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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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?