<Episode 70>
After going home and changing clothes, I turned on a music show to watch Spade Joker’s stage.
Fortunately, I wasn’t late. Another idol group was currently performing.
[Change up]
It was a boy group I had never seen before.
They posed as if their hands were bound in handcuffs.
‘Looks like a sexy concept.’
[NA]
The member in the center formed a gun shape with his hand, then as he waved his body, his hand slid down his chest.
‘Rookies, maybe.’
I checked the group name displayed at the top left of the screen.
[SPADE]
It was a name I had never seen before.
‘But who names a group “Spade”?’
As for me, I had only named it that because I was playing a game and happened to think of card games. Even then, it only worked because there was at least the motif of a “card game.”
No normal entertainment CEO would name a group like that.
Spade.
Basically, it meant a farming tool… a shovel or spade. Even the spade symbol on playing cards originally represented a “shovel.”
As that thought reached me, an ominous feeling wrapped around my entire body.
I picked up my phone and searched for the group “Spade.”
[SPADE – 6-member boy group]
The most eye-catching thing in their profile was their agency.
[Agency – JM Entertainment]
“Hahaha…”
A hollow laugh slipped out.
“Are they seriously out of their minds?”
The number of members was the same, and aside from the word “Joker,” the group name was practically identical.
[JM Entertainment suddenly unveils new boy group ‘Spade’]
Looking at the top article, it seemed they had debuted them immediately without even holding a showcase.
There was no way this wasn’t targeting Spade Joker.
On top of that, their debut date was today.
‘Wow. Impressive, really.’
It felt like my blood pressure was rising.
Still, I decided to check social media reactions first.
[? Spade? And even 6 members? What is this? Even the styling weirdly reminds me of our boys. What are they doing? And the chorus choreography is basically identical to Spade Joker’s last album??]
↳ So annoying.
↳ Isn’t this just a knockoff group?
↳ What’s wrong with JM?
↳ LOL, this bundling strategy is insane. What? If you buy their album, you get a fan meeting with A-Pen too? Are they crazy?
↳↳ Did the CEO get shot in the head or something?
↳↳ A-Pen fans must be furious right now.
Because of that, I could confirm that CEO Joo Youngjun had crossed a line he absolutely shouldn’t have.
‘Has he completely lost it?’
Bundling only works when it benefits both sides.
But this…
If you bought a rookie group’s album, you’d get a fan signing event with A-Pen.
That crossed the line by far.
A-Pen fans were being forced to buy albums from a group they didn’t even want, and new Spade fans, who had just entered the fandom, would have to watch A-Pen dominate what should be Spade’s own fan event.
The only one benefiting from this was JM Entertainment.
Even if Spade broke first-week sales records like this, it would just be a trophy without honor.
And other fandoms would never just sit back and watch.
Naturally, they’d end up making enemies of other fandoms…
All because of one bad decision by the agency.
‘There’s no way he doesn’t know that.’
He knew.
And still did it.
For money and results.
‘He chose money because he knows fans will complain but won’t leave. How consistent of him.’
Right then, the chorus came on.
Just as seen on SNS, the choreography was strikingly similar to the chorus of Spade Joker’s previous title track [I].
‘Doesn’t the choreographer feel any shame?’
It didn’t even match the song.
Spade Joker’s previous concept was refreshing and bright, while Spade’s stage was clearly a sexy concept.
Of course, it wouldn’t fit.
[Who is the choreographer? Their name should be exposed. Do they feel good copying someone else’s work? There’s a limit.]
↳ Exactly.
↳ I was shocked by how many parts looked similar.
↳ Same member composition, same styling… amazing! You can tell they saw Spade Joker’s MV first and copied the vibe.
↳↳ At least copy moderately.
↳ I feel bad for the members. They joined the wrong company.
‘How should I get revenge for this?’
I couldn’t just sit back and watch Joo Youngjun’s actions.
If I did, it would happen again.
‘How much time is left on A-Pen’s contract?’
They were already in their 10th year since their debut.
They must have renewed once already.
And if my guess was right, they wouldn’t want to renew again.
If they wanted to continue their careers properly, they couldn’t stay like this.
I called Han Suseok.
“Hello, CEO.”
He picked up after only a few rings.
“Han Suseok.”
“Yes.”
“Have you seen the group called Spade?”
“I just checked.”
It seemed he had been watching the music show, noticed Spade, and grabbed his phone… just as I called.
“Sorry to bother you on your day off, but can you find out how much time is left on A-Pen’s contract and get me their contact numbers?”
“Understood.”
Spade’s stage ended, and Spade Joker’s stage began.
‘Even the order is calculated, huh?’
This was proof that Joo Youngjun and the broadcasting station were in cahoots.
‘He must’ve been busy lobbying.’
***
Spade Joker returned to their waiting room, proudly holding their first-place trophy.
“Hello, sunbaenim.”
“Hello.”
“One, two. We’re Spade, who debuted today!”
The Spade Joker members, who had been warmly receiving their juniors’ greetings, froze upon hearing the group name.
“…Spade?”
“Yes. Please take care of us. Congratulations on first place.”
“Yes… Please take care of us too.”
Spade Joker stared at them in a daze.
Since speaking carelessly in the hallway could cause trouble, they quickly entered their waiting room.
“What? Spade?”
“Isn’t that name way too similar to ours?”
“Exactly.”
They began pouring out everything they had been holding back.
“Honestly, who even uses the word ‘Spade’ as an idol group name?”
They still vividly remembered the moment they first heard their own group name.
“Your group name will be Spade Joker.”
At the time, they thought the CEO was joking and looked around nervously.
Then they realized it wasn’t a joke.
They were shocked.
They didn’t particularly like the name, but after seeing trainees who failed to debut and had to go home, they decided the name didn’t matter.
They convinced themselves there were worse names out there.
They practiced desperately, believing that one day, “Spade Joker” would become a cool name.
“All of that… and now this?”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Even worse, ‘Spade’ originally means a farming tool. At least we have ‘Joker,’ so people know it’s from card games.”
Manager Kim Jawook decided he needed to calm them down.
“Let’s go back to the dorm first. It’s better to talk calmly there. Nothing will change by discussing it here.”
“Okay.”
With uneasy hearts, Spade Joker returned to their dorm.
***
I was waiting for Han Suseok to call back.
‘When is he going to call?’
I was getting impatient, but I couldn’t rush him.
Maybe because of the tension, the house felt quieter than usual.
But turning on a video or music felt too distracting.
I sat there, staring at my phone, waiting for his name to appear.
Bzzzz
[Han Suseok]
After a long wait, the call finally came.
“Hello.”
I answered immediately.
“CEO, I checked A-Pen’s contract. They signed a 7-year contract and renewed for 3 more years. They’re about to enter another renewal period.”
So they were preparing a new boy group in case A-Pen didn’t renew, while squeezing as much money out of them as possible in the meantime.
‘Still… there are things a person should and shouldn’t do.’
I couldn’t help but click my tongue at Joo Youngjun’s cruelty.
And compared to previous timelines, he seemed to be falling faster… perhaps because Spade Joker rose earlier this time.
“So their renewal period is coming up soon?”
“Yes.”
“What about their numbers?”
“I’ll send them to you right away.”
“Okay.”
“…But what are you planning to do?”
“It might be difficult for me to take them in directly, but I’m going to try pulling them out of JM Entertainment first. I heard their profit split is still 2:8, right?”
Han Suseok sounded shocked.
“Will you be okay? CEO Joo Youngjun won’t stay quiet.”
“Han Suseok.”
“Yes.”
“They struck us first. Should we just sit still? We need to strike back. And if we leave it like this, he’ll do even worse next time.”
This time…
It was time to land a proper blow on Joo Youngjun.
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