Become A Music Monster Overnight! [EN]: Chapter 158

Music Monster Overnight! 149

The New Talent Development Team was facing significant challenges.

The most reliable method for discovering new talent had always been direct scouting.

Street casting, as it was known, involved searching for potential stars in public places. However, with the increasing sophistication of makeup techniques, distinguishing genuine talent from those skilled at creating illusions became increasingly difficult. The term ‘makeup fraudsters’ was used to describe those who heavily relied on cosmetics to alter their appearance.

Finding talent through social media was another option, but this approach was fraught with risks.

Many people uploaded heavily photoshopped images, making even the ‘makeup fraudsters’ seem authentic by comparison.

Minor skin retouching or slight adjustments to facial features were considered acceptable.

However, some individuals completely reshaped their faces digitally, creating entirely new identities. Consequently, most attempts to find genuine talent online ended in failure.

Singers weren’t the only ones affected by the ‘COVID-19’ pandemic.

Actors also faced considerable disruption.

Due to COVID-19’s high transmissibility, predicting outbreaks was nearly impossible.

A significant problem was that actors had to remove their masks to perform, eliminating a crucial layer of protection against infection.

Despite preventative measures, outbreaks still occurred due to the then-unknown nature of COVID-19.

It was common for a single staff member to unknowingly spread the virus to numerous colleagues during production.

However, halting productions that were already budgeted was not a viable option.

Ultimately, they had no choice but to persevere.

The problems extended beyond just filming.

– ‘King of Arrogance’ indefinitely postpones its release due to COVID-19.-

– In addition to ‘King of Arrogance’, other highly anticipated domestic blockbusters have also decided to postpone their releases.-

– Sales plummet! Movie theaters, once crowded every weekend, are now struggling to attract any visitors!-

– Theaters claim safety with masks and thorough disinfection! But what’s the reality?-

Releasing the second installment of ‘King of Arrogance,’ a film with a production cost exceeding $50 million, during this period was out of the question.

While disappointing for fans, it was an unavoidable decision.

This was the sequel to ‘King of Arrogance’ Part 1, which had already shattered records.

While sequels in the film industry often fall short of the original’s success, the three ‘King of Arrogance’ films were essentially one continuous story divided into three parts.

Given the increasingly dramatic storyline, ‘King of Arrogance’ Part 2 was poised to be just as popular as Part 1.

The return of the charismatic villain ‘Jin’ alone was enough to guarantee the film’s success.

Releasing such a highly anticipated film during a pandemic would have been reckless.

While not on the same scale as ‘King of Arrogance,’ the same held true for other domestic blockbusters.

Some studios boldly released their films in theaters, but their performance was dismal.

Consequently, other films had no choice but to postpone their releases indefinitely.

In this environment, Over-The-Top (OTT) services [streaming services that deliver content over the internet] emerged as a thriving sector.

As movie theaters became inaccessible and people were confined to their homes, these services experienced a surge in popularity.

YC Film, having achieved significant growth following ‘King of Arrogance’ and ‘Zombie School’ (released last winter), found itself in a favorable position.

They were rapidly closing the gap with N Corporation, their main competitor.

The pandemic propelled YC Film’s growth, and stocks related to the company were booming.

Many production companies that had partnered with YC Film, initially intending to profit through traditional movie theaters or television, shifted their focus due to YC Film’s substantial investment.

They were pleasantly surprised by the high-quality content being produced but also felt a tinge of regret.

As they witnessed the final products, their ambition grew.

However, the pandemic and the widespread despair it caused put things into perspective.

“It doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem.”

They realized they could have easily been among those struggling.

While high risk typically equates to high return and low risk to low return, YC Film’s rewards were so generous that it felt like a low-risk venture.

Even without considering the massive success of ‘Squid,’ projects that achieved moderate success and ranked in the top 10 domestically received substantial bonuses.

These bonuses rivaled the profits earned by broadcasting stations from blockbuster dramas.

The lucrative bonuses for movies also incentivized production companies to collaborate with YC Film again.

This was a natural response in the film industry, where the risk of accumulating massive debt was ever-present.

Capitalizing on this favorable situation, YC Film expanded its operations in anticipation of its Initial Public Offering (IPO).

– YC Film adds ‘Independent Film Theater’ category to support the struggling independent film industry!-

– 50 billion won in support for independent film production in Korea alone! 300 billion won in support planned worldwide!-

– Works with indefinitely postponed releases due to COVID-19 join forces with YC Film.-

– ‘Zombie School’ Season 2 confirmed! Recruiting actors to join Season 2?-

– YC Film announces increased investment scale in response to COVID-19.-

– User base increases to 230 million amidst favorable conditions!-

YC Film expanded at an astonishing rate, launching a barrage of support initiatives.

As a result, the film industry, teetering on the brink of collapse due to the theater closures, managed to survive.

The independent film industry even experienced an unprecedented boom.

Even after winning major awards overseas, securing more than 20 screens was a challenge. However, with YC Film providing a reliable platform, independent filmmakers felt empowered.

Furthermore, with funding of up to 100 million won available, aspiring filmmakers eagerly seized the opportunity.

However, the most welcome news for actors was the announcement of casting for ‘Zombie School’ Season 2.

While not as significant as the attention received by the cast of ‘Squid,’ the actors in ‘Zombie School’ were gaining increasing recognition.

This interest was growing both domestically and internationally.

Joining the cast of Season 2 of a drama that had launched many young stars was a highly desirable prospect.

Naturally, domestic actor agencies, struggling to develop new talent, jumped at the chance.

YC Film provided actors with much-needed opportunities.

The music industry, devastated by event and concert cancellations, leading to postponed comebacks and debuts, also found a new avenue for growth.

– YC Revolution sparks a new flame in the stagnant music industry!-

– VR STARS! Allows you to be with your favorite stars in VR [Virtual Reality].-

– VR concerts, VR fan meetings, and even personal broadcasts in VR!-

– An early experience of future-style concerts in response to COVID-19!-

– Concerts by YC Entertainment artists, led by ’21’, are scheduled to follow the first VR concert!-

– VR STARS! 50% of the advertising revenue from the free version with ads goes directly to the stars that fans watch! The same goes for the paid version and gifting!-

“I never thought we’d have to pull this out so soon?”

In response to the crisis, Young-chan decided to release VR content after extensive discussions.

Fortunately, VR STARS was already a well-developed project.

The initial version of VR STARS was completed in early last year, utilizing the Miracle Cloud Data Center, which had been expanding its servers with significant funding since the previous year.

However, due to the volume of data exchanged and various practical challenges, full implementation within YC Revolution was planned for three years later.

But with the market struggling due to the pandemic, Young-chan decided to adapt this content for YC Revolution with certain limitations to address the remaining issues.

While not as overt as Business Jockeys (BJs) [live streamers who earn money through donations and sponsorships], they created ways for fans to support their favorite artists.

Specifically, considering the fans’ perspective, they implemented legal measures to ensure that 50% of the revenue, including advertising revenue, would go directly to the artists, making fans feel like they were genuinely supporting their idols.

“Now, the key is the VR concert.”

The success of this VR concert would determine how quickly VR STARS could establish itself.

That’s why they chose ’21’ as the first act.

They were the ideal group to showcase the potential of VR concerts.

The group’s synchronized dance with 21 members was undoubtedly spectacular, but with so many members, it was difficult to focus on a specific individual.

Fans could only catch glimpses of their favorite members through fancams or at fan signing events, which were notoriously difficult to attend.

But VR concerts offered a different experience.

Fans could watch their favorite member perform right in front of their eyes.

The ability to view them from various angles was a significant advantage.

More importantly, the artists could see the reactions of their fans, just like in a real concert.

Although it changed randomly and continuously, the cheers of the audience could be seen on over 100 giant monitors.

Access to the VR concert was not free.

A fee of 10,000 won [approximately $8.50 USD] was charged, and the revenue was contractually obligated to go to the singers.

Even so, expectations were modest.

The price was significantly lower, less than one-tenth of the cost of a real concert.

However, the power of fandom always exceeded expectations.

“So many concert tickets have been sold?”

“Already 700,000 tickets! I wouldn’t be surprised if it was ’21’, but it hasn’t even been verified yet?”

“Isn’t it because the contract stipulates that a certain percentage of the revenue goes directly to the singers that this phenomenon is happening?”

“……I understand why the CEO insisted on including this clause.”

Perhaps because he was a star who had experienced immense popularity before becoming a CEO, he was particularly considerate of the artists.

Employees could sense this in the VR STARS project.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to fight with other agencies to guarantee the rights of the singers.

’21’ successfully sold a remarkable 1 million tickets, and the first VR concert generated a tremendous response.

– Acclaim for ’21’s stage, which opened the door to VR concerts on VR STARS!-

– The world of VR concerts was more spectacular and amazing than imagined!-

– Right next to your favorite? ’21’s fans who experienced the VR concert want the next concert!-

– The aftermath of the rumors? The next act, Blue Rose. Already sold 500,000 VR concert tickets!-

– Idols look forward to VR concerts due to the great success of ’21’s VR concert!-

“What are we going to do?”

“…….”

The members of Blue Rose felt immense pressure due to the success of 21.

However, as one of the world’s top girl groups, their fan base was also highly engaged.

As if confident in the success of ’21’, the fans’ purchasing power was astonishing.

Ultimately, they surpassed ’21’s record of 1 million tickets, selling 1.5 million seats, and the VR concert generated significant buzz.

This was because it became known that fans could see their favorite idols up close with a unique sense of realism, similar to ’21’s concert.

Of course, the VR concerts of the idols that followed also demonstrated impressive ticket sales.

However, the appeal of VR concerts extended beyond large-scale performances.

Small theater VR concerts for singers with smaller fan bases were also popular.

The scale of these smaller concerts grew over time, and the low cost contributed to their success.

The ticket price for small theater VR concerts was around 3,000 won [approximately $2.50 USD], making them accessible even to fans of other groups who wanted to enjoy a two-hour performance.

Since fans could purchase multiple tickets to support their favorite artists, some 3rd-tier idols sold thousands of tickets, rendering the term “small theater” meaningless.

As a content that was easy to enjoy at a low price during the pandemic, word spread overseas, and it became a popular destination for international fans seeking new K-pop stars.