The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 1001

< Welcome to My World - Episode 100 >

After Halo became Roh Hae-il, the most striking thing he noticed was the sheer volume of music in this world.

An absolute ocean of music.

New songs poured out daily. Halo enjoyed this abundance, but it also presented challenges.

With so many songs being created, most sank into obscurity without ever gaining traction.

This applied to all products, not just music.

That’s why marketing is so crucial.

‘This kind of music exists, and it’s good for these reasons, so please listen.’ Marketing involves informing the public about a product and creating a consumer base—though its scope is much broader.

To survive in the music ocean, marketing typically took three forms: distribution promotion, partnership promotion, and self-promotion.

Distribution promotions included events and banners offered by music platforms like Watermelon [a fictional music streaming service].

Partnership promotions utilized other companies’ channels, such as YouTube, music shows, and radio appearances. Self-promotion, as the name suggests, involved creating content on one’s own channels.

This included YouTube and other social media channels, as well as offline events.

Effective use of these promotions could turn a moderate hit into a massive success. Conversely, without marketing, even a potential mega-hit could fail.

“So, you’re saying you didn’t do any marketing for this album either?”

“Watermelon did give us a promotion, but they say they’re ‘feeling resentful.’ Any other company wouldn’t even consider it, even if we begged.”

“It’s Watermelon, so it’s directly tied to sales. What a lucky kid. Then again, he’s also a bit of an idiot. He could have earned dozens, maybe hundreds, of times more if he’d joined our company.”

“Isn’t he still young?”

“Anyway, tell everyone not to worry. Unlike that kid’s DIY [Do It Yourself] approach, our company will invest heavily in promotions.”

“Yes, I will pass it on.”

In mid-August, with his own singer’s comeback coinciding with Roh Hae-il’s, the CEO smiled confidently and dismissed the employee.

However, the moment the door closed, the CEO frantically checked the music charts. A large banner dominated the top of the Watermelon chart.

“Those bastards put in everything they could, despite claiming resentment. Does a Roh Hae-il fan work there? They should be boycotting him.”

He knew the banner space was always fully booked. Did someone cancel their release to coincide with Roh Hae-il’s comeback? The CEO clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“But that’s the extent of his marketing. Others are doing showcases, press conferences, and pop-up stores. As expected, those who start their own companies know nothing about marketing.”

Despite his sharp words, his hands were sweating.

Marketing is ultimately about informing the public.

Exposure is the top priority, regardless of the promotion type.

Consider this: if the public is already aware of the music and interested in it, the impact of marketing diminishes.

From that point on, it becomes a matter of timing. Aggressive marketing can lead to a rapid surge, while a more passive approach results in a slower climb.

The important thing is that it rises.

Charting, reaching the top ten, and ultimately hitting number one on the music charts.

Once that happens, no further marketing is needed.

Success becomes the best form of marketing and promotion.

If a song hits number one, everyone will eventually hear it.

It will be played in cafes, internet cafes [PC rooms], and anywhere people have access to music.

This is why music chart manipulation occurs.

Reaching number one without marketing is nearly impossible, but once achieved, the song is set.

The CEO knew very well the few artists who had reached number one without marketing.

One was a foreign artist who wasn’t a concern.

The other was Roh Hae-il.

Roh Hae-il, whom agency CEOs referred to as ‘kid,’ ‘little one,’ ‘that guy,’ and even ‘that bastard,’ seemed to be the most unconventional singer the CEO had ever encountered.

One debut and two comebacks in a year.

This would be unremarkable for an indie singer, but he effortlessly achieved number one on the music charts and even charted all his B-side tracks.

This almost never happened, except for top artists like Liv. Even established singers like Shin Na-bak-i, Hwang Ryong-pil, and Samjang couldn’t chart all their B-sides.

Moreover, this year was supposed to be HALO’s year.

Korean songs naturally have an advantage in the Korean market, but a rookie outperforming HALO shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

“Damn it, I thought this was an opportunity because HALO’s album was a bit weak this time.”

It wasn’t that the music was bad.

It was simply less appealing to Korean audiences.

HALO’s music typically had a strong British pop influence, but this time it leaned heavily into overseas sensibilities.

How many Koreans are familiar with Edgar Allan Poe or his poems?

Even with the double title track [HOLY X DAY], the CEO thought it was a good time for a comeback because that sensibility was difficult for Koreans to empathize with.

He hadn’t anticipated Roh Hae-il’s early comeback.

Moreover, this kid was unique.

He didn’t engage in traditional music marketing, yet he was incredibly skilled at attracting public attention.

Whether intentional or natural, his ability to generate buzz was that of a born entertainer.

A flashy appearance with Rendezvous. A comeback. Then, before his popularity waned, he disappeared, creating anticipation.

Before interest faded, he stirred up attention again with the Korea University issue, spread rumors of a full album, and then released it within weeks.

The CEO felt like he was going crazy.

Was this year cursed?

Hair was falling out every day.

A thinning crown.

Roh Hae-il’s profile picture stared back at him with that confident smile, oblivious to his turmoil.

Everyone predicted Roh Hae-il’s new album would fail, but after listening to it, the CEO wasn’t so sure.

“Who the hell said he can’t do rock?”

The CEO gritted his teeth, recalling the strategy team’s assurances not to worry.

#

And-.

“This bastard.”

Unlike the CEO next door, a voice filled with laughter rang out.

“He really wrote this down.”

Nothing else caught his eye, only one song.

He chuckled and played the music.

[17sec(Feat. Shin Joo-hyuk’s Motorcycle)│Roh Hae-il]

The sound of a motorcycle engine, which quickens a man’s pulse, and the song begins with a synthesizer. Bass, drums, and electric guitar join in, and a voice is heard.

The voice that everyone said was suited to acoustic music had become a rough, masculine voice.

A thick, raspy voice that made adrenaline surge and touched the heart with a sense of urgency.

[3 2 1
The fuse is burning
The fired bullet
Is shot into infinite time
The engine is running wild
Piercing the overheated atmosphere
Now, shall we start the countdown?
Never let go until someone screams
For the best finale]

“Crazy bastard, what kind of featuring is this?”

Shin Joo-hyuk chuckled.

Except for the five seconds used at the beginning, there was no motorcycle sound, yet he still credited it. People might wonder what it was all about.

“But, a little.”

Shin Joo-hyuk laughed for a long time, then leaned back deeply in his chair. His toes twitched.

“I want to make a comeback.”

Adrenaline surged, and his heart raced.

“Crazy bastard. How can he create something like this so quickly?”

Shin Joo-hyuk smiled helplessly.

What were the people who said Roh Hae-il couldn’t do rock thinking now? Did they even know who they were talking about?

If Roh Hae-il hadn’t performed rock—or rather, songs with many English lyrics—at the live house, Shin Joo-hyuk might have worried about joining that group of naysayers.

Shin Joo-hyuk, who had been playing the entire album, hit the space bar.

Not because he didn’t want to listen anymore, but because he wanted to channel this inspiration immediately.

Confidence that he could do anything, and a cheerful melody revolved in his head.

He might be influenced and discard it later, but something would remain.

He was simply happy now.

That there were twelve songs that would spark inspiration if he ever felt stuck while composing.

And this wasn’t just Shin Joo-hyuk’s reaction.

[Roh Hae-il’s 1st Full Album My World]

1. (Title) Welcome to my world

2. 17s(Feat. Shin Joo-hyuk’s Motorcycle)

3. Zigzag(Feat. Joo Yeon-woo)

4. Ever end

:

12. Voice to Voice

The CEO thought while listening to this music.

He believed he might reach number one someday, but it would be difficult now. He thought it would take time for him to become known to the public.

However, he underestimated Roh Hae-il’s fandom.

Even though real-time streaming didn’t have the same impact on the charts as it did a decade ago, there were still dedicated listeners who streamed continuously. And loyal fans who made those around them aware of the album’s existence.

Moreover, Roh Hae-il had attracted a fair share of haters due to his sudden popularity and perceived air of mystery.

People often don’t realize that not just anyone can be a hater. It takes strategists who devise ways to criticize and lay the groundwork for declaring something a failure.

They must be diligent, hardworking, and multi-talented to develop effective strategies.

A hater who had bothered to stream the music on the charts was briefly taken aback by the unexpected sound.

“It’s okay…”

Someone said, then immediately regretted it.

He slapped his mouth as if he had uttered something forbidden.

And they quickly checked the album information.

They desperately hoped.

That Roh Hae-il hadn’t made this album alone. With so many features, Shin Joo-hyuk, Hwang Ryong-pil, and others must have helped.

However, they found only emptiness.

No, it was the truth they dreaded most.

————

17sec

Roh Hae-il

Album: Roh Hae-il’s 1st Full Album My World

Release Date: 2031.08.16

Genre: Alternative Rock

Lyrics by Roh Hae-il│ Composed by Roh Hae-il

————

When they frantically searched for other B-side tracks, the only differences they found were one, no, two.

————

Zigzag(Feat. Joo Yeon-woo)

Roh Hae-il

Genre: Hard Rock, Pop

————

Title and genre.

“…”

[Who is the featuring singer? I think I bought it because of the female tone]

[What’s feat. Shin Joo-hyuk’s motorcycle lol It’s disgusting to use Shin Joo-hyuk to make money]

└He probably thinks it’s funny. Kid levelㅋ

Of course, as I said before, not just anyone can be a hater. Only those who persevere through any crisis can become true haters.

[Isn’t this bastard scamming us? Even if someone participated in the album, no one would know if he only wrote his nameㅋ]

Therefore, they finally found it.

One was suspicion of album information forgery.

And the other one was.

[Everything else is okay and ㅇㅋ [OK] but isn’t the title song a bit weak?]

[ㄹㅇ [Real] It’s weaker than the other songs, so he put it on the title because he thought it wouldn’t sell]

[Another coustic [acoustic]ㅋㅋSelf-replication is amazing?]

[Does he think he can eat number one with just his tone?]

[Sigh, where’s your conscience ㅇㄷ [where’s the]?]

[Is it all about making a lot of moneyㅋ]

Of course, these were just a minority.

Most people didn’t bother to look for hater’s posts.

[Wow··· Honestly, I was worried when he said he was going to do rock, but who am I worried about]

[Why didn’t this bastard sing rock until now 으아아아아아아아ㅣ [Ahhhhhh!]]

[I can’t do this, I’m going to ride a motorcycle right now]

[Breaking news) Motorcycle sales +1000% increase]

[키야아ㅏ아아아가ㅏㅇ가악 [Kyaaaaaaa!]]

[Wow, all the B-side tracks are crazy]

[It was worth disappearing to make these songs ㅇㅈ이지 [ 인정이지, I acknowledge it]]

└Also, Roh Hae-il, who wrote, composed, and arranged the songs, is so cool

[I’m sorry, I’ll bow my head. I, a stupid person, dared to doubt the will of heaven. Amen]

[I will believe and follow you even if you do classical music in the future]

[So, when is the fan signing event?]

└ Amen···

[Roh Hae-il’s recent hate comments ㅋㅋ Plain ㅇㅈㄹ [ 인정, I acknowledge it]]

└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋBecause he has nothing to say

It goes without saying that they brought hater posts and made fun of them as the grades rose.

[But the title song is weak, isn’t it?]

└ What’s weak about itㅋㅋ

└ It’s just that the other songs are more exciting, but the title song is also good

└ It’s my favorite

[If the other songs are better, shouldn’t you make that song the title song?]

└ㅅㅂ [swear word] The title song isn’t like survival of the fittest, you have to choose the one with the best performance?

└ Hae-il must have his reasons.

└ No, I like Welmawol [Welcome to My World] the most, why are they like that

└ He picks all the B-side tracks well, so he attracts this kind of attention

└ This is the first time I’ve seen someone criticize the title song ㄹㅇ [Real]

[The title is obviously 17 seconds or zigzag
Why is it Welmawol? I don’t understand]

“No, they’re picking on something else.”

Moon Seo-yeon grumbled.

She was lying in the space below Roh Hae-il’s studio—a relaxation area.

She had never been there before, but everyone told her to rest because she looked unwell, so she came here.

The bed she jumped on was better than her own. She understood why Nam Gyu-hwan and Han Jin-young always came to sleep here.

With Sua’s recital ticket and laptop on the bedside table, Moon Seo-yeon stared intently at the ticket.

“Should I just not go?”

-We think you shouldn’t stay as a session player; it’s a shame

She didn’t want to see those friends again.

Should she say she hated them?

No, she just wanted to resent them.

For needlessly complicating her thoughts.

“Sigh, I don’t know.”

Moon Seo-yeon turned and smiled proudly at the physical album [My world] she had received as a gift.

There was no column for session musicians in the album information on the music platform, but the names of Han Jin-young, Moon Seo-yeon, and Nam Gyu-hwan were all printed on the full album.

Title song.

Welcome to my world

Looking at it, she realized she had never heard the song, not even once.

She had heard the MR [music recorded] version, but never the completed version, which was as colorless as Roh Hae-il’s band.

Session recording wasn’t credited separately; he had only said he would let her hear it when the album came out.

Moon Seo-yeon looked at the hate comments again.

[Why the hell did you make Welcome to my world the title song]

└ Isn’t it better to give birth to 17sec or zigzag?

└ Can’t give birth to both ㅇㅇ [응, yes]

“Our boss’s songs are all good, why are they like that? Try making them themselves!”

Moon Seo-yeon grumbled and played the title song.

There must be a reason why he made ‘Welcome to my world,’ which he had never played for the members, the title song.

In fact, at the meeting, the boss had gotten his way.

The sound of whistling was heard.

The melody created by the whistle was so pleasant that she wondered why people were criticizing it.

Electric guitar followed the whistle sound.

And the boss’s sweet voice.

[Welcome to my world]

The song began with a word like a dialogue rather than lyrics.

The song was exciting and cute.

Roughly, it introduced the world the boss envisioned.

The world he saw was surrounded by music. He said there were melodies everywhere.

His world was also clumsy, full of awkward but beautiful things.

A happy smile appeared as the whistle accompanied the ticklish voice.

What was wrong with this good song?

She liked this kind of song better than rock.

It made people excited, made them feel good, and revealed the boss’s voice as it was. As she listened, she understood why he said he didn’t need a session.

The song was complete with just the guitar.

However, at some point, Moon Seo-yeon stopped smiling.

The melody that continued with the electric guitar changed to acoustic. The pretentious sound disappeared.

The pure slash string sound was heard transparently, and the song that revealed strong confidence became a ticklish and sincere story.

[I’m waiting]

[Your one word]

[I’ll hear it someday]

Moon Seo-yeon’s eyes trembled for a moment.

It felt like something had fallen with a thud.

[Welcome to my world]

“Welcome to my world.”

Moon Seo-yeon recited without realizing it.

Her eyes turned red.

“It’s pretty, the song…”

She couldn’t ignore the song’s message, which ended with a head-and-tail correlation structure [a literary device where the beginning and end mirror each other].

She recalled the day she first heard this song.

Nakwon Arcade [a famous music instrument shopping center in Seoul]. At an old guitar store, the boss looked at them and sang a song.

At that time, she accepted it, intending to remember it.

She wondered why he hadn’t given her the sheet music and said she didn’t need a session.

This wasn’t just a song.

It was a letter to the members.

Moon Seo-yeon clenched her fist and frowned.

-Shall we say hello again?

-How?

-Just say hello

-Nice to meet you, Moon Seo-yeon, as Roh Hae-il and as Halo.

-Me too…

The composition was the same as then.

The boss introduced himself first and held out his hand, waiting for her to take it.

Something welled up inside.

At that time, she was so embarrassed.

-Boss, when did you use this on a woman?

She passed it off as a joke, but she suddenly regretted it.

She should have said hello properly.

The boss told his story and sang a song saying he wanted to see your world, but she often vaguely brushed it off. She was so bad.

Moon Seo-yeon slowly got out of bed and went upstairs.

“Seo-yeon, welcome. I got angry because you said you ate all the pizza last time, so I ordered it again.”

The members were there.

Judging by their reactions, they hadn’t heard the music yet.

Fools. They should listen to the music as soon as it comes out.

When Moon Seo-yeon raised her head, she made eye contact with Nam Gyu-hwan.

Nam Gyu-hwan, who was throwing away the pickle juice, opened his eyes wide, came to her, and grabbed her face.

“Why are you crying? Who bullied you?”

“No, I’m not crying. Just-.”

“Hey, who did it? Calm down and tell me.”

“I told you, it’s not like that…”

She felt like something was stuck in her throat.

Moon Seo-yeon tried her best to focus and shook her head.

At that time, pizza came into Moon Seo-yeon’s eyes.

The pizza topping that Nam Gyu-hwan ordered wasn’t bulgogi [Korean marinated beef] or pepperoni-.

At that moment, the tears she had been holding back flowed down.

“How can there be, sob, pineapple on pizza.”

Han Jin-young, who had been watching Moon Seo-yeon quietly, turned his head.

“…I think it’s because of you, Gyu-hwan.”

“Is this something to cry about?”

In the moment when Nam Gyu-hwan was embarrassed.

Moon Seo-yeon slowly moved forward.

The boss’s voice was heard in her ears.

[I’m waiting]

[I’ll hear your one word someday]

[Welcome to my world]

‘My world’.

Moon Seo-yeon stood in front of Halo, thinking of that one word.

“Boss.”

Her voice trembled as she sobbed.

“I, I want to compose.”

“…”

“I want to do the boss’s session, compose, and do everything.”

She felt like she was too greedy.

Halo smiled faintly and nodded.

“Then do it.”

Moon Seo-yeon wiped her nose and continued.

“I want to become a composer as successful as the boss.”

“I think that’s going to be a little difficult.”

The boss, who chuckled, said.

“But I’ll help you.”

It was so warm.

Like a song.

Moon Seo-yeon said clearly.

“I will never be lazy or disappoint the boss.”

“I know that well. Moon Seo-yeon is diligent.”

Moon Seo-yeon was the most diligent and had the best stamina in the studio. At Halo’s words, Moon Seo-yeon shed tears again.

Nam Gyu-hwan covered the pizza with the lid, looking at the situation.

“Boss…”

“Yes.”

“I like you so much. Thank you for being born. Heuhuep [sobbing sound]”

This was a story she had never heard before.

Halo paused for a moment and nodded.

“Thank you for coming to my world.”

Moon Seo-yeon smiled brightly and said.

She used to pass it off as a joke, but this time she said hello properly.

Several minutes after Moon Seo-yeon stopped crying, the members all listened to the song together. The story after that can be described as ‘happily ever after’.

Or not?

“Hae-il, the world of the hyung [older brother/male friend] is like this.”

“O Sun. I was originally born in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do-”

“Boss, my world is-.”

Hae-il regretted seeing them like that all day long.

He thought he shouldn’t have released it.