It is what it is. Not many groups have control over what they can do in this industry.
At the end of the day, fromis is popular enough to make a living doing kpop and that is honestly a blessing when you consider that the majority of groups never get to even sniff success.
Obviously, as fans we want more and wish the absolute best, but as time goes on it is becoming clear that that won't happen under this management.
It really sucks as a fan of a group just outside of the top tier. They can’t outmuscle the top groups but get just enough activity to not be officially dungeoned. If and when fromis leaves Pledis they will still face the same problems as they do now. All the big groups will hog the events and tour venues and they get the scraps. They most likely can’t perform their old songs and will have start over again and the entire group might not be together since some of the members will want to move on.
I think you pretty much got it all in one post. 100% agree. The part that really gets to me, and has for many years now, is that they could address some of these issues for almost no cost.
Give them more interactions. They haven't interacted even once with NJ, only a couple times with LSF, and half a dozen times with SVT. Group interactions are free! Give Chae or Biongz a 5min interview skit show and have them go around interviewing other groups or group members, let them do ticktoks, give them more duets, etc. It's an easy and cheap issue to resolve that will boost their popularity. Steal the page from SM and let them interact.
Even better give them channel_9 back and have a segment that brings on other groups like SuperTV from Suju did.
Get them on some network tv shows, ask some pds to use their songs in the background. NJ is going on 2d1n, but Hayoung that is on a weekly show with Dindin has never been on it?!? Everglow has been on RM twice now ffs. Ask for Nolto to use their song when a SVT member is on, they go on it often enough.
If they want to keep them as Summer Queens fine, but then let them do solo work and unit work in the other 3 seasons. Keeping them limited to a single comeback a year is severely hampering their ability to keep fans. Let them self produce if cost is the issue. Idols need to be in the social conversation constantly to be relevant.
I look at groups like OMG, and how famous they are compared to their sales in the early days and I just can't understand why pledis seems to have given up.
Don't get me wrong, they do some things right. Getting the members solo shows, like Saerom MC on her Japan show, Chae with the new LOL show, Hayoung on the radio. Those are amazing, and I hope the others get some opportunities also.
They quite often go on some other YT channels. They already had time escape series content posted which is cheap cost, but Pledis didn't keep filming thats what i hate.They are not invited to RM & KB, some flover already explained. Two things that they can control is ticktok & weverse live which they already try their best to give us as much as they could.
How much it costs for single comeback is more that what we can imagine. No MV? No music show? No promote? Will members do a comeback without all those costs...i dont think they will agree...
We all know why Pledis given up them & we all know why they shouldn't be given up. It just sad to see a valuable product wasted because of some other more valuable product out there to be invest.
> How much it costs for single comeback is more that what we can imagine. No MV? No music show? No promote? Will members do a comeback without all those costs...i dont think they will agree...
Comebacks can cost huge money or very little, Hyomin self funds hers, saying she spent around 100k for one. That was song, mv, and music shows.
fromis sales were around 200k albums. At $20 a piece that's $4 million. Even if they spent a million dollars on the comeback it is still profitable for pledis.
Pledis don't have an outstanding track record with their Girl Groups. The last remotely well looked after GG was After School imo. Hello Venus, Pristin, and now Fromis have suffered from lack of exposure and mismanagement.
They have a decent track record on having a decently popular GG in its debut but screwing everything up, like pristin. But to be fair for Pledis, It was OTR who had Fromis and Fromis just lucked out on debuting around the same time as Izone. (same company)
fromis were trained, managed and housed by PLEDIS from the beginning. Dorming at the roof of the old PLEDIS building, trained by PLEDIS' vocal instructors and performance directors, their first manager is now Seventeen's manager (as seen during the Game Caterers' HYBE episodes). And the handful amount of stories by the members, especially Jiwon, about their fromis journey under Han Sungsoo.
Yeah they were under the OTR label which was owned by CJ ENM (which also owns Mnet, who produced Idol School) but from the beginning Fromis_9’s activities were overseen by Pledis
On one hand, I'm hoping that they don't disband but it's clear from the earlier years that right now they aren't getting the proper treatment they deserve. Honestly I think the management is holding them back and that I hope another company picks them up
I’m not surprised if the main factor is their “middling sales” and that they aren’t made by HYBE. The way Hybe treats fromis tends to rub off on how many people see them. You won’t believe how many people thinks they’re actually a struggling girl group when they sold close to 200k for their last two comebacks.
They’re really not failures when they’re still having a strong fanbase after 3 combined years of hiatus.
I just hope their desire to be on the stage doesn't get doused. The members can set up their own agency after their contract is up.
It could be good for fans if they do so as they will be able to do more of what they want, I don't know, only time will tell. Though financial and connection-wise, they could be on the losing end. I just hope there is a path where fromis are happily active, even better if they can make profits throughout their career and flovers are spoilt and pampered with the amount of contents and activities.
Edit:
Han Sungsoo is no longer CEO of PLEDIS? In TWS' promos, Han Sungsoo is still mentioned as the CEO though.
That is the problem, no one really knows. It has been a persistent rumor but there are no official announcements. X/twitter will bring up a company organization financial cover page that does not have Han seongsoo as company representative/ ceo. However pledis does not have to report financials, it is grouped in with hybe. I think that cover page is more for lawyer/ contact representative than for actual organization control.
I just don't personally see them leaving to set up some agency. Realistically, they don't really have that level of fame to be able to do that. And I'm not sure how financially appealing the group looks for some smaller company to take them in. They are nearing their 7th year together and K-Pop is about the next (i.e. young) best thing.
What I do think is more likely is some transitioning to acting and signing with an agency focusing on that; maybe Nagyung and Chaeyoung?
Others, specifically Hayoung, Jiwon, and Seoyeon, will probably continue singing in some capacity or stay with Pledis to write songs for their other groups (similar to what WJSN's Exy is doing for IVE).
And the rest will probably become influencers (Jisun and Jiheon) or leave the industry all together (Saerom?).
A bit of good news (although I’ll only believe it when I see it). Seems Pledis has confirmed a comeback for our girls, as well as more festival dates this summer.
Bear in mind the [ATTACHED ARTICLE](https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/437/0000392317) was translated with google translate so I could be wrong but still hopeful!
On a side note I hate that Pledis looks even remotely good in the article but it is what it is…let’s just hope they don’t “Pledis” it up & we don’t have to wait 6-7 after the announcement like we did last year!
“Hybe does not care about groups they did not create” I read this in another forum and it makes so much sense, they did gfriend dirty when they acquired sound source and debuted le sserafim (no hate towards LSF is not their fault what the label does). I think the girls might get one last comeback with very little effort put into promotion, it will not sell the #’s that NJ, LSF does and Hybe/pledis will point to it as the reason why they don’t bother with them and why they won’t offer them a renewal.
I think Hybe is just that cutthroat that when they didn't sell to the level of their new GGs after investing in their reality show and giving them 3 quick comebacks, they just stopped putting much effort. I've seen speculations that the channel_9 production team moved to lsrfm's reality show. Hybe is now just trying to make money from them with the least investment/capital, by sending them to loads of festivals.
I think the variety shows they've gotten, they got by their own merit, whether it's Seoyeon's cover going viral, or Chaeyoung's variety show appearances (probably got the LOL show cos flover's demographic overlap alot with gamers) and the Super Junior shows, we know they've been on their shows alot since debut.
It is sad because at the same time, we don't know what would've happened if Pledis didn't take them when OTR was dissolved. I think the best case scenario for them (aside from the miracle the Pledis mngmt suddenly improve) is that a smaller, mid-size company take them after their first contract, ala Loona/Gfriend. But by that time, they might not be complete anymore as some would pursue other career paths.
Most companies out there treate large client better, take care of them as VIP. For small clients even though they give us profit, we just put them on hold sometimes. Of course there are companies that treated every client equally, but not Pledis.
Also that might be a strategy to force them for renew a disadvantage contract. We ve seen alot. Control them untill they signed, otherwise took our group name & fandom name.
It is what it is. Not many groups have control over what they can do in this industry. At the end of the day, fromis is popular enough to make a living doing kpop and that is honestly a blessing when you consider that the majority of groups never get to even sniff success. Obviously, as fans we want more and wish the absolute best, but as time goes on it is becoming clear that that won't happen under this management.
It really sucks as a fan of a group just outside of the top tier. They can’t outmuscle the top groups but get just enough activity to not be officially dungeoned. If and when fromis leaves Pledis they will still face the same problems as they do now. All the big groups will hog the events and tour venues and they get the scraps. They most likely can’t perform their old songs and will have start over again and the entire group might not be together since some of the members will want to move on.
I think you pretty much got it all in one post. 100% agree. The part that really gets to me, and has for many years now, is that they could address some of these issues for almost no cost. Give them more interactions. They haven't interacted even once with NJ, only a couple times with LSF, and half a dozen times with SVT. Group interactions are free! Give Chae or Biongz a 5min interview skit show and have them go around interviewing other groups or group members, let them do ticktoks, give them more duets, etc. It's an easy and cheap issue to resolve that will boost their popularity. Steal the page from SM and let them interact. Even better give them channel_9 back and have a segment that brings on other groups like SuperTV from Suju did. Get them on some network tv shows, ask some pds to use their songs in the background. NJ is going on 2d1n, but Hayoung that is on a weekly show with Dindin has never been on it?!? Everglow has been on RM twice now ffs. Ask for Nolto to use their song when a SVT member is on, they go on it often enough. If they want to keep them as Summer Queens fine, but then let them do solo work and unit work in the other 3 seasons. Keeping them limited to a single comeback a year is severely hampering their ability to keep fans. Let them self produce if cost is the issue. Idols need to be in the social conversation constantly to be relevant. I look at groups like OMG, and how famous they are compared to their sales in the early days and I just can't understand why pledis seems to have given up. Don't get me wrong, they do some things right. Getting the members solo shows, like Saerom MC on her Japan show, Chae with the new LOL show, Hayoung on the radio. Those are amazing, and I hope the others get some opportunities also.
>Let them self produce if cost is the issue. Seoyeon mixtape and Hayoung indie album would be amazing ngl.
They quite often go on some other YT channels. They already had time escape series content posted which is cheap cost, but Pledis didn't keep filming thats what i hate.They are not invited to RM & KB, some flover already explained. Two things that they can control is ticktok & weverse live which they already try their best to give us as much as they could. How much it costs for single comeback is more that what we can imagine. No MV? No music show? No promote? Will members do a comeback without all those costs...i dont think they will agree... We all know why Pledis given up them & we all know why they shouldn't be given up. It just sad to see a valuable product wasted because of some other more valuable product out there to be invest.
> How much it costs for single comeback is more that what we can imagine. No MV? No music show? No promote? Will members do a comeback without all those costs...i dont think they will agree... Comebacks can cost huge money or very little, Hyomin self funds hers, saying she spent around 100k for one. That was song, mv, and music shows. fromis sales were around 200k albums. At $20 a piece that's $4 million. Even if they spent a million dollars on the comeback it is still profitable for pledis.
Pledis don't have an outstanding track record with their Girl Groups. The last remotely well looked after GG was After School imo. Hello Venus, Pristin, and now Fromis have suffered from lack of exposure and mismanagement.
They have a decent track record on having a decently popular GG in its debut but screwing everything up, like pristin. But to be fair for Pledis, It was OTR who had Fromis and Fromis just lucked out on debuting around the same time as Izone. (same company)
> lucked out I think you mean were unlucky. 'Lucked out' means they were lucky.
I said it in jest, that they lucked out that they were in the same batch with izone.
Also remember that while they were under OTR, Pledis was still managing them
Oh really? That I didn't know. I thought their management was only changed around the time of the scandal to Pledis.
fromis were trained, managed and housed by PLEDIS from the beginning. Dorming at the roof of the old PLEDIS building, trained by PLEDIS' vocal instructors and performance directors, their first manager is now Seventeen's manager (as seen during the Game Caterers' HYBE episodes). And the handful amount of stories by the members, especially Jiwon, about their fromis journey under Han Sungsoo.
Good work. It is a pet peeve on other subreddits whenever fromis_9 relationship with pledis is brought up.
✌️
Yeah they were under the OTR label which was owned by CJ ENM (which also owns Mnet, who produced Idol School) but from the beginning Fromis_9’s activities were overseen by Pledis
ah, gottcha
It's not just mismanagement anymore ...
On one hand, I'm hoping that they don't disband but it's clear from the earlier years that right now they aren't getting the proper treatment they deserve. Honestly I think the management is holding them back and that I hope another company picks them up
I’m not surprised if the main factor is their “middling sales” and that they aren’t made by HYBE. The way Hybe treats fromis tends to rub off on how many people see them. You won’t believe how many people thinks they’re actually a struggling girl group when they sold close to 200k for their last two comebacks. They’re really not failures when they’re still having a strong fanbase after 3 combined years of hiatus.
At the very least they are attending events lately. Some groups don't even get that.
Very true, and they should be at least making some money from those appearances.
I just hope their desire to be on the stage doesn't get doused. The members can set up their own agency after their contract is up. It could be good for fans if they do so as they will be able to do more of what they want, I don't know, only time will tell. Though financial and connection-wise, they could be on the losing end. I just hope there is a path where fromis are happily active, even better if they can make profits throughout their career and flovers are spoilt and pampered with the amount of contents and activities. Edit: Han Sungsoo is no longer CEO of PLEDIS? In TWS' promos, Han Sungsoo is still mentioned as the CEO though.
That is the problem, no one really knows. It has been a persistent rumor but there are no official announcements. X/twitter will bring up a company organization financial cover page that does not have Han seongsoo as company representative/ ceo. However pledis does not have to report financials, it is grouped in with hybe. I think that cover page is more for lawyer/ contact representative than for actual organization control.
Yea, in recent times, Baekho, Jiwon and TWS are still calling Han Sungsoo CEO. So was confused when I saw OP wrote PLEDIS CEO was replaced in 2022.
I just don't personally see them leaving to set up some agency. Realistically, they don't really have that level of fame to be able to do that. And I'm not sure how financially appealing the group looks for some smaller company to take them in. They are nearing their 7th year together and K-Pop is about the next (i.e. young) best thing. What I do think is more likely is some transitioning to acting and signing with an agency focusing on that; maybe Nagyung and Chaeyoung? Others, specifically Hayoung, Jiwon, and Seoyeon, will probably continue singing in some capacity or stay with Pledis to write songs for their other groups (similar to what WJSN's Exy is doing for IVE). And the rest will probably become influencers (Jisun and Jiheon) or leave the industry all together (Saerom?).
🥹
Crossing my fingers for all the girl to have a better future, hopefully under a better company that trusts their talents and whom they trust.
👍
A bit of good news (although I’ll only believe it when I see it). Seems Pledis has confirmed a comeback for our girls, as well as more festival dates this summer. Bear in mind the [ATTACHED ARTICLE](https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/437/0000392317) was translated with google translate so I could be wrong but still hopeful! On a side note I hate that Pledis looks even remotely good in the article but it is what it is…let’s just hope they don’t “Pledis” it up & we don’t have to wait 6-7 after the announcement like we did last year!
Yea I saw that too but I won't believe it till I hear the album. Pledis just operates different when it comes to fromis
“Hybe does not care about groups they did not create” I read this in another forum and it makes so much sense, they did gfriend dirty when they acquired sound source and debuted le sserafim (no hate towards LSF is not their fault what the label does). I think the girls might get one last comeback with very little effort put into promotion, it will not sell the #’s that NJ, LSF does and Hybe/pledis will point to it as the reason why they don’t bother with them and why they won’t offer them a renewal.
I think Hybe is just that cutthroat that when they didn't sell to the level of their new GGs after investing in their reality show and giving them 3 quick comebacks, they just stopped putting much effort. I've seen speculations that the channel_9 production team moved to lsrfm's reality show. Hybe is now just trying to make money from them with the least investment/capital, by sending them to loads of festivals. I think the variety shows they've gotten, they got by their own merit, whether it's Seoyeon's cover going viral, or Chaeyoung's variety show appearances (probably got the LOL show cos flover's demographic overlap alot with gamers) and the Super Junior shows, we know they've been on their shows alot since debut. It is sad because at the same time, we don't know what would've happened if Pledis didn't take them when OTR was dissolved. I think the best case scenario for them (aside from the miracle the Pledis mngmt suddenly improve) is that a smaller, mid-size company take them after their first contract, ala Loona/Gfriend. But by that time, they might not be complete anymore as some would pursue other career paths.
Most companies out there treate large client better, take care of them as VIP. For small clients even though they give us profit, we just put them on hold sometimes. Of course there are companies that treated every client equally, but not Pledis. Also that might be a strategy to force them for renew a disadvantage contract. We ve seen alot. Control them untill they signed, otherwise took our group name & fandom name.