Joji. 5,062 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 This has been on my mind for a while but the Twice's recent Skoolooks endorsement had me thinking again. At this point, what really separates trainees and idols when even now trainees can get endorsement/CF deals and release music without having an official debut? On one hand, it makes sense as companies can use the money from all this to fund the group's debut. But on the other hand, we can see how it can make companies complacent in debuting their groups (YG and WINNER/iKON, for example). The 'trainee idol' train doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haruwu 37,702 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I think it's mostly because of media play. Twice got a lot of it and had fans following them since SIXTEEN. This'll make businesses intrigued of them because of their popularity prior to debut. It's nice seeing trainees snatching weaves in CFs too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eppo 7,020 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 It's a direct result of competition being more cut-throat than ever. It just makes me wonder when Kpop agencies and fans will stop with the heavy emphasis on official debuts so much, since the lines are blurring between pre- and post-debut. There's many examples of idols doing extensive activities before their official debut (GD, Taeyang, Winner, B.I, Bobby, iKON, Yoona, etc) yet they don't "debut" until years later sometimes. That just never made sense to me, but especially now that trainee idols are becoming somewhat of a trend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joji. 5,062 Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 It's a direct result of competition being more cut-throat than ever. It just makes me wonder when Kpop agencies and fans will stop clinging to official debuts, b/c the lines are blurring between pre- and post-debut. There's many examples of idols doing extensive activities before their official debut (GD, Taeyang, Winner, B.I, Bobby, iKON, Yoona, etc) yet they don't "debut" until years later sometimes. That just never made sense to me, but especially now that trainee idols are becoming somewhat of a trend. MTE. I think we'll see a situation where trainees transition into idols in a more gradual sense than just from trainee -> idol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taelent 9,485 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 it gives them a headstart against other groups when they already have a stanbase and (some) recognition before they debut.Especially in this day and age when everyone and their mother is debuting in an idol group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
llamaswag 8,571 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 It much more cheaper to sign with Twice or some trainies right now than after debut. If their debut is blowing up, their asking fees will be much more higher compare to now as a trainies. Thats y, alot of companies cast trainies especially from BIG3 prior to debut cuz they likely "guanrantee" a successful debut later and it will be too late to cast them after that (as in the fee is higher). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joji. 5,062 Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 it gives them a headstart against other groups when they already have a stanbase and (some) recognition before they debut.Especially in this day and age when everyone and their mother is debuting in an idol group True, but who knows how long these benefits will last when everybody and their mother seems to be doing the pre-debut thing now. It much more cheaper to sign with Twice or some trainies right now than after debut. If their debut is blowing up, their asking fees will be much more higher compare to now as a trainies. Thats y, alot of companies cast trainies especially from BIG3 prior to debut cuz they likely "guanrantee" a successful debut later and it will be too late to cast them after that (as in the fee is higher). I agree. It's all business at the end of the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlkpopfan 2,451 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 It's a smart marketing mechanism and makes sense since it gets you a at least some fans even prior to debut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iljinspirit 414 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Those that can do it will because they have so much to gain when they do debut.. it doesn't bother me that they are making a name for themselves and getting work. I personally won't be stanning anyone until they've slain me with their debut or following comebacks though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LockonAL 214 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I think it's all about cost cut, and about reducing the chance of debuting a not-successful group (like market testing). I just read this article in soompi :http://www.soompi.com/2015/10/06/the-staggering-cost-of-debuting-a-k-pop-idol-group/ It takes a lot of money to debut a new group. But having them doing survival show can make them getting fast recognization (more chance to hit big at debut), gain ing endorsements prior debut so they can make money and paid for better stage setting when they debut. The title of trainee can be a shield also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarmin 1,609 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I agree. I don't think there's much difference anymore. This is advantageous for when they debut too. That's why groups these days can get music show wins right after debut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kinn 1,981 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I kinda wish they'd keep it underwraps till debut. I like the element of surprise better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joji. 5,062 Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 Those that can do it will because they have so much to gain when they do debut.. it doesn't bother me that they are making a name for themselves and getting work. I personally won't be stanning anyone until they've slain me with their debut or following comebacks though. Same. I think it's all about cost cut, and about reducing the chance of debuting a not-successful group (like market testing). I just read this article in soompi :http://www.soompi.com/2015/10/06/the-staggering-cost-of-debuting-a-k-pop-idol-group/ It takes a lot of money to debut a new group. But having them doing survival show can make them getting fast recognization (more chance to hit big at debut), gain ing endorsements prior debut so they can make money and paid for better stage setting when they debut. The title of trainee can be a shield also. Yeah we've seen how that helped with the whole Taeyong scandal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omijacha 2,335 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 TBH, the whole Kpop scene is becoming (or already has become) one big "reality show". As soon as the identities of any trainees are publicly revealed, they essentially become characters in the big reality show and they compete with everyone else for attention. Even the CEOs of the companies are just characters in the big reality show. Debuting? Not Debuting? That's just one of the drama devices in the reality show. It doesn't really mean anything. Just for example, both Bobby and BI of YG probably got more promotion and media play before they "debuted" than Gummy got the whole time she was at YG after she debuted. Music is mostly just incidental in the big reality show. People generally just tune in for the drama. Who's prettier today? Who's sexier? Who's getting the most money? Who's got the best twerk moves? Who's doing best on the charts? Who has the most all-kills? Who's had the most plastic surgery? I actually just wish sometimes that a separate category called "Just Music" could be made as something totally apart from the reality show, as a space where people can just enjoy the music without everything turning into bitter rivalries, hate feuds, petty competition and childish drama. But I know it's an impossible dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkilene 5,738 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 eh, it can burn them. Look what happen to Lena from JYP. I think the predebut stuff is better when the roster is set or close to set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joji. 5,062 Posted October 6, 2015 Author Share Posted October 6, 2015 I actually just wish sometimes that a separate category called "Just Music" could be made as something totally apart from the reality show, as a space where people can just enjoy the music without everything turning into bitter rivalries, hate feuds, petty competition and childish drama. But I know it's an impossible dream. Honestly, music is what really keeps me into K-Pop. All the 'reality show' shit doesn't really interest me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkilene 5,738 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Also I feel bad for trainees that get a taste of exposure and then never debut. Baby Kara is a sad example of the downside of this type of activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bishu 1,695 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 i just hope fans of those trainee-dols don't act like 'look at them they'r so awesome snatching rooftop/music show awards right away after debut!!!!!!!!!!! When will yo faves?' because, damn, ppl r already known yo faves fo 32425432564362345345325 years but honestly, if i'm a big company's CEO, i'd do the predebut survival show too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
512955124 1,748 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 TBH, the whole Kpop scene is becoming (or already has become) one big "reality show". As soon as the identities of any trainees are publicly revealed, they essentially become characters in the big reality show and they compete with everyone else for attention. Even the CEOs of the companies are just characters in the big reality show. Debuting? Not Debuting? That's just one of the drama devices in the reality show. It doesn't really mean anything. Just for example, both Bobby and BI of YG probably got more promotion and media play before they "debuted" than Gummy got the whole time she was at YG after she debuted. Music is mostly just incidental in the big reality show. People generally just tune in for the drama. Who's prettier today? Who's sexier? Who's getting the most money? Who's got the best twerk moves? Who's doing best on the charts? Who has the most all-kills? Who's had the most plastic surgery? I actually just wish sometimes that a separate category called "Just Music" could be made as something totally apart from the reality show, as a space where people can just enjoy the music without everything turning into bitter rivalries, hate feuds, petty competition and childish drama. But I know it's an impossible dream. No. The music is the soundtrack for this big reality show Also I feel bad for trainees that get a taste of exposure and then never debut. Baby Kara is a sad example of the downside of this type of activity. I find it sadder for the 2 kids in Mix & Match. On a survival show from a big company will give them a lot of attention yet they do not get the chance to debut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkilene 5,738 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 No. The music is the soundtrack for this big reality show I find it sadder for the 2 kids in Mix & Match. On a survival show from a big company will give them a lot of attention yet they do not get the chance to debut. I think it's sad either way because trainees are more likely to stick with a company longer if they get opportunities like this when they probably would have left and tried their chances elsewhere while they were still young and more likely to debut. I was also referring to Sojin, who committed suicide after failing to get into Kara through the Baby Kara survival show. For a while people questioned if survival shows were unnecessarily cruel by getting trainees' hopes up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blank_stare 2,217 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Their trainee idols reminds me of how Japanese trainees. (Korean's definition of their own trainee idols are slowly turning into Japanese trainee idols) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirimiri 1,233 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 the first time i know about kpop (2008) i really admire their training system. I mean alot of the artist have decent skill atleast coz they've been trained for years. but nowadays after kpop became so huge, it become more and more commercial and all about bussiness rather than music. the training system makes kpop become so boring. all the same. not like in america for example we can always get new singer / new band that comes from nothing., just because their music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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