Current Event 21/01/13

---- [Current Events are bi-weekly writing assignments for my junior year history class. The instructions are to find a recent article, summarize it, and describe your personal opinion on it.]

https://www.soompi.com/article/1448107wpp/jyp-entertainment-announces-got7s-departure-from-agency

 

After 7 years, the renown sensation that is GOT7 leaves their entertainment agency. The article shows the official statement made by the company, JYP, saying that all “seven members of GOT7 will not be renewing their contracts with JYP Entertainment.” GOT7 has been one of the leading acts in the industry for the past preceding years. Having debuted under a prominent company, they had a very successful start (their first album reaching no. 1 on Billboard World Albums Chart) and have remained among the top for the entirety of their career with other legends, such as BTS and EXO. From 2014 to 2021, they have garnered tens of millions of fans across the globe and released countless notable songs. So, this was a big deal, as you can see. While they assured that they aren’t disbanding, GOT7 as we know it is gone.

Now, in retrospect, it’s really saddening seeing them go. They’ve left an eminent impact in the industry throughout the years (obviously, being one of the most successful and respected boy groups of the late 2010’s and all), but they have also released so many distinguished anthems. Put simply, I love them and their music, and more than that, tons of other people do too. They were just a chill, funny bunch, and a lot of their songs are so iconic, as well. Just Right, their 2015 breakthrough viral bop, currently has 358 million total views on YouTube and, more recently, Lullaby the 2018 banger has 48 millions streams on Spotify. Their songs were the kinds like Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars or Closer by The Chainsmokers: everyone knows them. They’ve won myriads of awards, big and small, topped off many charts, and are highly looked up to by younger artists. It’s regretful; deep down I feel they’re too iconic to go. It’s like watching one of the most powerful empires of Ancient Rome fall; except, instead of being stricken down by war and force, they’re giving up their title peacefully and decided to go their separate directions.

Here comes the “however.” However, as grief-stricken I am to see them separate, I’m also glad that they get their chance to try out their own paths now and escape that irresponsible agency that didn’t treat them right anyway. (There’s a reason why zero of them decided to stay in JYP.) I’m not too worried for them, as millions of their fans from GOT7 will be right behind them to support them even individually. They mostly already have stable solo careers going, anyway. Jackson has been working on his own label, Team Wang, for a while already and is thriving back in China. Jinyoung’s going to focus on his acting career; he’s already in talks on signing under a well-known acting agency. BamBam would return to Thailand, where he already has an enormous fanbase. Mark said he would return to America to join his family; he would also start a YouTube channel and begin vlogging. (Fun fact: Mark Tuan opened his channel yesterday, and with zero videos, he is currently at 834k subscribers as I am typing this.) Jaebeom, Yugyeom, and Youngjae are all considering other music companies, though I can’t remember which ones at the moment. I believe Yugyeom is planning on going into AOMG, which is a well-known hip-hop record label founded by the famous soloist Jay Park, who also used to be under JYP. (I find this hilarious because Jay Park was kicked out from JYP ages ago, and now, one of JYP’s prized artists is about to sign under his label.) From the looks of it, all seven of the boys will continue pursuing music, or at least stay in the entertainment industry, in one way or another, and they’ll all make solid bank.

So, in the end, I’m really happy for them. The initial freaking-out phase I had when the news was first announced--officially, that is, as there had been rumors and predictions about their contract ending soon--got put to ease shortly when each of the members posted a group picture on Instagram and Twitter with the caption #GOT7FOREVER (as cheesy as it sounds), along with Mark’s Tweet that basically reassured the continued existence of GOT7, despite all being scattered. They also stated somewhere that they would definitely make time in the future and do group projects together again. GOT7 aren’t gone, per se, but they’re no longer bracketed together by the iron restraints of a JYP Entertainment seven-year contract. That’s objectively good, for them especially. They’re free! But, in all honesty, I’ll miss them as a whole. Their bond is still strong and they’re still great friends, I’m sure. But we won’t get our scheduled group comebacks anymore, and the regular, classic GOT7 sound will start to fade into the background. We have reached the era where the GOT7 will become one of the many ‘definite hiatus’ legends. All kings of great power will eventually drain into the past with time. (I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.)