A Real Live Performance
"Are you talking about a music show?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I believe I've told you before. Unless it's completely live with no hand-syncing, we have no intention of appearing."
This was an offer she had heard several times from the company, and she had consistently rejected it under the exact same conditions. Thinking Team Leader Ko had forgotten, Suyun's voice grew cold. But the response was different from what she expected.
"Yes, I remember. But the offer that came in this time isn't hand-syncing... they offered a live band performance."
"...What?"
Suyun doubted her ears for a moment. A live band performance was offered? That meant instead of them pitching to the station, the station was begging them to appear.
"The broadcasting station reached out to us first. They asked if we'd perform if they let us play live."
"Why, why, why? What is it?"
"What... is going on?"
"Did something happen?"
"Ah, Team Leader Ko, please hold on a second."
Seeing her on such a serious call, the members next to her chimed in, asking what was going on. Suyun covered the microphone for a moment and spoke.
"We got an offer for a music show."
"Really?"
"Not hand-syncing?"
"Nope. We'll have to go to the office to hear the details. Let's head back first."
The trio nodded vigorously. To get back as quickly as possible, they returned their cups, threw away their trash, packed their bags...
"Ex... Excuse me! Over there! Um... aren't you Group Sound?"
Just as they were moving in perfect unison, a few people blocked their path.
"Yes, we are."
As soon as she answered, people began to swarm around them, asking to take photos or get autographs. Before they knew it, more than half of the people sitting in the cafe had stood up and were crowding toward them.
"We've definitely gotten more popular, haven't we?"
"Seems so."
"Writer Jung, are those kids actually any good?"
"Yes, they're quite good."
"Ugh, kids who act all high and mighty just because they're in a band really..."
The PD grumbled. Behind his back, Writer Jung silently mouthed, Fucking asshole.
Why was he acting like this again? It wasn't like the PD had lifted a single finger to help with this. Ever since he had been dragged in by the Variety Bureau Chief the other day and chewed out, the PD had been constantly taking his anger out on him.
"I don't get what the Bureau Chief is thinking, trying to mess with something that's already working fine. This is why people brought in from the outside are a problem."
"I'm sure he has his reasons."
"Everyone has reasons! But pushing for something that won't work, does that make it work? And setting up all the equipment for free..."
"Still, maybe there's something to it..."
"What is there, what!"
Writer Jung shut his mouth at the PD's shout. What did he want him to do? He wasn't the Bureau Chief, nor was he the one who recommended Group Sound. He had no idea why he had to stand here and take this yelling. Of course, this wasn't a one- or two-day occurrence.
"Anyway, did they say they'd do it?"
"I spoke with them on the phone."
"Did you mention the live setup?"
"Yes. And the Bureau Chief said he'd speak with them directly."
"Sigh, fucking hell. Do they think a music show is some kind of joke? Using it however they please. They treat us like shit just because our ratings are low."
With that, the PD vanished toward the smoking area, muttering that he was going to have a cigarette. Writer Jung watched his retreating figure, subtly raised his middle finger, and walked up to the office, thinking.
But that old man has a point.
The Variety Bureau Chief had changed recently.
The music show Music Life had a name, but due to ratings and advertising issues, it was mostly used to give rookie idols some exposure. It had long been relegated to the sidelines of the Variety Department. The Music Life team had only gone to greet the new boss as a formality, thinking they should show their faces.
But the words they heard there were far from light.
"PD Park. You know..."
"Yes, sir. Please go ahead."
"I've been listening to the music that's popular with kids these days, and I can't help but think Korean music has become incredibly formulaic."
"Pardon?"
"What do you mean, 'pardon'? Just listen."
The Variety Bureau Chief's opening remarks were long-winded but incredibly familiar.
The Korean music market is dominated by idols, which has killed diversity. Turn on the TV or open YouTube, and it's nothing but idols. Every song sounds the same, so how is this a healthy market?
"...Anyway, that's why. I watched a variety show on another network recently. Writer Jung, did you see it?"
"Which one do you mean...?"
"You know, 'Me and My Guitar'."
"Ah... I haven't watched it, but I've heard of it."
"It's good. I heard the ratings are quite high?"
"Yes, around 5 or 6 percent, apparently."
Me and My Guitar.
A survival show featuring only guitarists, which other networks had predicted would flop. Despite being a relatively mild survival show with no eliminations—only rankings—the reason Me and My Guitar was sailing smoothly was...
The dramatic narrative of the mentor-mentee relationships.
The recent trend favoring bands and guitar music.
And Ha Suyun.
At least, that was what Writer Jung thought.
A pretty face. Insane guitar skills. A character who spat sharp criticisms when it came to guitars and music, but was completely clueless in other areas.
It was a personality that was impossible not to be popular. He had heard that she received offers from many other variety shows, but had rejected most of them.
"Exactly. Look at a program like that. How wholesome is it? Look at variety shows these days. They're all filled with idols doing electronic music or whatever..."
The Bureau Chief began his grand lecture again. Idols this, idols that, real music is played with real instruments, securing genre diversity is what our station should do, and so on.
By the time Writer Jung's straight posture began to slouch into a lazy stance, the new Bureau Chief finally got to the point.
"So, PD Park."
"Yes."
"That band, Group Sound. Can't you get them on your show?"
"Uh... we can send an offer, but they're famous for refusing to appear on music shows."
Usually, an appearance on a music show starts with an agency pitching to the station. After a meeting with the PD, the decision is made. Since the PD holds absolute power during this process... unless it's a massive group that has become the "alpha," no one wants to get on the station's bad side.
But Group Sound was different. While Writer Jung didn't know the details of other music shows, he heard that during a FaceTime call where the atmosphere was positive...
One of the band members kicked the offer away, saying, "We won't do it if it's hand-syncing."
Naturally, the station was furious, but there was nothing they could do if the band refused to appear. After one or two similar incidents, Group Sound inevitably became famous in the music show industry.
"Why won't they appear?"
"Well, they said they won't do it if they can't play live. That's what they told the other station."
"Then just let them play live."
"Pardon?"
"Just let them. Is it that hard?"
"No... there are time constraints, equipment issues, budget issues..."
"If you worry about all that, you can't cast anyone. Tell them we'll meet their demands."
"But Director, our budget..."
Ignoring PD Park's pleas, the new Bureau Chief simply delivered his demands and told them to leave.
The result of that was the sight of PD Park taking his unvented anger out on others just moments ago.
"Writer Jung! Group Sound just called, they said they'll accept!"
"Oh, look at the royalty. Getting special treatment and a direct offer for a music show that everyone else is dying to get on..."
At the youngest writer's news, Writer Jung couldn't help but sneer.
But what could he do? That was all he could do. There was no stopping a train that had already started speeding down the tracks.
"Hurry! Three minutes left!"
After the music show appearance was confirmed, Suyun thought it was a good opportunity and pushed the girls hard. The girls, who had been practicing while half-screaming, now had completely dead eyes.
To comfort them, Suyun decided to try a fun (or so she thought) exercise. It was also a highly necessary practice.
And that led to the current situation.
"Wait, this is a bit..."
"Two minutes and thirty seconds!"
"Ah, damn it, why isn't it dialing in... Cut the treble just a bit."
"How much is 'a bit'?"
"Just... use your intuition! Hurry!"
"Two minutes!"
Iseor, who was wearing her bass, didn't like how Seoha was turning the knobs, so she quickly walked over and adjusted them minutely herself. Then she stepped back and plucked the strings.
But the tone still wasn't right.
"Time's up! Iseor is buying coffee today."
"No!!!! Why!!!!"
Iseor hung her bass on the stand and protested, shaking Suyun's shoulders violently.
"Seoha-onni was late too!!"
"Seoha was almost at her usual tone. But yours was completely off."
"Hey, there's such a thing as experience. Can you really overcome that so easily? As expected of root-note shuttles..."
As soon as she said that, Seoha dodged a flying fist and ran away. Iseor chased after her.
Left alone, Hyun-ah spoke up.
"I didn't think... we'd ever perform on a music show."
"Me neither, but since they offered, and they're handling the setup themselves..."
Suyun was also curious about that. They must want something. What could it be?
Well, whatever it was... Group Sound and Label Echo Sound didn't owe the station any loyalty, so if they made unreasonable demands, they could just refuse.
"It was... an early morning shoot, right?"
"Yeah. They're taking applications from premium members first. But honestly, I wonder if anyone will actually show up to watch."
Suyun wondered if anyone would really come to watch a live performance at 2 or 3 AM. No matter how much they liked live music, people still needed to sleep and live their lives.
"Actually, there will be... a lot."
"A lot?"
"For idols, the competition is... really fierce..."
"Standing in line at dawn to watch a broadcast voluntarily for no reward, and they even compete for it? There are really some incredibly free people in this world... wait, they're our fans, so maybe I shouldn't say that."
Suyun thought about it. Come to think of it, those fans were all young kids (though Suyun often forgot that she was young too). They came all this way to support them voluntarily, so wasn't there something they could do for them?
"Actually, I... thought of something... for the pre-recording, for the fans..."
"What is it?"
Dawn at the broadcasting station.
Finally, the day is here!
Ayun clutched her pounding heart and walked toward a cafe near the broadcasting station.
Across the street and near other buildings, she could see fans waiting for other pre-recordings. In front of the cafe, a familiar face caught her eye.
Was her name Manager Jung Yuyoung?
"We will begin identity verification now~! Please have your ID, premium membership card, and pre-recording application number ready~!"
"Excuse me, what number are you?"
"Ah, I'm number 40."
"Thank you..."
While verification proceeded from number 1, a few people ran up to join the line. Meanwhile, the identity checks were conducted thoroughly. Someone in front of her seemed to have an issue; after a brief discussion, they were turned away from the line.
"President! You came today."
"Haha, I'm not the president anymore."
"Once a president, always a president."
When it was her turn, Manager Jung Yuyoung recognized her and greeted her. It was a conversation that filled her with a sense of pride.
After the identities were verified one by one, Manager Jung Yuyoung spoke.
"Verification is complete! As discussed, please gather in front of the hall when it's time. See you then!"
During the brief wait, Ayun ate and chatted with some acquaintances who were also attending the pre-recording.
"Aren't these promotions seriously amazing?"
"Right? I heard album sales are a bit low, but the charts are absolutely insane."
"Why didn't the album sell as well?"
"Well, unlike the first EP, they didn't include any merchandise or freebies. It was just the album itself..."
They talked about the promotions.
"I used to only stan idols, but our girls are so pretty that I naturally switched over. Honestly, I've never seen any other group treat their fans as well as they do."
They shared stories of their pasts and talked about the songs.
They waited for the time to come.
Like college students waiting to register for classes.
No, like elementary schoolers unable to sleep the night before a spring picnic.
Group Sound's first music show stage was drawing near.