Music Production Companies Voice Opposition To Idol Audition Programs

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

An alliance of music production companies has voiced their opposition to idol audition programs such as “Produce 101” and upcoming show “The Unit.”

On August 9, the Alliance of Music Producers, consisting of the Korea Management Federation, Korea Music Content Industry Association, and the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association, released a public statement against idol audition programs.

The association wrote, “We oppose the advancement of broadcasting companies into the management industry through idol audition programs. First of all, major firms and broadcasting companies will become completely vertically integrated. Major firms and broadcasting companies already have a vertical structure that includes control over music distribution and sale, music production, and performances, and they have recently entered the management industry as well. This causes the entire entertainment industry to become vertically integrated and creates a structure in which fair competition is impossible. We are voicing our concerns about the sudden changes that will be brought to the music industry by the vertical integration of broadcasting companies.”

“The competition between broadcasting companies will give rise to several problems in the management industry. Short-term management companies that create profit by signing one-year or two-year contracts with artists from TV [audition] programs have already begun to emerge. Unlike the original purpose of giving equal opportunities to various trainees, this only puts the focus on maximizing profit. Moreover, broadcasting companies will no longer be fair as they should be, and the expansion of an unfair structure will cause the music industry to shrink.”

They further stated that this new structure will cause small agencies to go bankrupt or turn into companies that simply introduce trainees to broadcasting companies that are recruiting idol candidates.

Lastly, they said, “Programs of this format are the result of broadcasting companies’ attempts to break into the management industry and monopolize the entire entertainment industry. We ask broadcasting companies to join us in creating a fair industry in which we can all coexist.”

source: naver via soompi

I don't remember seeing a post about this and I thought it was an interesting article.

Comments

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

i wanted to post it but i was too lazy lol

[froggster.livejournal.com]

that was a lot of 'vertical integration'
Nothing new here. Besides that audition programs are hella cheap, they give the broadcast company quite a monopoly on the end 'product'. it's win-win for them

[welljustguess.livejournal.com]

Ah I didnt think of monopoly purpose, nice insight.

[carra-mia.livejournal.com]

While those entertainment companies do not care a lot about those kids if they are under limited/short contract they prob care even less - imagine some pd101 kid getting in scandal close to the end of their group run and mnet/ymc handling this with not much thought/basically leavin him out for the wolves etc.

[babyjenkski.livejournal.com]

I dont like these audition programs too because of sooooo many reasons but programs like this also gives opportunities to trainees that other music production companies can't give. I'm really 50-50 with this.

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

IA.

[hpn88.livejournal.com]

Its really a rock and hard place. While companies are terrible because you are just a trainee not knowing when the company will debut you and waiting around for a chance, these programs are also terrible because what do you after especially if the program you are on isn't popular. You are even more disposable because they will just find the next group of boys/girls to market and the public does move on so easily.

Plus, Mnet basically has a monopoly on this and controls access for smaller companies which is terrible. Its the same with like SMTM and Khip-hop now. You have to be on there or you literally can't break through.

[purpleglaceon]

Since when has the entertainment industry been fair tbh

[musicnkisses.livejournal.com]

So?

[nashaa.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, there's a Korean Youtubers channel did a reaction to Energetic MV and talked about the exact same thing as this. I thought it was an interesting insight. But I see both sides. On one hand, it is detrimental to Kpop in the long run, on the other, this is probably the only way for lesser known companies in getting their trainees' name out there. Like I doubt Kang Daniel will be as popular as he is now if he just depended on MMO's name, and Nu'est will probably disband uneventfully in a year without pd101 fame *shrugs*.

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

but seem to love most of them .... oh geez! what to do?

make more money? or make the right choice?

i bet mnet knows the answer lmao

[jesymphony.livejournal.com]

I agree, but I'm also weak. I've been in this KPop game for pretty much a decade now, and the reason why I'm still here is because it moves so quickly. I have new music I can bop to coming out every month, if not every other week during certain seasons. And, having seen the rise and fall of quite a few groups, one-two years of definite money coming from a group that has a survival show audience is way more lucrative than investing who knows how many hundreds of thousands of $$$ into a group that may or may not make it, then you're stuck paying for their stuff until their contracts end (which is now 7 years instead of 'when they recoup our investment').

idk bro. The KPop game is changing now and I have no idea where it's going next.