News Source Music releases statement regarding the future of existing Gfriend content (1 Viewer)

[Abeamus]

Hello. This is Source Music.

First and foremost, please allow us to express our regret for causing concern to all fans with the sudden announcement of the conclusion of artist contract.

We would like to once again thank all fans who have expressed their boundless love for GFRIEND.

We are aware of the concerns as well as requests being made by fans regarding plans for the management of GFRIEND content following the conclusion of our company’s exclusive artist contract. We are striving to ensure that we can address these concerns as best as we can. While there has not been sufficient time following the decision to finalize all details regarding these issues, we would like to provide an overview of what has been decided in order to assist you in continuing your experience with GFRIEND content and services.

1. All existing GFRIEND social media will continue to be maintained.

The official GFRIEND social media, fan cafe and GFRIEND Weverse will remain open with the existing content available for access. However, some functions including writing new postings will be suspended after a certain period of time. As functions and services vary by channel and community, please refer to more detailed notices that will become available. You will be able to access this content in the future whenever you wish to recall your fond memories with GFRIEND.

2. Refunds will be provided for the remaining period in your BUDDY Membership.

If your GFRIEND BUDDY Membership is currently valid, a refund can be provided as per Weverse Membership refund guidelines. However, it may take some time before you receive your refund as we are still preparing detailed measures. We ask for your understanding, and we will provide detailed instructions for your refund process as soon as possible.

3. Refunds will be provided to those selected for the 回:LABYRINTH fan sign event.

The 回:LABYRINTH fan sign event, which had been postponed due to the spread of COVID-19, has been cancelled. Refunds will be provided to those selected for the fan sign event according to a separate set of criteria. The event organizer (Kakao Entertainment) will contact those selected for the event individually regarding the process, and we will work together with the organizers to ensure everyone can be contacted in a timely manner. Please contact the event organizer (Record Distribution Team : 02-2280-7890) if you have any additional questions. We would like to once again apologize to everyone who has waited patiently for the fan sign event.

Other GFRIEND IP-related services such as HYBE INSIGHT and 《SuperStar GFRIEND》 will continue until they are brought to a conclusion according to separate schedules. These schedules will be made available from each service provider. Please refer to announcements from related websites and social media channels.

We are acutely aware of the distress and confusion that this sudden news has caused to many. Both the artists and the company worked until the very final moments of our discussions to give you the news you waited for, and we are deeply regretful that we were not able to bring you the results you hoped for.

GFRIEND pioneered a new generation of girl group music with a wide range of concepts, performances and songs, and were loved by all fans who witnessed their growth as artists. GFRIEND shone brightest as artists and as a team when they were together as GFRIEND. We ask that you continue to give them your love and support as each member begins to take the first steps of their new journeys.

Our company will continue to support the members to ensure that their first steps are filled with hope, and we will continue to be on their side for their future endeavours. We will strive to ensure that all fans can remember GFRIEND and remain by their side for as long as we possibly can.

Please allow us to express our sincerest gratitude.

Source

@Buddy ​

 

[RandAlThor]

i am more confused....

 

[Abeamus]

i am more confused....

From the rumours about what happened and both this statement and all the girls statements as well as a some other things I am inclined to believe Hybe/Big Hit started interfering with the negotiations at some point which ended up with this outcome as a result.

 

[RandAlThor]

From the rumours about what happened and both this statement and all the girls statements as well as a some other things I am inclined to believe Hybe/Big Hit started interfering with the negotiations at some point which ended up with this outcome as a result.

great so not i hate bh even more :)

 

[VillageIdiot]

There's a lot to this that's just bugging me really bad.

I'm honestly worried Hybe is gonna have them blocked or blacklisted.

 

[Abeamus]

There's a lot to this that's just bugging me really bad.

I'm honestly worried Hybe is gonna have them blocked or blacklisted.

Would be pretty weird in this scenario as they only seem to have gotten rid of them for the NGG rather than any real behind the scenes issues.

 

[VillageIdiot]

Would be pretty weird in this scenario as they only seem to have gotten rid of them for the NGG rather than any real behind the scenes issues.

Maybe I'm reading into it too much but them waiting until this year to trademark the name seems like a red flag. Or just really really petty

 

[Abeamus]

Maybe I'm reading into it too much but them waiting until this year to trademark the name seems like a red flag. Or just really really petty

It's either they wanted to make sure they owned the songs as a constant source of money or they're making sure they own the footage and are going to mediaplay the NGG as the next Gfriend as Soumu did Gfriend with SNSD.

 

[VillageIdiot]

It's either they wanted to make sure they owned the songs as a constant source of money or they're making sure they own the footage and are going to mediaplay the NGG as the next Gfriend as Soumu did Gfriend with SNSD.

Or stop the girls from promoting their individual careers with the Gfriend name.
Companies can get really ugly over the rights to the name. T-ara won only because of a technicality and Beast had to revamp completely.

I just hope Soumu and Hybe are worth even 5 of the credit they got and it doesn't come to that
Maybe it's my inner drama addict that always jumps to the worst. They could just be trying to get money like you said

 

[Abeamus]

Or stop the girls from promoting their individual careers with the Gfriend name.
Companies can get really ugly over the rights to the name. T-ara won only because of a technicality and Beast had to revamp completely.

I just hope Soumu and Hybe are worth even 5 of the credit they got and it doesn't come to that
Maybe it's my inner drama addict that always jumps to the worst. They could just be trying to get money like you said

I don't think being able to call themselves former Gfriend member ______ changes anything really though since it doesn't give them anything having that in their title that actually being a member of Gfriend didn't already.

Between Sowon saying about performing again and this statement from Soumu saying they'll support the members in their new careers it doesn't sound like Hybe cares for the individual careers however if they try and re-debut the group I wouldn't rule out them caring then as that'd be a blow to Hybes ego for them to just be able to re-debut.

 

[blueberries]

I hope it wasnt because of hybe. It would suck if perfectly fine group and fanbase was ruined just by money hungry corp

 

[Panda]

See, now this just points out that neither the company or the members knew this was gonna happen

 

[RandAlThor]

I don't think being able to call themselves former Gfriend member ______ changes anything really though since it doesn't give them anything having that in their title that actually being a member of Gfriend didn't already.

Between Sowon saying about performing again and this statement from Soumu saying they'll support the members in their new careers it doesn't sound like Hybe cares for the individual careers however if they try and re-debut the group I wouldn't rule out them caring then as that'd be a blow to Hybes ego for them to just be able to re-debut.

bh ego needs some blows

 

[Abeamus]

bh ego needs some blows

I wouldn't have any objection to it and the potential support they get from Buddy could outweight being blacklisted as they'd be set with just the support they were getting already.