Eleven people have been charged for allegedly manipulating music charts for 15 songs.
According to reports on May 21, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office announced the indictment of former agency CEO Kim and 10 others for interfering with business operations using computer systems. Reports say 3 labels requested Kim's "marketing" services, and the former CEO himself also previously used the same services for his own label.
The manipulated tracks include Youngtak's "Why Are You Coming Out from There", Nature's "Oopsie (My Bad)", and KCM's "Between Love and Friendship". Kim and his team of 10, which also includes the former CEO of Youngtak's agency, are said to have used virtual PCs with multiple IP address and accounts to get around the anti-abuse systems of music sites in order to inflate the listening numbers of songs. A total of 15 songs were streamed over 1.72 million times through over 500 virtual PCs with 1,627 pieces of personal data that was illegally obtained.
Kim reportedly charged between 30 million won ($22,004.70 USD) and 160 million won ($117,358.42 USD) per song. If the chart manipulation did not raise the track high enough on music charts, he's said to have partially refunded the charge.
Following investigations, Youngtak was also found to have been unaware of the chart manipulation. All 11 individuals involved have been charged without detention, which means they won't see jail time.
Prosecutors have stated those charged will receive appropriate sentences as music chart manipulation has been a longtime issue in the industry.
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I feel sorry for the artists. I expect they didn't know what their agencies were doing and thought people really liked their song. To find out it was manipulated must be a blow.