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Netizens are criticizing the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for its latest statement regarding the ongoing conflict between NewJeans and their agency, ADOR.
NewJeansKMCA has joined the Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association in criticizing NewJeans in this feud, effectively taking the side of HYBE. The association released a statement on December 13, KST, labeling NewJeans’ decision to terminate their contract with ADOR as “tampering,” stating that such practices need to be eradicated to keep the foundation of the K-Pop music industry stable.
| KMCAThe statement also mentioned FIFTY FIFTY, implying that the three former members who left ATTRAKT were at fault, just as the NewJeans members, for terminating their contracts under the influence of an outside producer.
Former FIFTY FIFTY members, who debuted as Ablume | @ablume_official/InstagramWe have already seen the so-called “tamping” attempt by an outside producer hired by an entertainment agency (hereinafter referred to as ‘agency’) to cajole young and promising artists and parents to break up exclusive contract relationships with existing agencies in the ‘FIFTY FIFTY’ incident…The recent reports by certain media outlets regarding the allegations of former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin’s involvement in tampering, regardless of the truth of the allegations, starkly reveal how widespread tampering is in the K-pop industry, which is very concerning. Moreover, this situation also shows that tampering attempts can occur not only in small to mid-sized agencies but also in large agencies, making it impossible for our association to just stand by any longer.
— KMCA
The association not only demanded Min Hee Jin clarify the facts regarding the “tampering” accusations but also addressed NewJeans, directing them to fulfill their exclusive contracts faithfully or “humbly” wait for the judiciary’s decision.
In the same statement, KMCA also threatened to exclude the albums and digital sales of artists and labels suspected of tampering from appearing on the Circle Chart, which the association operates. Additionally, they also threatened to stop supplying data from all major broadcast programs (such as M Countdown, Music Bank, Music Core, Inkigayo, etc) and major domestic award ceremonies (Circle Chart Music Awards, MAMA, Golden Disc Awards), which fundamentally implied an industry-wide boycott of such artists.
Though KMCA stated that these measures would be taken to ensure the fair treatment of all stakeholders in the K-Pop industry, netizens are far from buying it. Both domestic and international netizens considered it an arm-twisting tactic by the KMCA to ensure the power hierarchy in K-Pop, essentially rendering artists incapable of standing up against unjust practices or contracts within their labels.
i don’t think y’all realize how dangerous this is. whether you agree or like newjeans & ablume is irrelevant. kpop groups being able to have their whole careers derailed by huge companies is dangerous for everyone. https://t.co/1ITeIOkQmI
— koko mainslayer 🥵 (@h0tgirlkoko) December 13, 2024
blatant intimidation and industry corruption. they are sick and making kpop industry look worse every time they insert themselves to add fuel against a group already getting massive amounts of hate. disgusting. https://t.co/Tn9XipDaft
— daniel (@ekinsupreme) December 13, 2024
You cannot convince me that these companies, labels, and associations are in the right. Actually deranged behaviour to abuse your power to encourage an industry-wide blackout against artists who have disputes with their labels and aren't quietly bowing out of the industry. https://t.co/pyRg4RqsOD
— Bubs⁷ (@telepathy_soty) December 13, 2024
| theqoo- “Why are they telling them to come back when they said they’re leaving due to a contract violation? This is ridiculous. Who do they think they are? Lol.”
- “Wow, who do they think they are, telling others to live like slaves?”
- “Chart sites stay silent on music chart manipulation but release a statement on this? Lol.”
- “How much money did they stuff themselves with to behave this way?”
- “LOL, they must be involved with HYBE or something~”
Some also argued that it would be a flagrant violation of the “JYJ Law” passed in 2015, which prohibits broadcasters from blocking artists without a plausible cause.
KMCA will be violating the JYJ law passed in 2015, which prohibits broadcasters from blocking artists from appearing on their programs without just cause. The law was passed in response to SM pressuring broadcasters into blacklisting JYJ, due to their contract dispute with SM. https://t.co/ApKc9XksxN pic.twitter.com/q0QAfNxx0S
— fifihunnie ꕤ ablume (@fifihunnie) December 13, 2024
"The JYJ Law" was passed in 2015 by Congresswoman Kim Minhee to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea after failed for 3 times. The law prohibit broadcasters from blocking artists from appearing on their programs without a valid reason.
The law was a response to SM… https://t.co/xZsFQrYUT6 pic.twitter.com/XjZ7pUGfn4
— TVXQ! Fanbase.id ♡ (@dbskfanbaseid) December 14, 2024
You can read about the Korea Entertainment Producer’s Association’s stance on this matter here.
English (US) · 