Asian Junkie Asian pop. Without discretion.
Block B has filed a lawsuit against their agency, Stardom Entertainment, accusing them of not living up to their end of the deal and stealing money, among other things. As such, they have requested a nullification of their exclusive contract.
According to the media outlets that reported this, the Block B members have filed against Stardom at the Seoul Central District Court, stating, “During the signing of the exclusive contract, it was promised that in addition to providing proper training opportunity and facilities, we would be paid on every 25th of the following month… However, the agency has not paid us for nearly one year since April of 2011.” (it’s not clear whether it is 2011 or 2012 since the quote in the article states that it is nearly a year, but April of 2011 would be well over a year).
“It started last year in March when one member’s contract was ended and his portion of the pay was calculated… Appearance fees from events as well as pay from SBS drama ‘Phantom’s OST, MBC drama ‘Golden Time’ OST, and funds collected from the inaguration of our Japanese fan site’s fan club, and more for a total of 10 things, have been omitted.”
They also added, “The CEO of the agency, Mr. Lee, has also disappeared with the 70,000,000 KRW (~66,000 USD) that he collected from the members’ parents to use for promotion and production costs… He never listened to the members’ opinions or thoughts on their activities and directed only in his way.”
Uh … wow? I dunno what else to say, as I didn’t expect this at all.
I will say that this is only the start of the saga, obviously, as the company has yet to respond, and more is surely set to unfold as stuff comes to light.
Surprisingly, netizens seem to be siding with Block B, so I guess their anger towards companies screwing over artists overtakes making snide comments about past controversies or whatever.
2013, the year of scandals? I dunno, but I don’t think there’s been a three-day stretch that’s been more of a clusterfuck in K-pop that I can remember, so it’s certainly off to a “good” start in that regard.
Is 2:33am and I’m going to sleep, when I wake up you better have some good news for me IATFB
I’m fucking drunk 200 ml of vodka already and has more to pour in my poor stomach, I HATE YOU KPOP for doing that to me.
Block B was (is) one of the few legit things in kpop I still care about, why that shit is happening.
I’m fucking mad and a bit drunk right now, my head hurts like hell, what an awful fucking day
Well damn. .___.
On the bright side, they filed the injunction as a group, so they don’t have any ideas of disbanding. Worse comes to worst, they’ll have to give up their name as “Block B” if they go to another company.
YES
exactly what I was about to say, They filed the suit as one that (should) mean that there are no thought of disbanding or inner disputes amongst the members.
Have there been people talking about disbandment already? I mean, aside from the disbandment/suicide petitions a while back.
I don’t think so…but that’s what fans always fear in situations like this.
The company starts turning the members against each other and voila we’ll have another TVXQ and JYJ.
So much crap and it’s only day 3, damn.
But yeah…I can say that I actually did foresee this…well maybe not the lawsuit but some type of other situation that would pit Block B against Stardom. Ever since it split from Brand New Music, changed its name, and moved its building elsewhere, Stardom has been acting really weird. When Miss $’s Yoomi left Stardom for BNM, and Stardom started throwing a tantrum about how BNM “steals” their artists and filing injunctions over breach of contract (even though all the rest of the Miss $ members were already at BNM .__.), all in a month before Block B’s comeback, I thought something was definitely wrong. It didn’t sound like Cho PD at all. I have a very strong suspicion that since Cho PD is not even the CEO anymore, that he has no control over his own company. He probably gave power to some shareholders and now ish is getting out of control.
Welp, looking forward to what Stardom’s going to say about it all. I think they’ll cave. Without Block B, Stardom has NOTHING.
Yeah, that Stardom/BNM lawsuit was very suspicious for me too. Guess Cho PD just chose wrong guys to run Stardom
Solid point. I forgot about them bitching.
Maybe Block B wants to move as well?
That’s a very high possibility as well. I don’t see them going to BNM (since they’re more indie and not idol-focused…but hey that could change, right?) but they have tons of friends there that they’re cool with so I guess it’s not a complete impossibility.
It might not even come down to them leaving. Stardom will want Block B to stay (’cause who are they gonna make money off of? Evol?? xD) and will probably come to some sort of compromise to placate the parents, much like DSP did with KARA.
My only gripe is that we’ll probably have to wait over six months for their next album to come out. :( I feel like I’ve done a lot more waiting as a BBC than actually listening to them and enjoying their promotions.
Sorry but I think they will probably disband.
The only way they’ll disband at this point is if they end up getting their contracts annulled by the courts but fail to find a company to pick them up as a group.
I’m not too worried about THAT right now since it negotiations are probably underway and if they’re successful, Block B will drop the lawsuit.
Been stanning these kids since before they debuted. Remember scouring korean sites with my nonexistent korean trying to find pics,posts and what not. Being on allkpop and reading asshurt VIPs curse them cause of Cho’s GD diss and loving every minute of it. Now this happens.These kids are the only reason im still in the fandom.
This sucks monkey balls. Hayi fuck man!
Cho PD’s diss was kinda dumb though. Can’t see anything wrong with dissing GD, but creating an idol group after it, and kinda praising GD right before their debut… And that atrocious Zico hairstyle… I can’t say it was completley Cho PD’s fault, but they made Zico look like GD wannabe, so Block B got shitload of hate when they just debuted
stanning a group before they debut is completly stupid. I can’t understand this.
Stan after you see their work not before.
well the rappers did have some work put out b4 debut, and Taeil was in some underground ballad group, so even if its not the entire group, there was still material out there pre-debut
yes, you can stan zico or whatever is their name but block b before debut ? it’s stupid. But I have see many BBC like this and also this in others fandom. It’s just stupid. I can’t.
fuckfuckfuck
I just really hope they don’t disband. Taking some solace in the fact that they filed the lawsuit together.
I saw some commenters on akp saying if they moved to another company they should go to YG. UGH fucking no.
@milpool Yeah those guys are freakin nuts
honestly expected some shady shit to be going on. you always here about how under compensated idols are. they live in ridiculously shitty dorms. where the fuck else should the money go if not into their comfort, unless it isn’t really there? there are sooo many signs, really. the undercompensation of idols and music producers is the reason i’ve stopped consuming kpop.
This. The idols doing a lot of the work are treated like disposable products with a short shelf life. Their input carries no weight and their life is controlled by the company. Makes it hard to enjoy the final product, when you know about its “sweat shop” origin.
I’m willing to bet that that Block B’s money went to that fancy new Stardom building that they moved to.
I visited the Stardom agency recently – they still haven’t moved from their rabbit hole of a basement and they look poor as fuck. Poses doubt as to how long both sides can afford to keep this fight up.
Still surprises me how they can put out decent stuff in those conditions for one year…Almost no management team, paying for stylists, mv sets, promotions, studio rentals, dorm rentals and costumes, getting their money stolen and they’ve still got to compose, produce, write lyrics, come up with choreography etc, all with little to no pay lol
I wonder what will happen if they go out of business (which doesn’t sound unlikely at this point).
Would the contract be nullified? Or would that still survive somehow – sold to another agency (like a sports contract)?
Probably sold – like what CCM did with Co.Ed and their subunits, they were technically sold/penned as a gift for GM.
I wonder what’s taking them so long to move then. Sounded like they had an address set and everything and that the boys were already using the facilities.
Then again, it IS Stardom. They’ve been really inconsistent with doing what they say they’re gonna do on time. Supposedly, Evol should’ve had a comeback in November after the boys but obviously that didn’t work.
They truly deserve the nickname “Stardumb”
So this has nothing to do with this article but I was on AKP the other day when someone asked “Aren’t u one of those IATFB bitches?” …I never thought I came on here enough to be one of ur bitches but y’all, I was so honored!
Feel like setting up a tumblr now called IATFB’s Bitches….dedicated to the women who comment here. There would be an entire shrine dedicated to No_Min.
+1
NO_MINIONS SHALL GATHER AND WORSHIP EVERY NIGHT
I LOVE YOU
I love you and all the other bitches on here.
What a beautiful, wicked, perverted, disturbing friendship of love, rape, buttholes and stupid comments this is.
DO IT SEXY!
This is a nightmare… Please someone tell me it’s not true =(
I need to go to my happy place… off to watch porn.
LOL
Sorry didn’t mean to reply to your posts, weird why am I here?
Anyways, continue your orgy bitches.
ROFL
Man you’re just pimpin it, ain’t you!? Don’t give us the backhand, Oppa Daddy!!!!!!
This was probably one of his plans. Getting all the pussy on here in case the girls on here are cute. (That’s what I would do for sure).
He just play hard to get, ignoring our sexual molestation and shit. But we will get IATFB one day.
lol here you are
Hahahahahahahaha they’d better believe it :) international bitches.
Also why do fangirls/fanboys come here? if there was a blog that insults the people I love, I would never go there :s So why the hell do they come here and read our shit? and they don’t even try to defend, fight or anything.
Cause they would go dooooown.
Would be entertaining sometimes, though. But by now we know that IATFB gets threats from those bitches.
One of those days we’ll eat our breakfeast out of their scalps after we’re done with them.
hahahaa wow. Gosh I look up to u & ur comments. They are uhhhh-mazing!
This is almost as beautiful as reading a love poem from Hannibal Lecter. I am happy for you!
SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!! it was me who asked, since when being a IATFB bitch is an insult?? Janee I recognized you right away coz I memorized your lovely face
Ahhh thanks! I was very caught off guard when u asked lol
You were like a lighthouse between all those stupid fangirls on allcrapop
hehe I do what I can
Stealing from their parents…how low can you get? Honestly, these scandals coming one after the other seems like K-pop is starting to collapse on itself. The lack of regulation and oversight from the government over these companies has lead to an intense and emotionally, sometimes physically, damaging environment for the idols (Brand New Stardom, CCM, Open World Entertainment); and the lack of regulation over the monopoly these companies have developed led to them shoving themselves in the faces of everyone, and destroying their own businesses in the end, and led to parents like these being taken advantage of.
loving everything about this comment
THIS
the others scandals wasn’t about kpop but actors and actress.
weren’t*
why there is no “edit” here?
So people can’t take back the crap they wrote and have to be embarassed for life.
DING
Oops!
I feel embarassed for life, thank you.
Sounds like E.via/has had a similar experience.
http://www.allkpop.com/2013/01/e-via-explains-why-she-changed-her-stage-name-to-tymee-experienced-similar-situation-as-block-b
Making videos like this and then not getting paid. That’s just freakin’ charming that is.
http://youtu.be/yyROBgl7wlA
i really think i will love kpop in 2013. we are barely 72 hours into the new year and there is already a shitload of scandals. Bring it on, i got my popcorn ready.
And Block B. Man, these fucking kids just can’t seem to get their names outta headlines, even at no fault of their own. tsk tsk.
It won’t be a perfect year until a Taemin sex tape leaks.
i don’t think i wanna see a taemin sex tape… all that pale skinny skin…it’s gonna be borderline kiddie porn, no? >.<
No. Because he’s not a kid anymore. :>
Which I am very, very happy about. You can’t even imagine.
Then i am very very happy for you too. Lord knows i’m already pedo’ing like crazy over BTOB’s ilhoon. can’t wait for that kid to reach conSENSUAL age :D
2013 is looking quite beautiful to me. i enjoy “scandals” like this coming to light. i hate when people try to paint the entertainment business like its all sugar and rainbows. I’m glad they’re taking legal action (though who knows how effective it will be). Best of luck for them, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they don’t get black balled.
Stardom Entertainment would probably fold without Block B, much less get them blacklisted.
lol Stardom can’t even get Block B on all the music shows and they get constantly ished on by others (lol AKP). Obviously people in the industry don’t see them as a threat to…anything, for that matter.
Usually, I enjoy every bit of shit that’s coming out of kpop world, but this is just not fun at all. Block B is the only “idol” group I listen to on a regular basis and if they fall apart, or Stardom decides to fuck them up, I will be genuinely sad. Keeping my fingers crossed for them.
Yerp
lol, it’s not fun anymore when it’s your favs. Now you know what the others feel …hum
Fucking hell, I didn’t expect this fuckery at all…damn well ruined my freaking day. Block B are the first Kpop group I actually BOUGHT music from, (limited fucking edition as well) and I love their music a damn lot. This crap better turn around.
4 days into the year and it’s already a Kpop clusterfuck (I Got A Boy…what the..)
I never buy Kpop music but with block b I bought nearly everything .
You probably paid the prostitutes and a nice vacation overseas for that Lee guy.
LIKE A SOOOOOOMEBOOOODIE
that’s all.
kafkaf replied to my comment……. *fangirls*
so … will they disband and will zico go solo and bbc stans will hate him because he betrays them or something like that ?
Highly possible.
I just hope Zico won’t end up sucking GD’s cock in the end.
Why is it that when I read your comment I thought you said you hope Zico WOULD..?
I’m surprised more at the fact that this sounds OOC
Because that’s what you wanted to read. :o
Getting all psychological up in here :O
being serious, it would be sad for his bandmates. Do the others have some potentials to go solo too or zico is the only one who matters here ?
…So this must mean I shall read the comments on AKP and except fans to act just the same as JYJ fans and see the most extremist, craziest crap they gotta say. Yeah, I only care because of the controversy lol. Actually, that’s why I’m on this site anyway! I don’t even like Kpop.
Like a freaking soooomeboodie
Why can’t it be 2PM
DX
or…
Why can’t it be SuperJunior
Because Heechul needs his servants as soon as he comes back. He looks even more glorious standing next to them.
And because ELF. Fuck ‘em.
Only if they debut in some porn.
Otherwise I would miss their shirtless bodies.
What’s up with all the 2PM hate? It’s not like they’re Super Junior or some shit like that :o
They’re just one of those groups that I would like chopped up and served hot to SNSD only to be puked up later because of EVIL CALORIES!!!!
Although, 2PM does come second to SUJU, without a freaking doubt
Just wanna bring this to you guys’ attention, if you haven’t seen it already: http://forums.allkpop.com/threads/bbcs.109870/
Some girl on twitter shared this information, and who knows if it’s legit. And the part about Zico wanting to leave Stardom – idk if that means he also wanted to leave the group.
Zico is too good for this shit
I do get the impression that the only reason he became an idol was to get his name out. Non-pop music in Korean is a grind, man.
Yeah, and considering how much he bitches about idol life in his underground releases. It doesn’t suit him – he’s way better off doing his own shit. But I think him leaving the group to go solo would be seen as a dick move on his part.
I’m going to join in with the people hoping that the boy band that files their lawsuit together stays together– from the sounds of things they were already paying their own expenses, so I’m nursing a tiny dream that Block B goes full Shinhwa together.