Chapter 169: Debut Night
The problems Li Xiuman discovered were gradually being noticed by other companies as well. Although they didn't realize ITZY's uniqueness like Li Xiuman did, they could tell from the superficial data alone that ITZY's popularity was increasing a bit ridiculously.
DM Entertainment had three groups: IVE debuted as a top-tier group, Red Velvet consistently stayed in the popular group category, and their junior group ITZY, though starting from a low point, took every step quite steadily.
And now, the "Produce48" debut night was approaching, and DM Entertainment would once again have three more groups under its banner. Even if two of these groups were collaborations with JYP Entertainment and S.M. Entertainment, they still belonged to DM Entertainment.
IVE had fallen, but how was it that DM Entertainment not only didn't fall with IVE but seemed to be flourishing even more?
With IVE as a precedent, even though IVE was gone, every move of DM Entertainment still captured the attention of countless people.
Once ITZY's anomaly was noticed, it was natural to think of IVE, which had only been gone for just over two months, its "body" not yet cold.
Nobody wanted to see another new IVE. Although Red Velvet was stable, it showed no signs of reaching IVE's height.
But ITZY was different; her starting point wasn't high, but she walked very steadily. Who knew if she would become the second IVE?
Especially with ITZY's latest comeback stage, their popularity increased after every performance, which inevitably made people consider this possibility.
IVE was already gone, but what if there was a second IVE?
As many entertainment companies worried, the "Produce48" debut night, June 6th, arrived as scheduled.
The "Produce48" debut night live broadcast began at 7 PM. All trainees would perform for the last time on "Produce48," and viewers watching the live broadcast would vote. The three main judges would combine the voting results to arrange the debut positions.
It was a rare live broadcast, so Jiang Shu also changed from his usual formal suit to more casual but photogenic attire.
Park Jin-young, on the other hand, changed into his pink battle robe, sparkling all over, like a pink war god.
Min Xizhen was relatively much more normal, still wearing a very serious women's suit.
After a brief opening and rule announcement, the final performances began.
Forty-eight trainees were making their final efforts for their debut positions.
The debut positions had already been decided, but the trainees were unaware. They were still striving towards the debut positions that seemed within reach.
Soon, all the trainees' performances were over.
"Now, we will announce the debut members of the girl group NMIXX, jointly launched by DM Entertainment and JYP Entertainment."
"Lily, please come to my side," Liu Zaishi, the host of "Produce48," said to Lily.
Lily, from the crowd, walked step by step to Liu Zaishi's side, waving to the girls below the stage.
"NMIXX will consist of six members. Now, let's hand the screen over to JYP PD-nim."
The camera focused on Park Jin-young.
Park Jin-young picked up the microphone in front of him.
"So..." Park Jin-young pretentiously picked up the list in front of him, "First, the first debut position..."
"Wu Haiyuan."
The camera shifted, showing a shocked Wu Haiyuan, and at the same time, Wu Haiyuan's historical ratings appeared on the live broadcast screen.
First Stage Rating: B.
First Public Performance Rating: B.
Second Public Performance Rating: A.
Third Public Performance Rating: A.
Highest Popularity Rank: 15.
Current Popularity Rank: 17.
【Wuwuwu! Hae-won actually debuted!!!】
【Seventeenth place debuted, aren't there three groups? Could there be a very large group?】
【Popularity ranking doesn't mean you will definitely debut, and 48th place doesn't mean you absolutely won't debut.】
【Wu Haiyuan debuted!!!】
Viewers who picked Wu Haiyuan excitedly sent out bullet comments, and at the scene, after Wu Haiyuan was selected, the familiar trainees gathered around her. Whether it was genuine emotion or feigned sincerity, at this moment, they all offered their blessings to Wu Haiyuan.
Subsequently, under Park Jin-young's announcement, the names of NMIXX members were called out one by one.
Bae Jinsol, Kim Jiwoo, Jang Gyujin.
"Now there's only one spot left," Park Jin-young glanced at the five people, Lily, next to Liu Zaishi.
"Actually, at the very beginning, the three of us judges had different opinions regarding the choice of the sixth person," Park Jin-young shared some amusing judge anecdotes with a smile.
"All NMIXX members' skill ratings are B-level or higher, so for the last member, we mostly considered the visual, temporarily putting aside the skill aspect."
As soon as the word "visual" came out, the director, understanding well, split the screen into three, showing Sakura, Kim Minju, and Xue Lun'e.
These three were the most recognized visual candidates by the audience, besides Liu Yuan.
"But after our discussion, we ultimately decided to see it through. Since all NMIXX members' lowest ratings have never been below B-level, then even the visual must be the same."
At this point, everyone realized who this last person would be.
Even Sakura, whose popularity had never dropped out of the top three, had once been in D class, so...
"The last member of NMIXX, who will also be the visual of the group in the future..."
"Xue Lun'e."
The three camera shots merged into one, leaving only Xue Lun'e's dazed face looking at the camera.
First Stage Rating: B.
First Public Performance Rating: B.
Second Public Performance Rating: A.
Third Public Performance Rating: B.
Highest Popularity Rank: 10.
Current Popularity Rank: 12.
At this point, amidst the bullet comments fluttering like snowflakes, Wu Haiyuan, Lily, Xue Lun'e, Bae Jinsol, Kim Jiwoo, and Jang Gyujin, NMIXX debuted!
"Next up is the girl group aespa, jointly launched by DM Entertainment and S.M. Entertainment. The group will consist of four members."
"So, please, Karina, come to my side."
Hearing Karina's name, whether it was the audience or trainees at the scene, or the viewers in the live broadcast room, all looked at Liu Zhimin, who stood calmly at the very front.
The main event was coming!
The new group of the former IVE Gemini stars!
Liu Zhimin came and stood beside Liu Zaishi.
"So, we will hand the screen over to Director Min Xizhen."
Min Xizhen glanced at the script in her hand and picked up the microphone.
"I don't like to beat around the bush. Regarding aespa's debut list, first up is Ning Yizhuo."
Compared to Park Jin-young, who liked to beat around the bush, Min Xizhen was undoubtedly much more decisive. She quickly read out the names, and the three members other than Liu Zhimin were announced by her in a very short time.
At this point, aespa officially debuted!
【It has to be Director Min!】
【No beating around the bush, decisive and efficient, this is the correct way to do it!】
【The main event is coming! Compared to the groups collaborating with S.M. Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, I'm more optimistic about DM Entertainment's independently operated group.】
【It seems Yuan Ying is leading the team, hahaha, sure enough, our Yuan Ying is the true orthodox of DM Entertainment!】
【S.M. Entertainment is so much stronger than DM Entertainment, the gap between Zhang Yuanying and Karina will only get bigger and bigger in the future!】
【Less nonsense, the main event is coming!】