Producer with no Regrets - Chapter 818



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Episode 818 Epilogue: Young Forever (4)

When did it start? People with hopes and dreams began to be looked at with cold eyes.

‘Please take good care of me, senior!’

Park Su-ryeon inwardly laughed at her juniors who greeted her with dazzling eyes.

I have been looking down on and ignoring the dream colors that they exude with their whole body.

‘Those guys who can’t even keep up with my toes… … .’

They call it the spirit of a rookie.

Those who entered this industry with the ambition that they could achieve anything were nauseating to look at.

‘Can’t you grasp the topic?’

Unless you’re a big agency, you’ll only get so-so success.

If it is even slightly successful, it will be mentioned on broadcasts and SNS like a storm for a moment, and then disappear like a storm.

That’s all.

‘That’s all the meaning your life has.’

So, don’t greet me with that bright face.

‘I’ve only gotten this far.’

But what can you guys do?

Just seeing her juniors greet her with bright faces gave Park Su-ryeon goosebumps. Just having hope made her feel as if they were belittling and trampling on her.

Now that I think about it, Park Su-ryeon was jealous of them. She was jealous of them even though they still had potential.

Why were you jealous and envious?

Because Park Su-ryeon gave up.

‘How long has it been?’

I spent the night unable to sleep because I was excited about tomorrow’s big stage.

After finishing the stage, he let out a relieved sigh and smiled brightly.

‘When was the last time?’

Even when I look back on my memories, they only seem like a faint past.

‘I’m tired.’

There is no more business in this industry.

Park Soo-ryun will soon complete her seven-year contract. She has not yet decided whether to renew her contract or not.

In fact, my mind was leaning towards ‘not doing it’. The more I watched Caius’ activities, the stronger that feeling became. It was because I realized it.

‘We were just lab rats.’

He was just a lab rat created to produce the finished product called Caius.

The limitations of the BWS were completely revealed long ago, and there is no sign of a rebound.

The initial sales of up to 100,000 copies will be the final achievement of the 7-year-old group B.I.S.

So, do you have any regrets?

‘doesn’t exist.’

When Caius made his comeback with ‘Time’, he ran into Erica in the KS Enter break room.

Then Erica asked.

Do you have any regrets?

Park Su-ryeon answered like this.

‘None. I’ve received many music awards. I’ve made a lot of money. I’ve been doing it until I’m sick of it, as if being number one on the charts is a given. The concerts were fun, and I think I’ve had a good time overall.’

That’s enough.

I didn’t want to stay ugly any longer and watch the Byes decline further.

The perfect upper-compatibility of the V-Series, even the great junior Erica said this.

‘I wanted to be like Darkest, but I couldn’t. Do you know why?’

‘It’s because our senior, the leader of B1A4, is so sloppy and doesn’t put his heart into everything.’

‘That’s enough, that’s okay. If you want to say something like that, if you want to act like a senior, sell at least 1 million copies before you say anything.’

I totally agree.

That would be really funny.

The achievements of debuting as a member of BYS after beating odds of tens of thousands to one are pitiful compared to the peak performers of their time.

Perhaps, BBS could be recorded as a stain on KS Entertainment.

‘These are the results of receiving the best training, the best production, and the best management… ‘

It’s been 7 years and the initial sales are only 100,000 copies. In the past year or two, there have been many groups that have sold 100,000 copies just by debuting.

We need to come down before it gets any uglier.

How beautiful are the petals that fall knowing when to fall. It is heartbreaking that they disappear without leaving any achievements or traces.

‘I won’t renew the contract, it’s the end, everything, this damn idol too… … .’

But, as Erica said.

‘You’re just doing it half-heartedly because you have nothing more to achieve and no hope of achieving it. Not me. I’m desperate.’

Park Su-ryeon has nothing more to achieve and no hope of achieving it.

That doesn’t mean I’m being sloppy.

It’s not that I slacked off on practicing, saying, “Just try being Erica X.”

The reason I felt exhausted and floundered every time I practiced was because ‘Portrait in You’ was no longer at a level that required practice.

For Park Su-ryeon, ‘Portrait in You’ is like the four basic operations.

You don’t need to practice to get good at it.

‘It may have seemed like a sloppy job to you.’

I can’t do a performance that will bring shame to KS Entertainment just because I gave up.

I can’t leave a stain on my juniors’ stage just because I finished it alone.

Because the stage of B1A4’s Park Su-ryeon is filled with the weight of the B1A4 members, KS Entertainment, and producer Jung Ho-hwan.

The flame that Park Soo-ryeon has lit hundreds of times is condensed in her hand. With one gesture and one look, she sets the audience on fire. She naturally absorbs the enthusiasm and emits even greater light.

The place where idols shine is not an interview room, a photo shoot set, or a variety show studio.

stage.

There is only a stage.

So, when an idol reaches the top… … .

‘like this.’

It is possible to bring the audience to a climax with the end of the stage.

As soon as the music stopped, cheers erupted as if they had been waiting for it.

Even though I was wearing headphones, I could tell that I was cheering because the audience’s mouths were wide open.

It was because the cheers pierced through the earphones.

He felt Erica’s gaze glancing at him from the side. Park Soo-ryeon slightly raised her chin and responded to her gaze.

‘Is this enough?’

* * *

Chaotic Energy member Baek Su-hyeon.

Despite the discomfort of sitting on the award ceremony chair for the first time, he maintained a stable posture.

I was so absorbed in watching Park Su-ryeon and Erica’s performance.

I thought at the same time.

‘thank god.’

and.

‘sorry.’

Baek Su-hyeon apologized to his older sister, Baek Seol-ha, inwardly.

It was an apology for the words or verbal abuse he had said to Baek Seol-ha in the past.

‘It may sound harsh, but I really, really think I’m going to hate you… … .’

Baek Soo-hyun had a hard time withstanding his sister’s halo surrounding him. He wanted to prove his abilities without that halo.

But when I see that stage, I realize how immature my words were.

‘I’m not unlucky, but rather… … .’

You are lucky.

That shining image of Keirus on stage is not something he does alone.

The legacy that had been built up over generations was concentrated in Caius like rainwater dripping down the eaves.

Caius is a picture.

It means the topmost piece in a thick stack of paintings. People only see the top piece, but there are hundreds of sketches underneath.

The layers of time laid out one on top of another are overwhelming in themselves.

Up until now, people are more fascinated by that stage because there is time that has accumulated to reach the present result.

It is the brilliance of history.

‘If I, Chaotic Energy, were the first group in the horizontal enter… … .’

How lonely it must be to be the first painting to stand on that stage.

The Girls’ League was like that.

Baek Soo-hyun recalled the time when her older sister came to her parents’ house one year after her debut with Girls’ League.

Baek Soo-hyun asked about the Rookie of the Year award without any clue.

My older sister answered weakly.

‘I can’t accept it now.’

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given to idols.

The name Rookie of the Year may seem frivolous at first glance, but it was the most certain proof of the possibility of winning the grand prize.

What would my sister have been thinking at that time?

Perhaps, like Baek Soo-hyun, he would not have been able to comfortably say something like, ‘It was meaningful because I took on the challenge without the halo of my senior.’

I would have wanted to get it by any means necessary.

‘What did my sister think of me?’

Looking at my younger brother and junior who stubbornly denies the existence of my older sister and senior, saying that I think they would hate me.

What kind of mind did Snow White have?

Also, what would it have felt like to see Caius standing at that high starting line with the brilliant history of his seniors beneath his feet?

It must have been a pain that is difficult to express even with the word despair.

Baek Soo-hyun was a child who would naively throw a tantrum even after getting what his older sister had been hoping for.

‘Sorry, sis.’

and.

‘thank you.’

What Baek Soo-hyun has is not a cowardly halo.

It is the proud history of our seniors.

So, straighten your shoulders and back and move forward confidently.

To be grateful to the seniors who helped them get to this point, and to not be ashamed of the future juniors who will be watching this scene.

[Male Rookie of the Year, Chaotic Energy!]

* * *

Debut album ‘Sweetened Chaos’.

Debut initial sales: 106,0** copies.

Chaotic Energy, Rookie of the Year.

‘of course.’

Everyone in the industry watching the HPT Music Awards thought so.

It has become commonplace for an album to sell over 100,000 copies in its first week since its debut, but that is only true for those from major entertainment agencies.

It was a fact that only Sungpil knew, but it was also a story that was only applicable within the girl group scene where the 4th generation had begun faster than the past life he remembered.

‘It is not easy for a boy group to make a high debut without going through a survival program.’

This is a difference in the fandom patterns of girl groups and boy groups.

The majority of K-pop fandom is female.

And being a fan of a boy group is like having a boyfriend. The loyalty of the fandom is so strong that it won’t be broken no matter how much the company throws a tantrum.

That’s why it’s difficult for a boy group to create a fandom right from their debut. That means they become the fans’ boyfriends as soon as they appear.

In the established K-pop fandom pie, increasing your fan base means stealing fans from the other side. In other words, you’re making your fans change their boyfriends.

This may be an inappropriate example, but wouldn’t it take a lot of time to seduce a woman who has a boyfriend?

‘It takes a lot of time to build a fandom through communication.’

That’s why the production cost of boy groups is higher. This is because they have to look at a longer period of time than girl groups to make a profit.

However, Chaotic Energy achieved sales of 100,000 copies in their first week of debut despite not being a large agency.

This is an achievement that will become a new horizon for the history of entertainment.

And producer Son Hye-bin, who opened up new horizons.

“Ahhh… … .”

She burst into tears, her shoulders shaking. She covered her face with her palms and sobbed bitterly.

Seongpil put his hand on her shoulder and patted it gently.

“Congratulations, Sister.”

President Hong Gyu-heon and other executives congratulated her with applause and warm words.

“Director Son, thank you for coming to Garo Enter. It’s worth considering replacing the general producer.”

“… … Are you, are you the president?”

“I believed in Director Son. This year’s producer award will belong to Director Son.”

“Director Han… … ?”

“I knew you could do it. This is the first rookie award from Garo Enter.”

“Do I have to say it’s the first… … .”

“Thank you all… … .”

Son Hye-bin lifted her face, wiping her eyes. She smiled faintly and glanced around at her colleagues.

“Huhhhh… … .”

And then I cried again.

On TV, Kim Samuel was giving his thoughts. Sungpil took out a tissue and wiped away her tears.

“Sister, you have to watch Samuel’s comments in real time. You can only enjoy it at this moment.”

“Huh-huh… … .”

[… … do it, everyone.]

“It’s over?!”

“That’s why it should have stopped quickly.”

Kim Samuel passed the mic to Baek Soo Hyun.

It seemed like the two had agreed on something beforehand.

[Ah, first of all, I would like to thank Mr. Hong Gyu-heon, CEO of Garo Enter, for his unwavering support.]

“It looks like Samuel gave the comments and Su-hyeon gave the thanks.”

“Sister, that’s a relief. Your name will be called.”

“Are you recording?”

“Does the television have a recording function… …?”

Anyway, Son Hye-bin focused on the broadcast again. This time, she even opened her eyes wide as if she was determined not to miss a single word.

[I would like to express my sincere gratitude and love to Producer Son Hye-bin, General Producer Park Sung-pil, Management Director Min Kyung-seop, and all the staff and employees of Garo Entertainment who always provide me with chaotic energy.]

“… … Did you have my name?”

[We send our love to the fathers and mothers who gave birth to our Chaotic Energy members.]

“Oh, well, I can’t help it. There’s a time limit… … .”

[And senior.]

Baek Soo-hyun’s words were cut off for a moment. His throat moved up and down greatly, and he lowered his head with a tearful voice.

[Thank you to all the seniors of the Girls’ League who worked hard to help us be born. We are here because of our seniors.]

“He said he could be born. Does he know what he’s talking about?”

While Son Hye-bin was listening to Baek Soo-hyun’s smiling thanks.

[Sister.]

Baek Soo-hyun called his older sister.

Everyone flinched.

Because Baek Soo-hyun was extremely sensitive about revealing the fact that Baek Seol-ha was his older sister. He even asked Seong-pil not to use that fact as a promotional element.

[Snow Ha-je, I dream of becoming an idol… … .]

Kim Samuel showed Baek Soo-hyun the watch he was wearing on his left wrist.

[ah.]

Baek Soo-hyun cleared his throat and spoke again.

[I would like to express my special thanks to my older sister, Seol-ha of the Girls’ League. She is my proud blood relative who planted the dream of becoming an idol in me.]

The staff members cleverly captured Baek Seol-ha on camera. Baek Seol-ha opened her eyes wide like a startled animal, then covered her mouth and started to cry.

Subtitles interpreting Baek Soo-hyun’s words appeared on the screen after a time difference.

[… … Eeeeeeeeeeeeek?!]

The audience shouted as if they had planned it.

As if he couldn’t hear the people’s confusion, Baek Soo-hyun turned the microphone to another member with a relieved expression.

[Minna (everyone)! Arigatou (thank you)!]

Even as Yuuto gave his acceptance speech, jumping up and down, and then moving on to Colbert and then Im Han-gyeol, the camera captured the chaotic energy in full shot.

Baek Su-hyeon proudly looks down at Baek Seol-ha on stage, and Baek Seol-ha looks up at him, moved by her younger sister.

* * *

People in the entertainment industry share information quickly.

This is because group chats that connect people in the industry are active. Managers talk to each other, producers talk to each other, and representatives talk to each other.

It’s a kind of wire network for quickly sharing information that is beneficial to both parties.

And now that the HPT Music Awards are underway, that telegram network is in turmoil.

[Received the Chaotic Energy Rookie of the Year Award.]

[There was a set group to receive it.]

[Woo Hyo-min was like that too… … .]

Yes, that’s right.

Chaotic Energy and Woohyomin deserved the award. And this was a very strange thing.

[If this is the case, wouldn’t all the artists affiliated with Garo Enter get an award?]

Even for mid-sized entertainment companies, it is difficult for all of their artists to receive awards at awards ceremonies.

Producing and management capabilities are limited resources. It is very difficult to intensively care for all artists in one year.

This is a difficult problem even for large entertainment companies that have separate departments and headquarters for each artist. That is why there are years when groups do not make a comeback at all.

however.

[Is this real?]

Horizontal Enter is doing just that.

In a company with about 30 employees, they produce, manage, and guarantee the perfection of four groups (including Woo Hyo-min) in a single year, winning an award each.

[How could that be…?]

At this point, it seems as if Garo Enter is underreporting the number of employees and operating.

Or maybe there is a god of producing and management who controls all schedules with a concentration that is unbelievable for a human.

The most realistic rumor was that the company worked in two shifts 24 hours a day, like a factory. This rumor came from an industry insider who witnessed the lights in Garo Enter’s second-floor office never going out.

[I heard that producer Park Sung-pil works overtime every day.]

The tip came from a chat room where producers gathered.

[Does that make sense?]

Of course, people didn’t believe it.

A person of Sungpil’s caliber is not easy to deal with even for the president. Industry insiders predict that the president of Garo Entertainment will let Sungpil off even if he slaps him once.

[But you make me work overtime every day?]

[What if you run away?]

[What if we leave out our affiliated artists?]

Of course, Seongpil may not be such an immoral person, but how could he make us work overtime every day…?

Anyway, the rumors about Garo Enter continued to spread. This was because the results were difficult to understand without making up some reason.

Isn’t that right?

How can a planning company that was barely making money until last year, just a one-tool for the Girls’ League, have such capabilities?

[Could it be that large planning companies or distributors are buying shares and supplementing manpower?]

It was hard to believe unless you thought about it that way.

The success of Garo Enter seemed to say this.

‘You haven’t been successful until now because you didn’t try hard.’

The Girls’ League has emerged?

That could be the case.

It might be a one-time hit.

But how come Woohyomin, Waypercent, and Chaotic Energy all became hits in succession?

The more we talked, the more opinions from industry insiders converged.

[Park Sung-pil]

The human presence is the driving force.

The god of producing lives in Garo Enter.

If he has achieved the absurd feat of making four of his artists hit it big in just one year, then what else could he be if not a god?

When Way Percent finally won the main prize, people had no energy left to admire it.

And their thoughts naturally flowed as the HPT Music Awards production team intended. It was impossible for their thoughts not to extend that way.

[Garo Enter and KS Enter… … .]

Let’s compare the awards we’ve received so far.

Garo Enter has one rookie award and two main awards.

KS Entertainment has three awards: Best Female Vocal Performance, Best Male Dance Performance, and one main award.

In terms of quality, KS Enter is superior. This can be seen as a decisive victory for KS Enter.

But, the weight class difference is this big… … .

[KS Entertainment has three albums out of dozens (including all affiliates, excluding solo artists and only counting idols), and Garo Enter has… … .]

I’ve released four albums and won three awards so far.

People start to think.

If we look at this year as a battle between Garo Entertainment and KS Entertainment, as the HPT Music Awards led us to… … .

[Isn’t KS Entertainment the real deal?]

* * *

After finishing his performance on the opening ceremony stage, Bugbug sat in a corner of the waiting area like a sack of barley.

The idols nearby seemed to know each other and talked to each other often, but since Bugbug couldn’t speak Korean, no one spoke to him.

A few idols who could speak a little Japanese greeted us, but that was the end of it.

But no one felt left out by such a pointless thing. They were busy just watching the stage.

‘amazing.’

Miyoko felt a sense of awe.

The level of every stage is beyond imagination. It’s on a whole other level than watching music videos or broadcast footage.

The expression ‘war of the stars’ was appropriate.

‘It’s different from the big stages I’ve been on… … .’

It was a bit of a stretch to call it a big stage.

Just like rock festivals, there are idol festivals in each region of Japan where only idols gather.

Not only famous idols, but also underground idols sometimes appear if they get a chance.

At that time, Miyoko had seen almost all the major idols. At that time, she thought she had a lot to study, but today, when she saw the HPT Music Awards in person, it was… … .

‘It just looks like child’s play.’

When talented people are blessed with education, they can do things like that.

Every moment was a wonder.

I think I understand why K-pop is so popular globally.

With a comprehensive performance combining dance and song as their main weapon, which is hard to find in any country these days, and a pretty and cool cover added to that, there’s no way it wouldn’t be popular…

[■■■■■!]

The presenters change every time the awards are announced. I guess they are probably famous Korean actors, as they are not necessarily all pretty and cool people.

What the new actor says.

Images and videos of various groups flashed across the screen. The actor paused for a moment before saying the name of one of the groups.

“Oh, this time it’s the other side.”

Wakana, who was noisy, let out a regretful sound.

Bugbug made a simple bet: which of the two people sitting across from him would get up first: Enter or the man sitting across from him.

At first glance, the seating arrangement was clearly designed for the two to fight, so naturally Bugbug recognized that the two sides were fighting.

On the other side of Garo Enter, one group from KS Enter rose up.

They turn around and go up onto the stage.

And at that moment, Miyoko felt an aura that she couldn’t feel from others. It seemed like it was the same for everyone else.

“Wow, he’s handsome.”

They are handsome and have beautiful bodies. All four of them who went up on stage were like that.

“Something… … .”

Qualitatively different.

I definitely feel that way.

Finally, Japanese subtitles appeared on the screen. Miyoko read them.

“Grand Prize… … .”

Album of the year.

PTR―17.

* * *

Zion, the leader of PTR-17, stood up without showing any sign of surprise when his name was called.

As he stood up and headed towards the stage, he bowed briefly to his seniors.

To the Byes, to the Butes, to the Darkest.

To the shining history of KS Entertainment, who laid the groundwork before them and brought them glory.

‘thank you.’

The seniors also applauded as if it was natural.

‘Director Jeong Ho-hwan, are you watching?’

As he headed to the stage, Zion thought of Jeong Ho-hwan.

‘Our victory is the result of our efforts, as well as the credit of our seniors, and ultimately, it is proof that the director was right.’

That is why I dedicate this award to you. It is an honor that you deserve.

‘There is no WTP anymore.’

In a den without wolves, the fox is the leader… … I don’t want to say that, but I can’t help it. WTP was an existence outside the norm that no one in the world could have expected.

Conversely, once standards and order return, the top spot is, as always, KS Enter.

Zion stood on stage and spoke while holding the microphone.

“thank you.”

His eyes glanced briefly somewhere.

To the junior, Caius. To Erika, the leader of Caius. Those eyes seemed to be saying this.

‘You get ready too.’

He was telling his junior that he had to take his due glory and his due victory.

Erica’s eyes fluttered for a moment as she caught his gaze. Then she glanced back.

Looking back, I could see at a glance the seniors who had carved a glorious history before me.

“… … .”

At last year’s awards ceremony, I said this to Baek Seol-ha.

He said that he was not proud of receiving the award because he was at KS Entertainment.

“To the fans who have supported me without sparing any effort, the staff at KS Entertainment who have always supported me in both material and spiritual ways, and my seniors.”

He is an idol from KS Entertainment.

The cutting edge of K-pop.

That fact was her armor and her sword.

But now, that fact stabbed Erica’s heart with painful sharpness.

“I convey my gratitude and love beyond words.”

PTR―17.

Album ‘Symphony’.

Initial sales: 3,139.5** copies.

* * *

Horizontal Enter.

One rookie award and two main awards.

KS Enter.

Best Female Vocal Performance Award.

Best Male Dance Performance Award.

One main prize.

And, one target.

This has tilted the table sharply. The Grand Prix is ​​considered the highest honor. All other awards combined cannot exceed the weight of the Grand Prix.

Receiving the award means being the best of the year.

It also means representative of K-pop.

If there is someone who wants to get into pop music, what would you recommend to someone who enjoys pop music?

It would be the winner of that year’s Grammy Awards. The Grammy Awards is an awards ceremony that symbolizes the American music industry itself, and the Grand Prix at that awards ceremony would be a song that represents the pop industry.

The grand prize at the HPT Music Awards is the same.

With this, KS Entertainment has earned the right to represent K-pop itself, at least for the next year. It has earned the honor of being the best agency for about a year.

again.

Horizontal Enter.

One rookie award.

Two main prizes.

KS Enter.

Best Female Vocal Performance Award.

Best Male Dance Performance Award.

One main prize.

One target.

KS Enter won.

However, it is not complete yet.

Industry insiders have not reached a conclusion.

because.

[The Girls’ League remains.]

They were not nominated for the main award. Is it because they are not qualified to be nominated?

no.

What this means is:

[Because you are a candidate.]

The entire K-pop scene has its eyes set on the HPT Music Awards.

Can a management company that has only been in business for five years since it began to fully support idols stand up to a symbol of K-pop that boasts over 20 years of history?

KS Entertainment’s idol has a 100% chance of winning the grand prize.

The probability of an idol from a small or medium-sized agency receiving the grand prize is 0%.

Almost, 0%.

That’s why it’s a miracle that an idol from a small agency receives the award. It’s a miracle statistically, not just in rhetorical terms.

again.

The entire K-pop scene has its eyes set on the HPT Music Awards.

To witness the birth of a planning company entering the realm of miracles.

To witness the rise of the producer who achieved miracles.

To witness the miracle idol.

To become a witness to a miracle.

* * *

[Candidate 1 YJS Enter, Lights]

[Candidate 2 SMS Enter, Layered]

[Candidate 3 Garo Enter, Girls’ League]

[Candidate 4 KS Enter, KAUS]

[Candidate 5 KS Enter, PTR―17]

[The grand prize winner, Song of the Year, is… … .]

[congratulations!]

The probability of an idol from a small or medium-sized agency receiving the grand prize is almost 0%.

There was only one case where the 0% wall was broken.

[Girls League!]

So, this was a miracle.