Chapter 180: The Beginning of a Golden Age
At the end of July, JYP Entertainment experienced a major upheaval.
Nine mid-to-high-level executives, led by Art Director Fang Shihe, collectively resigned and joined Big Hit Entertainment, founded by Fang Shihe.
In addition to the departure of mid-to-high-level management, Fang Shihe also took one-third of JYP's trainees with him.
However, what was strange was that JYP did not restrict Big Hit in terms of competition; instead, it remained silent, which inevitably led to various speculations inside and outside the industry.
But soon, the news of JYP's upheaval was overshadowed by another announcement.
As the August 4th debut date approached for IZONE, one of the Three Greats groups born from the national survival show 'Produce48,' DM Entertainment progressively released information regarding their debut album and member profiles.
The debut album, 'again meeting world,' contained five songs, making it a rare large mini-album, and adopted a double title track approach, with the album's namesake song 'again meeting world' and 'La vie en rose' serving as the co-debut tracks.
From the group's formation process to its number of members, and its unique double title tracks, IZONE, even before its official debut, already hinted at being completely different from all existing girl groups.
Coupled with the branding of DM Entertainment, which has become a prestigious label, IZONE's popularity had already risen to an astonishing level even before its debut.
Music Core, IZONE's waiting room.
Newcomers generally don't have independent waiting rooms, but there are exceptions to everything.
IZONE, which includes Zhang Yuanying, one of the former IVE Gemini, inherited the importance major television stations placed on IVE, gaining the privilege of having an independent waiting room as a rookie group.
The waiting room IZONE occupied was already the largest at the TV station, but with twelve people plus the team members, the entire room still felt very crowded.
However, around Jiang Shu, apart from the IZONE members, a vacuum zone had formed.
No matter how crowded it was, no one dared to crowd the President.
Jiang Shu sat with his legs crossed, watching with interest the girls making their final preparations before going on stage.
In his hand, his phone screen was lit, displaying the Melon real-time chart.
The digital music was released during the album release event in the morning, and the first settlement was already 35, with 'La vie en rose' at third and 'again meeting world' at fifth.
By now, 'La vie en rose' had climbed to first place on the daily chart, and 'again meeting world' had also entered the third position.
Who was second on the daily chart?
Kim Tae-yeon's 'I.'
This was quite unbelievable.
IZONE has four C-position bond holders, and with the top-tier popularity boost from the twelve stars. fantasy fairy tale team, being first on the daily chart was nothing surprising.
But the problem was...
The activation of the bond is judged to begin with the debut stage; the release of the music does not count as bond activation.
This daily chart No. 1 popularity was achieved without any bond enhancement.
But thinking about it, there was no problem.
The 'Produce48' show itself had a very high national recognition, not to mention that it also had a top-tier artist like Zhang Yuanying, whose solo traffic could rival a first-tier group.
Even without the bond's boost, this top-tier popularity was genuinely present.
If it's like this now, won't they rush to the annual chart when they debut?
Should... not, right?
Among girl groups, only IVE won the Song of the Year last year; historically, it has always been boy groups, and this year is no exception.
Jiang Shu doesn't doubt IZONE's popularity, but it's hard to rush to the top in a short time... right?
As he thought this, staff members came to notify the IZONE members to prepare for their stage.
Seeing the scene where twelve people couldn't even stand together to cheer with raised hands, Jiang Shu couldn't help but be amused.
As the IZONE members went on stage one after another, Jiang Shu also looked up at the TV in the waiting room.
"It's about to start."
The first song to be performed was 'La vie en rose,' which was originally IZONE's debut song and remains so now, just with another one added.
"When they stand on stage, their aura changes!" A husky voice sounded in his ear.
Jiang Shu looked back and saw Song Yuqi looking at the TV with a shocked expression, not even realizing she had exclaimed in her native language.
Jiang Shu looked at the screen on the TV, a smile appearing on his face.
Back then, IVE overturned the entire K-pop scene with its Gemini, and IZONE has four such incredible elements.
Moreover, the negative bond of the C-positions and the effects of twelve stars. fantasy fairy tale cancel each other out, so while the popularity of the other eight members will be affected, it won't form the 'Gemini + Four Pendants' structure like IVE.
In other words, IZONE is actually an enhanced, anomalous version of IVE: 4 C-positions + 8 members.
This configuration, coupled with a powerful 'again meeting world'...
Thinking of this, Jiang Shu's mouth couldn't stop curving upwards wildly.
He really wanted to see the content on online forums later.
Soon, it was time for the second debut song, 'again meeting world.'
Leaning his chin on his hand and watching this familiar song reappear in K-pop, Jiang Shu's feelings were quite complex.
If he hadn't arrived in this world in 2018, perhaps Girls' Generation would have had a chance?
But there are no 'ifs' in this world, and the original singers of this song are no longer Girls' Generation, but the current IZONE.
As the group that kicked him into K-pop, Jiang Shu's feelings for Girls' Generation were quite complex.
But complexity aside, the songs still had to be used.
Rather than letting these songs gather dust in his memory, it was better to bring them out and let them shine once again in the world of K-pop.
It's just a bit regrettable that there isn't anyone in IZONE who can carry the chorus of this song.
Their vocal skills are too far behind Kim Tae-yeon, and twelve stars. fantasy fairy tale doesn't have any vocal skill enhancement.
It's quite difficult for Cao Rouli's pseudo-main vocalist to do her best on her own.
However...
The studio version sounds quite layered.
"The President seems to really like this song?" Song Yuqi's voice sounded in his ear.
Jiang Shu came back to his senses when he heard the voice, and looking up, he saw Song Yuqi filming him with a camera.
"Yes, among the songs I've written, this 'again meeting world' is my personal favorite," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
"Is it because this song has some special meaning?" Song Yuqi asked curiously.
In terms of listening experience... honestly, she felt it wasn't as captivating as some of the songs Jiang Shu had written before.
"Yes," Jiang Shu nodded, looking at the screen on the TV.
"As early as when I was preparing to form a girl group, this song was already written."
"That early?" Song Yuqi said in surprise, "Then why didn't you release this song?"
"Neither IVE nor later Red Velvet or ITZY fit my vision for this song, so it just stayed in the music library," Jiang Shu explained.
"You mean, IZONE fits the vision for this song?"
"Exactly."
"What is your vision for this song?" Song Yuqi blinked, pressing on.
Jiang Shu glanced at the camera, then pointed to the TV.
"The beginning of the golden age of girl groups."