Fans of groups under RBW react to CEO Kim Jin Woo's interview statements

In the K-pop industry, fans are often seen as the lifeline of companies, being both ardent supporters and critical watchdogs of how their favorite groups are managed. Following an interview with RBW CEO Kim Jin-woo, fans of various RBW-managed girl groups, boy groups, and soloists unleashed their criticism online regarding his comments about the challenges faced by small to medium-sized companies in the industry.

CEO Kim Jinwoo of RBW said that small and medium sized entertainment companies are feeling the crisis in Kpop more than large entertainment companies. He said that the entertainment industry has changed into a battle between mega capital global companies and SMEs without

— TMIKpop (@tmikpop) January 8, 2024

In the interview, CEO Kim discussed the increasing difficulties small and medium-sized entertainment companies face in the competitive K-pop industry, emphasizing the widening gap between them and large "mega-capital companies." He predicted that many smaller entities, including those under RBW, might face dissolution by the end of 2024 due to these challenges.

Although RBW holds a lot of IPS and a large line-up of artists, its operating profit has decreased from last year due to slow business and expansion moves due to mergers and acquisitions (RBW acquired WM Ent and DSP)

— TMIKpop (@tmikpop) January 8, 2024

Despite RBW's broad intellectual property and artist roster, the CEO revealed a decline in the company's operating profit, attributed to sluggish business strategies and the financial impact of recent acquisitions. The company's maneuvering, including the delayed issuance of convertible bonds due to market uncertainties, underscores the struggles even well-established medium-sized companies face in competing with industry giants.

CEO Kim lamented the reduced presence of their managed artists in music charts, contrasting the current difficulty of even placing two songs in the top 100 with past successes. He outlined plans for RBW's artists, including the newly debuted Young Posse, 4th gen group ONEUS's world tour, and the future of ONEWE post-military service. He also mentioned Purple Kiss's growing overseas popularity, emphasizing the importance of a global marketing strategy, particularly in the US market.

However, fans reacted negatively to the CEO's interview. They pointed to the company's history of mismanagement and lack of promotional effort as contributing factors to the artists' waning chart performance and financial outlook. Fandoms of MAMAMOO, ONEWE, VROMANCE, and Lee ChaeYeon were particularly vocal, highlighting instances of perceived neglect and inadequate support for their respective groups and artists.

Fans of soloist Lee ChaeYeon highlighted the company's lack of professionalism, citing an instance where the artist had to personally cover the costs for her team during an event. Similarly, VROMANCE and ONEWE fans lamented the lack of proper management and promotional support, suggesting that the groups' underperformance was foreseeable due to these longstanding issues.

Criticism also extended to WM Entertainment artists, with fans expressing dissatisfaction with how the company managed activities post-acquisition. Tweets from previous years resurfaced, showing the continuous disappointment and frustration from fans over the years.

deserved. every single wm artist has come out worse for wear since this fuckass acquisition https://t.co/fpPSuNy1RU

— ☁️ (@omgeo7) January 8, 2024

they couldnt even treat and promote vromance or onewe correctly but these bitches decided they could buy companies with even more groups i hate them https://t.co/7st9yZqEEf

— mika (@MONT4GE_) May 9, 2022

So rbvv ignores Vromance all year but they still have the nerve to use their social media accounts to promote their joke of a company!??? I’m speechless actually pic.twitter.com/fotbRgbIdD

— fer ❖ (@fercalcomanie) May 17, 2022

all of rbw's groups literally had potential - from live vocals, dancing, and even songwriting and composing. but they dont promote well, they dont invest, dont treat them right, and invested their money wrongly.

their downfall is the result of their decisions https://t.co/j0ssdFpnpM

— v🌱 (@happwheee) January 8, 2024

@RBW_OfficialTwt pls stop ignoring @RBW_MAMAMOO, @official_ONEWE, and @RBW_VROMANCE. They are your artists too. If you can't promote them properly, the least thing you can do is to preserve their contents on VLIVE. Those contents are precious memories with fans. https://t.co/2RqERUzDCi

— rain 🩵 (@moonweebeu) October 31, 2022

bro, we’re celebrating if you lazy ass puts a yt ad for a few days for a cb, because the bar is THAT low. moos promoted the us tour like it was their full time job while u were SILENT. u make 0 effort for ifans, fully knowing their popularity overseas and LACK OF in sk https://t.co/0S1Sh25Lsz

— SEEING DREAMCATCHER IN 46 DAYS (@1micon_) January 8, 2024

Fans of the girl group MAMAMOO, the very group that saved the company from bankruptcy and which has been the main money maker for the company according to financial statements of the company shared online. Also, did not mince kind words towards the company and CEO's words, as fans expressed a lot of surprise at the CEO's words since in a statement previous the company indirectly mentioned that the group would be deprioritized and their comebacks would not be pushed when compared to their junior groups. So the surprise from the CEO in regards to diminishing returns and lack of top 10 songs from their artists in the top 100 of charts should not have come as a surprise. 

So let me get this straight. RBW wouldn't invest in YT ads, won't tweet in English,won't promote their flagship group Mamamoo, won't send their groups to intl talk shows, won't use catchy hashtags for trending, won't make Tiktok vids, refuse to upload the mv subtitles+ https://t.co/pcN09SgsW8

— Aquarius (@aquarius_156) January 8, 2024

This is what happens when you have too big of an ego and get blinded by jealousy.

You literally had Mamamoo, one of the most successful GGs in Kpop but you intentionally sabotaged them on multiple occasions. Never tried to cater to MMM's international fans.

This is your fault! https://t.co/ju3Y1hBVeI

— ❖ASTRAL BLAST⁴ˣ⁴ ✭ 솔라 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗔 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗜 ✭ (@AstralBlasts) January 8, 2024

The biggest mistake is to think focusing on their best group MAMAMOO is a risk, which is their foundation and most profitable source. For those IPs to be profitable, they need the best singers in the industry (ex. MAMAMOO) to sing them so they can be popular and enter the charts https://t.co/VbsxzBw1cw

— DragonKazoo77 | Yong playing Kazoo 😭 (@DragonKazoo77) January 8, 2024

MAMAMOO fans have articulated their concerns over the diminishing promotional efforts and management support from RBW, observing a year-over-year decrease. They highlighted a series of missteps, including inadequate marketing for the group's last three comebacks and insufficient support for their 2023 USA tour, which led fans to take on promotional activities themselves. Additionally, instances such as the absence of dance challenges on TikTok for "ILLELLA," the unannounced sale of gold bars featuring MAMAMOO, and mismanagement of HwaSa's solo promotions of "Guilty Pleasure" have intensified fan dissatisfaction.

Moreover, fans have noted a general lack of appearances on variety shows and promotional activities, underscoring the absence of strategic management for all groups under RBW. This sentiment was further echoed by MAMAMOO's Hwasa, who revealed that her participation in shows was declined without her knowledge, a practice fans fear might be widespread across all RBW artists. The culmination of these management decisions has led to various boycotts and actions by fandoms, aimed at advocating for better support and growth opportunities for the artists.

If you want that global success, @RBW_OfficialTwt you have to produce more content. Which means you have to free the time the artists waste on fansigns. They have to do more songs, more variety shows, more videos, more tiktoks.
You have to put in work into promo.y https://t.co/TirRy24rLr

— maria the cat (@einsame_M) January 8, 2024

all of rbw's groups literally had potential - from live vocals, dancing, and even songwriting and composing. but they dont promote well, they dont invest, dont treat them right, and invested their money wrongly.

their downfall is the result of their decisions https://t.co/j0ssdFpnpM

— v🌱 (@happwheee) January 8, 2024

The unified frustration across fandoms with RBW's promotional and management styles is palpable. Fans criticize the company for not utilizing effective promotional tactics, including providing English subtitles for online content, and for poor planning around comeback schedules, particularly highlighting the rushed planning around ONEUS's comeback just before a major holiday. Fans also lament the outdated method of album and merchandise release leading to shortages.

However, fans unanimously agree that the talent within RBW's roster is immense and that with the right promotional support, these artists could significantly shine in the industry. The discourse surrounding the CEO's statements is intense, with fans questioning whether their critical perspective is warranted or if it's a tough but necessary stance on the company's management strategy. Ultimately, fans wish for a more supportive and proactive approach from RBW to elevate the status of their beloved artists.

What do you think in regard to the CEO's statement? Do you think that fans are being to hard on him and the company?