Road to Idolhood

K-pop Idols. Currently the big new thing to be. They obtain big bucks from CDs, endorsements, modeling opportunities, TV appearances and acting gigs. Massive fan clubs are built in their name and the online support is sometimes terrifying. The question for most non-korean pop fans is how does someone become part of k-pop group?

Let's start by swiping out those audition shows that have been popping up in Korea lately. Those tend to be exceptions and a response towards the fandom that comes with American Idol.



Step one, Korean music agencies go out and actively try to find these amazing people. This is very different than what we see in the private affairs in America. With America usually we send in a tape and hope an agency will pick us up for a deal. Now in Korea they go out and hold auditions that are advertised online, posters and medium to pick up that one gem in the thousands in the crowd. Also companies will actually have auditions worldwide.

Step two, once these people get called and successfully passed audition the companies set them up to train them personally. This includes room and board, food, singing and dance lessons. Everything is paid. EVERYTHING!! These people are called trainees and these years are the hardest years of their lives.

Step three, after three to five years of trainee years the companies put some of these trainees together to make a group. Sometimes though they'll have auditions for these groups. Voila a idol group is born. They are managed by the company. Image, music (unless they start composing their own music), food, dorms are all provided for. The question being is who pays for the trainee years? Two ways that are known that these 'debts' are paid off. One a company is just rich enough from other groups who have made a lot of money to continue the future of their groups. The other way is that after a group debuts they try to make enough to pay off their debts before they get their actual paycheck. This is why contracts are important for money distribution. And this is why lately there's been an uprise of idols of really looking at their contracts and seeing unfair bylaws.

So..everyone are you up to be a K-pop Idol?