Festival Aftermath: Rave Reviews and the Docu-Tour Bombshell
After the live tour wrapped up at GGRF, the communities where festival posts typically popped up were in absolute chaos. Mostly all about Group Sound.
↳ You'll know once you see it
↳ Surprised it's not Sky Garden
↳ Sky Garden aside, Ilmodo Won was the highlight. Haven't seen a Korean solo that killer
↳ I thought I'd heard all their stuff—why don't I know this song?
↳ That's the physical album exclusive track lol. Echo Sound got some acquisition boost and their merch is killing it
The communities were conquered without a single dissenting voice—perfectly unanimous praise. Even people who hadn't gone started calling it "viral hype," only to get reverse-viraled and chased off as hipsters.
And the reason Group Sound got such rave reviews wasn't just the stage quality.
↳ Old man's post proves it was legit
↳ From today, I'm Group Sound's guardian squad—gonna catch every show
↳ Old man, they got an official fanclub too—join for presale perks lol
↳ For real? Signing up now
Testimonies like this from most attendees. Not just "here's our set, enjoy~ thanks" performances, but truly breathing with the audience. Real crowd engagement that got people moshing. With buzz like that, Group Sound's nationwide live tour announcement put the music communities on edge.
People started thinking, "Gotta buy tickets win or lose," and mulling, "Should I go premium?"
A single photo from Ayoon, the old fanclub president. A physical album with autographs from every Group Sound member, exclusive for premium members. Festival versions were all free on YouTube, but this signed limited edition was shipped only to premiums. With fan service proven airtight, no psychological barrier left for joining premium. Membership and dues started forming a key revenue pillar for Group Sound.
"But honestly though."
"Yeah?"
They now gathered at the office even without reason. Hyeona was off at school lectures, so just three of them. Iseo's voice pulled her from notebook woes and deep thought. Sounded full of gripe.
"Like, us too."
"What."
"Don't we kinda seem ready for music shows now?"
"Hm..."
That topic again. She tilted her head slightly.
Of course they did. Sky Garden and Becoming a Star had long rooted in the charts. Even Melon realtime—brutal with bots and streaming farms these days—was climbing steadily. Clear they were gaining mainstream traction.
"My friends are saying stuff. 'You're actually famous now, why no music shows?' Wanna brag but nothing to show, they're nagging. Not my fault."
"Come to think, my friends too."
School crew—Dain, Chaerin, Chaena trio. Neglected 'em for band focus lately; after "We helped you tons, now ghosting us?" tantrums, promised free tix whenever available to calm 'em. But those three griped too: why no music shows? Music Bank or whatever. Do they have to? But to kids, that seemed a success benchmark.
But...
"Other bands don't either. And if they do, it's lip-sync. Know why? Duh, you wouldn't."
"You say it so rudely. Why assume I wouldn't know?"
"Do ya?"
"Nah, no clue."
Iseo hooks in, Seoha smirks mockingly at the answer. But quiets a bit at Iseo's fist-clench. Law's far, fist is near.
'Feels like she's gotten even stronger...'"Music shows lack band setups, so rigging one costs bank. Heard it's like 100 million won per appearance."
"100 mil?? Bullshit, cut the crap."
"No crap, for real. That's why bands skip or lip-sync."
She watched, glanced at notebook, shut it from noise. Fight or chat? Used to be cordial; post-Japan, daily snarls.
"Whoa, check fanclub numbers. Exploded."
Topic shifted; Iseo glued to phone. She leaned to peek; Iseo shoved it over. Doubled since CD shipments, easy.
"Not making us sign again, right? Thought my hand'd shatter."
"Doubt it."
Recalled that signing marathon—two days? Hands ached for sure.
"But with numbers like this, soon fanclub fills Seoul shows alone? Normies just watch ticketing fail..."
"As if."
"Could happen!"
"Yo, 70k membership fee—who's joining en masse? Not all rich folks in Korea."
Clashing again; she mulled regional tour stages.
'Need venue-tailored staging, arrangements. Scout in person best, but possible?'Go's data: concert spots mapped. Halls, small venues, non-venues. Most unfit for full shows—some cafe-sized.
'Can we even gig there? Go's got plans, sure.'Outreach gigs minimize staff still scream deficit on travel. For nationwide fame? Overkill? Just for "first indie nationwide tour" title? "Nation's band" image?
'Go Kyung-min doesn't strike as gimmick guy.'She ruffled her hair, pondering. Must have deeper play.
"What we're attempting is unprecedented, really."
Go Kyung-min's words; she thought, Yeah, figures.
"You've seen the venue list—regionals are deficits outside major halls. Not huge losses, but which indie risks deficits for nationwide pull? Some think that; boss grilled me too."
Nods around. Go scanned room, passed out stacks. Unfamiliar logo—not company style. Outsourced obvious.
"Couldn't spill during negotiations, but now finalized, venues locked. So, introducing them here."
Go opened door. Unknown faces; all buzzed except Hyein, Yu-young. Her too—what's this?
"The production team handling our live tour documentary."
Go's line snapped her thought. She squinted—misheard? Iseo yelped "Huh?"
"This nationwide live tour? With them. Yes. We're documenting the entire Group Sound tour schedule. For terrestrial broadcast."