The Second Family Mid-Autumn Festival Gala
As time drew closer, more and more information about the century-long battle between ITZY and IZONE emerged, and DM Entertainment also slowly released some news.
For example, the mini-album “Warm Blood” produced by Jeon Soyeon for ITZY is an album consisting of one title track and two B-side tracks.
IZONE's comeback this time is also a mini-album. As IZONE's second mini-album after “Gee,” and like ITZY's “Warm Blood,” “fantasy fairy tale” also features a title track of the same name and two B-side tracks.
Mini-album vs. mini-album, three songs vs. three songs.
The goal was to be as objectively fair as possible, leveling all objective factors.
Even for promotions, DM Entertainment had one for IZONE and one for ITZY, one video for you, one video for me, one set of promotional images for you, one set of promotional images for me.
The main focus was to be a master of balance.
This operation also won unanimous praise from both sides and passersby, eliminating as much as possible the subjective factors of favoritism, allowing the two to fight a grand battle without restraint.
With the first public teaser video in September, the competition for this K-pop century showdown began.
Fans of both sides began to compete over the data of the teaser videos: tens of thousands, millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions…
Constantly breaking K-pop playback records, the conflict had already begun before the official comeback.
However, there was still some time until the official comeback. Although DM Entertainment's promotional focus was on the battle between the two I's, they did not forget about the DM Family Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, which had been officially announced last year. As a grand event before the century-long battle of the two I's, DM Entertainment spared no effort in promoting it once September arrived.
People waiting to see the battle of the two I's also noticed DM Entertainment's “DM Family Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.” They found the promoted family concept very novel and subscribed to the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala on October 1st, waiting to see this “appetizer” before the battle of the two I's began.
…
October 1st, DM Entertainment Building, first floor.
After nearly a month of arrangements, the entire first floor had been transformed.
All areas except the cafeteria were decorated in a festive Mid-Autumn style, and ubiquitous decorations turned the first floor into a banquet hall.
And in the original lobby, round tables were placed everywhere, each with fruit plates and drinks, looking very much like a grand banquet in a star-rated hotel.
In the very center of the banquet, a circular stage, not tall but very large, was located. Rather than a stage, it was more of a designated performance area, elevated to allow the outermost seated audience to see the performance.
Even with large screens installed, for a banquet with a maximum of a few hundred people, being able to watch the performance directly would certainly be much better than watching it on a large screen.
In previous years' annual meetings, name tags would be placed on the banquet tables, and attendees would take their assigned seats.
This time, there were no name tags, no assigned seats; you could sit wherever you wanted. There were no requirements for the seating of grassroots staff and artists, only clear requirements for company executives.
A maximum of two company executives could sit at one table. The table where the President and CEO were seated could not have a second executive.
It was called a family banquet, so there were no superiors or subordinates, and you couldn't gather to discuss business. When it's time to play, play happily!
The gala, naturally, was held in the evening.
The time was set for 8 PM, and admission started at 7 PM.
As soon as 7 PM arrived, many staff members came to the first floor with their families to take their seats.
They could bring family members, as long as the total number including the staff member themselves did not exceed three people, but they needed to confirm the attendees half a month in advance to facilitate the administrative department's seating planning.
Fortunately, the first floor was large enough, otherwise, staff members would not have been allowed to bring their families to participate in this Mid-Autumn Festival Gala.
As it was the first family gala, the schedules of all artists under DM Entertainment were canceled for this evening to ensure that all artists could participate in tonight's gala.
NMIXX and aespa, who collaborated with other companies, also all came, and many of their family members also attended.
Even before 7:30 PM, the entire first floor was already packed, transforming from its original quiet state into a bustling marketplace.
However, although DM Entertainment promoted it as a family gala, with no superiors or subordinates, only one family, the tables closest to the stage were still only occupied by mid-to-high-level company executives who had arrived early. No one else approached this area.
And since Jiang Shu and Li Duohui had not yet arrived, two tables remained completely empty.
Nearing 8 PM, Li Duohui also arrived at the gala venue with her best friend.
People chatted in twos and threes, waiting for the gala to begin.
At this moment, at the entrance of the first floor, several tables of people stood up. Those behind them, curious about what was happening, looked over, and then the sound of “The President is here” came from the front tables.
Hearing this, everyone who heard it immediately stood up.
Jiang Shu and Choi Ji-yeon's figures moved from outside to inside, walking towards the innermost part.
Looking at the people around him, Jiang Shu had a broad smile on his face.
From DM Entertainment, which originally had only a few dozen people, to now hundreds of families gathered happily in his company, this gave Jiang Shu a profound sense of accomplishment.
Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Shu led Choi Ji-yeon to the spot reserved for him, sitting down at the table directly facing the stage.
“Come, all the group leaders and their families, please come and sit here,” Jiang Shu said loudly.
Due to Jiang Shu's arrival, the venue was silent, allowing his voice to spread throughout the hall even without raising it.
Hearing Jiang Shu's words, the leader artists of DM Entertainment's groups all stood up. Those who had family members with them also brought their families to sit near Jiang Shu.
“Xiao Liu, come and sit here,” Jiang Shu's eyes lit up when he saw Liu Zhimin coming alone, and he waved to her.
Liu Zhimin, feeling the gazes from others around her, quietly came and sat beside Jiang Shu.
“Did your family not come?” Jiang Shu asked.
“They went traveling,” Liu Zhimin said helplessly; she wanted to bring them, but they weren't home.
“I see,” Jiang Shu nodded, then looked at the others.
“Chairman Jiang!” Wu Haiyuan and a middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to her walked over. Wu Haiyuan's father bowed to Jiang Shu in greeting.
“This is…?”
“President nim, this is my father,” Wu Haiyuan introduced.
“Hello, please take a seat,” Jiang Shu smiled and nodded.
The famous “Judge,” indeed.
Subsequently, Kwon Eunbi, Hwang Yeji, and others also greeted Jiang Shu with their parents.
Finally, Jiang Shu looked at Bae Joo-hyun and her parents.