So, it's time for SOMI to leave TBL?

I think they missed their opportunity with her by giving her staggered releases. In Kpop you can't release content at the cadence of Blackpink. These companies have to realize Blackpink is an anomaly and only they can do that.

I'm also a fan of hers and I felt her releases are decent but there was so much untapped potential that didn't get realized. I think it's best for her to leave TBL because she's not on their priority list. I assume they want to focus on Meovv and All Day Project. There's no point in her to renew with the company

Idk I heard she has a lot of creative freedom. Maybe that's the problem. Just because you want to be involved in your music, doesn't mean you should.

Yes and no i would love her to join meovv

she's already cooked in TBL, if she leaves shes ultra cooked

you can't say where is the teddy/TBL producers hit making abilities when all the top 4 songs from 4 different artists on the melon charts have their name in it.

and if it's only somi that didnt do well, maybe you overestimated her a lil bit too much.

this is not the early days of TBL that only has somi, they have rose taeyang meovv and ADP. I don't they will be sad if somi leave

If she had signed a seven year contract, it's up for renewal next month.

I don’t really see how leaving TBL helps her situation.

I think she needs a rebranding, when she rebranded last time to the “Korean Barbie” image for Dumb Dumb it was her closest to hitting the big leagues, but now, 4 years later, and still using the same image, it feels old hat.

But there’s no reason she couldn’t rebrand while at TBL. Especially so, if she is given a lot of creative freedom at the label too. I don’t see what a smaller company with fewer resources could really offer her.

Quote from Bottles

I don’t really see how leaving TBL helps her situation.

I think she needs a rebranding, when she rebranded last time to the “Korean Barbie” image for Dumb Dumb it was her closest to hitting the big leagues, but now, 4 years later, and still using the same image, it feels old hat.

But there’s no reason she couldn’t rebrand while at TBL. Especially so, if she is given a lot of creative freedom at the label too. I don’t see what a smaller company with fewer resources could really offer her.

rebranding must be it because I think she lost her identity. I thought she was going to create a lane for herself in the dance lane because Fast Forward was successful. I think she just need to improve her cadence in when she releases music. Having a 2 year break between Fast Forward to Closer is not good

I agree TBL provides best resources, but a smaller company could provide better focus. Somi is not an artist that should have long breaks between releases. I am also shocked she's not attempting variety. I remember she had her own version of hot ones but quickly dropped it. I thought she would have at least have some type of show on a YouTube channel because I think she has the personality to be a good host.

I think it depends on what Somi wants?

Maybe she likes being an influencer and being famous for basically being famous rather than for music.

I think fans confuse what they want for what Somi wants.

If Somi leaves TBL, will there really be a difference? If she joins a smaller agency, that just means less resources at her disposal. She could also create her own one woman agency and have her own team to manage her career. She may release more frequently, but that does not guarantee she will see the same success.

But, if we are talking about music quality rather than the optimal chance for success, then yeah, leaving TBL could change that. Though, only if she still has access to the same quality or better producers.

She should join Young Posse

They should've done an instant with her. Teddy produces her music, whilst another labels handles her promotions etc.

Edit: izna...

the expectation lol

Quote from David33

I mean, she had credits on her music, but if you look at it, you can see like 7-10 producers. So her so called "involvement" is not big, but I agree about that last part.

Or you're the one who overestimating TBL producers, because 2 of those songs is an OST for a massive hit movie, that's the one and only reason those songs charting, not TBL or Teddy, and they're not even the main producers on those songs. The other two song is probably BP's JUMP but not sure how much involvement he had, but BP alone can chart, they don't need Teddy bear. As for Allday Project, the last thing they need is Teddy. They were famous way before they debuted, so their success has nothing to do with Teddy.

Pretty much every Title Track of Somi was a hit till 2023. Then TBL barely give her anything, just 7 songs in 2 years. Somi herself said, TBL needed a whole year to make "Ice Cream".

I don't even know what Taeyang is doing, honestly, but maybe that's my fault.

Quality songs! I don't care about Charting and Streaming numbers, but her songs are lacking. It's the same old boring loud noise that TBL makes.

Small agencies have much better producers btw, because their main focus isn't Charting and Tiktok trends, it's the quality. As I said above, just look at Jellyfish and Kim Sejeong, "DOOR" was one of the best album of 2023, she mopped the floor with every BIG4 agency.

Good point, but if she wants to be an influencer why wasting her time making music? She could be a Youtuber.

My thread isn't really about success, it's about the quality of her music. 99% of Kpop soloists are not Charting anywhere, but not all of them releases crap music.

People say TBL has better resources. Do they? Somi didn't chart for 2 years even tho she had 3 comebacks, and her streaming numbers aren't great either. That's why I think TBL just doesn't care and she should leave.

If she really wants to focus on music, she can do that under a smaller agency that can provide her better producers. If she wants to be an influencer, she can do that too anywhere.

Honestly, I'm not sure what she wants, because she barely talks about this. She's not an open book like her friends, Chungha or Sejeong.

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Yes, at the end of the day, TBL does have better resources and more influence in the industry. Which means they have better access to high level producers and if she wants to be an influencer, better connections for brand deals.

If the metric you are deciding on is how often you want her to release music, then yeah, being at a smaller agency probably is better. But, even though her music isn't charting as well now, she still stands a better chance of keeping relevance and being able to chart in the future if she stays at TBL.

So, yeah, if she wants to go the music+influencer route, then I think she should stay at TBL if she can. I think the schedule works for her in that case. If she wants to release music more consistently, then yeah, it would probably be better for her to go the Jennie, Lisa, and Jisoo route and just form her own label.

I can't imagine any other label that would fit her brand and be able to match her image other than maybe P-Nation. But, they have lost as many soloists as they have gained, so doesn't seem like they are much better than TBL when it comes to management.

Her contract is set to renew soon, so maybe once she makes her decision, her fans will embrace whatever she decides is best for her.

She could negotiate better terms (more comebacks/singles)+ shorter duration on this contract.

Or go fully independent like BP members - solo agency but then she will need tons of resources.

i dont see any other label being any better in terms of creative control and popularity/resources

HYBE will put BSH producer credit on her every song, JYPE already had a falling out, SM wont take an established artist, YGE is basically TBL 2.0 with YG (yuck). BPM likes to collect older idols but their CEO sounds sketchy these days.

Quote from David33

Or you're the one who overestimating TBL producers, because 2 of those songs is an OST for a massive hit movie, that's the one and only reason those songs charting, not TBL or Teddy, and they're not even the main producers on those songs. The other two song is probably BP's JUMP but not sure how much involvement he had, but BP alone can chart, they don't need Teddy bear. As for Allday Project, the last thing they need is Teddy. They were famous way before they debuted, so their success has nothing to do with Teddy.

Pretty much every Title Track of Somi was a hit till 2023. Then TBL barely give her anything, just 7 songs in 2 years. Somi herself said, TBL needed a whole year to make "Ice Cream".

I don't even know what Taeyang is doing, honestly, but maybe that's my fault.

Somi can leave, but does she want that? put yourself in somi pov, like

starting over all over again in the new company? P Nation ? Jaypark company? tike TBL has better reach

be independent and creating solo company? she will need tons tons resources

and put yourself in TBL company POV, like

they know rose won't be back for 2 years, taeyang is on autopilot but he is a homie and bigbang member. those 2 names alone is enough for them.

they have meovv and ADP, in 2 years they will doing much much better.

and they just finish KPDH which is huge success, who knows they already done deal for season 2 knowing netflix.

why would they care if somi leaving?

she should make a better deals then, coz now it's not the same little TBL anymore

Somi was always a singer that I enjoy the songs from time to time, so It didn't change much from her debut to now — taking into consideration my taste and point of view.

I absolutely love What You Waiting For, Anymore, Dumb Dumb and, recently, I'm obsessed with Closer. The other songs not so much.