News Korea to back smaller K-pop agencies’ global expansion (2 Viewers)

[Selfmate]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency have launched a new initiative aimed at helping K-pop agencies expand into overseas markets, the organizations announced Tuesday.

The support program for small and mid-sized agencies to globally launch their artists is being introduced for the first time this year as part of efforts to promote the sustainable growth of the K-pop industry.

Ten groups were selected as the inaugural beneficiaries of the program: Rescene, Xikers, Tunexx, Kiiras, Can’t Be Blue, 82Major, Big Ocean, Uspeer, X:In and 8Turn.

Under the initiative, the ministry plans to select 10 agencies annually and provide each with up to 300 million won ($198,000) per year. Companies that demonstrate strong performance can continue receiving support for up to three years through an evaluation process.

Unlike existing support programs that focus on specific areas such as album production or live performances, the new initiative allows agencies greater flexibility in determining how to use the funding based on their own business strategies and overseas expansion plans.

Participating companies may allocate the funds toward projects including export-oriented album and music video production, overseas marketing and promotion and concerts and other international activities.

The selected artists are expected to pursue a range of overseas initiatives through the program.

Five-member girl group Rescene, which recently drew attention online for the viral success of member Woni’s personal YouTube channel, plans to focus on activities in Japan and the US. After performing at KCON Japan in May, the group is scheduled to appear at KCON LA in August.

Boy group Xikers plans to strengthen its presence in Japan through the release of a new EP and a unit project, while Tunexx is preparing activities targeting the Indian market. Kiiras will focus primarily on expanding across Asian markets, including Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Can’t Be Blue, the only indie band selected for the program, plans to build its overseas fan base through concerts and promotional activities abroad.

“The K-pop industry has established itself as part of the global mainstream, but for sustainable growth, small and mid-sized agencies — which are the backbone of the industry — must also be able to grow, said Choi Sung-hee, the ministry’s director general for content and media policy. “We hope this new program will help create more success stories among smaller companies and contribute to the future growth of K-pop.”

Source: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10772584

 

[Selfmate]

@centen
@RandAlThor
@Somnia
@Abeamus

The SK government is reading our KPS conversations
we were discussing this exact issue of smaller/nugu companies lol

 

[Selfmate]

it would be interesting to know why those agencies were picked and how they were picked...

why those companies and why not others who are in better or worse positions...the other issue is SK is a capitalist country no? why is the SK government picking and choosing "winners"

if the government wants to expand kpop why are they paying directly to the kpop companies? If I were a nugu company or nugu group and I saw that the government was giving like upwards of 200K to other companies/groups I'd be pissed if the selection process was transparent

 

[Ahsoka]

it would be interesting to know why those agencies were picked and how they were picked...

why those companies and why not others who are in better or worse positions...the other issue is SK is a capitalist country no? why is the SK government picking and choosing "winners"

if the government wants to expand kpop why are they paying directly to the kpop companies? If I were a nugu company or nugu group and I saw that the government was giving like upwards of 200K to other companies/groups I'd be pissed if the selection process was transparent

I don’t think there exists a single capitalist country where the government doesn’t subsidize certain fields or companies or whatever. It just doesn’t happen, even in the most capitalist countries.

 

[RandAlThor]

it would be great if teh selection criteria were transparent.

there are a bunch of smaller fanbase who will feel hard done by.

Even more why didnt they rescue Madein from the contract and give them to another agency.

 

[Selfmate]

I don’t think there exists a single capitalist country where the government doesn’t subsidize certain fields or companies or whatever. It just doesn’t happen, even in the most capitalist countries.

right but they are usually transparent when it comes to who gets what...
the question with this initiative is why those companies in particular - ie. how they were chosen from the hundreds of other small kpop companies

this initiative doesn't seem like - there is one pot of gold and every kpop company (say under $10m) revenue can apply for part of the pot of gold, it's there's a pot of gold here and we the governments decides the exact 10 companies to get such gold

 

[Somnia]

K-pop agencies expand into overseas markets

I pray that this is mainly countries like Japan and China, and not the West...

 

[Ahsoka]

right but they are usually transparent when it comes to who gets what...
the question with this initiative is why those companies in particular - ie. how they were chosen from the hundreds of other small kpop companies

this initiative doesn't seem like - there is one pot of gold and every kpop company (say under $10m) revenue can apply for part of the pot of gold, it's there's a pot of gold here and we the governments decides the exact 10 companies to get such gold

Governments and transparency are usually oxymorons There’s lots of examples where there are programs like this that are laid out in more detail with transparency, but there’s also a lot that aren’t. And also examples where it’s completely hidden and potentially illegal.

 

[Selfmate]

I pray that this is mainly countries like Japan and China, and not the West...

what's wrong with Western expansion?

 

[Somnia]

what's wrong with Western expansion?

I mean if you look at groups 15yrs ago, and the ones who are being pushed towards the West. It's like they aren't allowed to wear clothes, and if that is the only tactic these companies think that it will attract people in the West...that is even more sad. Only thing it will end up doing is create these pedo's and creeps who share fancams on Twitter and Reddit talking about what they want to do to said idols, without even being an actual fan or interested in the music and supporting them.

I have been at war protecting my favorites from that very thing since their useless company only makes it worse, I took it upon myself to report and fight it myself.

 

[Selfmate]

I mean if you look at groups 15yrs ago, and the ones who are being pushed towards the West. It's like they aren't allowed to wear clothes, and if that is the only tactic these companies think that it will attract people in the West...that is even more sad. Only thing it will end up doing is create these pedo's and creeps who share fancams on Twitter and Reddit talking about what they want to do to said idols, without even being an actual fan or interested in the music and supporting them.

I have been at war protecting my favorites from that very thing since their useless company only makes it worse, I took it upon myself to report and fight it myself.

do you think that's changed since 15 years ago? that this generation is different and from a financial POV that (for some groups) it's been successful?

 

[Somnia]

do you think that's changed since 15 years ago? that this generation is different and from a financial POV that (for some groups) it's been successful?

Well, I know for sure barely a hand full of groups tackled the whole skimpy outfits look. 9Muses was one of them but they were forced by their company whom terrorized those poor girls. Meanwhile JYPe has all their female artists perform in leather S&M looking outfits to the point they malfunction and they stand in just a bra onstage, pissing of the artist and fans alike.

I honestly don't know if there is any group out there that gained anything financially from it. The only thing I do know that one solo artist spoke of, is that she gained within Korea more fame for her exposed outfit during waterbomb. And apparently now she became super aware and tries cover up more.

I'd say around second generation groups, some groups could "profit" from that concept, but back then it was called a sexy concept as soon you saw a thigh, and girls would atleast have their top totally covered.