I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way.
In my case, I came back to check on the state of K-pop after hearing the news about Wendy and Yeri leaving SM. I’ve been out of the loop since last year. Red Velvet was the only group I was following lately (they’re my ult group), and still, there hasn’t been much going on since Cosmic release lol. I did catch bits and pieces about the whole New Jeans/HYBE drama, but I haven’t dug too deep into that.
And then the whole contract renewal thing happened. And I’ve read about other people under SM leaving too. What really stood out to me was listening to some of the latest releases from ex-SM idols, mostly Taemin and Baekhyun. Their new music? Genuinely great. Easily on the same level as their SM work, maybe even better in some cases. And they’re both in small companies now, right?
At the end of the day, it’s not the company that makes most of the magic. It’s the artist. Sure, maybe this doesn’t apply as much to really young idols who are still finding their voice. And I get that it’s hard to separate groups from their companies, especially when branding and image are so tied up in it. But I genuinely think idols appreciate fans who see them, not just as a product of a company, but as individuals with their own identity, artistry, and humanity. That kind of support probably means more than we realize and makes them feel the confidence to grow as artists.
submitted by /u/mariyr
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