Listening to Music from Criminals/Alleged Criminals (2 Viewers)

[taemkitten]

It seems easier for most of us to move past wrong doings that Western artists have committed or been accused of when wanting to listen to their music - but is it the same in regards to Kpop (or simply Korean) artists when they've been charged with doing something illegal or wrong, or at the very least accused of it?

The current eruption of scandals tied (most of them) around what started out as a simple case of drug distribution and has unraveled into alleged prostitution rings and ties, money laundering, hidden sex cams of videos of alleged raping, drugging of women and possibly men etc, and other charges got me to really thinking.

It seems so easy to listen to so many of the Western artists that have been part of similar or worse crimes, even after we are made aware that they are scum. We seem to disassociate them from their musical side, their career as artists - we create a barrier of "this person is scummy and gross and a criminal, but, this is their music and I like it" or "I grew up with it before I knew this person was trash so....forget them...but, I still love the music" in these cases. But it almost doesn't seem possible with Korean artists?

I have my own theory - that we tend to attach ourselves more on a personal level to Korean artists (even those not in Kpop) due to the fan/stan culture that's developed and been nurtured around them. Unlike Western artists that most people may support on a really hardcore level, the majority of Western artists we all keep at more than an arm's length, while Kpop artists and idols we reel in and sometimes treat like we know, or have dug so deep into the personal information they have had leaked or has been presented to us, and even if we don't mean to, absorb it like it's a friend's information - thus when they do something shitty, we take it more personal and it makes it harder to just listen to the music for what it is, the person behind it outside of the situation. There also tends to be a stigma of "I don't want to give money to or support a piece of trash person" in regards to Kpop specifically, probably because the labels themselves are full of artists but aren't as big as say, Sony Records, and perhaps this too makes us feel as if it's more obvious that our money will be going towards an artist's royalties etc.

What are your thoughts on it? It's something I even struggle with. I like Eddy Kim's music and now that he's been revealed to be a piece of the puzzle I cringe. I haven't really listened to his music as of late, but I worry I won't be able to enjoy it again now that I know these things (but still listen to songs like "No Air" by Jordin Sparks and known woman-beater gross guy extraordinaire, Chris Brown).

 

[Belgizen]

Tbh, I think that kpop fans are too sensitive and wanna be politically right 24/7.
Here, Chris Brown still gets played on radio's and gets into the top 10 every song he makes, despite his scandals and past.
The community is too competitive and it won't stop (who broke the record of most views on Twitter, which group had the most Twitter trends?)
We are too focused on our own faves these days and that leads to a certain mindset "If an idol does wrong, he's cancelled, less competition for our fave", maybe?

 

[Crackhead]

Yep, if the song slaps I will listen to it. I mean I understand that Seungri did wrong a WHOLE LOT but I can't help but to dance to the songs. The artist is not the person as you wrote it.

 

[mirella]

It depends. If they did something I consider atrocious, like what JJY and Co. did, I don't think I can. I would NOT judge someone who still listens though, as I understand the whole separating the artist and music.

But if it's something born out of ignorance (racist / homophobic actions) I can probably move past it depending on the severity. Especially if the music is good. Honestly I don't really mind drug use, which is technically illegal in Korea.

 

[Administrator2]

Seungri released some bops. They will stay bops regardless of his status.

 

[Darkyoda47]

I resonate with this option.
"It would be hard, but probably."
I mean I'd feel uncomfortable and guilty but if the song is good, I'm probably gonna listen.

 

[RandAlThor]

As a youth i was silly and thought some of the things you listed. especially the artist is not the person type stuff.
Those are just excuses to do that which we know is wrong.
It is a poor choice, but if i am going to make it be honest and accept i personally are financing behavior and actions I am against.

The list of entertainers this killed in not trivial, about the only thing i bend on this stance now is maybe a movie.
Hitchcock
Pavarotti
ect all among those who went by by
let alone the disposable pop acts.

I can admire skill and talent without enabling if at all possible.

using the current situation is hard because the male group/stars i actually listen to are not yet involved, so i was not enabling in the first place :)
therefore my behavior would not change.


but say the wg collab with Akon got nada from me.

 

[blueberries]

First it depends on crime, is it sth I see as immoral and horrible or not. Cause although I'm not fan of drug use, it's not dealbreaker for me. In other hand there is some things that are pretty horrible that aren't even crimes.

In general I don't want to support person who I see as immoral. I don't understand people who want to stay as fans that much, I mean everything has their own feelings and justifications, but to me some people are left out of hook way too easily by fans- not in kpop though, more in western scene. In other hand I get listening the songs, watching movies etc. especially if you aren't fan of person, but simply casual listener/viewer. I still don't know names of members of Coldplay or Pendulum despite loving their music, so I don't actually have any idea if they are horrible people or really good folks.

But if you are fan of the person not just their art I think it's harder. Cause for me I partially like Seungri's music cause it's music from him. It's adds value for me and now it more like takes value of, it makes them bit iffy for me to listen to. I really like his music as music. But for me, I think I want to see his music as positive part of him, rather than thinking everything he has ever done is part of his horrible actions. I don't know if it makes sense, but it does to me- I see his actions with the club stuff whatever will come out as truth (i saw the other way police got some confession of prostitution happening so there might be now evidence against him) separate from his own music and his part in Big Bang. So I don't necessarily see it as bad to listen his music and BB's older songs, though I still wouldn't really feel like supporting him.

 

[AmysTeri]

It depends on what they (allegedly) did. Also, it depends on how much I like the music.

But even if I love the music, when I distance myself from the artist, eventually the music will follow. Even if I don't follow the artist closely prior to their crimes/alleged crimes, mentally I still kinda...put them to the side. It's almost an unconscious decision to put their music to the side as well. After a while, it becomes that "ahhh, you remember that song? Yeah, I used to listen to it/them/that person/that album all the time." And then you go on about your day, lol.

 

[jasque]

Honestly, I'm not a big fan of some consequences of the #metoo thing and some progressive mindsets.

Justice is cool and all, but you can't just erase the past, turn a 360 degrees from one day to the other.

We came to the point we are revirating a dead person's past, what will it even change?
The poor guy can't even defend himself lol

 

[Evergreen]

It depends. If they did something I consider atrocious, like what JJY and Co. did, I don't think I can. I would NOT judge someone who still listens though, as I understand the whole separating the artist and music.

But if it's something born out of ignorance (racist / homophobic actions) I can probably move past it depending on the severity. Especially if the music is good. Honestly I don't really mind drug use, which is technically illegal in Korea.

I have the same mindset than you in this subject.

A solo singer is not the same than an idol in a group because cancelling a solo artist and cancelling a whole group because of a problematic member who isn’t in the said group anymore, is two different things.

 

[VillageIdiot]

Probably not
It's honestly hard to say because I haven't really been in the in that position.
I guess it depends on the artist and the severity of the crime

 

[honeyfornomoney]

Depends on the crime. As long as the idol didn't harm other ppl (like taking drugs or smth)

 

[planetarium]

My favourites haven't been affected by these recent scandals so I wouldn't know whether I would really continue listening to their music, but I think it'd probably feel a bit weird.

Although I'd like to see the person and the artist as two different people, at the same time it'd be a bit hard. They'd still get the revenue from me when I listen to their music from official sources, so I think I would feel a bit uncomfortable with supporting their finances, even if just a very tiny little.

But yeah as other said, it somewhat depends on the crime too, as well as whether it was an individual or a full group. I didn't stop listening to Super Junior when Kangin had his DUIs (although he's a piece of shit for doing that) and I still listen to FT Island because it's not like the whole group did wrong, but I think I probably would chuck Seungri's individual songs straight out of the window if I had some on my playlist... just out of spite.

 

[Bopper]

I haven’t kept up with the western music scene since the late 00’s. However I remember as a teen listening to Lostprophets, and let’s just say I hope one of their members is in jail long enough to rot.

As for kpop, I don’t really have albums by the groups involved. I’ll still listen to the title tracks on youtube, but a while ago I found my old Seungri version of Still Alive, which promptly went in the bin.

 

[Mangoey]

Idk. I think it depends on the person, how much I like their music, and the severity of what they've done.
It's not too hard for me to distinguish the artist from the person, but at the same time I've deleted like all of JJY's music just cause it makes me sick to listen to now :/
On the other hand though, I still actively listen to Junhyung's stuff.
I'm not sure why I feel this way towards the matter, but it's probably a large combination of things.

idk >->, it's always hard to discuss this subject because I feel like people will judge me or think I'm trying to defend tbh.

 

[Hyunjin]

I coincidentally don’t like groups or their music that later are revealed to be criminals. Same goes for Western artists (which is usually just rappers and i dont really like rap). But if there’s a song I really like by an artist who is a criminal I usually just listen to it for free on yt lol

 

[Moonbinlove]

To be fair it depends what kind of music they put out and if it’s to my taste I’ll listen to it but to be honest that rarely ever happens

 

[baekk]

I can't deny good music so I wouldn't mind. I still wouldn't like the person though

 

[Walnutt]

I already listen to music by Blackpink and they're criminally beautiful and talented :nosejoo: