The vibe in the Album Production Team conference room was fired up. They were having a lively meeting about KK’s next album title.

The Album Production Team employees and Team Leader Shim Joon as well as the Rookie Development Team and Production Director Kwon Heung Jo had put in a lot of time and effort into planning, and the result was the KK debut album.

Brave Only Child had been brought in as the producer and Do Wook had given his input to make the title song more complete, but the foundation had been based on the company’s plans.
(TL Note: To clarify, the first sentence is present time, but these last two sentences are talking about the past when KK was getting started)

However, the KK members had gathered experience now and the album was no longer being made solely on the company’s plans. The members had been more and more involved in the planning and production stages, which are the early stages of the album.

When Do Wook had become the producer, the other members had also become more involved.

It was a mix of wanting the album to do well since it was their album, wanting to help Do Wook, and not wanting to fall behind.

Thanks to that, the members had more opinions to give and spoke up more than the employees during the title meeting.

While actively accepting the opinions of such members, the employees’ role was to objectively convey public response and lead the album in a realistic direction.

“The songs in the middle with the strong vocals are good candidates, but … Anyways, there’s no objections to going with dance genre for the album title song right?

Everyone nodded their heads to what Team Leader Shim Joon said. Jung Yoon Ki, who was the leader, said,

“I definitely think that there’s a good reaction when we’re on the stage and doing powerful choreography.”

“Powerful is good, but if it’s dance genre, I definitely think we should go with the ‘Blue Sky’ vibe. We can reinforce the image of ‘passionate youth’ that KK has been known for,”

One of the Album Production Team members said as they brought up ‘Blue Sky’.

Typically at HIT Entertainment, if an image starts to follow a singer after debuting, they accept songs that will fit the singer’s image and choose the best song as the title song.

Once it’s decided, they establish a multi-angle album promotion strategy and the album’s detailed title follows on its own.

However, this time KK’s album used a more detailed title when they entered the title section.

It was possible because Do Wook is a well-rounded producer and composer who does great in any genre. It was also Do Wook who suggested it first.

The latter method was good in building a desired image, and Do Wook also recently realized that working with a fixed title definitely fit his style better than working on a song aimlessly.

“During ‘Blue Sky,’ I think there were a lot of fans who liked that they could join in.”

When the team member said that, Ahn Hyung Seo recalled the energetic performance and nodded his head.

Even during the concert, the fans sang along in unison during ‘Blue Sky’. There was nothing more exciting and enjoyable than their song filling the concert hall.

There was a time when he couldn’t control his excitement while singing and ad-libbed a really high note, which caused his voice to crack during the concert.

“I like singing it because it’s exciting.”

“And have your voice crack?”

When Jung Yoon Ki added a jab, Ahn Hyung Seo frowned and answered without backing down.

“Yoon Ki, you fumbled the words last time because you were excited, right?”

That made Jung Yoon Ki shut up.

Currently, the hot potato in the meeting was the genre. There were no objections for doing a dance genre, but within the genre the opinions were split in two.

One opinion suggested doing a powerful electronic song that focused on sharp choreography a little more, like ‘Very Sorry’ or ‘Howl’.

The other wanted to focus on a pop dance with a popular melody that was simple and easy to sing along to, like ‘Blue Sky’.

“‘Blue Sky’ also had the best response so far,”

The team member added.

It was true that, statistically, ‘Blue Sky’ was the most popular song. In addition to album sales, it still remained in the top 100 on the music charts.

However, Team leader Shim Joon thought differently.

“But then it seems too easy. Don’t you think so?”

“Easy isn’t a bad thing. There’s an easy way, so why go through the trouble…”

A team member refuted what Team Leader Shim Joon said. It was not a matter of being right or wrong, but a difference of opinion, so they could freely share their opinions regardless of their rank.

The KK members looked like they were lost in thought. Honestly, it was even more of a problem because both opinions were good in their own way.

Kim Won, who had been thinking quietly, said,

“Umm…People can sing along to ‘Blue Sky’ even after hearing it only once, and I think a big reason there was a variety of positive reactions is because it’s a remake.”

Kim Won glanced at Do Wook, who was sitting across from him, and continued,

“We could make one if we tried, but rather than a remake, composing a song that will go viral faster is…”

It wasn’t a matter of having faith in Do Wook. The Assistant Manager of the Album Production Team, who had been listening quietly, said,

“KK has been building their Tfandom one step at a time, and secured their popularity. It’s hard to see ‘Blue Sky’’s success as just its own…”

Team leader Shim Joon jutted his chin as if urging them to continue.

“According to the data that the Fan Marketing Team analyzed at the last all-hands meeting, there was a big increase in KK’s Tfandom size once during ‘Very Sorry’ and again during ‘Howl’…also, it was continuously growing when the OK album and Do Wook’s solo album came out.”

“That’s true.”

“If you consider it as momentum building up and exploding during ‘Blue Sky’…”

When Team Leader Shim Joon looked at the Assistant Manager with a gaze asking, “So what’s your point?”, the Assistant Manager replied,

“There’s a variety of reasons behind KK’s musical success. But, as Yoon Ki said, a powerful performance might be better for increasing Tfandom.”

Once the Assistant Manager was done talking, Team Leader Shim Joon brought up a new topic.

“Now. Let’s consider the album target and goal. If the last album was focused on a slightly wider generation, our goal this time is the overseas market.”

The Album Production Team members’ eyes, as well as the KK members’, shone at the word ‘overseas market.’

It hadn’t been that long since KK successfully entered the Japanese market and completed their dome tour. Their conquest of the Chinese market was also successful.

They were very popular in other Asian countries where K-pop culture was already established.

By ‘overseas market’, Team Leader Shim Joon now meant not only Asia but the West as well.

When HIT Entertainment employees first joined the company, they did not expect to produce an album of singers that would top the domestic market, let alone enter the global market.

Just as KK grew step by step, so did the company and its employees. As such, they felt a lot of pride and were eager for this next album.

“What will work better in the overseas market…what are the global trends? You have to think about that, too.”

“The global trend is an Anglo-American trend, but it’s also a Korean trend, so you can’t not think about it,”

Kim Won added to what Team Leader Shim Joon said.

“Still, I think that if we were to try to catch up to Anglo-American pop, it’ll be watered down and flop. They’re the best at pop,”

Suk Ji Hoon, who had been thinking a lot in his own way, said. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement with what he said.

Do Wook, who was sitting and listening to everything being said, organized his thoughts and then started to speak.

“I think so too. As Ji Hoon said, they’re the best at it. Even if we target the overseas market, I think we have to do what we’re good at.”

This was an issue he and Team Leader Shim Joon had been mulling over together since the last album activities ended.

While they were mulling over it, they got an opportunity to work with international pop star LIL thanks to Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung’s idea.

While working with LIL, Do Wook discussed it with the staff and the members several times and was gradually figuring out the direction.

“What I’ve recently come to realize more clearly is that you have to have your unique style. And if that style works in foreign markets, even better.”

Everyone was paying attention to what Do Wook was saying.

“I also think it’s important to do what you are able to do ‘now’. ‘The thing you can do well now’. Because it’s ok if you don’t immediately do the things you can do later.”

Team Leader Shim Joon, who had been quietly thinking, said,

“If it’s KK’s style…”

KK had consistently used a hip hop-like style on electronic sounds and had given strong performances like group choreography.

That was what KK did better than anyone else.

No group in Korea had both excellent rappers and vocals like KK, and even globally, there were not many groups who could give a live performance as intense as KK.

It was a thorough conclusion.

“A performance that you can’t take your eyes off of and can’t help but perk up your ears to. We’ll get ahead through performances!”

Both the staff and members felt like the puzzle pieces were falling into place. Jung Yoon Ki immediately started to speak.

“It’d be good if it had a stronger feel than Howl…”

“And a tighter beat!”

Kim Won chimed in to what Jung Yoon Ki said. The Album Production Team employees also added,

“If the bass has a grand vibe, I think it’ll be a more impactful performance.”

“Really lean into the youthful energy KK is known for! I think we can go in that direction for the lyrics too.”

Stuttering, Park Tae Hyung, who had been quiet, also gave his opinion.

“Uh…the bridge…if it’s a song that we can incorporate acrobatics or group choreography into like we did before…”

Do Wook nodded his head as he made eye contact with Park Tae Hyung. They were definitely on the same page.

‘Ah…I hope the resulting song will be good. I can’t wait to perform on stage with the members!’

Do Wook clenched his fists tight in anticipation.

Team Leader Shim Joon grinned as he gave a thumbs up.

“Good, good. There’s a song Yoon Ki had originally brought to put on the OKAY album. I want to develop that more and add it to this album. I think it’ll go well with the title.”

“Really?”

Jung Yoon Ki asked, looking a little surprised. He didn’t expect that his song would be included in the KK album.

“Really.”

“Then, I’ll pick out suitable songs for the album B-track from the songs we received and upload them, sir,”

The team member who was assigned to vet through the external songs said.

< NOW >

That was the name of KK’s next album.

***

“So he scouted Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung to come back. And he lightly asked about Seo Jun.”

“Seo Jun…?”

Inside the dormitory. Manager Oh Baek Ho and Do Wook were sharing a private conversation at the table.

The KK members, who had returned after a long meeting, each picked a spot on the living room sofa or floor and were watching a rerun of a music broadcast that aired that evening.

While the members were at the meeting, Manager Oh Baek Ho had been talking with Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung.

“It looks like he offered an annual salary as well as a future promotion…Anyways, he says he didn’t waiver in his decision that he still has a lot of work he can do here. He said he felt that Seo Joong Won calling him wasn’t just about his ability as a team leader but was also targeting you or KK.”

Manager Oh Baek Ho continued, frowning,

“I asked if he was involved in anything. For now, he said he isn’t.”

Do Wook, who couldn’t know what Director Seo Joong Won was really thinking, was filled with thoughts.

“Maybe I should have a talk with Team Leader Lee Dae Hyung too…”

At that moment, they could hear the first place announcement from the television the members were watching.

“First place for the second week in a row is….! M2M! It’s M2M! Congratulations!”

The cheers of the M2M fans seemed to pour out of the television.

—

Next chapter: M2M was once KK’s greatest rival. Are they making their way back to the top?

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