Little Pink Starfish

“Then I suppose you won’t be able to appear on cable channel music shows either?”

Though he said cable channel, what the MBN CP really wanted to point out was M-Show.

It was a simple logic.

The terrestrial broadcasters had approached Sedalbaekil.

We think your album will do well too, so don’t just share the glory with M-Show.

A sort of tsundere.

With a cute boycott attached.

But Sedalbaekil’s attitude toward this was, ‘Ah, we’re too busy to do music shows.’

Why would Sedalbaekil take such a stance?

They couldn’t fight head-on with the terrestrial channels, but they didn’t want to yield any share of the album’s success either.

In other words, Sedalbaekil chose to defer the relationship.

By saying they’re too busy to appear on music shows.

Sedalbaekil would probably return to the negotiation table after the second album’s success.

It’s a common business strategy.

Dragging time in a tricky situation until a favorable moment.

That’s why SBI Entertainment’s highest-ranking director and Sedalbaekil’s leader Han Sion came together.

They came to add, ‘Don’t misunderstand, we’re really busy, that’s all.’

But from the CP’s position, if things ended like this, it would only make him look incompetent.

So he threw out the question.

Was M-Show also included in the schedule they were canceling?

Director Seo Seunghyun calmly answered the CP’s question.

“That’s not the case. Actually, we should cut that too schedule-wise… but as you know, there were quite a few commercials, right?”

Because of the TV commercials, it’s inevitable.

You know how much M-Show pushed us.

“We’re squeezing out time to appear on M-Show, but it will probably be limited to once or twice.”

Just enough to save M-Show’s face, but really, we’re busy.

Director Seo Seunghyun’s banter was likely a lie.

Even though he said that, they would probably fully fill the four weeks of domestic promotions.

By now, the CP’s brow furrowed.

He understood Director Seo Seunghyun’s intention, and knew that from their side, it was a natural thing to say.

But…

Isn’t this too lacking in alternatives?

The most useless thing in business is “I have this situation.”

The situation doesn’t matter.

What matters is creating a mutually satisfactory outcome.

In the end, what the CP had no choice but to say came out.

“Even if terrestrial music shows have low ratings… there are still fans who want to see Sedalbaekil on music shows. Please reconsider.”

A tone of sincere request.

But though the nuance was polite, the content was clearly a threat.

At this point, Director Seo Seunghyun also looked troubled.

He bit his lip and couldn’t open his mouth.

Seeing that expression, the CP became rather flustered.

‘What? Is this really the end?’

He thought this was where the real negotiation would begin.

But absurdly, SBI Entertainment seemed to have no next plan.

Director Seo Seunghyun wasn’t a famous figure in the industry, but he wasn’t someone who didn’t know the rules either.

He would know better than anyone that this isn’t where the conversation should end.

What resolved the CP’s doubt was Han Sion.

At first, Han Sion maintained a calm expression, but as Director Seo Seunghyun and the CP continued talking, dissatisfaction filled his face.

And then, he dropped a bomb.

“No, Director.”

“Sion, what you mean is…”

“No. I have to say it.”

“This isn’t something to bring up here.”

“If we want to adjust schedules, we can. We can sleep less. That’s not the real reason we can’t go on music shows, is it?”

The CP’s face showed disbelief.

‘What kind of nonsense is that?’

With this, everything Director Seo Seunghyun said so far was proven to be a lie.

And it was Han Sion himself who proved it.

‘Strange? Han Sion seemed pretty smart though?’

That was what people in the broadcasting industry who had worked with Han Sion said.

The broadcasting field is full of highly educated people.

It’s rare for them to call an idol who barely graduated high school smart.

They might say polite, hardworking, doing their best, and so on.

But through the continued conversation, the CP understood the situation.

“We need to show him. To Choi Daeho.”

At Han Sion’s age, there are moments when emotions precede reason, and this was such a moment.

Everyone in the industry, even assistant directors, knew that Sedalbaekil had been pressured by CEO Choi Daeho and Ryan Entertainment.

And everyone knew that Sedalbaekil overcame it.

But overcoming and revenge are different.

Overcoming is enduring, revenge is paying back.

Han Sion wanted revenge on Choi Daeho.

But something was odd.

As far as the CP knew, Take Scene had no scheduled activities.

Because of the history with Sedalbaekil, they were focusing on overseas schedules to avoid direct conflict.

Staying in Korea would only lead to endless comparisons and mockery as Sedalbaekil was doing so well.

So they started activities in Japan, though many viewed it as a reluctant decision.

It didn’t feel like they were fully prepared but rather rushing into it.

Then what was it that Han Sion wanted to show Choi Daeho?

At that moment, Han Sion turned to the CP and spoke.

“CEO Choi Daeho said this. No matter how hard we work on music, if it’s outside the company system, what value does it have? It’s all crumbs.”

He’s not wrong.

Before Sedalbaekil’s appearance.

“So I want to show him.”

“Are you talking about Mix Way?”

Ryan Entertainment’s 4th-year boy group, who were promoting at the same time as Sedalbaekil.

The group’s overall weight was somewhat lighter, but its members were quite popular.

Because their individual activities were so successful, team activities took a back seat.

So their full-group comeback generated a lot of buzz.

If they hadn’t run into Sedalbaekil, they might have had a huge hit.

Two of Mix Way’s members were lead actors in dramas surpassing 8% ratings.

“Yes. Mix Way.”

“If you want to show him, wouldn’t it be enough to compete and win first place on music shows?”

“No. I want to go against the company system.”

Han Sion’s eyes sparkled.

“If no Ryan Entertainment artists appear during our promotion period, we will appear on music shows.”

“Hah. Mr. Han Sion, you do realize how unreasonable and impossible that request is, don’t you?”

“I do.”

“You do?”

“Yes. And I’m saying it anyway. So CEO Choi Daeho hears it. This isn’t something to say only here, right?”

This was nonsense.

No matter how well Sedalbaekil was doing, no station would boycott Ryan Entertainment for such a reason.

And Ryan Entertainment wouldn’t shift their schedules either.

That would be a blow to their pride.

This isn’t something a person with any understanding of the industry would say…

‘Wait a second.’

The CP paused.

He stared at Director Seo Seunghyun, who looked troubled, and Han Sion, who looked cold.

They were both skilled at controlling their expressions, but this was acting.

“Let’s try to find a point of agreement. Please be honest with me.”

“I’m being honest.”

“You’re saying you’ll appear if we boycott Ryan Entertainment? Then you’ll appear on M-Show?”

“Yes. We will.”

“You will?”

“Yes. Because we already agreed to.”

“…That’s not a lie that will be exposed soon, right?”

“No. You can check.”

The CP sighed.

Their cards were already revealed.

Sedalbaekil was lying, and the network knew it.

But there was nothing they could do.

“Let’s try to find a compromise again.”

There was no choice but to end the meeting.

As Director Seo Seunghyun and Han Sion left after saying goodbye, the main PD of the music show rushed in.

From the music show PD’s perspective, he needed to know how the negotiations went.

There were an overwhelming number of inquiries from Sedalbaekil’s fandom.

About whether the schedule had been fixed, and why Sedalbaekil’s name wasn’t on the pre-announced lineup.

“How did it go, senior?”

“They’re incredibly smart…”

“Sorry?”

The CP sighed and spoke.

“So, they’re asking us not to schedule any Ryan Entertainment artists during their promotion period?”

“Yes.”

“Are they crazy? How can they be so brazen and say such ridiculous things?”

“Do you think they don’t know? Would they say that without knowing?”

“You mean they know?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“They’re changing the main issue.”

Before this meeting, the tug-of-war between Sedalbaekil and the broadcasters was centered around the second album <Stage>.

It was obvious <STAGE> would succeed, but there was too much of M-Show’s stake in it.

The terrestrial networks didn’t want to help promote M-Show’s success.

So they proposed adding their names next to Sedalbaekil’s honor.

By rejecting music show appearances.

But Sedalbaekil reframed it as ‘revenge.’

We can’t share the stage with Ryan Entertainment under the same sky. Boycott Ryan Entertainment, and we’ll appear.

“Ah…”

“Don’t you get it? The subject of the music show refusal has changed.”

“Ah!”

Before, it was the networks refusing Sedalbaekil’s appearances.

Now, it’s Sedalbaekil refusing the networks.

“But does that even matter?”

“Let’s say Sedalbaekil sells 2 million copies of their second album. But they don’t appear on terrestrial music shows. The public floods with inquiries. The matter goes up to the board.”

“Of course.”

“Then how will you report it?”

Originally, the report would’ve said the album is too connected with M-Show.

But now, Sedalbaekil had taken a new stance.

They can’t share the sky with Ryan Entertainment.

“But they’re lying.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Well, the situation is…”

“Oh, so you’ll tell the board: ‘I have no evidence, but I think Sedalbaekil is leveraging Ryan Entertainment to gain an advantage.’ Like that?”

“Uh…”

“And don’t you think this might become reality? What will Ryan Entertainment do when they hear this?”

“They’ll do everything to get Mix Way on music shows.”

“And Sedalbaekil?”

“They’ll do everything to avoid appearing.”

“Right. If this continues, lies turn into truth.”

“…!”

“Sedalbaekil will insist on that stance to the end, never admitting they lied. Maybe…”

The CP casually threw out what had been circling in his head.

“Maybe even revenge on Ryan Entertainment itself was part of the plan.”

The PD still didn’t seem to fully grasp the situation, but the CP felt uneasy.

The boycott of Sedalbaekil didn’t start with him.

It came from above.

The question was lightly raised: Should we be pushing an album soaked in M-Show’s stake for free?

But now, with things unfolding like this, the responsibility falls on the CP.

The network couldn’t resolve the agency conflict, and things blew up like this.

He snapped to attention.

If Sedalbaekil appeared on SBN’s music show where the directors of <Stage Number Zero> had taken over the mainstream?

MBN and KBN’s situation would become even more difficult.

‘This might really…’

He might really have to start lining people up between Sedalbaekil and Ryan Entertainment.