SM Entertainment Stars to Join Weverse: The End of Kwangya Club?
SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies, is making a major move as its artists are set to join Weverse, a popular platform for K-pop fans. This development comes after HYBE, Kakao, and SM Entertainment announced they would collaborate to enhance their platforms. With artists like Kangta, BoA, aespa, and NCT, the transition to Weverse is expected to change the landscape of the K-pop fandom community.
The Future of Kwangya Club
Kwangya Club, SM Entertainment's current platform where its artists engage with fans, is expected to face significant changes. As all activity on Kwangya Club will be shifted to Weverse, fans are left wondering what will happen to this once-popular platform.
In addition to the shift in engagement, SM Entertainment artist merchandise will be distributed through the Weverse Shop, further establishing Weverse's dominance in the K-pop fan community.
Benefits of Joining Weverse
Joining Weverse is anticipated to be a mutually beneficial decision for both SM Entertainment and the platform. Weverse has established itself as a leader in user convenience among domestic fandom platforms, making communication between artists and fans seamless. With SM Entertainment artists joining Weverse, fans can expect an enhanced experience and a more accessible way to connect with their favorite stars.
Impact on Dear. U and Competition
While the move to Weverse is generally positive, there could be some fallout for Dear. U, an affiliate of SM Studios and a subsidiary of SM Entertainment. Dear. U operates Dear. U Bubble, a messaging platform that facilitates communication between fans and artists. They recently acquired Universe, a platform similar to Weverse.
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With SM Entertainment artists now joining Weverse, competition to secure artists is expected to heat up. However, it is believed that Bubble will remain unaffected by these changes.
Fan Reactions to SM Entertainment's Move
The news of SM Entertainment artists joining Weverse has sparked various reactions among fans. Many are excited about the potential change, with one fan commenting, "I freaking love this... We finally get to watch their live broadcasts in high quality."
Other fans expressed their dissatisfaction with Instagram live broadcasts, with one saying, "I hate watching their live broadcast from Instagram."
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Some fans mentioned the numerous times SM Entertainment has changed platforms, with one fan recalling, "I think they've changed platforms at least 4 times since I started following EXO." However, despite this, many fans seem to agree that Weverse is more user-friendly compared to Kwangya Club, with one stating, "I have to admit that 'Weverse' is indeed comfortable to use."
While some lament the potential loss of Kwangya Club, as one fan noted, "Jisung-ah, I appreciate your effort to revive 'Kwangya Club'... But we should move to 'Weverse' now."
The overall sentiment appears to be positive as fans look forward to a better experience on Weverse.
An official announcement detailing when and how SM Entertainment artists will enter Weverse is expected to be released soon. As the K-pop fandom community awaits this news, the future of Kwangya Club remains uncertain, and the impact of this major shift will surely be felt throughout the industry.