Joseph Hwang
They will return this coming fall season. Do you remember the K-pop girl group “FIFTY FIFTY”?
On November 18, 2022, the FIFTY FIFTY, a team organized by 4 members, debuted with the title song “Higher” and its music video to the K-pop market. It was an excellent appearance and a fresh impact.
Surprisingly, when the single “Cupid” was released on February 24, 2023, the song swept Spotify and then debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.
The team’s name, “FIFTY FIFTY,” contains the meanings of “half and half” and several ambiguous expressions such as “ideal half, reality half.” The group corresponds to one half, and their fan base corresponds to the other half. ATTRAKT is the artist management company of FIFTY FIFTY.
The original members were Keena, Saena, Sio, and Aran. But now, except for Keena, the rest of the members were expelled by the management company ATTRAKT for breach of contract. There was tampering for the remaining members with the other company outside of ATTRAKT, the exclusive management company of the FIFTY FIFTY at first. However, only Keena returned to the original management company later.
Initially, all members filed a claim for an injunction against their management company, ATTRAKT, to suspend the effectiveness of an exclusive contract. However, during the hearing on the preliminary injunction application, the members’ defaults gradually came to the surface, and only Keena withdrew the claim. Ultimately, the court denied the member’s request for an injunction. Instead, ATTRAKT, the management company, notified the members of the termination of the agreement, and ATTRAKT filed a civil lawsuit against the parents of the remaining three members, the other company, The Givers, and its CEO, seeking damages for the aforementioned breach of contract. The compensation amount was USD 9.4 million (KRW 13 billion). There are 12 defendants, including the parents of the remaining 3 ex-members. The first trial will be held at the Seoul Central District Court on August 29 this year. The curtain has now fallen on the first stage.
ATTRAKT decided to reorganize the brand new “FIFTY FIFTY,” with 5 members, including original member Keena, added to the new 4 members selected through a private audition. The rebranded FIFTY FIFTY will come back in September this year.
It’s good news for FIFTY FIFTY’s fanbase, but the dispute with the former members and the other related companies is at least just the beginning.
I look forward to seeing FIFTY FIFTY on stage again to strive and struggle to overcome the obstacles in their future.
* References and quotations:
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/06/732_376658.html
https://kprofiles.com/fifty-fifty-members-profile/
https://www.starnewskorea.com/stview.php?no=2024062008210193930
https://www.elle.co.kr/article/1866389
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