[5][6][7][8][9] In addition, his "jokester" nature and sense of humor contribute to his popularity as it's "not just about good music, but it is also about him showing his funny side to fans.

[13][14] He studied painting in his youth, then Hotel Management at Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, before dropping out to pursue a music career.

"[15] In 2005, he returned to My Style, My Show, finishing in fourth place and signing with Shang Teng Entertainment (上腾娱乐).

[20] The song "Once Upon a Time in Zurich" (苏黎世的从前) from his second album was adapted to pay tribute to Olympic athletes and renamed "Origin of the Dream" (梦开始的原点).

[28] In July, he marked the end of his seven-year contract with Shang Teng Entertainment, which he chose to honor because they opened the door for his music career, with the announcement of a new album.

Xue stated he made his music available at no charge because he wants his fans to "just come and listen to my songs" and he feels he can be more sincere about it if money is not involved.

[1] Xue pushed himself to appear in more than 40 variety shows in an effort for the audience to connect his name to his music so he wouldn't become outdated once again; the physical demands of the packed schedule led to him being hospitalized in May.

[44] He later said his focus will be on music going forward, shedding the variety show star persona and working toward the goal of becoming "Eason Chan of mainland.

[50][51] In December, Xue released his eighth album The Crossing (渡) and won Most Popular Male Artist of the Year at Kugou Music Awards.

[52] By the end of 2017, the total stream count of his songs across all Chinese platforms exceeded 12.7 billion and he ranked first amongst solo artists cumulative playback volume on QQ Music.

[53][54] In early 2018, Xue suffered from laryngitis for several months and at one point feared he wouldn't be able to perform anymore before making a full recovery.

On December 31, he released his ninth album Freak (怪咖) and again ranked first amongst solo artists cumulative playback volume on QQ Music.

[58][59] On May 19, the tour concluded in Hong Kong and set the record for highest concert box office by a mainland China male singer.

[60] In December, Xue released his tenth album Dust (尘) and was named Male Singer of the Year at CMIC Music Awards.

[63] In 2021, Xue adopted the stage persona "Joker" at Flower Sea Beauty Music Festival in Shanghai and continued the trend through 2023.

[68][69] In December, he resumed the Extraterrestrial World Tour, previously paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, with one show at Wuyuan River Stadium.

[75][76] The theme song, "Relieve Boredom" (解解闷), was released on August 8 via a virtual concert in-game and on streaming platforms the following day.

[81][82] In September, Xue performed "Rent or Purchase" (租购) on the music variety shows Melody Journey (音乐缘计划), which was very well received.

[83][84][85][86] In October, he performed "That Day On the Road of No Return" (在那天回不去的路上) on the show, the song was later released as a single with a new verse and elements of Beijing Opera added.

[93] On January 28, 2025, coinciding with China's successful UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage listing of the Spring Festival, Joker Xue was directly invited by CMG New Year's Gala and made a surprise appearance at its fourth rehearsal.

[95] In March, Xue donated part of the royalties from his new book and 10 photos for auction to Shanghai Red Cross in support of the reconstruction to the snow disaster-stricken area.

[97] In 2018, Xue served as promotion ambassador for the "Run Beijing" charity project, aimed to raise awareness for the importance of physical and mental health.

[101] Not only were fans offered to choice to refund or keep their tickets for a future show, but those from out of town could also be reimbursed for their travel and lodging expenses.

[103] Tianjin Consumers Association voiced their approval of the decision, stating that "refunding the ticket of a cancelled concert is the basic responsibility of the performer," Xue's proactive reimbursement of travel and lodging expenses demonstrates "the social responsibility that public figures should have" and serves to "maintain a harmonious consumption environment.

[107] He will add one or two more shows at each stop to increase the likelihood that his fans can get tickets and decrease the chances of scalpers taking advantage.

He is well-known and has popular songs" while participating at a forum hosted by Sina Entertainment[121] Zhao Yingjun said: "he is one of the best lyricists in the music industry" on his personal Weibo.

[128] In recent years, he tended to be a collaborator or mentor on shows such as The Next Banger (我的音樂你聽嗎),[129] Singer with Legends 3 (我们的歌第三季),[130] and In China (中國潮音).

[90][89] He also holds numerous venue records as the first artist to perform at many stadiums in China and as the first mainland China artist to perform at various stadiums and arenas overseas, both due to his willingness to travel to second- and third-tier cities (as categorized by Chinese city tier system) and his widespread fanbase.

Of the Skyscraper World Tour, Xue's voice "smouldered at its lower end and shimmered in its higher register" and he was able to "play up the drama in performance without being showy.

"[135] Of the Extraterrestrial World Tour, Xue's style was "playful and wisecracking", his voice "rang with a pleading intensity perfect for the grand anthems he is known for", and he familiarized "himself with all things Singapore" to include local details into his performance.