When I Opened My Eyes I Was a Superstar - Chapter 25
# 25
The Rising Sun (5) 〈End of Volume 1〉
#The Rising Sun (5)
***
Monday morning.
Team leader Lim Seong-an of the Rookie Development Team arrived at the office first today and opened the lid of the fortune cookie.
[Autumn is the season of harvest.]
Second week of March. It was very spring now. Cookies sometimes contained absurd phrases like this.
‘Well, I guess it will come to fruition anyway.’
With his own interpretation, Team Leader Lim decided to start the day in a good mood.
Above all, today was one week since KK’s album was released in offline stores. It was the time when the so-called ‘Initial Chodong’ album sales records for the week after release were being counted. This was a good indicator to see where KK’s starting line was.
Checking and analyzing this chart was also the official task related to the last KK of the rookie development team.
From now on, those in charge of KK within the album production team and fan marketing team will grow the group, and the rookie development team will focus on discovering and developing trainees as usual.
“what’s this?!”
Team Leader Lim frowned as he entered the Kukteo Chart website and clicked on the menu.
After the album was released, I occasionally looked at the daily charts and thought that the response was good, but I had no idea it would be this bad. Team leader Lim Seong-an checked the monitor several times and counted the numbers again.
‘40,000 copies after only one week of music broadcasting?’
It was impossible without securing a solid fan base that could be called a ‘fandom.’ Team leader Lim Seong-an’s thoughts were correct. KK has only been a week since his debut, but he already has a certain number of fans.
There were already many people who became fans of KK’s two members, Jung Yoon-ki and Kang Do-wook, through student rappers, and since there were no new idols who stood out other than Man to Man, the fact that wandering idol fans became interested in KK also played a big role.
When I opened the lid on KK, who was a highly anticipated rookie, it turned out to be better than expected and fans quickly became attached.
At that time, Ahn Young-mi, the youngest member of the rookie development team, entered the office and greeted team leader Lim.
“Youngmi, have you seen KK’s sales figures?!”
“Team leader, have you checked? As of Friday, there were about 20,000 copies…”
In a state where the music market is dead these days, even 20,000 was already a huge number. However, over the weekend, a total of 20,000 more copies were sold, 10,000 copies per day.
“40,000.”
“yes?”
Ahn Young-mi also couldn’t help but be surprised. The music ranking was ranked 2nd as of today.
“If this is enough…”
Ahn Young-mi opened her mouth in a cautious tone. Team Leader Lim immediately realized what Youngmi Ahn was trying to say.
“okay. “At this rate, first place is just around the corner.”
***
Before the members who received the initial tally could say anything in surprise, Oh Baek-ho announced a new fact.
“And there is one more news.”
“What is it?”
“What?! Wow, now when he says something, I’m not scared at all and I’m excited!”
Jeong Yoon-gi and Ahn Hyeong-seo came forward and asked.
The members were sitting around in an empty conference room, signing CDs that would be distributed during the radio recording scheduled for next week.
‘I knew it would turn out well, but it’s getting worse than I expected.’
Do-wook thought and waited for Oh Baek-ho to say something.
“You are the special MC for this week’s Life Song….”
“You already know that! “Don’t worry, I’m practicing with Dowook every night while watching old life song shows!”
Ahn Hyeong-seo shouted with excitement at the thought of being together. Oh Baek-ho burst into laughter.
“And the number one candidate!”
“yes?”
“That’s ridiculous….”
“What are you saying, Chief Oh?”
Everyone reacted with disbelief. When Seok Ji-hoon asked Oh Baek-ho again, Oh Baek-ho once again told him another happy truth. KK is the top candidate.
Currently, music broadcast programs are going through a turmoil.
At first, with the advent of music streaming sites, people no longer bought albums unless they were fans, and controversy arose that the meaning of the album ranking method was fading.
So, as a countermeasure, broadcasting companies reduced the percentage of album sales and included music in the ranking method, but they were still suspected of giving generous rankings to idols from large entertainment companies. Moreover, the viewership ratings are falling and reaching rock bottom.
Broadcasting companies, struggling to come up with a format that would win back viewers’ trust, ended up abolishing the ranking system.
‘It will be revived soon due to problems with the broadcasting company’s interests, but for now, Life Song is ranked among public broadcasting music broadcasts. ‘There is only one place!’
Dowook stopped moving his hand eagerly to sign and pondered his joy.
‘No. 1 candidate. ‘It’s already a huge achievement for a rookie to be nominated in almost two weeks.’
KK was growing up step by step, even faster than Do-wook’s wishes. Dowook held the pen he was holding tighter in his hand and strengthened his resolve to stand up and defeat Man-to-Man again.
***
On the day of the Life Song broadcast.
Do-wook and Ahn Hyeong-seo had to be twice as busy as other music broadcast schedules. Rehearsals had to be held in two stages, a stage rehearsal and an MC rehearsal, and costumes had to be changed continuously.
“It doesn’t feel like the first time for you two~! “Are you really good at it?”
“Oh really? thank you Mr. Lame.”
After completing all rehearsals, including the MC’s ending comment, Seolreim spoke to Do-wook and Ahn Hyeong-seo. In the still empty audience seats in front of the stage, Oh Baek-ho and Seolleim’s manager were each monitoring the screen. Additionally, the KK members also sat in the corner of the audience and watched the MC practice of two fellow members.
When Ahn Hyeong-seo twisted his body and answered, Seolreim covered his mouth with a cue card and laughed. It wasn’t a lie to say that he was good, but in fact, Ahn Hyeong-seo felt a little awkward, perhaps because he was nervous. The excitement’s praise was also intended to relieve Ahn Hyeong-seo’s tension.
Hyun Joo-hyuk, producer of Life Song, went up on stage and gave the final direction before the live broadcast.
“okay. Everyone is pretty good for their first time together! During the ending, the three of us had to be caught together on screen in the middle, so they were close together. When Lame stands right where the tape was placed, two people stand on either side. “Remember it clearly.”
“yes. All right.”
Kang Do-wook, who responded promptly and politely without hesitation, captured the heart of PD Hyun Joo-hyuk. He didn’t chew his words once and his pronunciation was very accurate, so I really wanted to use him as the next MC.
“Since they are candidates for first place, you can stand next to the MC here. okay?”
Hyun Producer shouted when he saw the KK members in the audience.
After the No. 1 candidate for Life Song was announced, the members borrowed the staff’s mobile phones and borrowed the names of their entire families to participate in the Life Song Internet vote. The members who were voting were startled and stood up to answer.
“yes!”
The loud answers of the KK members echoed throughout the studio.
“Oh, Chief. “Why did you discipline the kids like this?”
When Producer Hyeon asked in a humorous tone if he was in a good mood, Oh Baek-ho also jokingly replied that he had managed to discipline the kids.
KK went on air, still dumbfounded that they were the candidates for first place. Things were going so well that Dowook felt anxious.
The broadcast began with an opening statement expressing excitement about being with a special MC.
“yes~! Today, I will tell you the candidate song for first place. What song is it, Do-wook?”
“First of all, this is ‘Spring Rain’ by solo female singer Kye Na-ri, who is creating a spring breeze by taking first place for two weeks in a row!”
Unlike his usual voice, Do-wook spoke in a higher tone. Producer Hyeon, who was checking the broadcast with headphones, smiled with satisfaction at the cheerful tone of voice that was neither too loud nor too subdued.
Do-wook thought as he introduced Gyenari.
‘Gye Nari? Although Bombi was very popular, they did not release any other popular songs after that. Since the candidate for first place has changed, I don’t even know who will be first… But I think there was something related to Gye Nari…’ It was a
thought that came to me suddenly, and I couldn’t think about it deeply because it was during a live broadcast. Excitement continued the message.
“It’s a song that really warms my heart! And the #1 candidate song that fights against this is People Next to Me! This is super rookie KK!”
“Everyone, please look forward to today’s first place! “It’s the first stage!”
Hyungseo Ahn winked and responded with excitement. When he went live, he was actually showing off his talent.
Internet reactions asking who the winking kid was were quickly rising.
Once KK and Gyenari finished the stage safely, all singers’ performances ended. Although Ahn Hyeong-seo stuttered his words in the middle, today’s special MC was excellent without any major mistakes.
Now all that was left was to announce the first place candidate.
All the cast members were coming up to the stage to watch the first place candidate announcement.
Like a professional, Seolreim stood exactly where the tape had been marked during rehearsal. And Hyeong-seo Ahn and Do-wook stood on either side. The KK members stood next to Ahn Hyeong-seo, and Gye Na-ri stood next to Do-wook.
Dowook was waiting for next week’s preview VCR to end while looking at camera number 1 placed in the exact center.
‘Ah, that accident!’
Like a flash, an article I once read came to mind and then disappeared.
Due to KK’s advancement, the situation changed little by little, so there were some things that were not noticed. However, based on experience so far, the major trend will not change.
‘Accidents occur in the second week of March in Life Song! just now!’