How Hard is it for K-Pop Idol Groups to Appear on Music Programs? 'The Truth'

Music programs usually start with fresh rookies to start the show. Most times, the crowd is silent and wait for their part to be over. The music sounds the same and the performance is no different from the next idol group.

However, the truth is that those rookie groups who perform the first stage on these shows went through a lot to get to that stage. For music programs, they do not let just anyone who releases an album onto the stage. The group and their managers have to work extra hard to even get one booking on a music show.

Every Monday at 10 AM managers of various rookie groups gather around the coffee shop in front of the KBS building. The people waiting vary from CEO's to directors and managers. They are all waiting for a chance to meet with the KBS "Music Bank" producer. However, because the producers are always busy with meetings and such, managers wait about 3 hours to meet them. Even if they do get a chance to meet them, the longest they'll get is about 5 minutes. Even big agency CEO's come by to to show their manners, even though they already have a spot on the list.

For agencies that do have some hot issue stars, they do give some opportunities for they junior artists and rookies. For these agencies, they can 'deal' their rookie groups for many weeks at a time because of the relationship that has built up through their senior artists.

The problem is for the smaller agencies where they do not have enough of a relationship of a group that is already in the business. For these agencies, sometimes they have to pay a certain amount to get their group on stage. This type of deal to get rookies on stage has become so popular that now most agencies recruit 'Advertising managers' to do just these deals.

On Tuesday, the official list for "Music Bank" will be let out and all agencies are waiting anxiously by their phones for an answer. If you receive a call, you're in, but if you don't, that week is done.

Managers work hard to get a spot in at least one of the 4 major music programs which include: "Music Bank", MBC "Music Core", SBS "Inkigayo" and Mnet "M! Countdown."

Every week is pretty much the same for all of these programs. The managers work hard and wait for a chance to talk to one of the producers to get a spot on the show.

It's not always easy for big agencies either. Big agencies have to compete for which spot they want to perform at and how long they can get for their comeback performances and more. 

Although it is hard for agencies to get their artists on stage, the producers and staff at the music programs have fallen into dilemmas too.

The production team sometimes has to cut artists performances short in order to add in an additional performance or two. It is stressful for them to have to reject certain groups because they don't have any space.

These music programs play back to back and some will be the star of the stage and some will be singers that no one has even hard of. For some, this stage will be their last and for some, it will be just the beginning.

Regardless of who stands on that stage, we should remember that every one of those groups that make it to that stage has put their hard work and effort to make it this far. 

Tags
K-Pop
idol
KBS
MBC
Mnet
SBS
Inkigayo
Music Core
Music Bank
M Countdown
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics