The TBN award show consisted of 2 parts in total.
Similar to other broadcast station’s award shows, the TBN award show also saw KK members being nominated in a significant number of categories. There were seven categories to be exact.
They were nominated for the Popularity Award (KK), Dance Performance (KK), Hip Hop Genre (OKAY), Male Solo Artist (Kang Do Wook), Male Group (KK), Duet (Park Tae Hyung), and Grand Prize (KK).
Most of those had strong competitors and were major categories in the award ceremony.
Since there were no other noteworthy duet groups than Hyeon Ji and Park Tae Hyung, the award was practically guaranteed.
In the case of the male solo artists as well, Do Wook was superior to other singers in things like music chart records, so unless something unexpected were to happen, he would receive the solo award.
The awards that weren’t certain were the Popularity Award, Dance Performance Award, Hip Hop Genre Award, and the Grand Prize.
This year’s criteria for the Popularity Award selection were 80% percent internet voting results and 20% judge scores.
KK was ahead of other groups In internet votes, but it was uncertain how the results would turn out.
Also, in the hip hop genre category the hip hop giant called ‘Rusty Duo’ was standing its ground. Although OKAY received a similar ranking on the music chart, the award was more likely to go to Rusty Duo than OKAY if only to diversify things.
‘Dance Performance Award and Grand Prize in particular…we probably won’t know until the end,’
Manager Oh Baek Ho thought. It wasn’t just Manager Oh Baek Ho. People within the company and the KK members, even the fans on the outside were able to predict that much.
However, if you looked at the cue sheet you could get a general idea.
You could get a general read on who the broadcast station was leaning towards and how the awards would be distributed.
“Our order is…”
“Dubious, huh?”
“Yes. It is. I’m not saying we should be in the ending spot…but this feels too unfair.”
Sa Bang Shin Hwa was in the ending position on the cue sheet that they received while in Cannes.
KK had performed a little better than Sa Bang Shin Hwa, who were breaking up this year due to a rift. However, it was possible for Sa Bang Shin Hwa to be given the ending spot because of something called seniority.
However, it was clear to everyone that TBN was in cahoots with Ara Entertainment, because KK was even ahead of another girl group within Ara Entertainment agency, ‘Little Star’.
Of course, ‘Little Star’ had seniority over KK. They had been a female idol group for 7 years, which was rare in the music industry.
Before KK debuted, they rose to the top and were called the only group who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Sa Bang Shin Hwa.
However, the team failed to show any significant success this year. It was also unreasonable to hope to achieve the same results as it did in its heyday.
“It’s not like they’re doing the order purely by seniority…”
When Manager Oh Baek Ho mumbled with discontent, Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung, as expected, agreed.
“There definitely must have been some kind of deal between them, even when just looking at the fact that M2M was given the part 2 opening.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“They even gave them 4 minutes for the performance.”
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung usually had a smile on his face. However, now that he was frowning he looked incredibly angry.
“Was it 7 minutes in total for us?”
“Yes. Little Star is 6 minutes 30 seconds, and Sa Bang Shin Hwa is about 9 minutes.”
“Do you know how many hit songs the kids have this time around?!…It’s totally under Ara Entertainment’s thumb. Last year they at least pretended to treat us well.”
“It’s because last year, Do Wook did a drama on TBN…”
Honestly, everyone secretly knew that the award ceremony mainly involved singers who belonged to Ara Entertainment, almost like a policy.
Still, other than a little grumbling, everyone couldn’t say anything more because the singers from Ara Entertainment were actually doing well.
However, the situation had changed a little this time.
KK, who had debuted with M2M, had beaten M2M completely, and was now trying to beat Sa Bang Shin Hwa.
You could kind of argue that they were similar in success based on a single album, but if you took into account the members’ activities or performance, KK was superior.
Nevertheless, being placed at a similar time slot as Little Star yet going before them was something that could hurt KK’s self-esteem.
“I spoke with an acquaintance from Ara Entertainment.”
Manager Oh Baek Ho’s ears perked up in response to what Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung brought up. Manager Oh Baek Ho had been wary of Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung because he had come from Ara Entertainment, but now it was true that Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung was a good source of information.
He had also heard that the Fan Marketing team was setting up a system to match the scope that had gotten larger compared to before. Manager Oh Baek Ho thought that recruiting Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung definitely seemed to have been a good choice on Department Head Jo Anna’s part.
“They said they’ll be announcing a new member at the award ceremony. M2M will, along with a new song.”
Manager Oh Baek Ho had a surprised expression over what Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung said.
“This soon?”
It was much too soon.
If they were planning on announcing it on the day of the award ceremony, it would barely be a little over a month since Seo Kang Jun got on the plane.
At that moment, Do Wook opened the conference room door and came in. He had just finished practicing for the dance break he planned to perform at the KVS Awards.
It was Manager Oh Baek Ho who had called Do Wook. He had something to discuss with Do Wook.
Do Wook greeted them and sat next to Manager Oh Baek Ho.
Manager Oh Baek Ho and Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung finished their conversation. Meanwhile, Do Wook tactfully looked over the cue sheet on the desk.
“It’s probably the result of Director Seo Joong Won’s quick decision. He’s the type to never look back and keep pushing through once a decision is made.”
“If it’s Director Seo…he would be able to do that.”
Everyone in the industry was familiar with Director Seo Joong Won’s fiery temper even if they had never worked together. Manager Oh Baek Ho nodded.
“Still, I’m surprised that they have a member ready. And a new song too.”
“I think the song is a song they had already prepared to do a comeback. And Ara Entertainment’s trainee pool is famous for being very big. It’s also true that they have many trainees that are ready to debut immediately…”
Do Wook caught up on what the two people were talking about with ease.
‘Are they recruiting a new member already…?’
Even Do Wook thought that it was soon. It was also expected that M2M fans who liked the existing members would resist. Seeing as they were pushing through with it despite that, you could strongly feel Director Seo Joong Won’s will to revive M2M in any way possible.
Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung continued speaking,
“Also, the member that will be debuting is a trainee I kind of know.”
“It’s a trainee you know?”
“I don’t know him personally…he’s a trainee who was famous when I was at the company. His looks weren’t on Seo Jun’s level, but I guess you could say he’s cute. And he looks charismatic. To my knowledge, his singing is better than Seo Jun’s. They were even considering putting him as the center for the group that was to come out after M2M.”
“I guess they’re trying to keep M2M alive in any way possible.”
“I think so.”
Manager Oh Baek Ho and Team Leader Lee Dae Young’s gaze naturally turned toward Do Wook. Do Wook was listening to the conversation between the two without any change in his expression.
If a new member was added to M2M, it would inevitably be a completely different composition from the M2M that had been centered around Seo Kang Jun.
Do Wook thought.
‘From that point on, it’ll be a M2M that I really don’t know…KK may have already established their status, but we’ll have to work harder not to be pushed out.’
He didn’t have any residual feelings towards a M2M without Seo Kang Jun. He meant he was going to fight fair and square.
At the same time, in order to topple Director Seo Joong Won, he had no choice but to get in a higher position.
“If we lose ground from the TBN Awards, the tone of this year’s awards will stay like that. Even the grand prize will probably…”
Manager Oh Baek Ho, who had been listening to what Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung was saying, said,
“I also think that they might have cajoled Ara Entertainment with the performances so they can give us the grand prize…”
On second thought, what Manager Oh Baek Ho said made sense too. However, Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung shook his head. The Director Seo Joong Won that Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung knew was someone who knew what was important.
It was a move that showed he was clearly aware that it would be over if they lost this time.
“If that were the case, he would have refused to appear at all.”
“Yeah, well…”
Manager Oh Baek Ho frowned.
“If anything, giving us the MC role was something they added to console us.”
The reason he called Do Wook over today was because TBN had requested Do Wook to be the MC. TBN was thinking of Do Wook and female solo singer Gae Na Ri as the MCs.
It was a good opportunity, because you inevitably get more exposure and become a hot topic if you MC. However, considering it was a move to smooth things over, using a star who had been to Cannes as an MC would give TBN more attention through Do Wook than Do Wook would receive through them.
“Honestly, I think it’ll make you ridiculously busy so…just look at how many performances you have to do as it is….so I was going to turn it down.”
Manager Oh Baek Ho explained, as if frustrated. If they didn’t at least get the MC position, they would feel like KK was falling behind too much. Though, in reality, it wasn’t KK who would be losing, but HIT Entertainment.
Do Wook replied as if saying not to worry about it.
“It’s ok. I can do it.”
“It’s not as if you have 3 bodies.”
He said it as if it were a pity, but he meant it more as if he were asking for a favor. Since HIT Entertainment agreed to Do Wook being the MC, TBS intended to increase their stage time a little.
“Has Department Head Jo or Director Kwon said anything about it?”
“No. Not yet.”
“Hmmm…”
For now, Manager Oh and Team Leader Lee decided to express their dissatisfaction to TBN and ask for adjustment. The meeting ended with a sigh.
“We have to show that KK’s performance is the best, even if we have to spend money on it,”
Manager Oh Baek Ho muttered as he left the conference room. Do Wook, of course, was thinking the same thing.
‘We just need to prove that we’re the best through our performance regardless of order.’
Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but sense a bitter taste in his mouth. They were the best in popularity or skills, but they lost just because of agency power.
***
“A new member…”
Do Wook returned to his accommodation and his curiosity grew about M2M’s new member. M2M’s future success would become a major key to taking down Director Seo Joong Won.
When he got back to the dormitory, the members, who were exhausted from rehearsal, were sprawled out all over the living room. Jung Yoon Ki noticed Do Wook and beckoned.
“Do Wook, come quickly and pick from the menu!”
“Chicken…”
Park Tae Hyung held out fliers from various chicken restaurants to Do Wook.
It wasn’t their active period so the members were free to pick what to eat. Still, they were expecting to be limited again starting tomorrow in preparation for the award show. The members were thinking of eating one last big meal.
“Uhh…I’m good with anything.”
“What do you mean anything! We’re getting one chicken per person today. You should pick the chicken you want to eat too!”
Ahn Hyung Seo urged him with a frightening spirit. It was when Do Wook, who was handed a flier from Park Tae Hyung, was about to choose from the menu.
As he stood next to Do Wook and was picking from the menu, Ahn Hyung Seo hummed an old song in a joking way.
“Have you ever seen KK hanging around the foot of the mountain in search of food? …”
“Man, it’s a very old song. I haven’t heard it in such a long time.”
“What type of song is this?”
Suk Ji Hoon looked puzzled about what Jung Yoon Ki said. He had absolutely no idea what song it was. It was just that Suk Ji Hoon didn’t know it because he was young. It was a famous song that even Do Wook knew well.
At the same time, Do Wook thought of a good idea to change the atmosphere of the awards ceremony.
—
Next chapter: Do Wook has a new idea, but the other members are not too enthusiastic about it