“Blatant intimidation…”
Netizens criticize the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for its latest statement regarding the ongoing conflict between New Jeans and their agency, I LOVE IT.
KMCA joined the Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association in criticizing NewJeans in this feud, effectively siding with MOVES. The association released a statement on Dec. 13, KST, labeling NewJeans’ decision to terminate its contract with ADOR as “tampering,” saying such practices must be eradicated to keep the foundation of the K-Pop music industry stable.
The statement also mentions FIFTY FIFTYwhich implies that the three former members who is gone ATTRACTION they were at guilty, just like the members of NewJeans, of having terminated their contracts under the influence of an external producer.
We have already seen the so-called “tamping” attempt by an external producer hired by an entertainment agency (hereinafter referred to as ‘agency’) to persuade young and promising artists and parents to break exclusive contractual relationships with existing agencies in the ‘FIFTY FIFTY incident…Recent media reports regarding allegations of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin’s involvement in tampering, regardless of the truth of the allegations, starkly reveal how widespread tampering occurs in the industry K-pop, which is very worrying. Furthermore, this situation also demonstrates that tampering attempts can occur not only in small and medium-sized agencies, but also in large ones, making it impossible for our association to stand by and watch.
—KMCA
The association not only asked Min Hee Jin to clarify the facts regarding the “tampering” allegations, but also addressed NewJeans, ordering them to faithfully fulfill their exclusivity contracts or “humbly” await the company’s decision. judiciary.
In the same statement, KMCA also threatened to exclude from the Circle Chart, managed by the association, albums and digital sales of artists and labels suspected of tampering. Furthermore, they also threatened to stop providing data of all major broadcast programs (such as M Countdown, Music Bank, Music Core, Inkigayo, etc.) and major national award ceremonies (Circle Chart Music Awards, MAMA, Golden Disc Awards), which basically involved an industry-wide boycott of such artists.
Although KMCA claimed that these measures would be taken to ensure fair treatment for all stakeholders in the K-Pop industry, netizens are far from believing it. Both domestic and international netizens viewed it as a forcing tactic by the KMCA to ensure the power hierarchy in K-Pop, essentially rendering artists unable to object to unfair practices or contracts within their labels.
I don’t think you realize how dangerous it is. whether you agree or like newjeans & ablume is irrelevant. The fact that kpop groups can have their entire careers derailed by big companies is dangerous for everyone. https://t.co/1ITeIOkQmI
— koko mainslayer 🥵 (@h0tgirlkoko) December 13, 2024
blatant intimidation and industrial corruption. they are sick and make the kpop industry look worse every time they insert themselves to add fuel against a group that already receives massive amounts of hate. disgusting. https://t.co/Tn9XipDaft
— Daniel (@ekinsupreme) December 13, 2024
You can’t convince me that these companies, labels and associations are right. Truly insane behavior that abuses its power to encourage an industry-wide blackout against artists who have disputes with their labels and who don’t quietly withdraw from the industry. https://t.co/pyRg4RqsOD
— Bubs⁷ (@telepathy_soty) December 13, 2024
- “Why are they telling them to come back when they said they are leaving due to a breach of contract? This is ridiculous. Who do they think they are? Lol.”
- “Wow, who do they think they are, telling others to live like slaves?”
- “Chart sites remain silent about the manipulation of music charts but make a statement about it? Lol.”
- “How much money did they gorge themselves on to behave this way?”
- “LOL, they must be involved with HYBE or something~”
Some also argue that this would be a flagrant violation of the “JYJ Law” passed in 2015, which prohibits broadcasters from blocking artists without probable cause.
KMCA will violate the JYJ law passed in 2015, which prohibits broadcasters from blocking artists from appearing on their programs without just cause. The law was passed in response to SM’s pressure on broadcasters to blacklist JYJ, due to their contract dispute with SM. https://t.co/ApKc9XksxN pic.twitter.com/q0QAfNxx0S
— fifihunnie ꕤ ablume (@fifihunnie) December 13, 2024
The “JYJ Law” was passed in 2015 by Congresswoman Kim Minhee in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea after failing 3 times. The law prohibits broadcasters from blocking artists from appearing on their programs without good reason.
The law was a response to SM… https://t.co/xZsFQrYUT6 pic.twitter.com/XjZ7pUGfn4
—TVXQ! Fanbase.id ♡ (@dbskfanbaseid) December 14, 2024
You can read the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association’s position on this topic here.
