STELLAR gets a second chance thanks to crowdfunding

[aqqueous.livejournal.com]

With the exception of their controversial 2014 hit “Marionette”, STELLAR haven't had much luck on the charts. However, the girl group has miraculously managed to survive in the cutthroat world of K-pop after turning to crowdfunding in the last year to pay for their albums.

Using the popular MakeStar platform, the girls offer everything from signed albums to personal phone calls and dinner dates in exchange for financial contributions. Their latest project - their third so far - has already exceeded 500 per cent of its original goal, pulling in an impressive $44,000 USD (and counting!) with approximately 40 days left until the donation deadline.

This isn't the first time STELLAR has crushed their crowdfunding goals. For their mini-album “Sting” (easily one of last year’s best releases), the girls raised $35,500 USD (421 per cent of their goal), while follow-up project “Crying” did even better with $53,600 USD (532 per cent).

Brian Kim, MakeStar’s chief product officer, singled out STELLAR in an interview with KultScenelast November, crediting their willingness to try new things when it comes to crowdfunding as a reason for their popularity on the platform. Kim also says that it was STELLAR’s early success on MakeStar that inspired many other artists to jump on board.

“We’re really focused on what the fans want,” Kim told KultScene. “We’re trying to make new opportunities for fans to have their voices heard a little bit more by the industry.”

SBS PopAsia



an omona post was also linked the in article omonas's impact

Comments

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

Yay @ omonas impact

Wasnt vibrato quite successful as well? I admit that i didnt like their last song, but i wish them all the best, they do have some great bops

[spainawards2008.livejournal.com]

It was one of their better selling songs and it was their fist song to almost win on Show Champion (Sting got to be a runner up song on their too).

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

more like a 3rd chance
I'm all for crowdfunding but the date thing make me uncomfortable for the girls

[little-giant.livejournal.com]

I came in to make a similar comment regarding the date thing

[spainawards2008.livejournal.com]

It's more of a mini fanmeet with them, managers and a small group of fans, that's all.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Ah good
I was afraid it'd involved auction date or suff like that

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda against this crowd funding with kpop because I really distrust kpop companies. It's their duty to properly support their groups and they don't do it, and I don't trust them to use the money properly with the comeback or giving it back to the girls accordingly, but pocketing most of it to themselves, especially now they can get fans to pay for production and the product.

[avrgaesthetics.livejournal.com]

i agree, their label is doing like bare minimum

[bubblyshades.livejournal.com]

mte

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

MTE, trust no one

[myrrhcat.livejournal.com]

strange how cry(ing) got a lot more money than sting but the album was shorter and not as good
i still liked it tho, im sure whatever they put out will be a bop
also i hope the members gain weight they all looked super skinny last time i saw them

[spainawards2008.livejournal.com]

Crying was always planned to just be a single (it was always referred to as a single when the makestar project started up) and they had to pay for Bravesound, who is probably more expensive and went to Jeju to film the MV etc.
Plus, rumour has it that this next comeback will be a full length album so any spare money from the other projects might have been put into it

[avrgaesthetics.livejournal.com]

if this is what it takes for them to stay together, i'm happy for them! i wish their management would get them some gigs tho like damn, can we do some variety? some cf deals maybe? properly promote them? idk. i'm happy they're still together and i hope they release more bops like mask, vibrato, and sting.

[spainawards2008.livejournal.com]

I would love for them to go on variety shows etc but I wonder if they aren't really wanted on them sometimes

[avrgaesthetics.livejournal.com]

truuuue. I hope they gain public favorability so they make a decent living!

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

The people's queens

[welljustguess.livejournal.com]

nice idea turned out good tho

[daceymormont.livejournal.com]

I wish they were more successful & signed at a better and less creepy/shady company :(
Sting was a bop but I can't make myself watch that mv

[mymanhas2jobs.livejournal.com]

why can't you watch the vid?

[daceymormont.livejournal.com]

I can't stand all the crotch/ass/boob shots :/ it makes me feel very uncomfortable

[mymanhas2jobs.livejournal.com]

ah yeah i feel that :( i really like the video personally because i don't feel like the girls mind the sexy concept but i can see how it would make other people uncomfortable

[yourethesky.livejournal.com]

i agree that the crowdfunding thing is iffy at best, but at least they're still together :( they consistently put out GREAT singles. wake up, korea!! and like another user said, i'd love to see them doing some variety.

[daikokudanji.livejournal.com]

i hope they won't go for brave brothers again, cry was a let down and not up to the rest of their amazing monotree discography ))):

[spainawards2008.livejournal.com]

stellarxmonotree forever
Crying grew on me but it was no Marionette or Vibrato

[10135.livejournal.com]

I have been loving their music for a long time and I really hope they gain more support and will not need such funding in the future. I really don't like how much they have to do to gain this money as well...

[camouflagecat.livejournal.com]

They're one of those gg's that have delivered some of the best title tracks in kpop ever, why must they suffer like this, injustice!

[thomaswilmoore.livejournal.com]

i've helped the crowdfunding of stellar and wassup (although... did they release anything?), if they do that it must mean that they reeeeally want to succeed as idols, so i try to help the way i can.

[impatiences.livejournal.com]

I loved Sting. I hope they do better. I always worry about what happens to them behind the scenes. :/

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

(woah ... i wrote that article)

i'm glad to see they reached their goal, now i'm checking their social media and fanbases that were worry back then seem really optimistic this time

[pseudo-shigure.livejournal.com]

but a group can't continue like this forever right? bless all of their stans for being optimistic and supporting tbh

[pineepie.livejournal.com]

they really deserve the best. i'll keep my fingers crossed for them!

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

I loved Crying.

[senshicalico.livejournal.com]

SAme. I love me some Bravesound tho oop.

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Me too, no shame.