“Yes, what’s wrong?”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung asked in a panic amidst the chaotic situation.
“Bi…, our KK, bi…on the Billboard…!”
Nam Hyo Jin’s voice was quivering as she responded.
It was surprising as an employee, but Nam Hyo Jin was also a KK fan. It was even happier news as a fan, so Nam Hyo Jin found it hard to believe even as she was delivering the news to her boss.
“Billboard?”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung asked back at Nam Hyo Jin’s response. At the same time, he looked at the text message that popped up on his phone. The most recent text was up on the lock screen.
It was a text from his friend who worked at a record company.
[Dae Hyung, didn’t you say you work with KK? On the Billboard chart, …]
The latter part wasn’t shown, but it was definitely the same news Nam Hyo Jin was trying to tell him.
“Yes. They made it on the Billboard chart that was posted today!”
“Uh…do you mean Social 50?”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung asked back at Nam Hyo Jin’s response.
The Billboard chart is an American chart. Each Korean music site has a ranking chart, and just as there’s an album chart that aggregates the album totals, America has charts too, and one such chart is the Billboard chart.
Although it’s just one of the different charts in America, the ‘Billboard chart’ is the most trusted chart by the public not only within America but also in the world. Making it onto that chart means clout in the American market as well as recognition in any music market worldwide.
There are three main charts within the Billboard chart: ‘Social 50’, ‘Hot 100’ and ‘Billboard 200’.
‘Social 50’ was the most recent chart to emerge in the new digital age. In the 21st century, a singer’s popularity can no longer be measured in the same way as before. The public doesn’t consume singers just by listening to songs anymore. It has evolved and now there are various ways for them to consume singers.
That resulted in the ‘Social 50’ chart being created and, as the name states, it’s a chart based on how active one is on various popular social media platforms like FaceNote or MyTube.
Simply put, data from various social media platforms such as the number of followers, page views, and stream views were compiled to determine a ‘social index’. A lot of data about singers around the world were gathered from the internet and the more active one was, the higher they were ranked.
KK had aggressively implemented marketing using social media since their debut. They had been increasing the number of followers by having only one account for each social media platform so that the number of followers and views would not be spread out.
Thanks to that, their ‘social index’ increased exponentially as their popularity grew.
Therefore, KK was already on the ‘Social 50’ chart within the Billboard.
Due to the development of the internet and social media as well as the influence of Hallyu, the ‘Social 50’ didn’t only have KK but also often other popular Korean singers.
That in itself was incredible, but Team Leader Lee Dae Jung thought that they wouldn’t have been this ecstatic over getting into ‘Social 50’.
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung’s question was full of expectation.
It was true that they had high expectations in the global market with the recent release of ‘Continue’.
‘Aiming firmly for the Billboard chart is too far-fetched of a dream so I couldn’t bring myself to say it, but…’
Nam Hyo Jin nodded her head vigorously.
“Yes, yes. The Social 50 is a given. They’re first place. For the second week in a row. They also made it to the Billboard 200.”
“The Billboard 200…”
“Yes. 79th! That’s the first for a Korean idol, isn’t it?
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung nodded his head.
“It’s not just the Billboard 200, but they’re also on the Hot 100 now!”
Nam Hyo Jin’s voice was filled with excitement. She clenched her fist hard. The Billboard. It felt like a dream.
Getting onto the Billboard chart was every musician’s dream.
Every Korean idol singer’s dream is to get ‘first place’ on the music chart and music broadcasts. After that, it was to get the ‘Grand Prize’ at the Music Awards.
There are so many people who think that even that dream is out of reach. For some of the people who had just joined HIT Entertainment and were currently a trainee, even their debut must seem far off.
However, KK had just accomplished something all singers dream of.
It meant that not only Korea but also people throughout the world knew and loved KK’s music.
The other two of the three Billboard charts, the ‘Billboard 200’ and ‘Hot 100’, carried a different weight than the ‘Social 50’.
The ‘Billboard 200’ calculated album sales around the world, and the ‘Hot 100’, simply put, focused on music streaming.
They were reaching record-breaking numbers on MyTube music video views alone. From the moment they exceeded 10 million views, they were making history every single day.
It was impossible to make such records with only the love from Korean fans. It meant that people worldwide were taking action.
Additionally, Nam Hyo Jin, who monitored social media every day, reported to Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung several times a day on posts from all over the world, proving that various music channels or radio broadcasts were playing ‘Continue’ and ‘Go Low, Go High’.
‘Sure, I thought they had gotten more popular overseas, but…’
Even the members had said they thought they had gained more overseas fans as they looked at comments posted on Mytime or FaceNote. At the most recent concert venue too, there definitely were people with different-colored eyes from Koreans and you could easily see fans wearing a hijab.
They could actually feel the impact, so there must have been bigger changes taking place behind the scenes.
“They even have 2 songs on the Hot 100. ‘Continue’ and ‘Go low, Go High’, both songs.”
When Nam Hyo Jin said that, Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung quickly checked the Billboard chart on his own computer.
‘Social 50’ 1st place for the second week in a row
‘Hot 100’ 67th place, 90th place
‘Billboard 200’ 79th place
It was an incredible achievement.
At that moment, Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung’s phone rang.
“Hello?”
-Hello. Is this HIT Entertainment Fan Marketing Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung?
“Yes, that’s correct.”
-I’m Jeon Jin Young, the Assistant Manager for the Billboard Marketing Team in Korea…Are you free for a call?
“Yes, I’m available. What is this regarding?”
Billboard had a branch in Korea too and was operating the separate Billboard Korea chart. However, Korea already had major music charts so the Korean Billboard chart didn’t really have much credibility. It was basically only being used as a place to get news about the American Billboard chart.
-I’m not sure if you’ve seen the latest Billboard chart update…
“Yes, I just saw it.”
-You saw it! Congratulations! We’re celebrating on our end too. It’s been 5 years or so since a Korean singer got on there, so…”
Assistant Manager Jeon Jin Young’s voice was overflowing with joy too. Although Billboard in Korea was not in a position to root for a specific singer, they couldn’t help but be happy in this situation as a fellow Korean.
-There will be an outpour of articles soon! We plan on releasing articles too.
“Ah, I see. Thank you for the congratulations. We just found out so we haven’t been able to wrap our minds around it yet.”
-Understandable. I’ll get to the point. Our headquarters reached out to us. They want to interview KK…
“Headquarters?”
-Yes. With KK getting on the chart…it sounds like they’ve come to the conclusion that the local response has been beyond expectations.
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung gripped the cell phone in his hand tighter.
‘What’s going on….?’
Something incredible was already happening, but he felt that something even more incredible would happen in the future.
***
“Unbelievable!”
Kim Won yelled as he put his hand on his temple.
Ahn Hyung Seo couldn’t let go of the cellphone he was holding. He continued looking up KK and Billboard back and forth, looking through the reactions and feeling happy as he read through the outpour of praise in the comments.
“Man, is this for real?”
Jung Yoon Ki said as he sighed. He was still in disbelief.
The reason the members had gathered in the office one by one was that they had been informed about making it onto the billboard charts. Jung Yoon Ki and Kim Won had been in the studio preparing for the OKAY album, Ahn Hung Seo was at the dormitory, and Park Tae Hyung was in the middle of a vocal lesson, so they were able to quickly meet at the Fan Marketing Team conference room.
Do Wook, who was in the middle of getting acting lessons from Instructor Lee Kang Yeon in preparation for the upcoming ‘Sweetheart from the Universe’ shoot, ended lessons earlier than usual once he heard the news.
“Ji Hoon…has he heard the news too?”
Park Tae Hyung asked, feeling sad that Suk Ji Hoon wasn’t present. Suk Ji Hoon had left to shoot ‘Camping 48 Hours’. Since he wasn’t able to check his cellphone while filming ‘Camping 48 Hours’, Park Tae Hyung was concerned that Suk Ji Hoon would not have heard the happy news yet.
“Manager Oh said that he called Chul Min,”
Do Wook said in response to Park Tae Hyung’s question.
With an energized expression, Manager Oh Baek Ho had said that he had called him. Gu Chul Min had accompanied Suk Ji Hoon to the shoot.
“Video call! Should we video call him? Do you think he’s still filming right now?”
Ahn Hyung Seo made an impromptu suggestion. When the members looked at Manager Oh Baek Ho in unison, Manager Oh Baek So said ok and gave Gu Chul Min a call.
When the members were told that they were in the middle of filming ‘Camping 48 Hours’ but were in the car en route to a different location and should be able to call, they got excited and quickly made a video call to Suk Ji Hoon.
The members, who were huddled together close so all five members could fit on one screen for the call, looked like students who couldn’t hide their excitement the day before a picnic.
After ringing for a bit, Suk Ji Hoon’s face came on the screen.
“Hey mangnae!!!”
-Huh? Guys?
“Billboard! Billboard!”
Ahn Hyung Seo was too excited and could only say the one word. The news had not fully sunk in yet because he was in the middle of filming, so Suk Ji Hoon’s expression brightened up immediately.
-Is that true? We really got on the Billboard chart?
The faces of the ‘Camping 48 Hours’ members could be seen next to Suk JI Hoon as he shouted. The comedian yelling “No way!” with his jaw dropped was seen through the video.
“Yes! Of course it’s true!!!”
-Wow…
When Suk Ji Hoon became speechless, the comedian sitting next to him grabbed Suk Ji Hoon by the shoulder and shook him.
“Let’s party together when you get back!”
“Let’s party together!”
“Good luck with the shoot, Ji Hoon!”
Suk Ji Hoon just nodded with his jaw dropped as they each made a remark. The other members made fun of him for the dumbfounded expression he had on screen.
After ending the call, the members were in an even better mood.
Their video call would probably also be shown on ‘Camping 48 Hours’ and even more people would know that KK had made it onto the Billboard chart.
There was a reason Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung had asked Manager Oh Baek Ho and the members over.
First off, they had to set the schedule for the Billboard interview.
Billboard America published its own bi-weekly online interviews and weekly news in a webzine*, delivering the status of American and global music markets.
(TL Note: Web/online magazine)
KK’s interview was to be published in that webzine.
Billboard America asking for an interview meant that they had become singers that Billboard was paying attention to.
Making it onto the Billboard chart wasn’t the end of it. Just making it on there was a big achievement, but nobody knew what would happen in the future. They had to strike while the iron was hot.
“…So I think it would be good to do a lot of other interviews besides the Billboard interview. For the time being. We’ll have to rearrange the schedules. I’m sure all the members would like to rest, but…”
The members waved their hands in deflection when Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung said that almost apologetically.
“We have to do it. Absolutely.”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung nodded his head as he laughed at Do Wook’s response.
“It’s an opportunity we can’t afford to lose,”
Do Wook added, his eyes shining.
‘Making it onto the chart…this is only the beginning.’
Do Wook also did not expect that they really would be able to climb this huge mountain called the Billboard. It’s hard to even find the entrance to this mountain. Yet they were already at the bottom of the mountain and climbing.
“But…”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung said that they would have to review their strategy on entering the overseas market again. Manager Oh Baek Ho nodded his head in agreement. He felt like there was nothing to worry about marketing-wise.
They were getting flooded with calls from people in the industry, including from Department Head Jo Anna and Director Kwon Heung Jo, as well as the President of HIT Entertainment. This was a first for a Korean idol. ‘The first and the best’. Manager Oh Baek Ho also predicted that the future path for KK would be one beyond anyone’s imagination.
While they were sharing in the joy together and guessing what the future would hold, Ahn Hyung Seo carefully started to talk.
“Yes?”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung looked at Ahn Hyung Seo and replied.
“The response to the article is a little…”
Ahn Hyung Seo asked hesitantly.
—
Next chapter: As we’ve seen, increased popularity also brings increased antis. Not all the comments regarding KK’s Billboard accomplishment are positive