IZ*ONE fans raise US$2million in hopes of keeping the group from disbanding

[My Everything]

Fans of K-pop girl group IZ*ONEhave raised nearly US$2million for the Parallel Universe Project, an initiative that hopes to keep the group from disbanding.
 

The crowdfunding project was launched yesterday (April 21) on Wadiz by the girl group’s fanbase (also known as WIZ*ONE), following the announcement of IZ*ONE’s disbandment. Last month, the group’s management agencies, Off The Record and Swing Entertainment, said that the group would disband at the end of April.

Parallel Universe Project reached its funding goal of ₩1,000,000,000 (roughly US$900,000) within the first 20 minutes of the crowdfunding campaign’s launch, according to statistics from Koreaboo. The figure currently sits at a little over ₩2,186,000,000 (US$1,960,000) at the time of writing.

In a statement on Twitter, the initiative’s organisers claimed they have established an unincorporated association called Parallel Universe Project Investment Association in order to “negotiate with the agencies” that house the group’s 12 members. They added that they wish to “make the fundraising as open and transparent as possible”.

“This is not a place for assigning blame to the agency(ies) responsible for the ending of IZ*ONE’s promotion,” they continued. “Our purpose for the dialogue is in negotiations for the relaunching of the group. We sincerely ask officials of the agencies to engage in consultations.”

IZ*ONE had initially been in talks to extend their contracts in January, but those discussions had seemingly fallen through. The K-pop act were originally pieced together through the reality TV competition Produce 48, under a two-and-a-half-year contract, and consist of members from a variety of labels and agencies.

Source

[Zaiku]

Members gearing for their post Izone plans be like

[GiganticMint121]

It's not like they disbanded because of a lack of funds to promote nor did the companies think that the group would not be profitable. It's just the end of the contract. If the companies wanted to keep the group together, they could easily resign. It's not going to happen

[harumaki]

To be honest, I don't think this is a good idea at all. I love the girls and I love the group but we all knew what we got into when we decided to stan them, the disbandment was bound to happen.

[munyuna]

pocket money for the companies no matter how much they raise

[hee_woo]

 

14 minutes ago, GiganticMint121 said:

It's not like they disbanded because of a lack of funds to promote nor did the companies think that the group would not be profitable. It's just the end of the contract. If the companies wanted to keep the group together, they could easily resign. It's not going to happen

I think they want to BUY their contracts or something like that, which seems impossible to me.

[love]

at the end of the day, their companies will still want them back so they can reap the full profit of their artists for however many years they can sign them for.

[GetRapper]

Okay, now...then what? Who's going to manage the group? Arrange lodging and practice space? Pay for studio fees? Transportation for events? Music show broadcast fees? Meals, wardrobe, and cf negotiations? etc. Not only all this but to have all the various agencies the members still have active contracts in agreement? This project sounds like a grift to me.

[rananicolee]

I know it sucks when your favorite groups disband but, at some point, you need to learn to let it go. This was a project group. It was already known they weren't going to stay together. 

Just remember the good times. You have the songs. Follow the members. I miss 2NE1 so bad but I couldn't imagine doing something like this. Now I look at 2NE1 with fondness. I still listen to them. They are still one of my favorite groups. 

[Regality]

A lot of fans dont realize that even if they make alot of money as a group the companies probably dont reap that much if they stay in izone. Theres a ton of people to pay still.

[SLY]

I'm also a WIZ*ONE so I understand how they feel, I admit I wish all companies agree to the continuity of the group instead because quite frankly, the group is really one of a kind, but doing all these and frequently imposing the permanence of a soon-to-be-disbanding group will only make it harder for the girls. It's clear that the companies of the members aren't interested and have different plans. If these fans really love and support the group, they will still do so even if the members are in their separate ways but if they still refuse to do so, they are not supportive of the twelve members, they're just supportive towards the name "IZ*ONE" instead. Also, an IZ*ONE reunion in the future wouldn't be impossible, considering IOI will be celebrating their anniversary together. If they can't handle seeing a project group dissolve, they shouldn't have stanned in the first place.

Edited April 26, 2021 by SLY

[deobizone]

I admire their efforts but it's really just impossible.

I just chose to look on brightside tho. Some fans just love their friendships interactions etc it hate seeing them separated from that. I just think of it as...we're not b gonna... and shouldn't see their whole life.  They're still gonna be friends. As for just loving the group... this was their contract.. can't be helped tbh. They're still gonna be doing thinks,  redebuting, having other jobs etc to still support... it's shorter than groups of their success usually lasts but can't last forever unfortunately.  I think it's impossible for their contracts to be bought.. and ngl when I think about it, it feels kinda dubious for fans to buy an idols contract... even if it's done with no intent fans can't really hold that power over their bias. So I think it's best they just hold those funds to supporting their next project(s)

[Aphrodisiac]

Ok, this is starting to get annoying

[Moa_Nunu]

Sometimes you just have to let go. What they’re doing seems pretty selfish tbh. The girls already have other plans. Maybe some of them are ready to move on to the next stage of their careers.

[wolflingabout]

Ngl that's pretty cringe

Imagine the good they could do with that money