SM vs Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin and Lay.

I think it's just SM being greedy assholes who are angry that their idols actually want rights lol

I don't trust EXO-Ls who are angry at/don't support CBX.

Obvious reason is he didn’t sue SM. He just ended his contract and left.

With CBX they re signed with SM and then broke their contract.

Also beyond all this I think the reason is also to foster a specific narrative rather than SM being charitable towards ksoo. And that narrative it to make CBX seem as evil/bad guy like as possible. SM is like “look how kind we are to ppl who left peacefully” vs “the ppl who tried to break contract and rip us off” Eventhough they probably tried to control ksoo as well.

Wasn't SM leaking information about someone whispering into their ear and trying to poach them?

Its clear CBX left on bad terms, and SM isn't fucking with them. Its that simple. Let's not act like CBX likes SM and SM isn't gonna act like they like them.

IF they wanted to work with SM, they should have seperated their solo activities, while keeping SM happy, they didn't, so these are the consequences.

It sucks for fans, but its just business. And CBX knew what would happen if they choose the path they did, its not like these tactics are new for SM LOL. SM used to be alot worse and vindictive.

Quote from sonemariam

I don't think SM has gotten any better and what you are saying makes sense. No wonder Snsd members don't do Korean music with other labels just so they can still be part of SM stuff.

They definitely have gotten a little better. They realize that solo activities are baked into the idol experience, and are trying to manage that to make idols more happy imo. Especially when you look at 4th gen vs 3rd gen vs 2nd gen.

And we gotta grade SM accurately. They should be compared to other kpop companies in the industry and the vast majority do not support solo activates, or even attempt to give every member in the group one. All of GOT7 literally left, in part, because JYP didn't think their solo activities would be profitable, so didn't pursue them. And JYP is literally a peer company to SM, let alone the medium/small sized companies that don't do solo work/songs at all or maybe only the viral/popular member gets it.

As for SM being vindictive and mean when idols leave? Of course. Companies don't play in SK. Corporate power and being wealthy is king. They feel they invested/made this idol, and that should come with some loyalty. Its a one-sides loyalty, and SM definitely occasionally mistreats them, but that's the name of the game. That power dynamic exist in literally every kpop company.

Quote from Kouss

SM definitely occasionally mistreats them, but that's the name of the game

And as you said, there is consequences for CBX suing and breaking their contract. But that in itself is a consequence of SM mistreating them.

Quote from kahei

And as you said, there is consequences for CBX suing and breaking their contract. But that in itself is a consequence of SM mistreating them.

every idols, in every company ever, has probably been mistreated.

The difference here, is CBX think they are big enough (Baekhyun is), that they don't have to put up with it.

Both parties made big boy decisions, so lets stop acting like CBX are victims LOL

Quote from Kouss

every idols, in every company ever, has probably been mistreated.

The difference here, is CBX think they are big enough (Baekhyun is), that they don't have to put up with it.

Both parties made big boy decisions, so lets stop acting like CBX are victims LOL

I'm so confused by this... So you acknowledge they've been mistreated, but you also expect them to just be okay with it because everyone get mistreated too? What?

Although it saddens me to no end that SM has excluded three active/important members of the anniversary event, it came as no surprise. SM is one really petty company and playing the bigger one in this dispute is just no part of their identity. ,It is also just a confirmation that things might be worse than we think and EXO's integrity might be at stake.

As to the difference between CBX and DO, well the answer is in how they chose to do things. We don't know the details of DO collaboration with SM for EXO activities, but he seems to be biding by the SM rule of having an independent agency for his solo activities.

CBX did that initially only to move under the agency SM said was poaching them. So they broke the agreement they had with SM and their credibility was undermined in the process.

Second, they are suing SM, who we all know has the hardest time giving freedom to their artists but has learned to do so, otherwise they will completely lose them when they are still profitable. SM has not learned to be transparent or CBX has received bad legal advice, but this situation is, to some extent, their own doing too.

Just to be clear I support EXO as 9 and CBX in their demands and in EXO, but if I were them I would have done things differently.

As to Lay, he hasn't been in any EXO anniversary in a long time so, unless I miss something, he is not to be dragged in this narrative of SM excluding him.

Quote from sonemariam

Before he debuted in China, Lay had the best selling solo album by a male idol in Korea meaning, he had a reasonable following in Korea and his Chinese fans definitely supported him too and, it doesn't make sense why he promoted Psychic with a korean version on music shows last year. It shows that he still loves and values his Korean followers.

The sales are from China. We can’t separate out Chinese vs Korean sales so that doesn’t tell you anything.

Quote from sonemariam

Is Lay Exo or not? I guess the answer to that question tells us whether he should be expected to be part if Exo stuff or not.

Lay is EXO, no doubt about it but his absence rather than his presence has sadly become the standard in EXO activities. I just saw he said he had filming schedule so he couldn't be in today's live. I don't know how much SM has to do with his absence this time, but the SM against him narrative seems not to fit this case.

Quote from sonemariam

I'm kinda disappointed that CBX signed to another label. Honestly, I was so happy that they made their own label and I know they are successful enough to run it given that they still have our support. But, what do we know?

I am too. They were doing so well before becoming a branch to other company, but who knows maybe it was their plan all along and they just worded it differently only to become true in the end. It seems they tried to outsmart the devil (SM) but it is too old and too petty to be outsmarted.