I've just only received my Proof SET and the packaging, photos, and the CDs are really beautiful - fitting an anthology. Listening to Disc 3 in HD is also incredibly fun - it really made me appreciate both the original tracks vs the demos. I also think the sales will increase this year.
Speaking of ARMY selling out items with BTS -- I just saw this on Twitter and thought it was cute: https://remezcla.com/food/tort…lying-off-shelves-mexico/
I'm going to select two favorite artists that actually debut before the 2000's but had amazing music in the decades.
I'm going to out myself as an AMURA - been a huge Amuro stan since 1996 lol. I miss her since her retirement but I still play her entire discography often since her music is comfort for me. I think everyone knows of her but it's a shame that newer fans will not get a chance to see her LIVE in concert, because that's where she truly shined. Her discography starting from PLAY (2007) until Genic (2015) was so amazingly fun and diverse.
One of my other all time favorite Japanese artist/musician that is both Jpop and J-rock is Cocco. She's been around since the 90's too (and also from Okinawa) + still going strong, with a new album released this year, called PROM. Such an outstanding discography - I hope you can check her out if you haven't. I'll just link 3 of my favorites among her vast discography:
ひとひら:
絹ずれ:
ニライカナイ:
Edit: also I forgot my other Okinawa root girl, Olivia. Her EPs in the 2000's were great.
Cloudy Dream EP still one of my favorites:
Matsuura has been problematic for a long long time. He's the reason why Avex has declined so much in the last decade - he's lost his business sensibilities and now hurting his own artist.
I feel bad for the girls - they do not deserve this.
I am soooo tired of the KPOP vs JPOP narratives too.
I just saw this on Twitter - Promo intensifying…
Wow 10 tracks - full album!! Super excited. The video of the track list was also well made. I am claiming Arson since I am a fire snake (Chinese astrology). I hope it is the title track too!
When I wrote that Hobi can make business decisions I am not saying he will make ALL of the business decisions but he def has a say. Of course HYBE makes business decisions and I think where we disagree is the part where BTS members are forced to go along with everything HYBE wants without agency when it comes to their career and business decisions. I disagree - I think they have much more say today than ever before regarding their careers. Chapter 2 is proof of this. In reality, BTS members and HYBE discuss and agree to a plan together, including compromises. BTS members are adults now - 9 years into their careers and literally built HYBE with their success. They are not being forced by HYBE 100% to do something they don’t want. BTS have always been very savvy, strategic, and ambitious.
Happy 七夕祭り to JPOP fans here. Hello! I am new here. I have been listening to JPOP even before KPOP and since it’s Tanabata, I wanted to share two classics to fit the mood.
鬼束ちひろ (Onitsuka Chihiro) 〜流星群 (Ryuseigun - Meteor Shower)
Aimer - Torches (live)
Edit let me add Radwimps Sparkle too because it just auto played :)
Am I the only one who can’t focus anywhere else except that gazeBCBD3766-6E75-4758-8135-1D86BE7DB973.jpeg
Not only you. Me too since he's my bias lol.
I don't think the majority of ARMY will accept anything HYBE throws at us automatically (those days are gone since Big Hit became HYBE -- e.g., like you see the discussion of how many of us are upset with HYBE re NFTs or some re no physical for Hobi?).
We put up with how it has been only to support BTS. I also think large amount of us do understand that BTS are adults making decisions with Big Hit and HYBE etc. I do admit that within ARMY there are lots of sub-factions: success stan, company stan, and so on. The fandom is too diverse and large.
Oh it was a glitch?!? I too was thinking that Suga was next re the solo release. I'm gonna hope anyways. Edit to add that I love his OST for In the Seom...it's my lullaby.
I’m not saying you are wrong at all. It’s true that CDs are non biodegradable and hybe trying to move digitally is actually a great idea.
But imo it defeats the main point of all this when they do several versions for their other groups. Like even after Hobi’s release, they are still letting their groups do physical multiple versions and the weverse is an add-on. So it’s definitely not something being adopted for all their groups. I just hate how they are using BTS solely for this when they aren’t even one of the groups known for doing numerous versions, bulkbuying and discarding the albums later.
I understand your points. The company has to start somewhere and it's unfortunately now re Hobi's solo debut to test the waters. I also dislike them also using BTS but they can't do the same with any of their other acts/groups - it's safest with BTS. If in the chance it goes well, it's going to be interesting if they apply this across all artists w/in the company or not etc.
My biggest regret was not going to LA and Vegas with my younger sis last year. If we will be getting less OT7 in the upcoming years, this concert may be it for a while. The ticket battle will be so difficult. Good luck to us all.
I'm interested in the Eco-Chart and am looking forward to how this chart compares to like Oricon in Japan and BB in the US. I think it's a great move to really track KPOP's global reach and popularity -- hopefully better data.
From what I read from the Korea Joongang Daily online:
"The tracker aims to operate a category tentatively named “clean chart” which ranks K-pop albums based on eco-friendliness, hoping to encourage K-pop agencies to produce albums and merchandise that have minimal impact on the environment.
“Until now, only a few agencies individually made efforts to make their albums more environmentally friendly,” Choi said. “Now, we hope to lead the entire K-pop industry to start using eco-friendly ingredients for albums or switch to digital albums.”
According to Choi, Circle Chart will put an emphasis on indexes like streaming and downloads, and have the digital indexes serve as its main chart rather than album sales. Choi explained that the measure is an adjustment to reflect the reality that “K-pop albums have become more of a merchandise rather than something for actually listening to music."
“Although album sales numbers still hold great importance among fandoms, online streaming and downloads are how K-pop releases are mostly consumed,” he said. “We will sum up all the data from the world’s paid music streaming services and announce it via daily and weekly charts.”
Please they don’t care about the environment. If they did they won’t be doing all those versions for their other groups. It would have been a uniform movement.
It’s just to promote their flop app
I actually work in the field of corporate sustainability and so just sharing my insights (not defending HYBE). Yes, company priorities will always be profits. However, in recent years, there are real regulatory changes that makes it mandatory that the companies report on what they are doing to ensure that they are minimizing their negative impacts to the environment, society, and show good governance. In Asia, the stock markets are requiring all listed companies to report on this each year e.g., release public report to show what they are doing and it is shared with their investors and the public.
I think since HYBE just hired a new corporate sustainability director lady, it's a start of the company making changes from now onwards to try to meet the obligations. I'm looking forward to their future report.
I get the fans' anger and HYBE has lots of things to improve e.g., ahem Weverse shipping fee and customer service please. I also don't support re NFTs. But at the same time, if BTS is going to promote initiatives re climate change and the environment, they need to also demonstrate some accountability. It shouldn't fall on BTS and HYBE needs to be responsible. This is a step towards that, especially when their sales are stable and in recent years I like the two editions. I hope the new ESG/Sustainability director will also tackle the merchandise supply chain and they need to release a sustainability report.
Display Morewelcome to akp!!
i also hope they give up on the nft business
it is exactly because it is hobi's first album that armys would have wanted the old physical album format since its a valid concern that his sales would be affected + it doesn't count for bb200
if we are able to figure out these things why isn't hybe's strategy team able to do the same
about it being a good industry trend, i cant deny that afterall, the cd is a plastic so it causes a lot of harm to the environment but as beatrixavier pointed out, they should have added something else of value to the album
Thank you! I understand - we want Hobi to succeed and I trust that he will. In my view (as an older person), success to some artists that achieved all they have to-date, it isn't about on the charts or sales anymore (don't get me wrong - it's still important). But people really passionate about their craft, like these guys, I think I understand their motivation to be recognized as genuine artists/musicians (especially by acclaimed musicians/peer/industry) and not a KPOP idol stereotype. Because even with all of their accolades, we've seen this past year how so many people still refuse to accept them as talented musician/artists that they are etc. Edit: this is why I think they want to explore solo activities before regrouping as a group and in the meantime, live their adult lives too.
I'm not a fan of SVT so I don't know what their digital photos are - same re Lesserafim's digital souvenirs. I've been against HYBE doing NFTs from the start. There is a difference re digital photos and NFTs. The whole 'selling' point of NFTs is that it's suppose to be unique and copy-proof using blockchain. If all the digital photos and souvenirs are the same and accessible to any fans that buys -- that's just fans buying digital photos - it's not NFTs. Like if HYBE really started to sell photocard NFTs in the future - there'll have to be a 'certificate' verifying it as a NFT etc. Do not want.
