HYBE seems to have lost the plot when it comes to K-pop.
K-pop, as a genre, is said to be an “all-encompassing genre showcasing a wide spectrum of musical and visual elements,” with some even saying that it is a treat for both the eyes and ears. However, in most recent times, there has been a gap between the two elements mentioned.
In a now-viral post on the South Korean online community Nate Pann posted last April 14, 2024, an OP expressed their opinions on HYBE and how the corporation was “ruining” K-pop.
Here is a DeepL translation of the post:
“The three major agencies of SM, YG, and JYP made idols with overall skills after a hard practice period and sent them out slowly. I feel that HYBE is ruining K-pop since they merely push out kids with lacking skills for mass production, while media playing that they are BTS’ younger brother/sister groups.
Honestly, have there been any controversies about SM, YG, or JYP idols who were active until recently?
SM: SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, aespa
JYP: Stray Kids, ITZY, NMIXX
YG: WINNER, BLACKPINK, TREASURE, BABY MONSTER
But what’s more problematic here is that HYBE’s ignorant sewer fans are okay with this, and they casually make brain-crushing remarks about how a blindfolded idol did a good job, saying that singing skills are not important.
When you refute, everything you say is wrong.”
The post, as of writing, has received 2,140 upvotes, with most of the comments under it agreeing with the OP’s take.
One said, “The music industry has changed. It’s like faceless singers on the charts these days. Instagram stars. Even if we fought three or four times, we kept a certain line, but nowadays we just beat them with money.”
Another said, “They’re talented, but HYBE is just a K-pop dump…Starting with concert prices, this is where most of the bizarre bullshit started.”
One other commenter said, “It’s not just the fans, is it? There are also stockholders. That’s why entertainment companies should not go public. It’s amazing. The stocking gaggers are so protective. SM used to be good at this, but now it’s HYBE.”
Another commenter also set apart the idol groups that HYBE acquired from other companies to the ones that they produced. “Apart from all the idols they took over (SEVENTEEN, fromis_9, etc.), all the idols they have produced themselves, are not at the level of singers if you listen to their live singing…including BTS.”
Most K-pop fans were in total agreement with this, as well. Some called out HYBE for not prioritizing singing for their idols, and for focusing on acquiring vocal AI instead. Others also mentioned GFriend, Source Music’s former girl group until HYBE decided to disband them.
non hybe artists’ stans, you were right. this company is the worst thing that happened to kpop. https://t.co/k9MqirfoHb
— (na)aaaaari⁷ 🍉 (@pporapippamm) April 16, 2024
Fuck AI and fuck Hybe. https://t.co/9SjCjVEPjW pic.twitter.com/6rm8h7GfOF
— The Real Na ~ ژن ژیان ئازادی (@hxrdlyrkived) April 16, 2024
Instead of shaming idols for not singing well (which is just mean), we should be shaming agencies for not making singing a priority.
— The Bias List (@nickajames) April 17, 2024
I've been following Hybe's investment in vocal AI for a while. That's where they've been investing instead of in their talents' vocals. Who needs human voices when you can just generate "good" vocal takes via AI? https://t.co/hb8Jqh8rNs pic.twitter.com/Ae37HVmFgc
— The Idolcast Podcast (@idolcast) April 17, 2024
Pledis stans have been telling you guys since the start but no one believed us
Nu'est was pushed aside, ignored throughout and was forced to disband. Now fromis is slowly heading the same way
The only reason SVT is still here is because they are the reason hybe bought pledis https://t.co/KARdbHiTXt
— WWJH (@wonwoojihoon) April 17, 2024
No hate to the other artists themselves, but I can understand Carats’ frustration with being lumped under “HYBE artists” because you DO NOT and CANNOT touch SVT’s vocals AND dance / choreography.
SEVENTEEN is unquestionably THE standard when it comes to live performances. https://t.co/NVyzUbiuGF
— Kathrina 🍒😇🦌🐱🐯🎮🍑🎱🐶⚔️🍊🐻❄️🦦 (@vindicatedtruth) April 17, 2024
hybe owes nuest and gfriend the biggest apology ever like how can a company be so allergic to talent?pic.twitter.com/bKCQCX6jv0 https://t.co/HBtD0kCo0V
— Dishonor on your cow (@yujubemygfriend) April 16, 2024
ditching gfriend and locking up fromis_9 in the basement, damn they really hate women who can SING https://t.co/5JoGOWdpUI
— beom (@baebeombong) April 15, 2024
[Hot search] 'Hybe kpop destroyer' is currently a trending hot search topic as netizens and fans are discussing how Hybe has slowly become a money making machine throughout the recent years. pic.twitter.com/TAdKDQagyJ
— Weibo Melons 🍉 (@weibomelons) April 15, 2024
Pledis stans have been telling you guys since the start but no one believed us
Nu'est was pushed aside, ignored throughout and was forced to disband. Now fromis is slowly heading the same way
The only reason SVT is still here is because they are the reason hybe bought pledis https://t.co/KARdbHiTXt
— WWJH (@wonwoojihoon) April 17, 2024
pic.twitter.com/5GXraz0RHB https://t.co/fT6B9EyGCs
— 유월 (@hduqjao) April 14, 2024
the group:
• attended fashion show before debut
• unable to achieve 2% in votings
• signed to hybe label known for payola and buying awards (caught)
• zionist spotify CEO became CEO of hybe
you:
• a p3do stanning a group of minorsoh but u think their growth is organic? pic.twitter.com/bKL27vAvZc
— 𖤐 (@GhoulPinks) April 16, 2024
Fans of HYBE groups refuted this, however, and were very much all hands-on in their defense of their faves.
“Hybe groups can’t sing” 🗣️
meanwhile Enhypen: https://t.co/pOe8Ruscm2 pic.twitter.com/J4TDTYFpJS
— Kittyofmars✨fan account (@kittyofmars) April 17, 2024
bts in the military, the reputation of hybe ggs on the line, bang pd and hybe officials being greedy as fuck and monopolizing every thing they see, they had one job and did it right. saved hybe. saved bighit. saved kpop https://t.co/M87kEAk7l3
— 🍭✶༊ (@coobiecore) April 11, 2024
kpop stans not found anywhere near the engagements of this tweet as they know that hyping txt would pose a threat to their narrative of hybe idols cannot sing https://t.co/NG5bq5FT5k
— ayesha (@taegyupid) April 11, 2024
watch those kpop stans be silent and not give hit twts to txt’s encore stage bc they are just too good and dont fit their “hybe idols cant sing” narrative
pic.twitter.com/LY2WFEkWHa— dia (@soobloop) April 11, 2024
“Svt aren't better singers or performers than any other Hybe boy group.”
And this is svt while doing a full on choreo. 💀
pic.twitter.com/TPIGgLq3sU— 🐾 jeyel ¹⁷ ᴵˢ ᴿᴵᴳᴴᵀ ᴴᴱᴿᴱ | 🎮x🎲 (@wonusom_) April 16, 2024
"Hybe groups can't sing"
"Hybe groups can't dance"
"Hybe groups can't rap"
"Hybe groups have no stage presence"This is BTS not Hybe. pic.twitter.com/zROY2Wdw1m
— 🕸️ (@jeongleams) April 17, 2024
Take all hybe payola from every hybe group, triple it & give it to txt
— Nus (@TxtSYBTK) April 17, 2024
“groups they bought” is crazy i support that 100% like seventeen will never be fully hybe to me ! those boys worked hard for what they have and will never be under hybe payola https://t.co/WF0IxOwAlS
— ysa ✴︎ (@SKYDELlGHT) April 16, 2024
sing for us hybe's excluded kidspic.twitter.com/TdaXEeFLsX https://t.co/PFJym1FYUD
— mev (@txtoptier) April 15, 2024
“Hybe groups can’t sing” 🗣️
meanwhile Enhypen :yes Orange Flower is one of many encores i wanna witness ❤️🔥 https://t.co/o4en3sF3wL pic.twitter.com/99EuIjAd6E
— Veedhee| fan account (@VeedheeXen) April 17, 2024
Stop hating on hybe groups unnecessarily especially bighit ones. pic.twitter.com/Zrs8Iy074c https://t.co/elWisZOOpD
— Hello stu-P-I-D!! 🫧🫧 (@Yulje_Jjang) April 11, 2024
'hybe groups cant do encore' 'hybe groups cant sing live'
here damn pic.twitter.com/RdX4c9Nskc— bomkue (@bomkue) April 11, 2024
anyways bighit groups could never be included in that ‘hybe groups can’t sing’ argument pic.twitter.com/lZoTnVii0T
— 🍠 (fan account) (@hyukalife) April 16, 2024
The criticism against HYBE comes soon after criticisms were thrown at two of their girl groups since the beginning of the month. First on the list is ILLIT, formed by Belift Lab (a sub-label of HYBE), and debuted on March 25, 2024.
The group’s debut single, “Magnetic”, did reach to unbelievable heights on the day of ILLIT’s debut, climbing its way to the Global Spotify chart, and later on April 17, 2024, reached the 11th spot in Spotify’s Top 50 Global chart. “Magnetic” also got ILLIT’s first music show win and trophy on SBS’ music show “The Show” on April 2, 2024.
However, on the same day, ILLIT’s victory turned sour following their performance during their celebratory encore stage. While there were people defending the rookie girl group’s encoure stage saying that it was all due to their nerves and jitters after winning, K-pop stans and K-netizens didn’t hesitate to voice out their criticisms regarding ILLIT’s shaky voices.
ILLIT FIRST ENCOREEEE 🥹#ILLIT #아일릿 #ILLIT1stWin#Magnetic1stWin pic.twitter.com/Ymlg9EEyBe
— 𑁍 (@parkistp) April 2, 2024
I think HYBE seriously need some good vocal trainer immediately.
— Jenifa Akter (@JenifaYuri) April 2, 2024
The quality of idol nowadays….
— Capital_Y (@Capital_Y) April 2, 2024
I bet their stan will say their nervous to defend their lack of vocal, what do you expect from Hybe vocal, nervous or not this their standard😂
— dianinkyu (@dianhadiyani1) April 2, 2024
HYBE should stop debuting groups who can't really sing live 😭.
HYBE becomes a giant company but keep debuting groups that only have visuals but not vocals.
HYBE IS THAT COMPANY NORMALIZING MEDIOCRITY AT IT'S FINEST. Truly ruined everything in the Kpop Industry. https://t.co/rjQr3J32e2 pic.twitter.com/2JOUmtmhKb
— 🍀Z (@__zvtterxxtt__) April 3, 2024
Hybe kinda needs to hire some vocal trainers cause there are other rookies who have got the vocals down…. This needs improvement. https://t.co/3l5tyITYKW
— Christi KACHING 💸 | 🇵🇸 (@velvetydreams) April 3, 2024
Another reason why Jungkook got praised so much for his encore and knets got genuinely upset when he didn't perform on music shows 😭 they WANT his encores bc the people are TIRED of hybe having zero vocal trainers😭 he fr an exception https://t.co/qA2OUCjRPC
— ☔ Jayla (@TheLastOfJK) April 3, 2024
The first girl was fine…but the rest??????? It’s such a mellow chill song too like, for trained idols in singing this should be pretty easy when not dancing…. right ? https://t.co/kTn8WcVDs7
— Film Star Jinu is here 🍀🍀🍀🍀 (@Uri_Island) April 3, 2024
Others pointed out how HYBE has been placing less and less focus on their idol trainees’ vocal training, and how it was completely evident with ILLIT.
And then on April 14, 2024, LE SSERAFIM performed on the Sahara stage at Coachella, and there were varying reactions to their performance. People who saw them live said that they did great and there was nothing wrong with it, but comments online were the complete opposite.
There was a huge backlash surrounding LE SSERAFIM following their stage at Coachella and only escalated following Sakura’s Weverse post shortly after.
The comments and criticisms against HYBE, ILLIT, and LE SSERAFIM haven’t stopped, as of writing. Just check out K-pop Twitter and LE SSERAFIM’s personal Instagram accounts.
Other POP! stories that you might like:
Stray Kids’ collaboration with Charlie Puth divides fans
LE SSERAFIM’s Coachella debut sparks conversation on K-pop’s live performance standards
BTS releases cryptic teaser amidst military enlistment, sends fans into a frenzy
Filipino actress Francine Diaz makes light of her mispronouncing TXT’s full group name
What is up with 90s kids bragging about ‘not being afraid of the sun’ when they were young?
