Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 143



Only Krnovel

Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter Episode 143

143. Rival

The comment section went crazy over the trailer featuring the next guest, who is 99.9% certain to be Yuna.

MXM Entertainment protects artists from excessive image consumption and pursues long-term success in the entertainment industry.

Following the agency’s tone, Yuna, despite being a top star, did not appear in many entertainment programs or talk shows.

Thanks to this, she was still a celebrity with enough mystery.

Yuna, who is like that, appears on YouTube, which is much freer from many restrictions than terrestrial broadcasting?

It was natural that public expectations and interest would explode.

It became such a hot topic that even an article was written about it just because its silhouette appeared briefly in the trailer.

What they were particularly looking forward to was the chemistry between Sungjun and Yuna, the hosts of ‘Star Friend’.

– Can I see Yuna’s apron again this time?

When Sungjun appeared on ‘I Live Alone’.

The scene where Yuna, who was invited to a housewarming party, wore an apron and presented a dish of gambas was a new charm that had been hidden until then.

Moreover, when she talked about things like being a single woman who is good at everything except cooking, or her first meeting with Sung-jun at Paradise Shopping Mall, she came across as very natural and friendly, unlike the professional image she usually shows on TV.

So, fans were excited at the thought that this time, they would be able to catch a glimpse of Yuna as a person, not as a singer.

At that time, anticipation for episode 4 of ‘Star Friend’ was growing.

Sungjun was busy preparing for his regular album.

It’s been a month since I’ve been working on a song, taking time out of my busy schedule.

“in the end···!”

All the songs have been composed.

Sungjun was unrivaled in his usual song writing speed, but since this was his first full-length album since his debut, he had a lot to worry about.

Well, there was also the psychological pressure of having to do better than the previous two EPs.

“Anyway, we’re halfway there now.”

Seongjun stretches out both arms and quenches his thirst with an iced Americano.

The composition and lyrics are finished, but there are still a lot of steps left, such as recording and filming the music video.

It will probably take at least another month or two to release an album.

The album concept is the same as what was previously revealed to the Monsta Z friends.

About ‘me’.

Sungjun himself plans to honestly share what kind of life he has lived and what kind of emotions he has felt since before his debut.

The track list, consisting of a total of 10 songs, was also composed to fit this concept.

Sungjun’s concerns about the perfection of the album did not end here.

Recently, while filming ‘Star Friend’, I had some thoughts.

It is the fact that I have had countless connections and relationships to become who I am today.

‘If it weren’t for those connections, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’

Therefore, when talking about ‘me’, I decided that including those relationships was essential for the authenticity and completeness of the album.

‘But how?’

Simply writing your name on Special Thanks is not enough.

Does that mean you mention real names in the lyrics?

‘That’s also tacky. I don’t know if it would be different if it was rap.’

It was a time when my worries were deepening.

Tiring-

[A special mission has arrived.]

[Please invite a featured artist for your regular album.]

Seongjun’s eyes widen at the system message that suddenly appears.

‘Huh? Is this okay?’

If you include the emotions or relationships that became the motif of the song as ‘featurings’, the part about the perfection of the album that you were worried about will be perfectly resolved.

There were a few faces that immediately came to mind.

Looking back, it seems like when I was working on the song, I unconsciously made it into a song that would match their atmosphere.

When we brought up the idea of ​​featuring, interestingly enough, the A&R team’s reactions were sharply divided.

“Oh, that’s a new attempt! You’ve never released a featuring song before.”

“If it’s Sungjun’s network, the featuring lineup will be splendid! It’s certain that it will attract attention.”

“These days, featuring is also a trend.”

While there are positive responses,

“If we’re not careful, the identity that Sungjun has built as ‘I’m the best even when I sing alone’ could be shaken.”

“I’m worried that there will be malicious comments saying that I’m relying on the fame of the star I’m featuring.”

“Besides, the cost of featuring artists will not be cheap, and we also have to consider the distribution of album profits.”

There were also reactions mixed with concern.

There was a long debate, and after much discussion a decision was made.

“Let’s try featuring on this occasion. However, it’s limited to a maximum of half of the 10 songs included in the album. Also, the title song will be a solo song.”

It was a conclusion that appropriately compromised the opinions of those in favor of and against featuring.

“Then, could you tell us which track and which singer you would like to be featured on?”

“Yes, I-”

Sungjun mentioned the lineup of featured artists he wanted in response to his teammate’s words.

And the mouths of the people sitting in the meeting room dropped open at the names he spit out.

“All of the people you just mentioned···?”

“Yes, if possible.”

That’s it.

“Featuring Avengers···.”

They were all top singers who were as good as anyone, just like someone muttered under their breath.

Well, in a way, that was natural.

Because everyone he had a relationship with was top-notch in the industry.

“With a lineup like this, I will definitely listen to the album at least once when it comes out, just out of curiosity.”

“However, since everyone is so busy, the problem is whether we can get an offer···.”

“Oh, I’ll contact you separately and ask about that first.”

And if the other party shows positive intentions, we decided to communicate formally at the agency level in the future.

“I hope the album release date is as I said before.”

“You’re talking about Liberation Day on August 15th. It’s also Seongjun’s parents’ wedding anniversary.”

“yes.”

Seongjun nods.

The reason I specifically mentioned August 15th instead of any other day was because of the album concept called ‘Me’.

Because in the very beginning, before ‘I’ existed, there was my parents’ love.

This is TMI, but the reason the two of them got married on Liberation Day was because Seongjun’s grandfather, who passed away at a young age, was a person with merit for independence.

Well, anyway.

“Then everyone, cheer up and fight!”

“Goal for next album! 1 million initial sales!”

“It also entered the top 10 of the Billboard HOT 100 and Billboard 200 charts!”

Sungjun and the A&R team reaffirmed their resolve.

*

Idol groups make up half of the Korean music industry.

Now that they have proven their competitiveness not only domestically but also in the global market, dozens of idol groups debut every year with the ambition of becoming global K-pop stars.

But no matter how earnestly they dreamed and how much time and effort they put into it,

Among dozens of new groups, only a handful of groups can survive in the survival of the fittest music industry.

It’s cruel and sad, but that’s the reality.

Of course, the teams that show a higher survival rate are those belonging to large agencies rather than small and medium-sized agencies.

The concentrated know-how and capital of a large agency, and the expectations of the fandom for a well-known agency, serve as a strong backbone for a new group.

And this summer.

Another new girl group from a major entertainment agency has thrown their hat into the ring in the music industry.

『MXM Entertainment’s first rookie girl group ‘Breeze’ to debut in July!』

『Girl group ‘BLIZ’ from ‘My Favorite Kids’, a breath of fresh air in the music industry!』

Along with the article, individual debut concept photos of the ‘Breeze’ members were revealed one by one.

Following the first runner, Jin Ha-neul, Lee Ha-ru, Eun Hye-min, Alice, and Nang-pa.

The concept photos, which densely captured the charms of each member, drew a positive response from global fans.

Meanwhile, a topic of discussion emerged among the idol fandom, aka ‘Dolpan’, who came across Breeze’s article.

– Crazy! So this July, three new girl groups from the four major entertainment companies, HYPE, KG, and MXM, will debut?!

Coincidentally, HYPE Entertainment and KG Entertainment, which were planning to launch new girl groups in the second half of this year, also announced their debuts in July.

– Wow! This is going to be so much fun! The 4.5 generation new girl group Chunqiu is back in the Three Kingdoms period!

ㄴ I vote for ‘Breeze’ as the best. I looked at the profile pictures of all three team members, and Jin Ha-neul is the visual top.

N Breeze is just a survival program. In terms of girl group know-how, HYPE Entertainment kids are way ahead of the curve.

n If you do that, KG is Pink Rose’s junior group.

ㄴ There was even an article saying that the main art director of Pink Rose is producing Breeze this time? Honestly, KG was all thanks to Shin Jin-hee.

N I admit. I don’t know about 1st and 2nd place, but 3rd place is definitely KG.

Whether they wanted it or not, the Dolpan scene has finally come to life thanks to these three girl groups who are set to have a showdown.

On the other hand, there were those who were not happy with the response from this community.

“What, KG is in last place?”

This is Yang Jun-hyung, the head of the management headquarters of KG Entertainment, which was pointed out as the weakest.

Yang Jun-hyung clicked his tongue and chewed on the group photo of ‘Breeze’.

“···Baek-seok. Are you trying to block my path again?”

He was a rival with Baek Seok, the general manager of MXM Entertainment.

Not only were they the same age, but they also entered the entertainment industry in the same year.

This is because a natural structure of comparison and competition has been formed.

Although both men were recognized in the industry for their own abilities, there was a hierarchy between them.

Yang Jun-hyung, he was ‘hot’.

Originally, KG Entertainment also tried to scout Baek Seok.

They tried to lure him with promises of a generous signing bonus and treatment, but Baek-seok refused, saying he was loyal to Choi Dae-heon.

So, the person who was scouted as the second best option was himself.

Someone’s replacement.

It couldn’t help but be a blow to one’s pride.

Although he swore revenge with all his heart, Yang Jun-hyung’s pride was trampled terribly in the next round as well.

It was because they suffered defeat in a clash with the third generation male idols who debuted around the same time.

Both teams promoted themselves as self-producing groups.

For some reason, while the other side was thriving, the male idols she produced didn’t get any response.

When the gap between the two teams widened in one year.

“I should have brought Baek-seok back then…”

I will never forget the words the CEO muttered while smoking a cigarette.

But Yang Jun-hyung accepted it like a professional.

Originally, this world was strictly meritocratic and results-based.

There was another decisive reason why he came to dislike Baek-seok.

What kind of man hates a man to death?

Nine times out of ten, it’s because of women.

Yang Jun-hyung was also one of those nine.

It was because his unrequited love interest happened to like Baek-seok.

“Jinhee, what’s so good about that filthy old parasite-like guy…”

Shin Jin-hee, a visual art director formerly affiliated with KG Entertainment, was Yang Jun-hyung’s unrequited love interest.

When she declared retirement, saying that her body and mind were apart, I don’t know how much Yang Jun-hyung tried to dissuade her.

But Shin Jin-hee was stubborn, and sent her away manfully for her happiness.

But, not long ago, I heard some shocking news.

“What, Jinhee is coming back to MXM Entertainment?!”

Shin Jin-hee’s return was a very welcome event, but the place she returned to was not her hometown KG, but MXM Entertainment, owned by her nemesis Baek Seok.

That alone was enough to get her a huge slap in the face from the CEO, and there were rumors that the reason Shin Jin-hee chose MXM Entertainment was because of Baek Seok.

As for Yang Jun-hyung, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

Anyway, he made a promise because he had a bad relationship with MXM Entertainment for these various reasons.

“This time, we will definitely win the girl group battle.”

This time, I was truly confident.

This is a new artist that KG is introducing for the first time in 7 years.

Aggro is certain.

In addition, although it is thanks to the genius director Shin Jin-hee, there is a difference in experience compared to MXM Entertainment, the first girl group, as they have the know-how to raise Pink Rose.

Originally, KG had a clear image of being a talented group.

“The production cost invested for this newcomer is also on an unprecedented scale.”

The music video was also filmed entirely overseas.

And today was the departure day for this.

“Okay, let’s get off.”

Yang Jun-hyung arrived at the airport and got out of the van with the girl group members.

The entrance across from us is lined with cameras.

This is the camera crew that I hired to cover KG Entertainment’s new star.

‘In order to promote a new talent, you absolutely have to hit the unfollow button.’

The public is dumber than you think.

Once you establish an image of being famous, people will naturally start to like it.

There’s a reason why there’s a rapper who said that when you become famous, you still get applause even when you take a shit.

Click click-

A dazzling camera shutter goes off.

Yang Jun-hyung raised the corners of his mouth as he watched the members waving their hands toward the press.

At that moment, an inexplicable sense of discomfort enveloped him.

I feel like there are more of them than the number of reporters I recruited.

I felt suspicious, but I ignored it as if it was nothing.

I guess they’re hyenas who came looking for me after hearing the news from somewhere.

“Okay, guys, let’s go.”

It was when Yang Jun-hyung was about to walk proudly towards the entrance.

Squeak-

A large black van pulled up right behind his van.

Then the passenger door opened and someone got down on the floor.

A man wearing a black suit with neat sharp edges. It was a face that Yang Jun-hyung hated so much.

‘Baek-seok?!!! Why are you here?!’

Before Yang Jun-hyung could even scream in surprise.

“MXM Enter!!!!!”

The camera reporters who recognized Baek Seok as they did erupted in cheers.

Then, the cameras that were filming the girls in his girl group all turned around.

They are camera reporters with a long history in the entertainment industry.

There was no one who did not know that Baek Seok’s appearance was always accompanied by the appearance of a singer who accompanied him.

The reporters’ predictions were right.

A young manager jumped out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door of the van.

What came out of it were two people who are currently considered the best male and female singers in South Korea.

“hello.”

Seongjun and Yuna, who got off side by side, smiled brightly and waved at the reporters.