TVXQ, one of the top idol groups that started the idol Hallyu wave, is now being followed by KARA, the new leaders of the Hallyu wave in Japan, and both are on the verge of disbandment. The disputes between artist and company weren’t contained internally, and now they’ve ruptured the exportation of Korean culture.
The current Korean music industry is going all out in creating idol groups, as many are of the belief that there’s nothing better than a smart little idol group in achieving jackpot success overseas. H.O.Tstarted the boom, and were followed by the successes of both Shinhwa and TVXQ. Unfortunately, the disturbing reality of the majority of these groups is that they don’t ’stay whole’ forever.
Companies prepare years and millions of money in the creation of such idol groups, while the chosen members give up their youth for the success of the company’s future. With hundreds of new idol groups debuting a year, idols are lucky if they can get at least their song heard once to the public.
The efficacy of idol groups is now being put to the test, with companies emerging from the dark while complaining about their inability to create a profit, and top idols claiming that no matter how hard they danced and sang, they were “still cold and hungry.” Which side is speaking the truth?
Money lies at the root of the problem. Companies reason, “We worked to the bones in order to create you,” while idols retort, “We’ve done all that we had to, now give us what we deserve.” The addition of family members only complicates the issue further.
Before anyone even begins to fully understand the situation, both parties begin to destroy each other while fans divide and their influence in the international market collapses.
Amidst such controversies in the industry, YG Entertainment seems to be beckoning the Korean music industry towards a better path because they know the solution to coexistence between a company and its employee.
The solution is surprisingly simple. YG’s CEO once stated, “What belongs to them must go to them.” He gives his artists the freedom to perform music fit to their individual desires, and lends his unending support in ensuring that their dreams are realized.
The CEO is also often seen making affectionate statements towards his own groups, such as “I really hope Big Bang lasts a long time” and “I think preciously of 2NE1.“ His artists respond to such love by affectionately talking about him on broadcast programs.
No matter what the answer is, what’s definite is that YG Entertainment lies one step aside from an industry plagued by divisions in idol groups.
It’s common sense that there will be less fights if everyone is full and happy. There’s an old Korean saying that even ravens repay favor, and if people want talented idols to properly get their sound heard by music fans and conquer the international market, people that throw away others for their own selfish greed must disappear.
SOURCE: ALLKPOP
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My 2 cents: I am totally a YG lover, and although I want to remain biased and say yes, the answer is that YG Entertainment is in my opinion, NOT the solution to the Korean music industry, but they definitely are on the RIGHT path. YG Entertainment, no matter how special we think it is, is still just that - an entertainment company; a business that runs based on profits. There’s no denying about it. They too, have had their share of artists leaving, plagiarism issues, etc. But they have had considerably less issues with their artists compared to other companies, everyone can see that is a fact.
The most important difference is because of YG, Yang Hyun Suk himself. The fact that the CEO himself has been a successful artist (in a group) before, and has experienced what it’s like to be a trainee, he has a better understanding of developing and training people and has over the years, developed his own philosophies of artist management. He has created a corporate culture where it’s really like their nickname, a family - YG Family. Because he treats his artists like family, he cares about their health, well-being, their romantic lives too. He doesn’t cage them up and not allow freely dating although that may have been the case in early years of debuting idol groups, which is the industry norm internationally and not just in Korea. But after the group is successful, YG allows them to date and even goes to the extent of worrying and setting up blind dates for them! How many CEOs do that? Not many that I know of. Also, for the older artists in YG, he doesn’t kick them out of the company after. Look at Jinusean. After they are no longer active, Jinu gets involved as a consultant type role for artist managing and Sean made his own business, keeps doing a lot of charity work, but he still stars in the occasional drama every now and then and is still close to YG Family.
For those not familiar with YGE, you can see that the people in YGE are all pretty close with one another like a real family - NOT just the artists, but the behind-the-scene staff as well. I mean, how often is it that you see the back-up dancers, choreographers, managers and even their GYM TRAINERS gain so much exposure and popularity?! It’s because the fans always see them interacting with the artists and got to know them even if they weren’t interested in the behind-the-scenes people originally. That’s how close they are with one another, regardless if they are artists or not.
Also because YG really knows how to focus on what he does best which is scouting and creating hip-hop, rap. Of course, there has been the occasional pop song and recently the emergence of electronica music, but there is no doubt that YG is known as a company that specializes in hip-hop style music. It’s their image. They are even slowly starting to get more international recognition as they have been receiving “love calls” from various people internationally - Jeremy Scott, Diplo, will.i.am and lots more! In addition, you can see that YG concentrates on growing the best artists, rather than creating a million idol groups. It’s clear that he only concentrates on Big Bang and 2NE1 in terms of the music division (YGE has actors, etc.). Concentrating on what you do best is definitely the way to go. Or at the very least, it won’t do you a lot of harm (wow, 4 years of business major has taught me something). I also like how YG isn’t just all nice and soft all the time. He’s strict and he has strict standards and he punishes the artists and pushes them to try hard. But, he rewards them after and treats them like he treats his own kids. He knows when to let loose and when to stand firm. As YG himself said in the article, “What belongs to them must go to them”. I couldn’t agree more.
