fromtenthousandfeet

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Was MHJ Getting Too Big for Her Britches?

I'm still doing my best to keep a neutral stance on Godzilla vs. Kong (PBD vs. MHJ), but a few more questions and thoughts come to mind.

What's with the timing? Why would HYBE risk blowing up NewJeans right before they release new music? Doesn't the company want and need the profit they generate?

Why did they make this situation so public rather than dealing with the matter swiftly and privately? Did HYBE assume there would be no backlash?

Is it true that MHJ has a non-compete clause in her contract and that it's indefinite, meaning she would never be able to work in the same capacity in the Korean music industry ever again? If so, it's pretty clear why she called herself a slave to HYBE.

Now for some observations.

Min Hee Jin is cooked. As soon as a shareholders' meeting is called, whether forced by the SK courts or simply when the next meeting arrives, there's no way she will survive as CEO given HYBE owns an 80% stake in ADOR, and they will certainly vote her out. She's done for.

I don't think HYBE will continue to support NewJeans. They will no doubt release the 4 songs the group has ready to go, but beyond that, they will likely focus on Illit and other GG within the corporation. If NJ does manage to survive, will the level of care and investment into their success be the same? Who knows.

Love her or hate her, so much of what she says in this interview resonates with me as a life-long music lover. I hope you'll take the time to read it, because it's pretty clear why she and Bang PD probably don't see eye-to-eye on much of anything, at least with the way he moves these days. Here's my favorite quote from this interview: "Some BTS fans want to compare how well one member’s album does over another member’s. BTS is a group that’s been around for 10 years now. They did their duty, basically. So I think it’s time to focus less on the stats and just enjoy their music—[let them] do what they want to do." A million times this!!!!!!!

https://www.fastcompany.com/91113146/k-pops-leading-company-has-declared-war-on-itself-this-never-seen-interview-profiles-the-creative-legend-at-the-center-of-it

Did you see how high NewJeans placed on all those Forbes Korea lists? I wonder if Mr. Bang got wind of the lists ahead of time and blew a fuse? I have this nagging sense that NewJeans and MHJ are getting the same treatment Jimin is getting. BPD just can't deal with anyone who is more successful than he is, especially if they don't use his precious methods, strategies, partnerships. But he needs BTS and he needs Jimin to keep the money flowing. Maybe MHJ and NJ are disposable?

Lastly, I saw the original rumors about the potential cult connection on X/Twitter (before the ALLKPOP article) and the suggestion that MHJ was shading BPD in the OMG video. Despite not being a fan of girl groups, I checked out the full video, and truthfully, I loved it. It's arty, clever, and entertaining. I have no comment on the cult imagery because that's not my area of expertise and I don't really care, tbh. But MHJ, after your music career is destroyed, please come here to the US to make music videos or movies.

Here's the video just for funsies.

#I'm going to get roasted for this post #Youtube

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Music Industry Creeps

Every time I see a photo of Bang PD I’m instantly reminded of this delightful man:

But that’s just me.

#hybe #hybe corrupt

[fromtenthousandfeet]

BTS and Bang Si-Hyuk are mutually exclusive. You can definitely support the former without supporting the latter. I beg you.

[fromtenthousandfeet]

OMG!

shamans! Cults! Ripping off women’s ideas without giving credit! HYYH wasn’t his idea! OMG video is about BPD being crazy!

What a day. Also, I really wish I knew Korean because so much is lost in translation.

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Godzilla vs. Kong, also known as HYBE

First, let me start off by saying I'm not taking sides on the epic battle between HYBE and Min Hee Jin. I'm doing my best to keep up with the press conferences and press releases, but man it's all such a mess. Generally, I reserve the right to think that maybe everyone is a bad guy in this situation, but a few thoughts come to mind:

I can't stand the way powerful women tend to be treated in corporations. While successful men are described as ambitious, skilled, driven, and enterprising, successful women are often described as greedy, psycho, a witch, a bitch. You get the picture. I've seen all of those words used to describe MHJ this week. Social media is a vicious place.

Would you want to work for Bang Si-Hyuk? He strikes me as the world's biggest micro manager. He's the chairman of Hybe Corp. and yet he seems to have his hand in everything. He's obviously the face of Hybe. But shouldn't that be the CEO? And did you know BPD has writing credits on all of Illit's songs? And we know he was very heavily involved in JK's album. In fact, since taking the company public and becoming chairman, he's got writing credits on TXT's songs, Enhypen's songs, Le Sserafim's songs, and more. When does that man sleep?!?

Isn't it strange how Bang PD isn't so enthusiastic about the success of artists he's can't take credit for?

I'm super curious about MHJ's VP, the CPA who initially worked for BigHit at the corporate level and was involved in preparing HYBE's IPO, before moving to ADOR as the second in command. What's his story? Why was he willing to steal what we assume are classified documents? Why was he so gung ho to get ADOR out from underneath HYBE?

I wonder what the CEOs of the other HYBE labels are thinking right now?

Remember when everyone was mad at Bang PD for his association with his soul brother, Scooter Braun? Was that like a million years ago or what?

I've got lots of questions and no answers. I'm reserving the right to believe that there are no good guys in this fight. In fact, show me a single solitary ethical music industry executive! I don't think they exist in the West, so there's no reason to think they exist in South Korea, either.

Speaking of unethical industry execs, I'm planning to do a deep dive into Scooter and Justin Bieber soon. I've been digging up lots of old articles and interviews. And I also want to break down Bang PD's wealth vs. the members of BTS, because that's eye opening as hell.

Keep an open mind. Ask lots of questions. Assume everyone is corrupt. That's my message for today.

EDITED: It feels like I'm taking sides, but I honestly don't care for girl groups in general and I know next to nothing about MHJ. I do know I'm not a big fan of a certain someone.

#hybe #MHJ

[fromtenthousandfeet]

How come you don't post any 'musings' anymore? I miss reading you.

oh, thank you! I have many musings lately - I just haven’t published anything. Now I’m inspired, so watch out! 😂

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Hybe coming out with new statements that included how they “did their best to promote all their artists and labels without any discrimination.”

Unfortunately everybody’s not willfully stupid like armys love to be. Your “best” could not be 9 days worth of half assed promotion, purposefully crippling Jimin’s debut by not awarding him a fair amount of resources, green lighting articles that undermined his success on your own app after barely acknowledging it in the first place and then leaving him out to dry just cause he’s not the favorite and deviated too far from Bang PD’s shitty master plan.

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Ador Claps Back

Well, this statement certainly changes things a bit. Intrigue at HYBE!

https://x.com/kchartsmaster/status/1782360443584966886?s=46&t=d7IK8InExrFtmXu4WWAWMA

#hybe #hybe corrupt

[fromtenthousandfeet]

petty much?

Congratulations to Jimin and to his amazing, hardworking, dedicated fans for getting “Like Crazy” to the 1 billion stream mark. Meanwhile…

The BTS_official X/Twitter account literally celebrates every time Jungkook takes a shit. God forbid they say anything about Jimin’s incredible achievements. HYBE sucks so bad.

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Bang and Scoot Aren’t Going Anywhere

Barf. I knew the goal was to get Western artists on Weverse and here it is. I hate the way Bang PD pushes parasocial relationships between idols and fans. Stay away from the already horrible Western music scene with your unethical methods. Gross.

P. S. Please let Scooter go down with P Diddy.

#hybe corrupt #Hybe

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Jimin’s ‘Alone’ as a dance song? Yes!

The first time I heard ‘Alone’ on Jimin’s Face album I instantly felt that the song was begging for a dance remix. Yes, it’s a melancholy tune, but indulge me a bit. Apparently I wasn’t the only one with this vision because there’s a dance remix on SoundCloud and it’s not bad! Listen and let me know if you agree.

#Jimin

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Jimin and J-Hope have such a beautiful friendship. Also, he knew what was coming…

230710 J-Hope's Letter to Jimin in [EPISODE] 지민 (Jimin) ‘FACE’ Music Show Promotions Sketch

Letter Translation: To. Jimin

Jimin-ah, you've worked so hard during these promotions!! I think this album is even more meaningful because it's your own solo album I feel like it's an album that really makes you excited for what Jimin as an artist will bring in the future! They say that in this world, great things cannot be accomplished without passion. Even if you have to go through countless trials and pain, don't forget the 'passion' you feel right now and I hope you'll continue to show us really cool things in the future as well I'm always cheering you on

Your hope

Trans cr; Aditi & Faith @ bts-trans © TAKE OUT WITH FULL CREDITS

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Gee BigHit, please don’t strain yourself with that single press release to promote Jimin’s new song. In other news, Jimin’s fans are great at promo! 💙💜

#looks like BigHit only has one client now #What’s wrong with HYBE? #Closer Than This

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Bongo

BangPD is equal parts egomaniac and moron.

#bang pd

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Reminder: The company is NOT your friend. You are just a customer.

I’ve never seen anyone ride for a company like I see with this fandom. Bighit/Hybe is not their family. It’s the company they are signed to. The company where they have contractual obligations.

A company that sole purpose is to make money. Do companies always do the right thing, NO. If so, I would still have a BlackBerry.

Not sure if anyone is actually listening or reading Bang’s interviews. He’s telling you exactly where his company is heading. His goal is to bring Koreans to major pop markets and not Kpop specifically to those markets. To show the market that Hybe and Hybe America are working cohesively.

Bang PD “K-pop's business growth has slowed or even turned negative in some markets.”

Artists that don’t want to go the POP road will not align with his plan.

So what happens when you have an artist that doesn’t align with your new business model? Popularity has nothing to do with it.

Michael Jackson called out Sony for not promoting his album enough. Michael said "The recording companies really, really do conspire against the artists”

[Additional Note: Jackson accused Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola of being racist and exploiting black artists for his own gain. Responding to those attacks, Sony issued a statement calling them "ludicrous, spiteful, and hurtful" and defended Mottola as someone who had championed Jackson's career for many years. Sony ultimately refused to renew Jackson's contract and claimed that a $25 million promotional campaign had failed because Jackson refused to tour in the US for Invincible. ]

Prince changed his name to a symbol and wrote slave on his face because Warner Bros. was not giving him creative freedom.

Backstreet Boys sued Jive for focusing on one member too much.

Never put a company over an artist. Contracts are always going to protect the company. Artists make sure you read yours before signing.

[fromtenthousandfeet]

Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber received just under $11M each in shares from HYBE, according to Variety.

Scooter Braun, CEO of HYBE America, also received $86.2M while Scott Borchetta received $31.1M

J.Balvin — $4.1 million

Demi Lovato — $1 million

[fromtenthousandfeet]

In a Nutshell

Wow, this is such a great description of all that’s been going on with HYBE/Bang/Scooter/Jungkook/Jimin: