novelraw Chapter 89 : Then, the One Who Took 1st Place Is...
Chapter 89 : Then, the One Who Took 1st Place Is...
Chapter 89 - Then, the One Who Took 1st Place Is...
Arriving at the HBS Open Hall, Newstarz proceeded with the pre-recording for ‘Music World’.
They sing on a pre-prepared set, and that footage is edited to be aired during the main broadcast in the evening.
Newstarz is scheduled to wait until then, and then appear on the live broadcast to greet the viewers.
If they take 1st place on the chart, they will also perform an encore stage.
“I’ll go get something to eat, so you guys rest in the waiting room.”
After letting the Newstarz members rest, Baek Hyeon-woo went outside.
However, as soon as he stepped out into the hallway, he ran into a 6-member girl group.
“We are Bling Bling Bling Baby! Hello, Team Leader Baek!”
It was Bling Baby, whom he was meeting for the first time since ‘Music Big Show’ last week.
“Team Leader, did you enjoy the coffee last time?”
“Yeah, I enjoyed it thanks to you.”
“That’s a relief!”
He thought they had come to greet Newstarz, but Bling Baby surrounded Baek Hyeon-woo and kept chattering.
“Team Leader Baek, is it true that Newstarz sunbae-nims are nominees for 1st place today?”
“It seems so.”
“That’s really amazing!”
The Bling Baby members looked at him with eyes filled with respect.
“We’ll all pray that Newstarz sunbae-nims can take 1st place!”
“We'd be grateful if you did.”
The vote tallying must already be finished... but he was purely grateful for their goodwill itself.
“Honestly speaking, we’d rather Newstarz sunbae-nims take 1st place than Drum Fire sunbae-nims.”
Worried that others might hear, the leader lowered her voice and whispered.
“I heard from the unnies at our agency that Drum Fire sunbae-nims have really dirty private lives. They earnestly warned us not to fall for it, no matter how much they try to hit on us.”
“It seemed that way.”
Baek Hyeon-woo nodded, then added.
“Even if it’s not necessarily Drum Fire... it would be best to always be careful. There are a lot of handsome guys in the entertainment industry, so you might be swayed sometimes, but still.”
“We told you, we don't like that type.”
“We actually prefer a type like you, Team Leader Baek.”
“That’s right, that’s right.”
“……”
Are they flattering me to get on my good side?
Or are they just teasing me?
While Baek Hyeon-woo was lost in thought, a voice called out.
“You’re popular with the kids.”
“PD-nim.”
‘Music World’ PD Yoo Seon-hee was walking down the hallway with other staff.
“Hello! We are Bling Bling Bling Baby!”
All the Bling Baby members bowed in greeting with nervous expressions.
Yoo Seon-hee acknowledged the greeting by simply nodding without a word.
“You girls go do what you need to do. I have something to discuss with Team Leader Baek here.”
“Yes, PD-nim!”
Bling Baby left as told.
Sending looks of respect toward Baek Hyeon-woo, who was conversing one-on-one with Yoo Seon-hee.
“Newstarz was very good today. Somehow, they seem to be getting better and better.”
“Because Newstarz is a group that keeps growing.”
“It must be because you continue to help them grow, Hyeon-woo-ssi.”
Yoo Seon-hee spoke to Baek Hyeon-woo while having the other staff members wait.
“You’ve already heard that they were nominated for 1st place today, right?”
“Yes, I was contacted in advance.”
“Speaking objectively, Newstarz being nominated for 1st place this time is because they got lucky.”
Crossing her arms, Yoo Seon-hee spoke slowly.
“The true top-class acts haven't released new songs recently. And the domestic top 3 girl groups are all on hiatus right now, too.”
“……”
“WAVE, who returned for the summer season, is the type that's weak in music show rankings... In the end, Newstarz just raided an empty house.”
A smile rose on the lips of Yoo Seon-hee, who had been speaking in a cold voice.
“However, being able to raid an empty house is also a skill.”
“PD-nim…”
“The various strategies Haram Entertainment showed this time were all effective. The result of that effort has manifested like this.”
She wasn't just paying lip service; she was speaking seriously.
“Becoming a nominee for 1st place is a great achievement. Honestly, I want to applaud you.”
Baek Hyeon-woo smiled in front of Yoo Seon-hee, who was praising them like that.
“That sounds like you're telling me not to be disappointed even if we don't take 1st place this time. Did Newstarz miss out on 1st place by any chance?”
“Oh my, that wasn't what I meant.”
Yoo Seon-hee gave a short laugh.
“Don't misunderstand. I don't know which group is 1st yet either. No one knows until it's announced on the live broadcast.”
“Do you think I'd believe that?”
“Huhu, let's just say that's the case.”
Anyway, it seemed Yoo Seon-hee had no intention of telling him who took 1st place.
It looked like he would inevitably have to wait until the broadcast.
“What is your impression of Drum Fire, PD-nim?”
“They're a group with their own unique charm.”
When asked about Drum Fire, Yoo Seon-hee answered in a calm voice.
“Drum fire means concentrated fire, or a concentrated attack, right?”
“Ah, was it?”
“They're a group with charm that befits that name. They're capturing fans' hearts with a concept that drives hard. Producer Jeong Geun-taek did a good job making them by compiling all his know-how.”
“I see.”
“The members' skills are good, too. Though the leader acting up too much is a bit bothersome.”
Saying that, Yoo Seon-hee tilted her head to the side.
“But today's stage was a bit lackluster. Did they not try very hard because they thought it wouldn't be reflected in today's ranking?”
“They might have been in bad condition.”
“Really?”
“That's how it looked to me.”
Yoo Seon-hee chuckled at Baek Hyeon-woo's words.
“If you saw it that way, Hyeon-woo-ssi, then that must be correct.”
……
Finally, the live broadcast of ‘Music World’ began.
Newstarz has to make an appearance twice during the live broadcast.
They have to come out and greet the viewers before their pre-recorded stage video plays, and they also have to come out at the end when the chart #1 result is announced.
“Eh, I've never done that?!”
“Puhaha, Kanade-ssi, it was a joke.”
During the talk with the MCs right before the stage video, they had good chemistry and were able to create an entertaining scene.
Thanks especially to Kanade's unintended humor, the MCs also burst into laughter.
‘It’s a shame it’s not voting time right now. If they showed that kind of side, they could have gotten more votes.’
Baek Hyeon-woo also felt regret when the recorded video was playing.
They had truly done their best and shown a wonderful stage, but even if the viewers saw that video and wanted to push Newstarz to 1st place, the voting was already closed.
‘I wonder what the result will be.’
Before long, the broadcast was nearing its end, and it was time for the 1st place announcement.
Most of the singers who appeared today, including not only Newstarz and Drum Fire but also Bling Baby, went up on stage.
“Now, we only have the Music Chart #1 announcement left.”
“Drum Fire and Newstarz.”
“Newstarz and Drum Fire.”
“Which of the two will take the 1st place?”
Listening to the male and female MCs’ comments, all the Newstarz members wore nervous expressions.
They looked even more nervous than during ‘The Idol’.
Could Newstarz really take 1st place?
‘Music World ranks the results by combining digital music scores, broadcast frequency scores, viewer vote scores, album scores, and social media scores.’
Newstarz is ahead in digital music scores.
However, Drum Fire is overwhelming in album scores.
Drum Fire, with their passionate fans, would likely have the advantage in viewer votes as well.
Therefore, they had to turn the tables in the remaining areas.
The broadcast frequency score is calculated based on the number of times it was played on broadcasts like TV and radio, but since the score calculation formula isn't public, it's impossible to predict.
The social media score is an item aggregating popularity on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, but it's also unknown how this score will come out.
“Please reveal the scores!”
Finally, the scores began to be displayed on the screen.
“Digital Music Score.”
“Broadcast Frequency Score.”
“Viewer Vote Score.”
“Album Score.”
“Social Media Score.”
Every time the MCs said a word, the scores for both nominees were displayed.
And all the scores for every category were summed up...
“Then, the one who took 1st place is...”
“Kyaaaaaah!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Aaaaaah!”
Before the MC called the name, cheers—or screams—erupted from the audience.
They were reacting after seeing the total score displayed on the screen.
“It’s Newstarz, ‘After girl’!”
Pop...!
With the sound of firecrackers popping, twinkling confetti fluttered in the air.
Watching the Newstarz members looking surprised with expressions of disbelief, Baek Hyeon-woo checked the scoreboard once more.
‘We won in the music site score and the broadcast frequency score.’
Newstarz received 0 points in the album score, but they were significantly ahead in the music site score and the broadcast frequency score.
It was especially encouraging that the broadcast frequency score was several times higher.
‘Is it just as it appeared in the song information window, after all.’
Baek Hyeon-woo had already analyzed Drum Fire's title track using the information window.
The Public Appeal displayed there was a B. Considering ‘After girl’s’ Public Appeal was an S, it was way below.
Thanks to the fans' enthusiastic support activities, the music site and album results came out okay... but their popularity with the general public was far below Newstarz's new song.
‘I heard that at DARWINS, they churn out songs in large quantities in a short period through song camps. By doing so, they might have been able to stably mass-produce songs with concepts that fans would like... but they couldn't keep up with the masterpiece that CEO Seol Woo-myeong created by pouring his very soul into it.’
While Baek Hyeon-woo was thinking once again about the public appeal of idols, Seo Na-eun began to give her acceptance speech for 1st place on stage.
“Thank you... so much.”
Seo Na-eun was on the verge of tears.
The other four were also tearing up.
“Next week marks our 3rd debut anniversary. I really wanted to get 1st place before 3 years passed. I am so happy to have achieved that dream.”
He could see large teardrops flowing down Seo Na-eun's cheeks.
Baek Hyeon-woo also felt a prickling sensation in his nose for no reason.
In fact, the time Baek Hyeon-woo had been with Newstarz was only about half a year.
However, during that time, Baek Hyeon-woo had run here and there, striving for Newstarz's success.
It was a time as dense and rewarding as the several years he had worked as a physical therapist, no, even more so.
And in this very moment... he felt that those efforts had come to fruition.
“Thank you so much for loving us and cheering for us. We will work even harder in the future to repay you.”
Saying that, Seo Na-eun looked at Baek Hyeon-woo below the stage, not the camera.
The moment their eyes met, Baek Hyeon-woo scolded her in his mind, ‘Look at the camera!’
It seemed she was like that when they got 1st place on ‘The Idol’ too; it's a bad habit.
‘Anyway...’
Still, he didn't feel bad.
Without realizing it, Baek Hyeon-woo was smiling.
“Then shall we say our goodbyes now?”
“Live broadcast Music World, see you again next week!”
The male and female MCs made their closing comments and exited.
Other singers, including Drum Fire, also came down from the stage together.
The only ones remaining on the stage were Newstarz.
The privilege that only those who take 1st place on a music show can enjoy... because they had to start the encore stage.
“Thank you, everyone!”
“Please continue to look after us!”
“Please give us lots of love!”
“We'll work hard!”
Kim So-yeong, Laura, Kanade, and Yoo Jeong-ah held their microphones and raised their voices toward the fans.
Everyone's faces were wet with tears, but they were smiling broadly.
……
“I'm going crazy, seriously!”
As Seok-joon grumbled like that while grinding his teeth, the other members next to him hurriedly stopped him.
“Hyung, keep your voice down.”
“We have to greet the PD-nim now.”
There is a custom where once the music show ends, all the performing singers and managers gather to greet the PD.
MBS’s ‘Music Big Show’ had gotten rid of all such things when PD Kang Eun-jeong implemented an anti-authoritarian policy, but the custom still remained at HBS’s ‘Music World’.
“Hey, aren't you guys pissed? Honestly, that broadcast frequency score, if the broadcast station decides to...!”
“Hyung! Please...!”
Another member clamped his hand over Seok-joon’s mouth.
It was because Seok-joon had just tried to mention the suspicion of rigging the broadcast frequency score.
Because the exact calculation method for the broadcast frequency score isn't public, it has always been a subject of suspicion.
In the past, a rookie girl group from a small-to-mid-sized agency had intensively targeted HBS TV and radio to take 1st place solely with the broadcast frequency score, so there was always a lot of controversy.
“Why are you like this today! Get a hold of yourself!”
Even though he tended to act up too much usually, he wasn't to the degree of shouting inside the broadcasting station about whether they rigged it.
Today, Seok-joon looked strangely like he had lost his reason.
“Ah, hyung! PD-nim must be coming!”
Just then, the crowd stirred.
However, the one coming this way wasn't PD Yoo Seon-hee.
“Let’s see… You are Mr. Oh Jun-seok, right?”
“Yes?”
Men in uniforms approached and called Seok-joon by his real name.
“It looks like the broadcast is over, so come with us.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
Seok-joon stammered, looking bewildered.
“I haven't done anything wrong particularly? Why is the police…”
The ones trying to take Seok-joon away were none other than police officers.
They sighed looking at Seok-joon, who still hadn't grasped the situation.
“Kim Chaeryeon-ssi has already confessed everything during her investigation. Just follow us quietly.”
“……!”
Seok-joon's face turned pale as a sheet of paper.
……
Baek Hyeon-woo, who was waiting in the hallway with Newstarz, also saw Seok-joon being dragged away.
“Manager-nim, what happened?”
“I told you last time.”
Baek Hyeon-woo answered calmly to the flustered Yoo Jeong-ah.
“That it ends only when the price is paid.”
“Huh?”
Baek Hyeon-woo checked the status window of Seok-joon, who was being dragged away by the police.
In that status window…
————
[Seok-joon]
Vocal: B-
Dance: S-
Visual: S-
Potential: A
Body Condition: 60%
Mental Condition: 30%
————
– Due to Tetrahydrocannabinol ingestion, a decline in coordination, judgment, and concentration is occurring.
– Body Condition is slightly lowered.
– Mental Condition is massively lowered.
– Negative correction is applied to Vocal, Dance, and Visual.
Tetrahydrocannabinol.
A compound commonly called by the abbreviation THC, which has a longer half-life than other drugs and stays in the body for a long time.
It was the main component of marijuana.