Netizens Outraged Over SM Entertainment’s Decision To Sell Other Artists’ Albums
While K-Pop fans are normally very happy when there are crossovers between different idol companies, SM Entertainment has recently come under fire for selling other artists music at their SMTown store.
Recent visitors to the company’s store have been posting pictures online of albums they’ve found on the shelves.
Wanna One, BTS, TWICE, and dozens of other artist albums were spotted on full display there…
Right alongside videos!
After seeing the photos online, many netizens have taken to Twitter to express their outrage and frustration at the company for their actions and have even started trending the hashtag #SM_팬기만_STOP.
SMtown store selling Twice, BTS and W1's albums. ☠ lol pic.twitter.com/wpY7vNYAce
— nachaeyu's braces (@ChaeSmolTzuTol) December 22, 2018
What's wrong with SM? Is the income value and stock drop this year? If yes, I think SM doesnt need to do stg nonsense (selling other artist album and animation dvd) like this lol.#SM_팬기만_STOP
— Cheonsa Dream (@cheonsasm) December 23, 2018
EXO-L, Reveluv, ELF, SONE, MEU, Shawol, NCTZen, BOA fans and all SM stan! Let's make #SM_팬기만_STOP trending as @SMTOWNGLOBAL has started selling non SM artists's album at Artium like Twice & Wanna One's album. SM should focus on their artists. They deserve better than this.
— 娜米拉 Nabilah (@shesdreaming__) December 22, 2018
Fans of SM Entertainment artists are especially unhappy with the decision to sell these albums as they feel that the store is putting more of an emphasis on these other groups than their own.
First you disrespected your artist now this?? #SM_팬기만_STOP pic.twitter.com/cBmxOyYqSC
— ⓜⓘⓒⓢ; (@ohminnideer12) December 23, 2018
#SM_팬기만_STOP
I don’t have words anymore. I always though sm couldn’t amaze me anymore but this time.. seriously. You can’t use your groups as objects, with no promotions at all and let them in a dungeon forever. Now you sell other albums from other artists?! @SMTOWNGLOBAL— ً (@YuuyaSae_) December 23, 2018
We are not against the non sm artist but selling their goods in your store while your very own artist's goods are not available is very disrespectful on our part and also the artist. you are promoting them but you cant even do it for your own artist😏. #SM_팬기만_STOP
— eirrey bbh (@reianneruiz) December 22, 2018
Many fans have also pointed out that the store seems to be keeping these other non-SM Entertainment albums in stock while their own idol merchandise is running dangerously low.
I've been dying to buy EXO lighstick or should I say WE the new exols or exols that still don't have LS, all been dying to buy eribong but we can't because you can't restock it yet here you are selling non sm stuffs. Such embarrassing move, SM.
— 내 세훈 🐣 (@senisehunie0412) December 22, 2018
I get SM is the music distributor of companies like JYP & Bighit, but before selling merch of other artists, WHY DONT YOU FIRST RESTOCK YOUR ARTISTS’ SOLD OUT MERCH/ALBUMS (especially EXO’s)? YOU NEED US AND OUR MONEY, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND #SM_팬기만_STOP @weareoneEXO
— ❄️👄✨ LOVE SHOT 💎 (@Kairisma88) December 22, 2018
Meanwhile, there are many netizens that have been supporting the company’s decision and think that it’s a great way for the company to show some support to these other groups.
#SM_팬기만_STOP bro they are selling SM artist albums too why are yall getting mad like i hate this! i love when all kpop entertainment support each other can we not appreciate stuff like this and stop fighting? plus people who go there are mostly sm artist fans so they are not- pic.twitter.com/ui1ZcUxoJ2
— втѕ cнιм cнιм ιѕ α мσcнι ⍥ (@Gigi110902) December 23, 2018
btw a reminder both SM, JYP, Big Hit are in a partnership with Iriver/SK to distribute/make albums for them this is probably why the sm store is selling their albums not sure about why w1 though lol
— TWICE (@WonderTwice) December 22, 2018
Some netizens, however, aren’t fully convinced that this isn’t all a big rumor. A few people have stated that they’ve also recently visited the store and didn’t see any of the albums for sale.
