TWS, set to make their comeback tomorrow, has surpassed 500,000 pre-orders, signaling a continuous popularity surge. This number is more than double the pre-order total of their debut album 'Sparkling Blue' (240,809 copies).
TWS achieved half a million sales with their debut album 'Sparkling Blue'. The album showed impressive achievements by selling an additional 200,000 copies after its first month, driven by the long-lasting popularity of the title track 'Plot Twist'
Considering this trend, expectations are high for TWS to join the 'Million Seller' ranks this year, with their steady, step-by-step growth.
Meanwhile, Tours' second mini-album 'Summer Beat!' will be released on the 24th at 6 PM.
-I love all of TWS' songs. I'm looking forward to this one too. Personally, I liked "Oh My My" better than the title track.
-Can't wait for the 24th. I really want to listen to their new song.
-TWS' songs are really good.
-They're under HYBE, aren't they?
-Why criticize them for this? Did they really deserve all this hate just because of an article about their pre-order sales?
-How high will they rank on Melon this time?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-TWS has so many good songs...ㅠㅠㅠ
-I like their songs.
-Reading the comments makes me want to support them. Fighting, TWS!
-Having been in the idol fandom for a long time, I’ve seen groups that get heavily criticized but then become really popular. If you don’t want TWS to succeed, just ignore them. Groups that get this much criticism either fade away or blow up.
-The comments are scary. They might become more successful because of thisㅋㅋㅋ
-It’s funny how people come here and leave nasty comments while blaming the company. Just admit you’re a haterㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The Kpop market has recently been experiencing remarkable expansion, with its influence and industry revenue significantly increasing.
However, the future outlook for Kpop is not so bright.
A report has emerged indicating that the number of trainees aspiring to become idols is significantly decreasing.
Reporter Kwak Hyunsoo investigates the reasons behind this trend.
[Reporter]
A practice studio in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
'PICKUS,' a group formed through a broadcast audition program last year, is in the midst of choreography practice.
This multinational group has endured a varied range of period of time as trainees, ranging from a few months to several years, to achieve their dream of debuting.
[Park Mingeun, PICKUS]
“I started my trainee life when I was 19 years old, and it's been about five years now. Constant evaluations caused a lot of stress.”
Overcoming national borders and language barriers was challenging, but he endured it all with hopes for the future.
[Kotaro, PICKUS]
“After watching BTS's 'Dynamite' music video, I realized there was such a wonderful and beautiful world out there. That’s when I started dreaming of the K-pop world.”
However, the number of trainees, who have been a strong support for K-pop, has recently seen a sharp decline.
According to data released by the Korea Creative Content Agency, the number of K-pop trainees affiliated with entertainment agencies dropped from 1,895 in 2020 to 1,170 by the end of 2022. This represents a 38.3% decrease in just two years.
Not only has the number of aspiring trainees decreased, but the proportion of trainees voluntarily quitting after joining an agency has also increased.
The debut rate of trainees have dropped from about 80% in 2016 to about 65% in 2022, a decline of roughly 20%.
[Lee Minwoo / Team Leader of KoDATA Solutions]
“As the rate of trainees debuting as celebrities declines, smaller agencies are increasingly giving up on training new trainees.”
What are the reasons behind this decrease in K-pop trainees?
Industry insiders point to the changing career preferences of teenagers as the main reason.
According to the annual career education survey by the Ministry of Education, the popularity of being a singer among elementary students dropped from 6th place in 2009 to 9th place between 2019 and 2021. Among middle school students, the dream of become a singer fell from 7th place in 2009 to outside the top 10 after 2019. For high school students, the position of singer has not been in the top 10 since 2009.
[An Entertainment Agency Official]
“Compared to the uncertain outcome of becoming a successful singer after a long trainee period, influencers can generate income more quickly and see immediate results.”
Despite the remarkable boom in the K-pop market over the past few years, the industry is facing difficulties in securing future K-pop talents.
-The number of births from 2002 to 2015 is similar, so it has nothing to do with the birth rate. The significant decrease in the number of trainees between 2020 and 2022 can’t be blamed on the birth rate. Small companies couldn’t survive due to COVID-19.
-And these days, tall and handsome kids say they don’t want to be celebritiesㅋㅋㅋ They can manage their Instagram, live as influencers, date whoever they want, enjoy nightlife, and still make good moneyㅋㅋㅋ They just don’t want to manage their image after debutingㅋㅋㅋ
-Given the declining birth rate, it’s only natural.
-It's simply because there aren't any kids now.
-This is how it should be; the bubble is bursting.
-Being an idol nowadays means doing a lot of tedious tasks. Not just being busy with schedules like before, but dealing with things like paid video calls. There are more things to do apart from singing, so I understand why it's less appealing.
-If you’re good-looking, you can just become an influencerㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Agencies without the ability to properly nurture talents shouldn’t make idols. I feel sorry for those who can’t even properly debut.
-It's the same in other fields.
-It's becoming difficult for small companies to survive in K-pop...
-Most idols, except those in major companies, don’t make money, so it’s totally understandable...
-Everyone's dreaming of becoming influencers these days.
The title track 'No Songs Can Express Me' is about the process of the present fading away. The song was composed by singer and producer Yoonsang and K.Will, and the lyrics were written by Kim Eana.
Following the official concept of "the process of the present fading away," this music video is interpreted on the premise of a "time loop."
For convenience, the character played by Ahn Jaehyun is referred to as "Ahn" and the character played by Seo Inguk is referred to as "Guk."
Note that this interpretation follows the opinion that the events in the video occur in chronological order.
-> Guk smoking a cigarette = the last event in the timeline
1. They reunite at a mutual acquaintance's funeral after 10 years.
They exchange phone numbers at Ahn's suggestion.
2. After reuniting, they often meet and reconnect.
-Guk learns that Ahn is divorced.
-Guk attempts to kiss Ahn while drunk.
3. For some reason, Ahn dies afterward.
*Up to this point is the first timeline = Guk's perspective in the teaser
Guk repeatedly goes back in time to save Ahn but fails.
From here, it's the main part of the music video = Ahn's perspective
*The broken clock
Guk's failed attempts to go back in time
No more options left
+There's a possibility that it was a trace from the accident since it's a keepsake of Ahn, who is deceased now
4. This time, Ahn knows that something has changed (Guk is surprised)
*Ahn (Blackberry) and Guk (iPhone) exchange numbers
From Guk's perspective, Ahn is a "being from the past" and Guk is a "being from the future," intersecting at a point.
5. They start reconnecting, and Guk feels brief happiness.
6. However, to avoid Ahn's death, Guk suppresses his emotions.
He doesn't attempt to kiss the sleeping Ahn.
Instead, he gives Ahn the watch that acts as a time-travel medium.
(Behind-the-scenes not shown in the MV)
7. Guk confesses his feelings in the tunnel.
8. However, as Guk returns upon Ahn's call,
He disappears in front of Ahn's eyes.
-> He vanishes instead of Ahn.
9. When Ahn comes to his senses, he finds himself at Guk's funeral.
The vanished Guk is now dead.
Ahn realizes the truth upon seeing the watch on Guk's wrist.
The intact clock - implies Ahn still has a chance or suggests that Ahn's accident was "undone."
10. This time, Ahn returns to the funeral where they reunited.
It's possible that Ahn also made several attempts to save Guk afterward.
11. Ahn knows everything but only watches Guk leave to save him.
-> The "present" that has vanished
12. Due to Ahn's return, Guk is in a reset state, knowing nothing.
Guk realizes Ahn was also at the funeral and smokes a cigarette, muttering "I missed you" in a low, murmuring voice
"There's no breakup song that suits me"
(NB: Literal translation of the song title)
Their meeting (reunion) itself has "vanished," making any breakup impossible.
The music video stars actors Seo Inguk and Ahn Jaehyun, who were the main characters in K.Will's 2012 music video "Please Don’t." The video gained attention with its bold setup of Seo Inguk's character having an unrequited love for his same-sex friend Ahn Jaehyun. Even 12 years later, the video is still discussed, and the two have earned the nickname "World Gay." This new music video tells the story 10 years after "Please Don’t," with an even more intense atmosphere.
Also, the timeline of this music video is set in 2022, two years prior to the "present."
*I'll add the comment left by Commenter #32:
This seems to be a story from two years ago since BlackBerry's service ended in 2022.
What I mean is the servers were shut down. So even if you have it, it won't work even with a SIM card. I know this because I was thinking of buying one and read an article and user reviews about it yesterdayㅎㅎ
Ahn using a BlackBerry
= The timeline of the main story is at least before 2022.
-This is so much fun. The music video is really well made. We just need the third part now.
-Wow... The interpretation is funㅠㅠ
-Wow, this interpretation is crazy.
-I can only say it’s crazy. I’m so grateful for this.
-This is it!
-This is really amazing. Out of everything so far, this is the most natural interpretation. Now please give us a third part about their happy life in 2024 as soon as possible. I can't wait for the next album, so it'd be great if you include the continuation of this story as a B-side track in this album, Hyungsoo-ssi!
-They made a short film with this music video. It's so fun.
-The song feels like early 2000s popㅋㅋㅋ It has that Hilary Duff kind of lively vibe? Love the song~~~~
-I don't understand the meaning of the music video, but it makes my heart flutterㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
-I really like this song... I had a lot of K-pop autoplaying on YouTube, and this one really fits my taste, so I'll make sure to remember the titleㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Wow, they released a music video for this.
-I wish someone would interpret the meaning behind the music video
-It's so refreshing and beautiful... Right now, Aespa is my summer... 🥺
-The music video is really good... It feels like watching a movie; I want to see an interpretation of it.
-This song is good.
-It somehow sounds very familiar to me, it's like I've heard it beforeㅋㅋㅋ
-What, did they release a new song again?
-I really like this song.
-The song is so good; I'm putting it on repeat on my way to work...
This year's 'Idol Star Athletics Championships' is scheduled to be recorded in early August, and currently, it is in the process of arranging various sports events.
According to multiple officials, this year's 'Idol Star Athletics Championships' is expected to showcase idols in various sports including futsal, golf, and relay races, revealing new aspects of the idols."
-There's a lot of talk about environmental issues, and they choose golf of all things. Who's planning this?
-Do idols' fans really like golf?
-🤦♀️ How long are they going to do this....
-The weather is so hot, the idols might faint...ㅠ
-Seriously, who among the idol fans likes golf?
-Instead of Idol Star Athletics Championships, they should do something like an idol cooking competition... Give them ingredients and show a finished product (like a pretty cake) and have them replicate it!!
-Why golf instead of bowling... How can they play golf outside in August, it's so hot you could die.
-They should do E-Sports instead...
-They should do E-Sports instead, that would be more interesting even if I don't know the idols.
-Did they want to get criticized?
-Who's going to watch golf?
-Golf?... Really....?
-Ahh, there are so many non-injurious sports other than golf.
MBC's "Idol Star Athletics Championships" will resume after a two-year hiatus.
According to a June 20th report by News1, this year's 'Idol Star Athletics Championships' will be held again during the Chuseok holiday. This marks the event's return after a two-year absence since its Chuseok special in 2022.
This year's 'Idol Star Athletics Championships' is scheduled to be recorded in early August, and currently, various sports events, including futsal, golf, and relay races, are being arranged.
According to multiple sources, this year's 'Idol Star Athletics Championships' is expected to showcase idols in a variety of sports, allowing viewers to see new aspects of their favorite idols.
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