More aspiring K-pop idols are retiring in their 20s as unstable incomes, uncertain career prospects and mounting mental strain push many lesser-known artists to leave the industry early.
Posted by mcfw31
More aspiring K-pop idols are retiring in their 20s as unstable incomes, uncertain career prospects and mounting mental strain push many lesser-known artists to leave the industry early.
Posted by mcfw31
9 Comments
> While debuting as an idol remains a dream for many K-pop trainees, the economics of the industry often make it difficult to earn a stable income. Industry estimates suggest that launching a new K-pop group can cost anywhere from 1 billion won ($653,300) to 2 billion won for smaller agencies, while major entertainment companies may spend between 5 billion won and 10 billion won or more. Because agencies typically seek to recover those investments first, many singers receive little or no settlement income during the early part of their careers.
> “People see the success stories, but they’re the exception rather than the rule,” a K-pop agency official said. “Most groups never reach the point where members can rely on idol activities alone for a stable income, so it’s not unusual for them to start looking for other career options.”
Many retire without having been paid. The trainee debt system is so insidious and it’s insane to me that the “product” has to take on the liability of debut instead of the company.
Yeah the debt that these kpop idols accumulate from training / debuting for some kpop idols they to pay their label back for the debt first. Which means that any income that they get is mainly going into the companies pockets. Because of this, some don’t start making a lot of money until years down in the line in their careers. Someone complained about kpop idols being brand ambassadors for fashion houses and people don’t realize they have to diversify their income because of how messed up the kpop industry is
Kpop is cancer
I will never understand why anyone wants to be a kpop idols. fame hunger??
I could never get into this genre because of how exhausted everyone looks. Training all day and not allowed to eat, date or have fun publicly. Other genres exploit people sure but at least they get wealthy or some income from their work.
I’d love for kpop to have an “independence” movement where more artists are able to release music themselves and grow popular organically.
ive always been off put by the “factory produced” feeling of these artists. every 3-4 years the whole field is wiped clean and new ones are pumped out
That’s really sad.
Boo fuckin hoo