Is Big Bang on the verge of collapse?

[kakkoi-x.livejournal.com]

With the recent news of Big Bang‘s G-Dragon caught in a legal issue for smoking marijuana, fans can’t help but be worried about Big Bang’s future as they are arguably one of the most successful boy bands in Korea at the moment. Without a doubt, this is the boys’ most difficult moment in their careers, as now another member of the group is forced to postpone his activities.

Back in May of this year, member Daesung was involved in a car accident which took the life of a man and ultimately had the idol temporarily leaving the music industry. Now we have G-Dragon who has been arrested for smoking marijuana. These boys have come a long away starting from their debut years, but 2011 seems to be their worst year.

Many of their future schedules have gone down the drain. First off, GD&TOP were in plans to release a new single in Japan between November and December, however with the recent incident, it’s unlikely to happen. Furthermore, G-Dragon was in the process of making a comeback with a new solo, mid October. All of his comeback plans have been dismissed.

This isn’t the first time the group has had to pause major activities. Prior to Daesung’s car accident, the group was in preparation for new music and concert releases. Unfortunately, those plans were trashed when news of the idol’s accident hit media outlets.

It is apparent that Daesung took a huge loss with the unfortunate event. Even after 5 months, there are no signs of the idol returning to the industry. Industry Analysts have predicted that G-Dragon might have to take a long break just like his group mate. Considering how strict the Korean government is in regards to marijuana usage, this prediction is very reasonable.

According to reports, the idol took the drug back in May and after further investigation, a hair drug test came out to be positive in July. The idol even confessed himself that he smoked marijuana while attending a club in Japan.

On the bright side, because this was G-Dragon’s first offense, the prosecutor will not be giving him a serious charge, which means he will not be officially indicted. Despite this, the idol has taken a huge loss all because of the usage of marijuana.

The boys’ agency, YG Entertainment is also struggling as Big Bang is their biggest source of income. According to their annual reports, 27.98% of their total revenue for the first half of the year was from Big Bang’s concerts alone. If you include their album sales and endorsements, it goes beyond 50% of the total revenue mark.

With the band’s temporary cease of activities, it’s no doubt that the company will have a sharp drop in revenue in the latter half of the year. Analysts have shared that if G-Dragon gets his name blacklisted from broadcasting companies, it may be the very end of Big Bang.

AKP
Source + Photos: sportsseoul via Naver

inb4 "cube is gonna replace YG!!!11"

Comments

[xaoiholic.livejournal.com]

"Guys before all the hate just ask yourself this one question: 'What would Jesus do?' then you'll know the answer~^^"

[xaoiholic.livejournal.com]

i answered with "smoke a blunt" but then i realized he said 'Jesus', not 'Gsus'.

[jjongsdong.livejournal.com]

about time tbh

[swrighteous.livejournal.com]

"cube is gonna replace YG!!!11"
Cube is definitely up and coming, don't get me wrong & I'd personally now say the music industry has the 'Big 4' now rather than just 3, but even if BB were put on the back burner for, say a year, the other members would still promote as solos, there's 2NE1 and (as much as it seems YG forgets this) Gummy and Se7en. So personally, I think YG'll be around for a bit longer at least. This could definitely be my bias speaking, but still.

[smashboardcrunk.livejournal.com]

O YES TO EVERY WORD

[smashboardcrunk.livejournal.com]

GASP!! IN B4 THEY ARE?? omg omg omg omg how not exciting for this bullshit

[audiograms.livejournal.com]

Wow, vultures out already huh?

[jjongsdong.livejournal.com]

" a hair drug test "

why were they even testing him though unless he has a history of drug use

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

Mte. Maybe they got a hint or something

[x3sarang.livejournal.com]

I wish people would stop debating and discussing the reaction articles that spring off from revelations like these and think about why GD's news was only released NOW when the results came out in July.

We all know media is not as transparent as it should be especially in Korea. News doesn't just pop out of nowhere, news is very much a construct, and a paid one at that. I bet this story was used to cover up something much more sinister, probably in politics since that's where the big money is. It's happened before in Korea, if I recall correctly, there was a celebrity scandal blown up when the Korean president did something shady, I just wish I remembered what it was.

In any case. GD caught smoking weed, yeah great, debate about the future of Big Bang, but realise that there are other motives to the release date being today of all days. I wish media could be more transparent but I guess they need their funding. Urgh.

[iheartmango.livejournal.com]

that was what's seo taiji's secret marriage. apparently before this whole gd thing blew up, there was news about politicians in casinos using corp credit cards.

http://orangieland.tumblr.com/post/11056480963/the-cost-of-gds-reputation

[haldir.livejournal.com]

aw crap this better not mean more seungri solo material

[starlique.livejournal.com]

T to the HIS.

[luvey.livejournal.com]

i guess it's a good thing YG nabbed Tablo.

[bumie.livejournal.com]

ikr

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

Bom would never get in a scandal like this

[xaoiholic.livejournal.com]

my oppars neither, although jjong's nostrils make me suspicious

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

PLEASE!!!
Give it a month and this is all forgoten...
What if they have to postpone GD and Big Bang come back... we still have T.O.P. Taeyang and SeungRi solo album.
Really that would be America or Europe people would go "whatever"

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

5 year curse tbh

[ssehun.livejournal.com]

:(

[acidblackcurry.livejournal.com]

most of the boybands have their -dark era- anywway.......

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Whatever, he's not blacklisted. And G-market and Beanpole have put his pics back up on their sites. Seems like this will blow over quickly. But maybe we will get Taeyang or SeungRi's solo before his.

[kazu-kumaguro.livejournal.com]

I don't mind tbh
I never really like SeungRi but his solo is interesting

[thewarpedmelody.livejournal.com]

tbh this

[vulgarchic.livejournal.com]

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out...
So far he hasn't been dropped from his endorsements and all 3 major broadcasting stations have decided not to blacklist him, nor is he facing any criminal charges. Fans still seem to have his back, although many are confused and shocked.
His biggest challenge will be the public's reaction to all of this and only time will tell with that.

I do think that him and Big Bang will be able to recover from this though, whether they come back as a group, or soloists, or whatever, in my opinion they'll still be around~

As for YGE, it's too early to tell how this will affect them in the long term. Maybe it'll get the company re-thinking it's strategy with its second biggest money maker (2NE1) and perhaps being less selective with their method of promotion. Who knows, anyway 2NE1's concerts this year will have earned quite a bit of revenue, and their endorsements like 11st, Etude, Adidas etc. They're most probably not pulling in as much revenue as BB do, but I'm sure YG will find ways around that and make them work harder to compensate for BB's hiatus.

They'll probably push Se7en and Gummy harder as well as debut new groups as soon as possible. If the new groups can get popular as fast as 2NE1 did, and have broad appeal, then that'll help with getting endorsements. So YGE better market them well~ I'm curious to see how they'll turn out!

I'm sure the other members will continue with solo work, maybe we'll finally get a TOP solo album?

Plans will be altered and pushed back, sacrifices will be made, but I'm positive that GD and BB will recover from this. Maybe they won't be as big as before, or maybe they'll get even bigger. I mean after GD's '09 scandal his career somehow got bigger and better this year....Drugs are a more serious issue than plagiarism though, but i'll remain optimistic.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Earlier this year YG had released a communicate regarding BB project.
Except for Dae, all members were supposed to have solo album so even with GD's being postponed T.O.P Tae and SeungRi should have their solo album.
Moreover with the whole Dae situation BB wasn't suposed to come back before early 2012 and by that time this whole weed issue will be probably be forgotten. Other idole will do something to talk about and "GD's somking drug" will be forgotten in no time.
I don't think that this would change a thing for YG, there might be some minor loose in the next few days but it will come back to normal very easely..
Fans always have memory lost... just give them something shinny and they'll forgot about the dirt.

[jxsica.livejournal.com]

Praying 4 Big Bang tbh

Omona prayer circle, everyone hold hands plz

[tees2mai.livejournal.com]

It is apparent that Daesung took a huge loss with the unfortunate event. Even after 5 months, there are no signs of the idol returning to the industry.
it's already been mentioned numerous times that he'll be back next year so wtf is this statement

[naturalhonee.livejournal.com]

the author trying to be dramatic

[nandexdame.livejournal.com]

What they really should be worrying about is Japan, since its clear nothing is going to happen to him in Korea. I don't know if they'll deny him entry, but I can't imagine immigration is going to be thrilled he did this in Japan. They don't play when it comes to drugs. And since Japan is everyone's current cash cow, this could still hurt YG's pockets.

Have they for sure canceled that Top&GD single yet?

[agreyn.livejournal.com]

it was in July and since then he went to japan numerous times. so I guess everything's ok in this area.
and he wasn't charged there anyways, so yeah.

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

wow the Car addictive was in May? it felt relatively recent to me :/

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

*addicent, wtf addictive =_="

[burnbook31.livejournal.com]

but i think i have.... indirectly.

[six.livejournal.com]

Time to debut a new boyband, YG.

[tees2mai.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind a TVT subgroup

[hileahrious.livejournal.com]

On one hand I am laughing maniacally because marijuana is so not a big deal here, although I understand how serious it must be there (but it's still funny...). On the OTHER hand I am upset that Big Bang has taken so many big BANGS (you can excuse this right? is it too soon to joke?) this year, and I /am/ upset that all the future gd&top/gd material we could have expected is now inconceivable (however, these are just personal wants that don't really matter as a fan I should be more concerned about their welfare rite). This comment is a novel, but I have one final thing to say: HOW DOES LUDACRIS FEEL ABOUT THIS? (bcuz you know his headphones & his future work with YG & stuff u kno). Still love YG & Big Bang forever.

[kimiko1387.livejournal.com]

It's never too soon for bad puns... :)

Luda...can not judge and if this is blowing over he really can't complain.

[burnbook31.livejournal.com]

OH G-SUS TAKE THE WHEEL, TAKE IT FROM OUR HANDS~

[swrighteous.livejournal.com]

... is that the fabulous Mr. Laurie in your icon? If so, where is that from?