? MBC News Desk ?
Behind the idol singers that are leading our pop culture today lies a group of young composers armed with a new sensation. These composers are the ones producing entire albums and even debuting as singers themselves, aggressively branding their name into the public. We will further discuss this phenomenon with journalist Kim Jaeyong. Welcome.
? Journalist ?
Yes, hello.
? MBC News Desk ?
Has a branding generation opened amongst composers as well?
? Journalist ?
Yes, you're right. Composers have largely become a brand name now. It might sound a bit unfamiliar but there's an increasing tendency of listeners scoping out songs from their favorite composers, not just their favorite singers.
It has reached a point where composers of popular songs have naturally become star status. They're no longer staff roles that help people become stars.
I'd like to briefly introduce composer Jo Youngsu. Within 6 years, he's managed to release over 50 hit tracks. This year alone, he's composed songs such as Min Kyunghoon's It's Love Because It Hurts, T-ara's Crazy Because of You, and Lee Seunggi and Kim Yuna's Smile.
According to data released by Korea Music Copyright Association, he ranked #1 in the amount he earned from copyright. Recently he's been working directly on his own album production because he wanted to break away from composing music catered to singers' desires and create music that he wants.
? Jo Youngsu / Composer ?
Music broadcast shows have also changed in that they now show the names of the composers and writers on air. People begin to naturally find out what composer wrote what.
? Journalist ?
It's become a big part of what makes up the digital music market today. Singers are now able to gather fans from just the name of the composer as well.
? Sukhee / Singer ?
With the popularity of composers on the rise, there's a lot more cases of people feeling a sense of trust when they read a certain composer's name before listening to the song.
? Journalist ?
There's also the story of Kim Taehyun who has composed songs such as Ivy's Sonata of Temptation and After School's Bang.
? Kim Taehyun / Composer ?
A new group of consumers has been created where they specifically search out songs from a favorite producer. I think it's great that our names are becoming brands since everyone has their own unique musical color and image.
? MBC News Desk ?
It seems like the influence of composers have become greater than the past.
? Journalist ?
Definitely.
? MBC News Desk ?
Is this a recent phenomenon?
? Journalist ?
Composers have been saying that the idea materialized around two or three years ago. I think it'd be easy to explain it with the example of composer Brave Brothers.
Kang Dongchul became well known under the stage name Brave Brothers and has composed hit songs songs such as Big Bang's Last Farewell, Lexy's To the Sky, and Son Dambi's Bad Boy.
About two years ago, he began inputting his own brand, Brave Sound, as a sound effect into the songs he composed for other singers.
In songs he's recently composed for himself, he puts his full name in the beginning of the sound. That's what branding is.
? Brave Brothers / Composer ?
My music begins with Brave Sound. The name, the print, the sound, all of it is the beginning of my music. That's the beginning of my brand generation.
? Journalist ?
He has also recently released a music video using the names of famous fellow producers, giving the notion that composing is on the same level of branding.
In the music video teaser, the lyrics consist of very aggressive rap parts such as, "Park Jinyoung has got to go, Jo Youngsu's got to go..." And when the teaser screen reaches the name of Shinsadong Tiger, a milk bottle is thrown at it with the lyrics, "Come back again after you've had enough of your mom's milk."
Externally, the lyrics seem like just a diss track but upon closer inspection, the aggressive and stimulating content affects the listener by forcing them to memorize the names.
? Brave Brothers / Composer ?
It's true. You have to constantly put yourself out there and it's only after a singer has received success with your song that you're known to the public.
? Journalist ?
Once the support staff of a singer's success, composers have now revealed themselves and their names, showing possibility of a new rise of public stars.
? MBC News Desk ?
Thank you.
S: MBC News
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