#but the hybe capitalism ruined everything

[bandzboy]

it’s boggling my mind that instead of putting this drama on a streaming platform or distributing it somewhere they put on app that is powered by nfts and that has a mlm/pyramid scheme type system in it like this company never seizes to amaze me in the worst ways

[sanstropfremir]

Oh I don't know how involved you are in the bts fandom and I hope you aren't but in response to your last bts ask and mentioning company shooters, the funniest thing has been happening recently. So you mentioned how bts is their friend and bts fans don't interact with other groups right? Well ever since hybe acquired pledis and started txt and all that other stuff, the company shooter fans actually scattered quite a bit. Not because they realised that bts aren't their friends that the company just wants their money but because, get this, they genuinely believe that hybe started/got other groups because they got corrupted by capitalism and these other groups are harming bts when bts should only be friends with their fans. So with hybe getting more money by first selling the friend imate and then getting more groups, they also effectively lost a massive amount of their company fans because those believe bts shouldn't have any friends except from their fans. And to be honest, unfortunately for bts, they genuinely cannot hang out with their friends anymore because there have been multiple cases where they hang out with other idols, and then their fans are in the comments telling them to get away and not be their friends because they're bad people..

[lesbianslovebts]

Seeing how HYBE sabotaged FACE, JITB and INDIGO and went all out for SEVEN is so fucking disappointing. But what’s even worse is how Jungkook was bought by both HYBE and Scooter to sell a whole persona and image that was never his authentic self.

i always knew jk wasnt perfect and had an extremely immature side to him. but i always thought one thing : he would never sell out. his whole thing was “rather be dead than cool” he even got it tattooed. either all of that was just bullcrap or he’s genuinely changed completely right in front of our eyes. how can he just sell out completely and ruin bts’s group principles. principles most of them still abide by and pride themselves in. and dont even get me started on the fandom reaction everything is bad until a bts member does it lol

Okay, let me arrange my thoughts.

First, I know very little about how the music industry works, let alone the intricacies of how HYBE does business. I won't deny that the chapter two solo promotions have been vastly different. However, I can't make any assumptions about why the differences exist. I just honestly don't know the level of involvement or decision-making power the members had in their solo stuff. I know Jimin mentioned wanting more than the two music videos he got. I'm sure Hobi wanted physical albums, too. So I know they don't always get what they want, and it doesn't sit well with me that they didn't have consistent promotions. HYBE is a massive corporation and they're gonna prioritize what they think will make more money over what the members may want, and that sucks ass. But I'm not sure if "sabotage" is the right word because HYBE wants their artists to succeed (i.e., generate profit). I don't know, like...that's just Capitalism, baby.

Second, I don't know much about Scooter Braun, either. He's a filthy rich man, so I'm sure he's Awful lol.

Third, I'm genuinely not sure what you mean by "Jungkook sold out." Are you upset that he was given the song instead of composing it himself? That's usually how popstars work lol. Or are you mad that he didn't write the English lyrics? The fact it's in English in the first place? I personally would have preferred a song in Korean, but he can sing in whatever language he chooses. Or do you hate the people who did write/compose the song? Is it Latto? I don't know all these people. 😩 Or is it the content of the lyrics? Considering how you're going on about "principles," I have a feeling you're offended that the lyrics are about Big Bad Sex. I'm sorry, but he's a 25-year-old man who probably fucks on the regular. I would recommend coming to terms with that.

Fourth, how do you know which highly curated public persona of Jungkook is the "authentic" 전정국? It sounds like you might be struggling with a parasocial relationship. As a fan for 8 years, I feel like I "know" the guy to some extent, but I'm aware that I will never know what Jungkook is truly like in real, everyday life.

And lastly, so no one misunderstands my personal opinion of the song, this is what I think: It's alright. Kinda bland. Generic pop isn't really my thing. I would've preferred Korean lyrics and no featured artist. (Nothing against Latto, though - I liked her part.) The lyrics are corny, especially the part where he's literally just singing the days of the week lmao. But I like the horny direction we're heading in fhdhahfj. I'll probably listen to it sometimes. 🤷‍♂️

[writingmochi]

it is no problem at all ~

that is quite a young age to be exposed to such platforms. i am glad that your journey on starting anew is going well. it is hard to completely erase ones identity, as it is tied to you, but i believe you are doing a pretty great job.

yes, some fandoms can be quite toxic. while it is nice to bond with people over certain activities, there are people who always manage to ruin the fun for others. personally, i allow it to roll off of me at this point. i do not engage in fan wars or anything silly like that because not only is it a waste of my time and energy, but it is also completely pointless as most of these groups are friends in real life. after all, i am in it for the group, not the people who stan the group, so i do my best to support them as much as i can ~ however, i am glad that you have found joy in other interests. k-pop can be forever for some, but not for all.

the storyline is an interesting thing really. others make theories and others do not care. for me, i take note of the storyline, but i am not one to avidly keep up with it. i simply acknowledge that it is there and apart of the concept.

i can see your point with ateez and enha. enhypen’s storyline does have that webtoon. i believe that the company made it more complicated by marking lines between enhypen as a group and enhypen as characters in their storyline. so i am not entirely sure of the story myself… as for how hybe and kq treat their groups, they are rather different. they capitalize off of them in very different ways, but the most important thing in my opinion is the music and i do not have too many complaints in that department.

your ideas are very interesting and i can say that i would be invested in your career path as a creative director. i believe i saw a post where you created a group just for fun, street spirits? very cool and eye-catching.

unfortunately, this will be my last ask. i believe my time as your anon has been amazing, but all good things must come to an end. rather than simply revealing myself or ending with a grandiose gesture, i will pose a simple question to you. if you have the correct answer, then my reveal is complete ~

who in our group chat recently changed their icon to soobin? ~

signed, 🩻

lissie: hey xray! good job for lasting this much especially longer than my attempt lol my guess will be at the very bottom of the ask

yeah, i try my best with that especially knowing how big tech companies are technically "data mining" you for their business. i feel very uncomfortable with that and i much rather stay off the grid from social media platforms as best as i can. i don't know about your relationships towards social media but if you are the person i guess than you must have a good relationship with it unlike me (especially based on the others' testimonies of you when they're guessing about my anon attempt)

toxicity is everywhere in my opinion. but i guess you just have to pick between the lesser of evils you see. life is full of choices of course! also, having different interests is a very human thing to do because nothing lasts forever. we don't know how kpop as an industry will go in for the next five years because everything changes fast, especially with the existence of the information super highway currently (eg: slave contract abolishments, bts raising kpop up to the mainstream, etc)

i'm actually one of the theorists! i used to theorize for bts but after mots:7, i stopped because it doesn't seem to connect anymore. i want to try to theorize for ateez, but i have to keep up with so many things that i'll let other people take the spotlight while giving some comments from the side.

it is definitely interesting to see their strategy, especially as a business major who focuses on marketing. but that's what comes with competition: innovations that are good and bad. just like we see with twitter and threads, consumers are very fickle and they can change. i'm one of the fickle kpop consumers because i'm a multifan at best and a casual listener most of the time. yet we have to know that kpop idols are essential products for us to consume by hearing, seeing, and interacting which way you could do.

i hope so! i don't know if the music industry is my exact calling but I'll definitely work towards enhancing my creativity in my career in a way (there's a reason why i chose marketing as my focus). i was thinking of making a studio for game publishing, idk if i wanna it to be for video games or physical games but i know that i want it to be small-to-medium size and indie rather than it being extravagant like the big aaa game companies with examples of electronic arts or activision blizzard.

there's also a reason why i picked kq ent as the home of street spirit and it is definitely lore and concept! there is a missing market of girl groups with kq ent with the members between 00-03 liners (youngest in ateez and oldest in xikers). lore-wise, i'm trying to connect them to ateez's as best as i could without making to similar. while concept-wise, the group definitely has influences from le sserafim, newjeans, billlie, and a bit of kiss of life that putting them in hybe just makes it redundant...

not the call out to me with my grandiose gesture :") i felt like jigsaw when i'm doing my anon reveal (tbh the whole guess the anon between us felt like the saw movies but more pg-13) good job on keeping up because this is hard! hope you gain more insight on me and the others! i know i'm not as fun as the others lol but that's is just how i interact with people honestly...

soobin in weverse concert! hi lee @robin-obsessed !! hope you have a great time and i guess, take a rest to because it has probably been so exhausting for you~

[akookminsupporter]

Western pop artists have been 'manipulating' the billboard charts for years. Taylor Swift, Ariana, Bieber and Travis Scott (all artists whose work I love) come to mind as historically pushing merchandise and concert tickets as part of album bundles. According to Forbes, the Weeknd used about 80 bundles to help his (wonderful) album After Hours soaring at the top. The billboard chart has been 'ruined' for years. Bundling only became illegal in 2020.

So why do people target BTS as somehow the ones that caused the ruin of a perfectly honest institution? What do they need to be, do, look like, win, get, and say to stop being viewed as the suspicious outsiders with a cult at their back? Armies are not the first fans who have 'exploited loopholes' in the charting system. Business and marketing is interesting and all, but holding BTS's success up to autopsy and needing to 'explain' it all as some big trick has become a cottage industry. Sometimes something generation defining comes up. Hybe has built a marketing infrastructure to keep up with BTS's fanbase. If BTS werent talented, hardworking and charismatic, none of it would exist. If they had not been good and giving to their fans from debut, they wouldn't be where they are today.

This Forbes article offers a great counterpoint to the one in billboard magazine that seems to want to blame the flaws of an existing system on BTS. It was written in response to another article in Stereogum by Tom Breihan, who was pressed by BTS's success. (This has nothing to do with the Billboard article that hit stands today).

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrolli/2021/06/04/bts-arent-ruining-the-billboard-charts-they-were-already-broken/

It feels like repetition at this point with these articles. It is sad how RM thinks the idea of BTS becoming truly mainstream in the US is improbable. I have always thought that. As an Asian speaking only personally from my own experience, I still think there is a lot of prejudice and preconception about BTS from non armies or unitiated people in the west. In the part of the US I live, I can't imagine Asian men being uplifted in the American pop scape in a non suspicious or tokenizing way. It doesn't matter how many albums they sell, how gifted they are, or how much their fans love them. They are not welcomed the same way, as far as I have seen. Their fanbase gets called crazy and cult like in veiled or sometimes obvious ways. If an institution like Billboard could put it out there so blatently, and treat BTS so differently from other artists in terms of respect accorded, it says something. Commercialism and capitalism exists in almost every facet of a pop artists output. Yet this fact seems to be incommensurately focused on when it comes to BTS. Taylor Swift also has things to sell and ways to sell them. It is a part of pop. If other artists get to have their 'legacy defined' by their artistic output as well as cultural impact, why do BTS have to be seen as different? BTS have performed and made music for eight years. It's been years since they first performed Fake Love at the Billboards. They have toured the states. Why do all these articles still feel like just an introduction? It's so basic. They don't even get asked about their music. Billboard is shallow and wants to see them as shallower.

And another

Let's be honest, the problem is obvious or the problems are obvious: BTS are not white and Western industry cannot control them.

BTS and their agency defy everything the industry has ever known. Especially on a commercial level, let alone on an artistic level. And that is something they cannot accept.

BTS sold-out stadiums before their first number one on billboard. BTS sold out iconic stadiums like Wembley for example, before their first number one. BTS sold millions of albums without needing to sign with a western label. No need for promotions from sites/magazines etc., like billboard for example.

BTS broke out of the mould that the industry created, in fact, BTS never fit into that mould. They were and are bigger, stronger and smarter.

The problem with the western market is that BTS has everything they want their artists to have. Be. And they are not. They don't. BTS has never done "obvious" promotions that encourage their fans to buy their music. BTS has achieved what they have achieved because they are talented, their agency understands the game. They changed the game and because their fans appreciate that. They appreciate them. What they are, what they stand for.

The article we all read today is the worst I have read in a long time. It is disrespectful and condescending not only to BTS, their agency but also their fans. I understand that sometimes journalists have to ask uncomfortable questions but these were not uncomfortable questions, they were disrespectful questions.

In the end, the article only proved that the writer of the article and the industry, in general, doesn't understand the success of BTS. And not only do they not understand it, but they also don't want to accept it. They don't want to accept it.

The article anon linked

[taechnological]

OMG I THINK ABT THIS ALL THE TIME lol lemme explain.. so imo bts' recent eng singles arent that good, i feel butter and dynamite still have that 'bts essence' in them but truly when i listen to ptd it sounds so avg. their collabs and all used to be great but lately i feel like collabs are clout chasers just so they can get a no.1 bc of bts popularity,, i mean PLEASE dont tell me ptd is even COMPARABLE to bs&t. and i genuinely hate that theyve just become puppets to expand themselves in the-

u are right and i agree. tbh this is the fate of all entertainment companies once they get the taste of success and hybe is no different. except they got bts, their ultimate cash cows with the biggest fanbase any artist has yet to achieve. today bts is everywhere, they can sell literally ANYTHING just by pasting bts on it and they know it. they're aware of the tsunami of opportunities they're gonna get once bts manage to snatch a grammy and hybe is not stopping until they get that, just bc they got bts on their side, one of the biggest artists in the world right now.

i know how most of the armys feel. grammys are just a load of garbage with white racist shits who don't give a fck about anything other than their white supremacy agenda but it's still "grammys". bts want it and u know what? i don't blame them, they deserve it the most but at what cost? hybe is bulldozering over literally everything just to keep that cash coming and absolutely ruining bts' image in the process. the over produced english songs in which the members barely contribute to, the unnecessary collabs with western artists, shit tons of questionable endorsements and now NFTs; there seems to be no end to this.

i have very many strong opinions on this matter but i choose to not speak as it won't end up in solving anything and will only make me feel eh :( i just wanna keep loving bts and their music, why does capitalism has to make it so hard? 😔