After having a look at Ok-pop’s largest companies, I’d like to show my consideration to the smaller (however nonetheless necessary) gamers within the Ok-pop sport, three at a time.
Disclaimer: As with my write-ups on Ok-Pop’s largest companies, that is written from an outsider’s perspective. I’m not aware about any business-related monetary data past what every other fan would know. The aim of those articles is to look at how nicely these companies are serving their artists and the final Ok-pop fan-base.
WM ENTERTAINMENT
I’m actually solely maintaining 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 significantly formidable over the previous few years. They gained main factors for dealing with ONF’s enlistment so nicely 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 comfortable to attend.
Oh My Lady stay the most important “what if?” in WM’s roster. That they had all of the makings of a prime tier woman group, however for no matter purpose the company simply type 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, however it 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 once 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 nicely, however it will solely concentrate on their Korean work.
To start out off, the company flunks 2024 as a result of their therapy 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. Aside from a stint on Street 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 nicely for them. But it surely’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.
D-
143 ENTERTAINMENT
Nicely, at the moment their CEO has sexual misconduct allegations leveled towards him which have compelled idol Gaeun out of her group (MADEIN) simply weeks after its debut. So… issues are going fairly nicely, proper?
This company can also be dwelling to iKON, who didn’t launch a factor this yr (they toured as an alternative). That leaves us with these sexual misconduct allegations being 143’s largest “achievement” of the yr.
F
