Mnet has not paid X1 members yet, 42 days after disbandment

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

Mnet has responded to reports that the members of X1 have not been paid yet for their activities.

On February 17, an exclusive report from Ilgan Sports claimed that despite X1’s disbandment being announced 42 days ago, the members have yet to receive any payment for their activities in the project group.

The report claimed that the agencies of the members have reached out to CJ ENM multiple times to request payment for X1’s activities, but have yet to receive a response. Since making their debut last August, X1 held their premiere show-con at the Gocheok SKY Dome, sold merchandise at the show-con, sold over 500,000 copies of their debut mini album “Quantum Leap,” and appeared in various overseas events including KCON. But according to the report, the X1 members have not been paid for any of their work yet.

A source from Mnet responded to the report and stated, “We have been in continuous conversations with each member’s agency regarding the issue of payment,” and “We plan to send a statement of accounts to each agency today. We will follow the necessary procedures.”

X1 was a project group formed through Mnet’s “Produce X 101” and made their debut in August 2019. However, a controversy over voting manipulation arose surrounding the “Produce 101” series, leading to the group to go on hiatus as the situation unfolded. In January, it was announced that an agreement was made by the agencies of the members that the group would disband.

Sources: Naver (1, 2), soompi.

Selling over 600k albums, charting on digital charts for over 4 months, selling out Gocheok Sky Dome, selling out their merchs, multiple festivals and not getting a single penny, then being ruthlessly thown under the bus once they (mnet) announced they would no longer profit from X1's past AND future activities.

Comments

[babyjenkski.livejournal.com]

If they just let the kids continue promoting, they could earn even more and they wouldn't be this difficult in settling the payment.

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

I mentioned Iz*one fans were out for blood after the 4 month postponement, they really outsold themselves! Can you imagine how many more albums X1 fans would have rage-bought out of frustration? lol

[babyjenkski.livejournal.com]

Yeahhhhh they should've just let them go on. X1 would be able to rival the sales of top boy groups for sure.

[violoncelliste.livejournal.com]

I feel so sorry for these kids, most of the industry is built on their hopes, hard work and talent and at the end of the day, they're nothing more than an afterthought to the CEOs :/

[dongsaengkiller.livejournal.com]

They really are a bunch of dirty bastards. And I hope someone leaks the statement of accounts because you know they are going to try to lie and cheat their way out of paying those kids fairly

[horichansenpai.livejournal.com]

The more news I read about these guys the more I feel for them (and the more I sideeye some people's lack of sympathy for them/people dismissing the situation)

[bloodtaki2.livejournal.com]

It baffles me that I'll see the same people looking forward to Iz*one's comeback rejoice in the same breath that X1 disbanded, as if X1 is the only one that had rigging issues? Don't get me wrong, I am super happy my girls are finally let out of the dungeon and they didn't deserve backlash for something they had no control over, but neither did X1?

I understand people not being emotionally involved but if you look at how all of this unfolded, how can you not realize this is unfair to them? Now, all the people who said it was only fair that they disband are pretty silent about fairness huh. The kpop industry isn't rainbows and sunshines but that doesn't mean people should just let it go easily because "this is kpop", no matter how much somebody else might find it trivial and superficial.

[idlewilds3.livejournal.com]

Korea entertainment delayed payment business model baffles me so much. Like how can you not pay your idols/ actors partially up front then in a subsequent schedule manner?! How do you expect ppl to just work for free?! The hell?!

[coyote-revolver.livejournal.com]

So not only were the dreams of these young men crushed in a time frame of less than 15 minutes, they also weren't paid at all?? I sincerely hope all of them have a good support system around them because this must be soul crushing.

[miuratenshi.livejournal.com]

This is so horrible. I hope they get paid soon, and I hope their companies can give them all decent promotion.