Chapter 7: Damn Idols

* * *

Lion Entertainment.

LPL Entertainment.

Double M Entertainment.

These three companies are commonly referred to as the three major agencies in South Korea.

In fact, if we strictly consider revenue, Double M has not been in the top three in the industry for quite some time, except for itself.

However, the public still highly values the brand names of these three companies, which is why they are called the three major agencies.

Among them, the CEO of Lion Entertainment, Choi Daeho, planned an ambitious project one day.

“...What are you suggesting?”

“A survival competition within the company.”

Choi Daeho.

His name suggests a big tiger, but his actions are more like those of a weasel.

Or rather, a cat.

Cats are at least cute, but this guy only causes harm to humans.

That's why it's called Lion Entertainment.

The team leader's mind automatically replayed the fans' reactions he had monitored the day before, which was inevitable.

“CEO, is that even a reasonable suggestion?”

“What could possibly go wrong?”

“We have already finalized the five members for the debut group and are preparing for their debut. The team name and debut song have even been decided. Why a sudden internal survival competition?”

Team name: TAKE#.

Debut song: Scene Stealer.

Everything was ready.

But suddenly, adding a few more trainees and holding a survival competition?

It doesn't make sense.

Even if a great genius appeared and won the survival competition, the team chemistry would inevitably be ruined.

“The competition should be over before setting the debut group. I oppose this.”

“Hold on, hold on. Team Leader Park, it seems you have a misunderstanding.”

“Please explain.”

“Our five kids should stay together. How did we train them and select them? Who are we going to add in there?”

“Then what do you mean?”

“I mean, let's do a 5-on-5. Divide them into Team A and Team B, and the winning team gets to debut.”

“Huh? Team A will obviously be TAKE#, but where will we get the members for Team B? If we use the trainees who have already been eliminated, there won't be any tension, will there?”

In response to Team Leader Park's question, CEO Choi Daeho replied.

“We need to select new members.”

“Where from? Internally?”

“No. Let's open the survival competition to the entire nation. Immediate debut for the winner. There will be many who will be tempted, and we'll broadcast it.”

Team Leader Park blinked.

Starting as an inexperienced road manager, he became a team leader in just seven years.

Despite his rapid promotion, his rank remained as a team leader, but his actual treatment was not much different from that of a department head in the business division.

This meant he was an incredibly capable person and could read between the lines of what CEO Choi was implying.

“You want to give a backstory?”

“Exactly. In a time when boy groups are overflowing, it's a bit difficult to start from scratch, isn't it?”

“What if the members of Team B are good? It might create anti-fans for TAKE#.”

“Anti-fans can strengthen the fandom's cohesion.”

“Hmm... You want to attract some of the top trainees while recruiting participants for the survival competition?”

“Indeed. Our Team Leader Park.”

In the era of a million aspiring entertainers, trainees are abundant.

However, truly talented trainees are always in short supply.

Moreover, even if they have talent, it takes time to mature, and the more unique ones often move to smaller agencies quickly.

Because they want to debut as soon as possible.

The survival competition can be a clever move in this regard.

Frankly, Team B could even become the follow-up boy group to TAKE#.

While Team Leader Park was lost in thought, CEO Choi Daeho spoke in a subtle tone.

“How does it sound, good?”

“It might be fine if two issues are resolved.”

“What are they?”

“First, the debut of TAKE# is confirmed, right?”

“Shouldn't I be the one asking that? Are our kids not good enough? If we gather five decent singers and make them compete, will they lose?”

Being an idol is sometimes a job that is belittled and sometimes ignored.

But the tears and sweat shed to become an idol are never small.

The talent of a musician and the talent of an idol are clearly different.

“Still, the kids might react differently. They might get tired of the ongoing competition.”

“Then convey it unofficially. Just the nuance.”

“Promotion purposes?”

“Exactly. What's the second issue?”

“What is the justification? To hold such a survival competition, we need a plausible reason.”

‘Actually, this competition is all fake, and it’s just a show to highlight our kids. Oh, and we’ll also secure some trainees.’ No sane person would say that.

So, we need a plausible reason.

At that moment, Choi Daeho averted his eyes.

“...?”

“...I couldn't think of one. Up to that point.”

“...!”

“...Please help.”

“...!!!”

The CEO, whose name suggests a big tiger but is worse than a weasel, ended up giving a lot of extra work.

This happened four months ago.

The program, titled [COMING UP NEXT], will be broadcast in collaboration with the cable channel MShow.

With Han Si-on's participation, it will take an unexpected turn.

* * *

“Yeah, Uncle. I already ate. How about you?”

I was leaving LB Studio while talking to Uncle Hyunsu.

Originally, I planned to stay until midnight on the day my aunt's husband left, but the CEO said I could stay longer, so I stayed one more day.

Even though he didn’t charge me.

In return, I asked to be allowed to observe the songwriting process, and he agreed.

“Why! Why! Why!”

He ended up crying.

He asked why I didn’t become a producer or songwriter instead of an idol.

If I really wanted to be an idol, why not join an idol band?

He even said he could recommend places.

But, it’s not appealing to me.

From my perspective, this life should be about challenging the most typical style of idol.

If I go for a unique or original concept, there’s a high chance of making a mistake in information gathering.

So, I rejected it outright and asked him to recommend me for Lion Entertainment’s survival competition.

It’s not necessary, but it would be convenient if he did.

After that, I heard about the planning of Coming Up Next from the crying Hyunseok.

It’s a program designed to promote a team that has already been decided to debut, and no matter what, it’s impossible to debut through this program.

Everyone knows the inside story, so they suggested finding another way.

But after hearing the explanation, I found it even more appealing.

First, it will be broadcast.

It will introduce the existence of Han Si-on to the world.

I’m not the most handsome, but I’m not unappealing to viewers.

I have my own charm.

This is not my opinion, but what I heard from a top Hollywood styling team that only cares for the best actors.

So, if the broadcast captures even half of my talent, I will receive offers to debut immediately.

According to the recruitment notice, the future of those who fail in the survival competition is free to choose.

Of course, Lion Entertainment is not a pushover and will try to keep me as a trainee, but I won’t fall for that.

Through a long life, I realized that being chosen is generally not as good as choosing.

I don’t want to be chosen by a company that’s deciding whether to debut me.

I want to choose a company that wants to debut me.

The second appeal is that I can learn about the life of an idol in a short period.

I don’t know much about idols, and it’s been a long time since I lived in Korea.

I definitely need an adaptation period, and Coming Up Next will accelerate my adaptation.

And the last, most important point.

At least Coming Up Next won’t be boring.

I’m confident I could pass the entertainment company’s trainee audition now.

I’m also confident I could debut through the trainee life.

But that’s too boring.

I’ll learn what I already know and be criticized for what I can do.

Even by those who are worse than me.

I don’t have the patience to endure that.

Considering my regression rule, there’s no guarantee I won’t regress without realizing it.

That’s why I want to appear on Coming Up Next.

Of course, Lion Entertainment might not select me...

But if a company lacks the ability to recognize talent, it’s not a place to learn from.

-Han Si-on?

“Ah, just block my aunt’s husband’s number.”

-Even if he’s family...

“He didn’t come to visit when I was sick, but he rushed over to become my guardian. What a waste.”

-...Okay, I understand.

After ending the call with Uncle Hyunsu, I searched my wallet for the business card of Seo Seung-hyun from BVB Entertainment.

I composed a total of seven songs over the past three days.

Except for [The Thieves], the other six are not newly composed.

It’s more accurate to say I printed out songs I composed in the past.

All of them are songs that made it to the Billboard Hot 100 and were loved in Korea.

Three of them even reached number one on the Hot 100, and the genres range from electronic pop to hip-hop.

I plan to sell these.

Hyunseok from LB Studio said he would help if I wanted to sell the songs, but I will entrust the consignment to Seo Seung-hyun.

It wasn’t originally for this purpose, but if it’s useful, I should use it.

‘I need to record the guide first.’

I didn’t do vocal recording at the studio.

After staying up for almost three days, I wasn’t in the condition to sing.

I have some home recording equipment, though it’s a bit basic.

I was an aspiring singer even before the contract with the devil.

Still, I’m a bit curious.

How will the Korean music industry, centered around idols, arrange my songs, attach lyrics, and assign them to singers?

* * *

Seo Seung-hyun, the A&R team leader at BVB Entertainment, had just returned from a five-day vacation that included the weekend.

Although he found the company as hellish as ever after a long absence, what could he do?

He was a wage slave.

He opened his email to catch up on the backlog from his vacation and was shocked.

-Hello, Dreamcatcher Entertainment...

-Hello, TNT Entertainment...

-We are PPN Entertainment...

His inbox was flooded with emails from numerous entertainment companies.

The A&R team doesn’t usually have much interaction with other companies.

Communication usually happens when there’s a conflict.

‘What’s going on here?’

Upon closer inspection, the emails weren’t just from entertainment companies.

There were also emails from indie bands in Hongdae and advertising agencies.

Seo Seung-hyun moved his mouse to investigate the mysterious email storm.

He tilted his head.

The content of the emails was similar.

They wanted to buy the songs he had uploaded to SoundCloud.

SoundCloud.

Short for SoundCl.

A platform where indie musicians can freely upload their songs.

A place that has been rumored to be shutting down for three years due to annual losses but is kept alive by donations from American SoundCloud artists.

An oasis for the indie scene.

But...

‘I haven’t uploaded any songs to SoundCloud, have I?’

He hadn’t composed any songs since joining BVB.

Thinking it might be an error, he traced the song titles mentioned in the emails.

When he clicked on the account contacted by numerous companies, he saw the artist’s name.

HAN SI ON.

‘Han Si-on?’

Where have I heard that name...

‘Ah? That kid?’

The polite and handsome young employee from H&R Corporation.

He said he would settle in Korea.

But why are emails being sent to me from Han Si-on’s SoundCloud account?

Seo Seung-hyun soon noticed his email address listed in the artist’s account information.

This ridiculous person had listed his work email on his SoundCloud account.

‘How could someone make such a mistake? Is it even possible?’

After understanding the situation, Seo Seung-hyun became curious.

What kind of music could be so good that it triggered a flurry of contacts from entertainment companies?

There were 12 tracks uploaded, but only 6 songs.

Each song was uploaded in two versions: an instrumental version and a guide vocal version.

Seo Seung-hyun, entranced, played the tracks Han Si-on had uploaded to SoundCloud.

After some time.

Having listened to all the songs, Seo Seung-hyun found his business card and called Han Si-on.

-Your phone is turned off...

“Ah, why!”

Two of the songs were clearly made for NOP!

He tried calling again, but the phone was still off.

There was nothing he could do.

At that moment, Han Si-on was taking a test at Lion Entertainment.