Through Bubble, a K-pop idol explained why some groups opted not to appear in music shows anymore, revealing the pay that they receive versus the fee that they have to bear just to ensure quality of appearance.
On May 8, VICTON Hanse took to the fandom-messaging app, Bubble, to explain to fans the reason idols don't necessarily have to appear in music shows.
It's true that it's a staple, especially for rookies, to go to music broadcasts, as this offers them exposure and a chance to receive a trophy if their music wins first place. This is also a platform for idols to interact with their fandoms as they perform their new music.
However, this is not always easy, especially for artists under small/medium-sized labels.
Hanse explained that while it is nice to go to music programs, the investment and return don't match.
While this form of promotion is beneficial for idols from the second-gen era, the boom of social media platforms, including YouTube and live streams, has made some fans rarely watch music shows.
Hanse testified with this and revealed that while they have to pay about 10M KRW ($7.34k) for a 1-week promotion, every group only receives about 50,000 KRW ($36) in every appearance.
Usually, a team's music show promotion only lasts 2 weeks, which will make the expenses reach about $15k. This is not to mention the outside costs they have to pay, including their makeup, building sets, meals, etc., which cost roughly $15k, too.
VICTON's Hanse reveals K-Pop idols get paid ~$36 per Music Show appearance. pic.twitter.com/16ZLxCpLt7
— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 9, 2024
What's saddening here is that this isn't solely carried by the company, but this is actually added to the "debt" of the idols.
With this, Hanse justified why some artists decide to skip music shows, and instead, invest the money on the MV's better quality.
As he continued to share anecdotes about the reality of music shows, he clarified that he has huge respect for K-pop idols, and reasoned that he was only exposing this to fans who always ask them to promote in music broadcasts.
Meanwhile, he also touched on the topic of the idols' debts to labels.
Hanse confessed that idols barely make profits unless they are popular not only with K-pop fans but the general public.
Most often, idols from small/medium-sized labels have to pay all of the company's expenses since they were trainees until the end of their contracts.
If the 7-year contract ends or if the group disbands mid-way, the idol doesn't have to pay the debt anymore, but this also ends up with them earning no money.
When Hanse's revelation spread online, K-pop fans sympathized with idols from smaller companies. They also expressed their gratitude to their faves who still choose to go to music shows despite these pricey consequences.
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Written by Eunice Dela Cruz
