Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Greatest Album in JOP History
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“[Perhaps Yuin's album this time will be the greatest in JOP history. No, definitely. It's the greatest album.]”
Nanase Datemura, who had visited the Korean branch, looked at the executives with the most serious face in the world.
All the executives nodded in agreement as they gazed at Nanase.
It had been over 40 years since Shunji Datemura founded JOP, and the company had become Japan's top mega-agency, with its music distribution arm ranking among the best in the country.
They had produced and distributed countless albums.
Some had gone global, and there were many masterpieces etched in Japanese history.
But even compared to those stellar albums, Yeonwoo's album had every chance of becoming the greatest in JOP's history.
The century's genius Yeonwoo had created it, with guest vocals from Olivia Snow, the Grammy Queen, and Hadass, who had evolved from monster rookie to an idol dominating Asia. Even rising star Lee Sieun from Korea had participated.
No, actually, none of that mattered—Olivia Snow alone was enough.
She, who never collaborated with anyone, never accepted songs or even producing credits, had answered the genius's call and sung his song under his production.
That alone guaranteed massive buzz.
The genius endorsed by the queen.
That title alone would shake up not just Korea and Japan, but the entire world.
However, Nanase Datemura personally thought this album would succeed even without Olivia Snow.
Because every track was outstanding.
No, not just good—they were exceptional.
All three tracks could easily serve as title songs, and while she couldn't predict the global Melboard charts, she was certain they could dominate Japan's Melboard and every other music chart, shattering records.
“[The album is already complete. Our job is to prepare perfect marketing to make it soar. In front of you are the album jacket and initial music video plans. Some of you may have read them already, others for the first time—please review them once more.]”
The executives read through the plans.
Among them was Jiyeong, representing SSHIN.
Whether because it was her nephew's debut album or due to her long experience as a producer in the industry, she examined the plans with a sharper eye than usual, rivaling that of a mother or her nephew.
Once Jiyeong and the others had finished reading, Nanase asked,
“[Any opinions?]”
At Nanase's question, Jiyeong quickly raised her hand and asked,
“[Who came up with this plan? Japan? Korea?]”
“[Since it's the initial stage, it was planned in Japan and brought over.]”
At those words, Jiyeong said,
“[It's too Japanese.]”
“[Pardon?]”
“[I mean it's overwhelmingly one-note. This music video and jacket won't work in Korea at all.]”
Nanase glanced at the plan.
“[Representative Shin Jiyeong has a point. It is too Japanese. If we proceed like this, Koreans—who consume less Japanese media—will inevitably feel alienated.]”
Shin Jiyeong had put it nicely, but Nanase knew exactly what she meant.
It was pointing out the exaggerated, cringeworthy staging typical of Japan.
The initial plan suggested using a photo of Yeonwoo placing his hands on piano keys, gazing at the ceiling as light illuminates him, for the jacket.
It was the epitome of classic Japanese style—honestly, the kind that made viewers cringe.
“[This is Yuin's debut album, no less. Why not entrust it to the best?]”
“[In that case, Representative Shin, do you know someone qualified to oversee the jacket, music video, and related planning?]”
“[I do, but it's beyond my ability to recruit them.]”
“[Who?]”
“[The person who oversaw NGS's albums.]”
“……!”
The greatest idol group in history, the legendary boy band that shook the world beyond Asia—NGS was unforgettable.
If it was the person who planned NGS's albums...
“[Wasn't the overall producer the president of Ventid, NGS's agency at the time?]”
“[That's the public story, but not true. Everything except the music—jackets, music videos, costumes—was planned by someone named Ange.]”
“Ange?”
“[A legendary figure who hid their identity, worked solely for NGS, and vanished.]”
“[How do we bring someone like that on board?]”
At that, Jiyeong smirked.
“[I know where they are and what they're doing right now.]”
“[Then Representative Shin can bring them?]”
“[Actually... they're my high school senior. They never listen to me. They won't even pretend to. It'd be tough for you too, Ms. Datemura. You'd need at least the chairman. They're a rock fanatic. They'd probably want to meet Shunji Datemura.]”
Nanase, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head and said,
“[Then... honestly, rather than Chairman Datemura, who has low recognition in Korea, maybe Invincible's Yoo Jaehyuk... ]”
Jiyeong said sternly,
“[That person's harder than Uncle Shunji.]”
“Ah.”
True, to the executives, he might be the Demon King, but to Jiyeong—with her solid backing from Heo Ok—he was probably just a kindly family friend.
In that light, industry senior Yoo Jaehyuk might indeed be tougher.
So JOP, planning to recruit Shunji Datemura to contact Ange, changed course when Yeonwoo heard and recruited Yoo Jaehyuk instead.
With Yoo Jaehyuk stepping up to meet Ange, Ange expressed willingness to work with JOP.
* * *
Ange was Korean but loved France.
Originally an art major, he went to France to study art, got obsessed with photography while learning it, then switched to film when he fell for movies—changing majors multiple times as a student while living as a true Parisian.
On one hand, he loved music; on the other, beautiful things.
He fell for the leader of NGS, the legendary group in Korean music history, and ended up planning albums with him.
While the beautiful young music genius handled the overall music for NGS, Ange created the jackets, music videos, and such for that youth and his bandmates.
Thus NGS became legend, and he gained enough money to live anonymously in Paris—the life everyone dreams of.
Work?
A Parisian doesn't work. (Ange's personal assertion.)
Why work when you have enough to live on forever?
With no family ties, he ignored Korea entirely and spent his days lounging in France.
One un-Parisian trait: he loved rock as much as France.
He loved it so much he'd visit rock's holy land, England, multiple times a year.
“...I can't resist Yoo Jaehyuk.”
Which was why he couldn't resist Yoo Jaehyuk.
The singer who ignited his passion as a child was none other than Yoo Jaehyuk.
It seemed like work, but he planned to pretend to listen and just see Yoo Jaehyuk before leaving.
He could endure the stench of the Paris subway but not Korea's polluted air.
Traitor... no, Parisian Ange boarded the flight to Korea.
‘Still... should I at least listen?’
He'd heard from JOP that it was for an 8-year-old's album.
An 8-year-old with an album? Unbelievable.
JOP entering Korea was surprising enough, but devoting full effort to an 8-year-old? Even more so.
A genius boy, they said.
“No way another genius emerges in one generation.”
To him, the only genius was NGS's leader.
No genius like him—or greater, considering age—could emerge from Korea's narrow land, he was certain.
Right, it might just be Japanese genius marketing.
If so, he'd sharply criticize them on the spot and leave.
To do that, he'd need to hear the child's songs.
‘Yuin, was it?’
Ange began listening to the child's songs one by one.
His face hardened immediately after hearing Kim Beomsin's two biggest hits, Going Home and Rhythmic, the child's signature tracks.
“Huh...”
Realizing the two songs were no joke, Ange examined them in order—from debut to the latest, Sun.
No genre limits, and as time passed, the child's musical depth shocked the art-loving Ange, raising goosebumps on his skin and hairs on end.
“To think another genius emerges in one generation...”
And one surpassing the greatest he knew.
How incredible must the songs be that this child made for his own album, not given away?
He couldn't even imagine.
How could a mere mortal predict genius?
The idler Parisian felt a rare spark of artistic passion.
But he couldn't commit easily.
He knew the child was amazing, but he'd decide after meeting.
With NGS's leader, the moment they met, it felt like meeting a soulmate—electric thrills and sparks flying.
That feeling was key.
Working with that leader, whom he felt it with, produced works irreplaceable in his life.
“Hmm...”
But he was skeptical.
Could he feel that with an 8-year-old kid?
It wasn't about talent.
“What does a snot-nosed brat know?”
* * *
“Hm?”
“What's wrong, Yeonwoo?”
“Hmm... nothing. Just a weird feeling.”
“Anyway, you heard me? We'll meet the album design planner soon.”
Yeonwoo nodded.
Truth be told, though his aunt, Nanase, and everyone emphasized how important the jacket, music video, and teaser were, it didn't click for Yeonwoo.
He had no personal experience, so he couldn't feel it.
Well, they said it sells more and makes money, so he'd play along.
“But with this album, we can't do promotions, right?”
At his aunt's words, Yeonwoo thought for a moment. The title track was Olivia Snow's song.
So external activities would need to be with Olivia Snow... Could Olivia Snow appear on Korean music shows?
Even Yeonwoo couldn't imagine sending the so-called Queen to a music broadcast.
Truthfully, he didn't even want to ask.
She wouldn't fit daytime idol-centered shows, and music shows had switched to no-audience pre-records after some incident years ago.
Even Olivia Snow, who listened to Yeonwoo, would feel repulsed.
“Well... unless it's a solo stage from Olivia Snow, it seems tough? Same for Hadass sisters... really?”
“Yeah? Then revenue drops.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You need to perform at lots of events for the songwriter to get paid.”
At that, Yeonwoo immediately backtracked.
“Then tell them to sing at as many events as they want.”
“......How are you so money-savvy, Yeonwoo?”
“Dunno, Aunt. I'm hungry. Let's get tteokbokki.”
“Okay.”
Yeonwoo and Jiyeong got up from their seats.