THE MERGE - WOOLLIM AND SME

Recently I read a lot about ‘ugly truth’ of KPOP, not just about IDOL but also their industries. I do really love KPOP, if not I will not read about it. I just want to know “behind” this glamorous world. There a lot of things in my mind right now, but the thing that caught my intention right now is WOOLLIM merger with SM Entertainment. I know it’s already late to talk about this since this thing happened on August last years. With the announcement of SM Entertainment subsidiary SM C&C was to merge with the group's agency, Woollim Entertainment, to form a new label under the SM family tree, many fans had expressed their outrage that INFINITE would change because of the larger company's influence.

There a lot of speculations arise after the merges. The EXO’s fandom said INFINITE will outshine their idol. Meanwhile the INFINITE’s fandom said that SM doing this to make sure INFINITE not ‘blocking’ EXO’s growth of popularity. (I’m one of the INSPIRIT so, that mean I will be bias towards INFINITE.) There a few of theories that INFINITE’s fandom came out after the merges such as L’s speech after the announcement of merges, L’s scandal, Woohyun and Key subunit and airtime in variety show.  But for this thing I will not discuss in this entry.

Before that, let’s see the benefits that they claimed in this merger:

• This merges will featured the usual corporate buzz words of ‘added synergy with SM subsidiaries’.

• It will be ‘stepping stone’ to the growth of SM Entertainment which their goal to be the global music company that originality from Asia to compete with global company such as Warner Music, Universal, and Sony Music.

SM Entertainment also stated that they will merely be handling the business side of things, namely music distribution and initial investments, but that the Woollim Label, a subsidiary, will manage the music production process. Even SM Entertainment already state that they will not intervene in music production process, the speculation still arise on how about ‘woollim spirit’ would survive in this merges? Since that SM rarely allows their artists to offer input in the creative process. This will arise fandom worries about how INFINITE will lost their ‘special’ quality. As we know, the music the Woollim produces is completely different from those trashy title tracks that SM produces. Also, Woollim makes pretty high-quality videos in comparison to SM’s repetitive, cheap, lit rooms. Woollim takes the effort to fly their artists out to film their videos. I’m not sure if Woollim is going to allow SM to touch their music style (I hope not). Even SM already stated that they will leave the music production to Woollim, but whose know right?

After all, Woollim Entertainment was known with indie acts that got bigger with time such as NELL and EPIK HIGH before going into Idol group industry with INFINITE. And even then, INFINITE at that time was also known as the rookies that seemed to punch above their weight, with sophistication to their songs and performances that made them seemed less like rookies. 

There even speculation that SM Entertainment might have chosen a merger in this case is to learn a bit on how Woollim produces their products to get more from their money had been invested. From this speculation, the most worrying is would be SM Entertainment could just easily “kill” Woollim after they get what they want.

There also some speculation about anti-competition. The argument about the currents states of KPOP industries being UNSUSTAINABLE. There are many small companies that all fighting the same share of pie. Aside, as we know competition is a good thing and can leads to producing a higher standard of idol/pop group than their expected such as INFINITE and CRAYON POP. 

There a lot of speculation that arise from this merges but let see from the positive sight, being attached to SM Entertainment means that the former Woollim Entertainment artists, and the others to be signed to Woollim Label in the future, will have more opportunities to work with top producers, songwriters, and choreographers, giving both their music and their bank accounts a boost. Don’t you think it’s good? There a lot of that we can ‘imagine’ from this merge such as INFINITE doing performance in SMTown concert, new subunit, the ‘epic’ dance battle, new variety and of course new vocal line that will blow all the world. This kind of ‘imagination’/dream will be in the next entry. 

Suzy to Attend Concert of Avril Lavigne

Girl group miss A‘s Suzy will be attending the Korean concert of Canadian singer Avril Lavigne. 

A representative of JYP Entertainment revealed to news outlet OSEN on February 19, “She will not be joining her on stage, but she will meet Lavigne at the concert hall and greet her.”

Other miss A members will not attend the concert, and there are no news of other celebrities showing up at the show either, making Suzy the only star to make an appearance.

The world star released an album titled “Avril Lavigne” last November, and is currently touring around Asia. It has been three years since the singer held a concert in Korea, making this one a special treat for all her Korean fans.

The concert is held on February 19 at the Olympic Park Olympic Hall.

source:soompi

TVXQ Wants to Set Example for Other Idols, Poses for @star1

TVXQ recently posed for the March edition of @Star1 and sat down for a heart-to-heart interview about their idol life.

Yunho started off with, “An idol has a short lifespan? I’ll prove that it’s not true.” He continued, “I want to communicate as an artist for a long time. As singers like us, who have been on the scene for ten years, should keep being active and become models for others.”

Changmin also added, “There are a lot of worries for idols having a short lifespan. I want to prove to the many people that there are cases that are not like that, especially in this fast-changing age.”

He continued, “Even if we’re not where are now, I hope to become a singer that others can look up to later on.”

Yunho also shared, “My goal is to have more detailed aspirations. My dream hasn’t changed since I was 19 years old. But I want to be more detailed.”

Changmin, who debuted at the age of 16, commented, “It still hasn’t hit me. I used to want to age quickly before but now it’s not like that.” He continued, “I don’t think I’ll try to act more serious now that I’m at a certain age.”

The full pictorial and interview for @Star1 will be released on February 21.

source:soompi

Korea Communication Standards Commission Calls for Action Against Overly Sexual Girl Group Concepts

After a noisy start to the year with many controversies arising due to strong sexual concepts for the many girl groups that returned in January and February, the Korean Communications Standards Comission (KCSC) finally took some action.

It has been reported that the KCSC recently summoned the staff members of SBS‘ “Inkigayo,” KBS‘ “Music Bank” and MBC‘s “Show! Music Core” for a meeting.

The issue of matter was in the sexy concepts for the many different girl groups such as Dal Shabet, Girl’s Day, AOA, Rainbow, Stellar and more.

The KCSC gave their stance on the issue of showing excess skin on broadcast and discussed future plans on how each of the music programs will address this matter.

The music programs have been inspecting each group, sometimes asking groups to change their outfits or choreography or even banning some groups from broadcast in the past.

The KCSC has strongly emphasized that the girl groups’ level of exposure is too much and that tighter regulations and restrictions need to be made.

Some have been saying that it is too late as many of those previously mentioned girl groups are wrapping up their promotions. However, it might be a stepping stone to prevent controversies from arising in the future.

Meanwhile, Stellar’s comeback stirred up the most recent controversy for their overly sexual marketing tactics.

source:soompi