Chapter 364: Artist Teachers
The two major girl group projects, LESSERAFIM and IVE, officially launched after Jiang Shu signed off on them.
The debut members for LESSERAFIM and IVE were also officially confirmed.
LESSERAFIM: Leader Kim Chae-won, members Miyawaki Sakura, Kim Minju, Nakamura Kazuha, Heo Yunjin, Hong Eunchae.
IVE 2.0: Leader Ahn Yujin, members Zhang Yuanying, Kim Autumn, Kim Jiwon, Naoi Rei, Lee Seo.
Among the debut group members, aside from the five former IZONE members, only Heo Yunjin was a veteran; all others were pure rookies, truly new artists.
Veterans have their advantages, and rookies also have their merits.
The advantage of rookies is that they are like a blank slate; whatever you say, it is so.
Moreover, these rookies have all been vetted by the company in terms of personality and character.
The configurations of these two groups still resembled the former IVE and IZONE, with main centers and support roles.
Many artist teams have popular members who are like pillars, but some members just refuse to embrace them, instead choosing to ostracize and isolate them, acting as if someone's popularity means they deserve bullying and isolation.
This is very strange.
The twin stars + four hangers-on model of the former IVE was a very good one; the four hangers-on, if placed outside, were legitimately third-tier in terms of recognition.
But unfortunately, there are always some people who can't see themselves clearly, thinking anyone can become popular.
It was precisely because of the precedents set by Choi Yunjin and Kim Garam that the company's vetting process also began when the projects launched.
Now, the selections for LESSERAFIM and IVE were meticulously chosen; even though they were all lists provided by Jiang Shu, the company still conducted a review and found that they indeed met the standard.
If there's a pillar in the team, you should honestly cling to them and ride on their popularity. If you don't cause trouble, even a small share of the pillar's popularity will be enough for you.
Causing trouble will only hurt everyone in the end; is it really necessary?
Regarding practice rooms, the original IZONE practice room was divided, with a soundproof wall added in the middle.
DM Entertainment still had spare rooms, but there was no need to open new ones; the IZONE practice room had everything and was large enough, so dividing it into two was just right for LESSERAFIM and IVE's use.
As for contracts, they were signed according to the original process, following industry practice: a seven-year group contract plus a three-year individual contract.
Just as the two new girl groups were being prepared, DM Entertainment announced a new regulation.
The company's trainee education system would introduce artists to serve as vocal and dance teachers.
Artists could choose whether to be a vocal teacher or a dance teacher.
Of course, this regulation applied per group, with each group providing one vocal teacher and one dance teacher. Solo singers, namely Kim Tae-yeon and Lee Ji-eun, were not in this category; they could each choose one role.
This regulation sparked considerable discussion among DM Entertainment's artists.
In fact, this situation is not uncommon in the industry; the Three Greats and other companies all have this practice.
Artists serving as teachers can, firstly, boost trainees' motivation and provide an idol's guiding influence.
Secondly, it can save some teaching costs; truly good vocal and dance teachers are company employees, and you have to pay them, but artists don't need to be paid for this, as it's not included in their settlements.
Thirdly, artists can share their stage experience from an idol's perspective during lessons, which is content many vocal and dance teachers don't have.
In short, there are many benefits to artists serving as teachers. DM Entertainment hadn't done this before because there weren't enough trainees; the company had more artists than trainees.
But now, through several expansions, while the number of exclusive trainees hasn't grown, the number of regular trainees has already exceeded fifty.
Of course, their treatment cannot compare to that of exclusive trainees; regular trainees' treatment follows industry practice, with an increase of about ten percent on top of that.
The treatment of exclusive trainees has almost doubled, so regular trainees can't compare, but even so, DM Entertainment's trainee treatment is still top-tier in the industry.
As a leading enterprise, DM Entertainment is far superior to other companies in the industry in all aspects.
The first class under the artist teacher system officially began on July 1st, with the main lecturer being—Red Velvet's Sun Shengwan.
...
DM Entertainment's second-floor trainee area, large vocal lecture hall.
DM Entertainment's trainees, including exclusive trainees, numbered less than sixty, but at this moment, there were at least seventy or eighty people sitting in the large lecture hall.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that sitting in the front rows were...
Zhang Yuanying, Ahn Yujin, Kim Autumn, and other new IVE members.
Kim Chae-won, Miyawaki Sakura, Kim Minju, and other LESSERAFIM members.
Kwon Eunbi, Choi Yena, and other solo artists were also present.
Behind them were the remaining trainees.
When Sun Shengwan entered the large lecture hall and saw the older sisters in the first two rows, she couldn't help but be stunned.
Zhang Yuanying, an artist who was strictly speaking her senior, was actually sitting directly opposite the podium.
And several members of IZONE were also seated in front.
Sun Shengwan walked over, surprised.
"Yuan Ying Ouni, why are you all here?"
"We're trainees now too," Choi Yena, beside Zhang Yuanying, spoke with a smile before Zhang Yuanying could.
Sun Shengwan was speechless for a moment upon hearing this.
So it could be like this?
Well, there was nothing wrong with it. After all, strictly speaking, the older sisters were indeed trainees now.
Sun Shengwan quickly composed herself and stood at the podium.
"Alright, let's begin now."
Watching Sun Shengwan quickly get into character, Kim Autumn curiously tugged at Ahn Yujin beside her.
"Wendy Ouni looks like a real vocal teacher."
"She is," Ahn Yujin, beside Kim Autumn, said with a smile, "Wendy Ouni applied to be a vocal teacher at the company before her debut; it was only later that the Chairman noticed her, and that's why she debuted in Red Velvet."
"There's such a thing?" Kim Autumn's mouth slightly agape, it was her first time hearing such a secret.
"Ouni is too much of a homebody; if you chat more with the company's veterans, you'll find out. These things aren't secrets," Ahn Yujin said casually.
Kim Autumn pouted, thinking, who can be as good at socializing as you?
"Everyone, please keep your discussions down a bit and don't disturb others, okay?" Sun Shengwan's gentle voice came from the front.
Ahn Yujin and Kim Autumn's faces turned red, and they both fell silent.
Everyone around them chuckled secretly.
Sun Shengwan on the podium saw the two close their mouths and retracted her gaze, looking at the dozens of pairs of eyes staring at her, she opened her computer and projected the screen.
"Everyone has a certain vocal foundation, so here I will mainly share some techniques that can be used on stage."
Upon hearing this, everyone perked up, including the "trainees" who had already debuted.
As one of the top vocalists among DM Entertainment's artists, Sun Shengwan's techniques were very valuable to them.