Entertainment Agencies Don’t Want TV Stations To Produce Audition Programs
Entertainment agencies are unhappy with how broadcasting stations are running their audition programs.
They’ve brought up complaints demanding the broadcasting stations to stop taking over management of their artists once the show is over.
“[Entertainment agencies] will continue to work hard to block broadcasting stations from expanding into management businesses.”
— Insider of the Music Industry
The complaint began when CJ E&M announced that Wanna One members will not be able to promote with their individual members once they debut.
“There weren’t many problems with I.O.I because they were also able to promote with their individual teams.
Starting from Wanna One, [entertainment agencies] have seen a great deal of damage because the broadcasting stations would sign an exclusive contract with the idols forbidding them from promoting elsewhere.”
— Entertainment agency employee
On the other hand, CJ E&M has announced that they are splitting the profits from Wanna One equally.
“We assigned YMC Entertainment to take over management of Wanna One, and the profit is split equally.”
— CJ E&M
But the entertainment agencies still believe that the broadcasting agencies are trying to monopolize profits by producing the audition, managing the promotions and having the idols feature on their own broadcast shows.
Small to mid-sized entertainment agencies have no power to fight against the broadcasting stations in fear of being restricted from their shows.
After witnessing how much profit is made by project groups like Wanna One and I.O.I, other broadcasting stations have begun creating their own audition programs.
KBS is making a new audition program, called The Unit, which will feature past idols who’ve debuted but never seen success.
Source: @Zundoko_RONSAMA
The idols who debut through this project group will be signing an exclusive contract with KBS.
And entertainment agencies are against the broadcasting stations having an immense amount of a power in the industry by managing audition winners themselves.
“When broadcasting stations sign an exclusive contract with its participants and run a management business with them, it isn’t a regular contract and it’s unfair.”
— Entertainment agency employee
They’ve demanded the broadcasting stations to only host the audition, and allow the agencies to manage their own artists.
Source: Segye
