After having a look at Ok-pop’s greatest businesses, I’d like to show my consideration to the smaller (however nonetheless essential) gamers within the Ok-pop recreation, three at a time.
Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on Ok-Pop’s greatest businesses, that is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not aware of any business-related monetary info past what another fan would know. The aim of those articles is to look at how effectively these businesses are serving their artists and the final Ok-pop fan-base.
WM ENTERTAINMENT
I’m actually solely preserving WM Leisure as a part of this characteristic as a result of I’ve nice fondness for his or her historical past of music. The company hasn’t been notably bold over the previous few years. They gained main factors for dealing with ONF’s enlistment so effectively however the group doesn’t really feel like a central a part of the business anymore. Their 2024 was comparatively quiet, although they did strike out on a global tour that I used to be very completely happy to attend.
Oh My Woman stay the largest “what if?” in WM’s roster. They’d all of the makings of a prime tier lady group, however for no matter motive the company simply form of gave up on them. Their sole Korean comeback was their lowest charting since 2016 and the group simply isn’t given the promotional oomph they deserve. It’s unhappy to see as a result of they’ve such a powerful discography. Member YooA launched a solo album early within the yr, but it surely fared even worse than the group comeback.
Soloist Lee Chaeyeon additionally struggled to match former comebacks together with her solely album of the yr. It’s mystifying as a result of the company’s star energy is there… and the music is there… however WM simply can’t appear to push any of its artists additional into public consciousness. They was higher at this. Simply ask B1A4 (who sadly got here and went with an early-2024 album).
C-
YUEHUA ENTERTAINMENT
Yuehua Leisure has a Chinese language department as effectively, however this can solely give attention to their Korean work.
To start out off, the company flunks 2024 because of their remedy of Tempest’s Hwarang. He was primarily booted from the group for… visiting a membership. There have been many problematic “controversies” in Ok-pop, however this have to be a brand new low. It simply reveals an utter contempt for their very own artists. Other than a stint on Highway to Kingdom and a few less-than-amazing Japanese releases, the group remained largely out of the image following their March mini album.
In the meantime, Yuehua proceed to feed Everglow scraps, giving them one forgettable comeback after practically a yr of silence. On the plus aspect, Zombie charted comparatively effectively for them. Nevertheless it’s clear the group is an afterthought for the company.
The one vibrant aspect for Yuehua is soloist Choi Yena. Her success and quirky sound pull the company out of “F” territory… however simply barely.
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143 ENTERTAINMENT
Effectively, presently their CEO has sexual misconduct allegations leveled towards him which have pressured idol Gaeun out of her group (MADEIN) simply weeks after its debut. So… issues are going fairly effectively, proper?
This company can be residence to iKON, who didn’t launch a factor this yr (they toured as a substitute). That leaves us with these sexual misconduct allegations being 143’s greatest “achievement” of the yr.
F