Producer Na Sang-yoon, trembling with excitent, closed his eyes.
The other composers leaned back in their chairs, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.
It was clear evidence of the song’s quality.
The rest of the staff nodded to each other, exchanging looks that said, “Isn’t this really good?”
As the song, lasting 3 minutes and 40 seconds, ca to an end.
“I can tell whose song this is without even looking,” Seokhwan said, prompting laughter to spill out.
While everyone in the eting room turned their gaze on , the departnt head joked,
“At this rate, we might as well say the song has its own fingerprints.”
“It’s really good. The first song. I don’t know who wrote it yet, but it’s incredibly catchy, isn’t it?” Hong Seo-young, the manager, said, and everyone nodded in agreent, smiling.
Then the A&R team chid in,
“It deviates from the latest trends, but the song is fantastic.”
“It’s not a hook song, but the lody sticks in your ears. This is going to be big.”
“It gives off a vibe similar to when we confird ‘Fireworks.’”
The praise from the A&R team suggested the song was ready to be released as is.
The producing team shared a similar sentint,
“Speaking for the producing team, from both a listener’s and a composer’s perspective, the song is unbelievably good.”
“Oh?”
President Park Gyu-ho asked,
“Is the song that good?”
“Yes. Normally, for a song to succeed, it needs both recognition and quality to create synergy…”
Na Sang-yoon, the producer, looked at us and said,
“With the recognition already massively secured, and the song being this incredibly good…”
“That’s right.”
With everyone’s mood lifted by the excellent song from the start, the president gestured,
“Let’s move on to the next song.”
The room refocused.
After about two hours of listening and reviewing songs,
“I’ll report the results,” said the TF team leader, displaying the results on the eting room screen.
“By unanimous decision, Candidate Song No. 1 has been selected as the title track. The na of Song No. 1 is ‘Falling Blossoms,’ composed and written by New Black.”
I exchanged high-fives under the table with my siblings.
While everyone applauded, I turned to the producing team mbers across from , who were squinting their eyes.
They returned my apologetic smile with a playful ‘tsk tsk.’
“Uju has done sothing big again,” the president said, smiling.
“I heard you created it with a ghost in Jeju Island.”
“Yes, we made it while filming the reality show. But there seems to be a misunderstanding; it wasn’t a ghost…”
We tried to clarify, “It’s not a ghost,” but everyone just laughed it off.
They joked, asking where exactly this powerful ‘ghost’ was located.
After deciding on the title track and the included songs,
We also discussed the album title we had in mind, should it be selected as the title track.
“How about ‘New Black Mini Album 4: Separation (別): Into the Black’ for the title?” I suggested, writing it on the whiteboard.
The main title would be ‘Separation,’ written in Chinese characters, and the subtitle ‘Into the Black’ to signify a new entry into darkness.
It was a title that would conclude the six-part series thed around ‘etings and partings’ that began with our debut single and connect to our first full album due later this year.
“We’re thinking of including ‘Separation (別)’ in the Intro, connecting it to the last special album. And for the Outro, we’re considering adding a rap performance of ‘Into the Black’ written by Jung-hyun.”
“That sounds good,” Director Jo Gyuhwan comnted.
“We could also use petals or stars for the album cover.”
“That’s a nice idea.”
As we discussed these concepts,
The A&R team briefed us on the current trends and how they might affect the song’s release.
“Idol music is currently divided into two categories. One follows the style of Nine.”
There were indeed many songs similar to Nine.
Nine had gained popularity in the latter half of last year, solidifying as a trend in the first half of this year.
Listening to the charts recently, I realized that the similarity to our style was not just my imagination.
“The impact of Nine was so significant that composers joked about it spreading like a plague.”
“Ah…”
“If a team doesn’t have a solid concept like Street Boys or Teen Spirit, it seems everyone tries a Nine-like concept at least once, aiming for international popularity.”
This translation and editing maintain the narrative flow and character voices while ensuring clarity and readability in English.
Apart from that, the top of the charts was dominated by drama OSTs.
The drama featuring Hallyu stars Lee Gyeon-woo and Kwak Si-hyun as the leading duo beca a massive hit, and consequently, its OSTs were lining up in the charts.
Nas like Jang Sowon, Yoon Chan-hyuk, and Cha Woo-hyun caught the eye.
Below them were recent spring season songs and ballads, including “Sothing,” ranking high.
“Did ‘Sothing’ chart again?”
“It did, once more…”
A brief laughter filled the conference room as the song, returning every spring like a street perforr, made its appearance again.
anwhile, our A&R team leader had suppressed the song that had been holding the number one spot.
A refreshing sound with a hint of tropical sound.
“That’s the biggest variable…”
“Reality, the song by Serenity. I listened to it as soon as it was released, and it was incredibly good.”
An addictive and refreshing hook song.
It was “REALITY” by the girl group Serenity, who made a coback with an Arican high school movie concept.
The song was currently devouring the charts.
Just listening spread a wave of freshness, and everyone laughed.
“It deserves the first place.”
I heard it’s almost confird for the first half of the year’s top spot.
Though recently released, it’s performing so well that it’s already being predicted for the annual number one.
It was the song we heard everywhere while filming our reality show in Jeju.
“Serenity’s atmosphere is amazing. They even broke records by surpassing 80,000 initial sales.”
They had overtaken the second-generation top group Daylight, seizing the top spot for girl group debuts.
Following them, NYX and Blink were hot on Scarlet’s heels, vying for second place.
High Color, in their second year, was also rising.
And the third-generation girl groups, who debuted around the sa ti as us, were starting to make their mark.
And then.
“With this hit refreshing genre, it seems other girl groups will release similar tracks…”
While the public enjoyed the cool and refreshing songs.
I wondered if it was okay for us to co out in the midst of spring in May with a wistful ‘The Flowers Wilt…’
A TF team mber comnted on it.
“The season is indeed tricky. Such songs should co out when it’s cold or getting chilly to be a hit.”
“True, it’s a unique genre…”
“But rember, when ‘Nine’ was released, there wasn’t a similar song on the charts. It’s only now beco a trend.”
Everyone seed hesitant to try a genre that hadn’t hit big before.
As we all racked our brains on how to make it work better.
Bijoo suggested.
“After listening to the chart-topping songs, why don’t we give ‘Falling Blossoms’ another listen?”
“That’s a good idea.”
After listening to the top chart songs in succession, we played ‘Falling Blossoms’ again.
It felt out of place, yet harmoniously blended before long.
Unanimously, we decided to proceed with the original version of ‘Falling Blossoms.’
However, there was another concern amidst the chart full of refreshing songs.
“But the genre of ‘REALITY’ sung by Serenity…”
After the eting, a passing A&R team mber ntioned.
“Isn’t it similar to your debut song? It has a vibe like ‘Fireworks.’”
“Right. It does have a similar refreshing feel.”
Everyone agreed as I said.
“It’s because they’re both in the house genre. We went deep house, and they added tropical.”
“True. I wonder if ‘Fireworks’ would have been a hit if released now…”
“Definitely… It feels like ‘Fireworks’ was a bit ahead of its ti.”
Though it was just passing conversation, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety with my juniors.
Wondering if ‘Falling Blossoms’ might also be a song ahead of its ti.
The youngest started fiddling with his fingers on his temples.
“Think positive. Think positive.”
“Input complete.”
We drew an ‘OK’ in the air and laughed, and the youngest nodded.
It seed he was montarily anxious due to the pressure that it had to be a success.
And then.
“Sunwoo-juuu…”
The producing team mbers, with dark circles under their eyes, approached like mummies, hands outstretched.
Upon closer inspection, their shoulders and wrists were covered in pain-relieving patches.
Then they began to mimic .
“What should we do? We’re really stuck with this song.”
“Could it be a slump?”
“I’m worried we might have lost our touch with the song…”
“…”
I averted my eyes from the glaring stares.
As my siblings burst into laughter, shouting, “Please scold him a lot!” I pulled out my wallet.
“Snowflake sirloin.”
“…!”
“Five servings per person.”
“…!”
“Unlimited soju and beer mix.”
The employees’ anger lted away as we exchanged a handshake of friendship.
Producer Na Sang-yoon asked .
“Can’t we get one exemption from work instead of drinks?”
“That’s not possible.”
At my firm response, the employees feigned sadness before bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha! Really, it’s not possible?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, let’s eat so at…”
After the album planning eting.
For days, I was caught up in a whirlwind of etings, one person after another.
There was so much to do.
“I’d like the choreography to emphasize curves this ti.”
Centered around Bijoo, I conveyed my dance requirents to the choreographer.
We had always hired foreigners, but this ti, we employed a local choreographer who specialized in Korean dance.
For the intricate movents of the choreography, I also sought advice from soone who handled action scenes in historical dramas.
“Hello!”
Alongside Stylist Director Kim, we visited a designer to commission outfits.
It was Designer Seo In-ah, famous for showcasing Hanbok at international fashion shows.
When we sat in the office eting room.
“Are the singers here too?”
“Oh, we’re in charge of producing.”
“Ah, then…”
As I pondered where to direct my words between Team Leader Seokhwan and Director Kim.
Director Kim pointed at us.
“You should speak to these friends first. They are really the center of everything here.”
“Ah, I see.”
She looked amazed, not knowing we were involved in the actual album production.
When my siblings handed over the printed PPT they had prepared in advance, her expression grew even more astonished.
Papers filled with dense notes.
Regrettably, none were mine.
My siblings had responded with disdain when I offered my brilliant opinion on the costus.
“Oh… You’ve prepared so ticulously.”
“Yes. We thought it would make your work easier.”
The designer, who had been examining the details, comnted.
“You’ve written it so well that there’s hardly any need for further explanation. It’s the first ti I’ve seen such clear requirents for idol outfits…”
When Bijoo smiled kindly at the fresh but positive reaction.
“Of course, these are just our wishes, and we believe you might have better ideas.”
“You an, take this as a direction?”
“Yes, exactly.”
After Designer Seo In-ah asked a few questions and my siblings answered.
Director Kim began discussing the finer details using industry jargon.
After a warm eting.
“It’s my first ti handling outfits for a big group like New Black, which is great, but there’s one concern.”
“What is it?”
“Given the nature of the costus, there will be quite a few modifications. So people don’t like that.”
She had previously designed for another boy group.
People had co to her social dia, cursing, “What kind of Hanbok is this?”
“It’s… I even consulted professors about the costu. Yet, they said it wasn’t Hanbok.”
“Don’t worry too much and work comfortably.”
I said with a smile.
“We’ll ntion it during interviews, and you can also appear on our Tube.”
“Tube?”
“Yes. It’s an account for our fans…”
Suggesting a segnt to reveal the behind-the-scenes of the costus seed to reassure her.
Afterward, Director Kim and Team Leader Seokhwan stayed behind to discuss practical matters, while we moved on for our schedule.
“Ugh…”
Even after diligently sipping on Korean red ginseng, I was still exhausted.
It felt like taking a potion in a ga where my health bar barely increased, a re red sliver of life.
“Hey, pass so of that ginseng too,” I called out.
“ as well… Now that I’m a senior, I feel like I’ve aged,” another voice chid in.
Between recording sessions and dance practice, sleeping for just two or three hours left us feeling like death ward over.
The worst part was starting a diet; there simply wasn’t enough energy to move.
As I sucked on the ginseng handed to , Jiho spoke up, “I wish we could finish filming ‘MiPro’ soon. Is it next week already?”
“Probably.”
“After watching it, everyone won’t be so surprised like they are with our designer now, right?”
It seed like we had to explain ourselves at every turn, asserting, “Ah, we’re producing it ourselves.”
Everyone seed half-convinced, half-doubtful, “Are you really producing it?”
The youngest among us seed to think that appearing on ‘MiPro’ would dispel all those doubts.
“Well, we’ll only know once we actually film it.”
As we headed to the next schedule, driving to the studio, we rolled down the windows, trying to lift our spirits.
The end of March was perfud with the scent of spring.
Winter had retreated completely, and spring was in full bloom.
It was Friday.
The elderly, as usual, turned down the volu of PBS1’s “My Hotown Now” from nine to seven.
Then they let out a sigh.
They had grown accustod to lowering the volu in anticipation of the noisy band NewBlack, which usually appeared in the latter half of the show.
But now…
“They’re not even on anymore…”
The volu went back up to nine.
There was a sense of loss.
At first, they were just noisy, and I wondered what they were about. But after three weeks, they had grown on like the neighborhood’s puppies.
“Will they show up or not?”
I was feeling unjustly resentful when, at the end of the program, the male announcer made an unusual comnt.
“To celebrate this Friday, we have a very special guest returning once again, don’t we?”
“That’s right. Our beloved guest who had left for a while has returned.”
Just when I thought it was going to be about spring herbs…
“NewBlack is back on ‘My Hotown Now’!”
The screen transitioned.
It was a video of NewBlack, recorded at an external studio.
“One, two, three! Hello, we are NewBlack!”
“Did you miss us? I missed you so much!”
“Yes! NewBlack, appointed as the ambassadors for regional balanced developnt in 2016, has returned as the heralds of local events in your hotown!”
The introduction to the segnt continued.
Every Friday, for about a minute, they would announce, “Next week’s local festival is…?”
The mbers, dressed in outfits related to the events they were introducing, smiled brightly.
A smile naturally ford on the viewers’ faces.
Especially soone in Jeju Island, watching the program, felt an extra surge of happiness.
It was because of a postcard that had arrived from the Seogwipo night market, where they had asked, “Won’t you co back on?”
[We kept our promise! Be sure to watch today] – NewBlack’s Woojoong and the crew♡
As the broadcast ended and positive feedback flooded the viewer’s ssage board, the production team smiled.
At the sa ti…
The fans, the Soufflés, were busy devouring new tidbits on the fan community.
NewBlack cut from “My Hotown Now”
Was the promise made with soone from Jeju on Wapp today’s broadcast? 😭😭😭
Looks like the duty-free shop ad is up 😂😂😂 (link)
Where’s that suit Jung-hyun is wearing from???
Ads featuring NewBlack, which they had shot in early March, were being released one after another.
Following Korean Wave stars Lee Gyeon-woo and Kwak Si-hyun, TNT, and others, NewBlack mbers sang the Duty-Free song.
There was also an ad thed around freedom in everyday life.
[Sotis, you just want to break free and escape]
Woojoo, contemplating what to wear while looking at a wardrobe filled with stylish clothes.
Bijoo, wandering the streets, capturing monts with a film cara.
Junghyun, quietly reading at ho.
And scenes of Rihyuk crumpling up his notes and tossing them behind him, and Jiho cooking.
Oh my… Everything is wrong from one to ten 😂😂😂😂😂
Who’s in charge of the ads? Didn’t do their job?
You’re now witnessing Kim Bijou, the master of finding her way—haha, just kidding!
Everyone, check out the behind-the-scenes footage uploaded by DA Duty-Free. You’ll see Bijou getting lost there.
At this rate, it’s almost false advertising.
Freedom in daily life? That ans it doesn’t exist.
Tourists from China and Japan would probably watch this and go “Wow!” I wish I could too, but I just can’t focus—haha!
Even my mom watched it and tilted her head in confusion.
The advertisent, deliberately featuring different characters, was causing quite a few laughs.
As befits the title of ‘the latest trend,’ I’m amazed by the sheer number of ads pouring in.
This year’s major agency earnings… TJ Entertainnt remains firmly in first place.
Hwai Entertainnt has been in the ‘red’ for two consecutive years—a warning signal has been lit.
Teen Spirit, Serenity, and others are ‘hits’… MOP Entertainnt has reached its all-ti high in earnings.
Towards the end of March, posts about the previous year’s earnings of various agencies began surfacing on idol communities.
Among them, one place received the most attention alongside the top four agencies.
[Lemon Entertainnt’s 2015 revenue: 83.8 billion won… a 40 billion increase from the previous year]
(Article Screenshot)
‘It’s estimated that New Black contributed about 35 billion to the increase in revenue.’
Indeed, it was Lemon Entertainnt that had achieved remarkable results in 2015, with a revenue of 83.8 billion won.
Wow, that’s incredible!
Is this including the Japan tour?
No, no, it’s just for the year 2015.
Realizing why ‘New Black’ offered free small theater tours after reading ‘It’s estimated that New Black contributed about 35 billion to the increase in revenue.’
But what about the operating profit? The cost of sales seems really high.
Hey there… A high cost of sales isn’t a bad thing… It ans your favorite idols are getting paid well in royalties.
This is insane… If they contributed 35 billion to the increase, that’s almost 40 billion, right?
Half of the company’s revenue is thanks to New Black—no wonder Kyuho is always smiling when he cos to work.
Lemon isn’t small fry anymore, not since they first entered the idol market with Scarlet.
And so, discussions about the 2015 earnings of various agencies also began to rise.
[2015 Major Agency Earnings Lemon Entertainnt Added]
(Overall ranking of agencies’ revenue)
If we’re talking about idol agencies, it goes TJ (270 billion) > MOP (230 billion) > SNH (97 billion) > Lemon (84 billion) > KM (75 billion).
After that, there’s a significant gap starting with DNS and Hwai.
When did Lemon climb up so high?
New Black really did well… It’s like hitting the jackpot in life.
Shouldn’t MOP be higher if we’re talking about net inco?? TJ doesn’t seem to have much substance.
Market capitalization-wise, TJ is number one.
This year, MOP is likely to top the charts—Teen Spirit is currently a huge hit, and Serenity also struck gold.
TNT must be a significant part of TJ’s revenue… There are rumors that Hanbyeol Jang might leave during the next contract renewal.
Hanbyeol Jang’s personal sales > TNT’s total sales in China.
It’s impressive they haven’t split yet—I’d leave if I were them.
Flow really sucks… The more you look, the more it seems like the haters want TNT to disband more than anyone else.
The fans are already sensitive, and they’re just provoking them subtly.
Teen Spirit is all puffed up after barely winning an album award last year through a loophole—when did they beco a grand prize group?
But objectively, isn’t this TNT’s last year? Teens are all about Teen Spirit and the newbies now, and if Hanbyeol Jang leaves, there’s no chance for full group activities… It’s either units or solo from here.
KM’s montum has really died down.
Do kids these days stan based on net inco? This industry gets weirder by the day.
As the agencies’ earnings were revealed, the idol community was once again thrown into chaos and destruction.
In front of Lemon Entertainnt’s building, vehicles bearing the PBS logo were arriving one after another.
People carrying equipnt hurried into the company.
“Alright, let’s start preparing for the shoot!”
They were the production crew of ‘Mr. Producer.’
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