Become A Music Monster Overnight! [EN]: Chapter 167

Music Monster Overnight! Episode 158

There was a problem I had to solve while doing this.

That was the fact that I shouldn’t be externally visible.

The reason is that the general perception would be that my involvement equates to YC Entertainment’s involvement.

Even if I tried to explain it away, no one would believe it.

People love a good scandal.

Above all, I have a history of turning ‘failed idols,’ starting with Blue Rose, into global sensations multiple times.

Considering that track record, it’s understandable why people would jump to that conclusion again.

The problem is that by doing this, I, who had been distancing myself to focus on the internal idol production system, might alienate and betray our own trainees.

They went through a grueling process to become idol trainees, enduring countless hours of practice and effort to debut. How would they feel if the representative was nurturing other idols from the outside, especially those labeled as failures?

No matter how understanding they are, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of betrayal.

“Thanks to that, the difficulty has increased.”

First of all, not being able to leverage my fame was like losing one of my biggest advantages.

What’s the point of creating a great song?

If I can’t get people to listen to it, I can’t utilize its potential.

We’ve seen songs that initially underperformed later become massive hits.

The problem is that such late success stories are rare.

Often, songs never gain traction, or only the song becomes popular while the idol who sang it remains unknown.

Even when the idol possesses the skills and avoids controversies.

Making an idol popular is never an easy task.

Moreover, it’s even harder to revive an idol who’s already been branded a ‘failed idol.’

“…Okay, this level of challenge is perfect. It makes it worthwhile.”

However, this level of difficulty ignited my passion.

It had been a while since my competitive spirit as a producer had been so fired up.

I couldn’t use my biggest weapon, fame, but I still had two cards to play.

One is the insane level of inspiration I’m experiencing, and the other is…

“Money. Money…”

As 2021 began, the cryptocurrency market exploded to an unbelievable degree.

Amidst encouraging news about containing COVID-19, stocks and real estate soared, and Bitcoin reached its all-time high.

The memes about it reaching 100 million won [approximately $85,000 USD] soon didn’t seem so far-fetched.

Thanks to that, the $300 million I invested in Bitcoin had increased more than tenfold.

In Korean currency, it had grown to approximately 3.6 trillion won [approximately $3 billion USD].

Bitcoin was the most dramatic, but the $200 million invested in Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies had already increased more than twentyfold.

Combined, it was worth over 7 trillion won [approximately $5.9 billion USD], and with the market still rising, I had no idea how high it would go.

Some experts predicted it would double again, but I planned to sell around that point.

As a result, I had lost track of my total net worth.

This is because the amount invested in cryptocurrencies, real estate, and stocks was so vast, even excluding my company shares.

I had approximately $300 million in readily available funds.

So, money was clearly going to be my biggest asset in this endeavor.

“…First of all, I need to scout some people.”

Right on cue, many entertainment companies that had been doing relatively well were collapsing due to COVID-19.

That also meant a flood of talent was becoming available.

* * *

“This… crazy bastard~.”

In this notoriously cutthroat and shady industry, Kim Seung-jae was known as a bodhisattva [a person on the path to enlightenment, known for their compassion]. This was because he seemed incapable of swearing, even in the face of power trips and other injustices.

However, even he couldn’t help but curse in response to the current insane situation.

The president, who had been acting increasingly erratically, had finally crossed the line.

He raised money from investors with outlandish projects and then fled overseas with the funds.

When Kim Seung-jae first heard the news, he thought it was a dream.

It seemed impossible that anyone, even someone completely clueless, could come up with such a crazy scheme.

But this president was even crazier than he imagined, and as a result, the company went bankrupt overnight.

“Give me back my money!”

“Where did the president go! Bring the president out here!”

“I caught you! Where did that president run off to!”

All that was left for Kim Seung-jae was the wrath of defrauded investors.

Kim Seung-jae explained that he, too, had been scammed.

His salary, which was three months overdue, was a secondary concern. His 2% stake in the company and his retirement pay, accumulated over 20 years, had vanished in an instant.

Considering his losses, it was clear that he had lost a significant amount, comparable to the investors who had been harmed.

“How did things get like this?”

Of course, the company hadn’t always been such a disaster.

If it had, no matter how much of a bodhisattva he was, he wouldn’t have stayed for 20 years.

He had originally built his career as a road manager [personal manager] at a large entertainment company before being scouted by the former president.

It wasn’t entirely surprising.

In this industry, where finding reliable people is difficult due to the demanding and often unpleasant nature of the work, he was a valuable asset.

The former president recognized his potential, gave him opportunities early on, and supported his growth. Kim Seung-jae capitalized on those opportunities with his unique diligence and talent.

He successfully launched several actors and achieved significant results in the music industry.

In particular, taking Max, a previously unsuccessful rookie idol who was the former president’s last project, and elevating him to the cusp of stardom was his greatest achievement.

Thanks to them, the company finally transitioned from a small entertainment agency to a mid-sized one, albeit with some inflated expectations.

Then came YC Entertainment’s massive expansion into the idol market.

The company, which had been steadily solidifying its position as a mid-sized player centered on Max, began to decline rapidly.

This was triggered by the former president’s sudden collapse due to a cerebral hemorrhage and the subsequent interference of his family members in the company’s operations.

“…It was truly hell.”

The higher you climb, the harder you fall.

Therefore, the shockwaves that hit Kim Seung-jae, who had been riding high on past successes, were immense.

The wife, daughter, and son, who knew nothing about the entertainment business, began managing the company as they pleased, leveraging their respective shares as president.

They misused company funds, leading to repeated clashes between them and Kim Seung-jae and the head of the department, who were essentially running the company at the time.

But in the end, Kim Seung-jae and the others were ousted.

This was because the former president eventually passed away without recovering, and the family members began to disadvantage those who had received company shares as inheritance.

In the process, talented individuals who had been loyal to the company, like Kim Seung-jae, left in droves.

“Thinking about it now, they were smart.”

At the time, Kim Seung-jae regretted their choices, but now he realized he should have done the same.

What was he hoping for, and why did he foolishly stay with the company? He deeply regretted it.

But at the time, he felt obligated.

He had to manage Max’s attempts to sign with another company and protect the interests of the entertainers still under contract.

In short, his kind and selfless nature, which earned him the nickname ‘bodhisattva,’ compelled him to stay with the failing company until the bitter end.

“Hoo…”

At the time, he believed he was doing the right thing, and he still does, but he couldn’t help but sigh at the bleak reality.

He had others to consider.

His family. He couldn’t help but sigh when he thought of his two-year-old daughter.

In different times, he wouldn’t have worried so much.

He had been in the industry for over 20 years and had built a strong network of contacts.

He had successfully launched Max, a previously unsuccessful idol, as well as several actors. Even if a large entertainment company was out of reach, he could have joined a decent mid-sized agency as a team leader.

If he was willing to work for a smaller company, he could have negotiated favorable terms as a general manager.

But unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had decimated the market.

Even small and medium-sized entertainment companies that were considered relatively stable were closing down, making it impossible for them to hire new staff.

The industry was barely surviving thanks to VR STARS from YC Entertainment.

Because YC Entertainment had a policy of not prioritizing profit with VR STARS, even third-tier idols had a platform to survive.

They earned money through VR concerts instead of live events, but the company’s share of the revenue was small.

However, the idols were motivated to perform, leading to more concerts and helping many companies stay afloat.

In any case, it was clear that finding a new job in the current entertainment industry would be extremely difficult.

If he rushed into a new position, he would likely damage his career.

As he struggled to find a new home in this desperate situation, someone approached him one day.

“Mr. Kim Seung-jae?”

“??”

On a particularly cold winter day.

The person who approached him as he warmed himself with a canned coffee from a convenience store was a man with an imposing physique.

He was clearly not an ordinary person, and his black suit made him seem even more intimidating.

Kim Seung-jae, who had experienced his share of hardships, was startled, but fortunately, the man didn’t seem to have bad intentions.

“I apologize for approaching you so abruptly. I’m Park Seong-ryul, a director at P Investment.”

He handed Kim Seung-jae a high-quality business card.

Park Seong-ryul asked if he could spare some time, and Kim Seung-jae surprisingly agreed.

He sensed that Park Seong-ryul was being respectful, despite his intimidating appearance.

Park Seong-ryul was relieved.

He knew that his appearance could be frightening to ordinary people. Sometimes it was an advantage, but often it made it difficult to gain people’s trust.

Fortunately, his sincerity seemed to resonate with Kim Seung-jae, perhaps because of his years in the industry, and the meeting got off to a good start.

“…I don’t know what to say.”

“I understand. But I can assure you that this is a great opportunity for Mr. Kim Seung-jae.”

“That’s… certainly true.”

Even so, Kim Seung-jae couldn’t easily accept Park Seong-ryul’s offer.

Perhaps it was because of the terrible experiences he had endured. When an opportunity like winning the lottery presented itself, he felt more fear than joy.

In a way, Kim Seung-jae’s hesitant demeanor was appealing to Park Seong-ryul.

He believed that if he could help him secure a good position, he would demonstrate the same loyalty he had shown at his previous company.

‘How did the CEO find someone like this?’

Park Seong-ryul found it strange.

Park Seong-ryul, a former member of the national wrestling team, had joined Black Tiger’s team six years ago. He had risen to the position of team leader through his tenacity and loyalty, but he was surprised by the CEO’s sudden request last week.

He wanted to secretly start a new entertainment company. What did that mean?