gyashan entered Mandarin charts in the number one position, outselling F4's album Waiting for You – Await Your Love (在這裡等你) which was released on the same day. Liao contributed lyrics to three of the ten songs in this album. On January 26, 2008, a year after the release of their first EP, Lollipop held its debut concert at the Taipei Arena. The concert DVD was released on June 6, 2008, breaking chart records with sales rates of more than 35%. The DVD has topped the charts for a period of one month since.
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