In 2012, Hello Venus debuted with a fresh, bubbly sound and cutesy charm. Although their name had people snerking at first, with the release of "Venus" they proved to have potential in the K-Pop market. With Ara's lullaby voice, Nara's model-like visuals, Yoonjo's baby face, Yooyoung's aw-inducing aegyo, Alice's cottoncandy vocals, and Lime's mindblowing 3-in-1 talent as the group's main rapper, dancer, AND vocalist, the six girls made for a nicely packaged ensemble, complete with a cute bow on top.
And yet two years later, the group is splitting. As the group was a joint project between Pledis Entertainment and Fantagio, Ara and Yoonjo are going back to Pledis and the rest are staying with Fantagio to continue promoting as Hello Venus. With this sudden development, অনুরাগী can't help but wonder how one of the most anticipated girl groups of 2012 are parting ways so suddenly in 2014. Among the অনুরাগী speculations that have been making circles so far, there are a total of six rumored reasons behind Hello Venus's split.
1. Disorganized promotions
When a group splits, it's always a bit messy and disorienting for fans. Despite the lessons that TVXQ, Super Junior, and আরো recently এক্সো and KARA, should have taught us, when an idol group debuts, we expect it to stay together through thick and thin. We expect to see the same faces over and over again; we believe that they're part of a team of indestructible bonds, "13 is 1" mottos galore. But ever since the beginning, Hello Venus hasn't always come out as a set of six.
Right before Hello Venus debuted, member Yoonjo had an unfortunate accident and injured her leg. Yet instead of delaying the সঙ্গীত video shoot and debut date, the agencies went right ahead and filmed the dance shots and had the group promote without her. Non-fans and insta-fans alike were confused seeing a six-membered group promoting as five. Even when Hello Venus released their repackage album and started performing "Like a Wave", Yoonjo was still nowhere to be found. Furthermore, for one of the lead vocalists of the group, Yoonjo wasn't প্রদত্ত much to sing in the শিরোনাম singles. It's almost as if she wasn't really a part of the group অথবা even really needed.
2. Lack of promotions
In the span of two years, Hello Venus has only released and promoted three singles, excluding follow-ups. In a fast-paced K-Pop scene, it's important for rookie groups to constantly release new songs in order to establish their presence and sound to the public. Fellow 2012 rookies, AOA and SPICA, for example, have promoted five singles since debut, and এক্সো released four. These three examples are regularly seen throughout the K-Pop seasons and years, but Hello Venus hasn't been releasing any new singles since "Do আপনি Want Some Tea?", which they promoted over a বছর পূর্বে in May 2013. অনুরাগী have been asking, "What's the deal?" and inquiring after Hello Venus for a while now. A whole বছর of missed opportunities, promotions, and variety প্রদর্শনী appearances has passed, and it hasn't done the group any favors.
3. Missed Opportunities with Pledis Entertainment
Speaking of missed opportunities, what was up with Pledis and 'Music Bank' last year?
Last time Hello Venus promoted, it was for their single "Do আপনি Want Some Tea?" During that time, অনুরাগী noticed that the group never appeared on KBS's 'Music Bank.' It's speculated that this is due to Pledis Entertainment's rumored conflict with 'Music Bank,' as both Pledis label mates After School and নিউএস্ট didn't appear on the প্রদর্শনী either with their singles "First Love" and "Sleep Talking" respectively.
This is a pretty big disadvantage for Pledis artists, especially for the newer groups Hello Venus and NU'EST, as they get less air time and fewer opportunities to প্রদর্শনী themselves to the public. Although আরো recently, কমলা দগ্ধ শর্করা was able to perform "Catallena" on সঙ্গীত Bank, it's probable that Pledis' past conflict with the program hurt Hello Venus's chances of having a successful run with "Do আপনি Want Some Tea?" Maybe even hurt Hello Venus in the long run.
4. Half-assed concerts
Even when Hello Venus took their opportunities to promote, their agencies did not make the most of them.
Hello Venus held their first সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান at Seogang বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় on June 22, 2013. It was pretty successful, but Hello Venus's অনুরাগী were disappointed with the low quality of service. The agencies promised the অনুরাগী goodies, but failed to deliver. Although the entire সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান video was supposed to be released via the website AfreecaTV as a live stream, it was edited too much. Half of the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান was not shown in the video; even the songs they performed live were not shown. Furthermore, the agencies promised to release a ছবি book following the concert, but অনুরাগী have yet to see it for a বছর now.
অনুরাগী felt cheated as a result, and once again, Hello Venus missed an opportunity to sell and spread their merchandise goodies for অনুরাগী and interested bystanders alike. An agency half-assing things with its rookie groups, অথবা any of its idols, is never a good sign.
5. 'I'm Your Venus' সেকেন্ড season WTF-ery
Hello Venus's first season of 'I'm Your Venus', like any other idol show, displayed the members' personalities and their hard work behind the scenes. It was pretty successful, enough for the producer to announce a season two back in October of 2013. Season two, however, turned out to be a completely different show. Renamed 'Hello Beauty School', the প্রদর্শনী went from focusing on the girls' journey to K-Pop stardom to focusing on makeup products and their origins. Wat?
Perhaps this was meant to attract viewers who weren't necessarily Hello Venus fans, but potential অনুরাগী who could fall for Hello Venus's bright and cute charms on screen. Unfortunately, the tactic didn't really work. The concept fell flat to the audience, disappointing the অনুরাগী once again.
6. Pledis has প্রদত্ত up
Over the past few years, Pledis has been suffering major losses in terms of finances. While in 2012, Pledis হারিয়ে গেছে 940 million won (~ $917,000 USD), in 2013, the company হারিয়ে গেছে 260 million won (~ $254,000 USD). They showed improvement thanks to money earned from their তারকা players UEE and Son Dam Bi, but still not enough to turn a profit.
Yet rather than focusing on the idols it's promoting now, Pledis Entertainment has announced that it will be coming out with a brand new group called Seventeen. Public opinion is mostly negative, as অনুরাগী feel that Pledis should continue to cultivate its current groups After School, NU'EST, and Hello Venus instead, especially since the latter two are still new to the K-Pop scene. It's possible that Pledis is creating this new group, however, because নিউএস্ট and Hello Venus aren't doing as well as they had hoped. Their সাম্প্রতিক সরানো to withdraw Ara and Yoonjo from Hello Venus is a sign that they have প্রদত্ত up on making profit off the girl group altogether, and are saving their funds and energy to focus on the upcoming new boy band. Perhaps the label believes that Seventeen will be their saving grace, but this certainly does not sit well with অনুরাগী of current groups, not to mention the hardworking group members themselves!
It's unfortunate that Hello Venus has come to this point--that they missed many opportunities, weren't promoted to the fullest, and now have হারিয়ে গেছে the support and funding of Pledis Entertainment, an established label despite its flaws.
Now that the joint project of Hello Venus has ended, what do আপনি think will be the fate of the girl group? Is Pledis right in thinking that Hello Venus doesn't have a chance অথবা can the group blossom with better marketing and bigger drive?
Whatever the future holds, I hope it's a bright one for Hello Venus. Let me know your thoughts in the মতামত below.
And yet two years later, the group is splitting. As the group was a joint project between Pledis Entertainment and Fantagio, Ara and Yoonjo are going back to Pledis and the rest are staying with Fantagio to continue promoting as Hello Venus. With this sudden development, অনুরাগী can't help but wonder how one of the most anticipated girl groups of 2012 are parting ways so suddenly in 2014. Among the অনুরাগী speculations that have been making circles so far, there are a total of six rumored reasons behind Hello Venus's split.
1. Disorganized promotions
When a group splits, it's always a bit messy and disorienting for fans. Despite the lessons that TVXQ, Super Junior, and আরো recently এক্সো and KARA, should have taught us, when an idol group debuts, we expect it to stay together through thick and thin. We expect to see the same faces over and over again; we believe that they're part of a team of indestructible bonds, "13 is 1" mottos galore. But ever since the beginning, Hello Venus hasn't always come out as a set of six.
Right before Hello Venus debuted, member Yoonjo had an unfortunate accident and injured her leg. Yet instead of delaying the সঙ্গীত video shoot and debut date, the agencies went right ahead and filmed the dance shots and had the group promote without her. Non-fans and insta-fans alike were confused seeing a six-membered group promoting as five. Even when Hello Venus released their repackage album and started performing "Like a Wave", Yoonjo was still nowhere to be found. Furthermore, for one of the lead vocalists of the group, Yoonjo wasn't প্রদত্ত much to sing in the শিরোনাম singles. It's almost as if she wasn't really a part of the group অথবা even really needed.
2. Lack of promotions
In the span of two years, Hello Venus has only released and promoted three singles, excluding follow-ups. In a fast-paced K-Pop scene, it's important for rookie groups to constantly release new songs in order to establish their presence and sound to the public. Fellow 2012 rookies, AOA and SPICA, for example, have promoted five singles since debut, and এক্সো released four. These three examples are regularly seen throughout the K-Pop seasons and years, but Hello Venus hasn't been releasing any new singles since "Do আপনি Want Some Tea?", which they promoted over a বছর পূর্বে in May 2013. অনুরাগী have been asking, "What's the deal?" and inquiring after Hello Venus for a while now. A whole বছর of missed opportunities, promotions, and variety প্রদর্শনী appearances has passed, and it hasn't done the group any favors.
3. Missed Opportunities with Pledis Entertainment
Speaking of missed opportunities, what was up with Pledis and 'Music Bank' last year?
Last time Hello Venus promoted, it was for their single "Do আপনি Want Some Tea?" During that time, অনুরাগী noticed that the group never appeared on KBS's 'Music Bank.' It's speculated that this is due to Pledis Entertainment's rumored conflict with 'Music Bank,' as both Pledis label mates After School and নিউএস্ট didn't appear on the প্রদর্শনী either with their singles "First Love" and "Sleep Talking" respectively.
This is a pretty big disadvantage for Pledis artists, especially for the newer groups Hello Venus and NU'EST, as they get less air time and fewer opportunities to প্রদর্শনী themselves to the public. Although আরো recently, কমলা দগ্ধ শর্করা was able to perform "Catallena" on সঙ্গীত Bank, it's probable that Pledis' past conflict with the program hurt Hello Venus's chances of having a successful run with "Do আপনি Want Some Tea?" Maybe even hurt Hello Venus in the long run.
4. Half-assed concerts
Even when Hello Venus took their opportunities to promote, their agencies did not make the most of them.
Hello Venus held their first সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান at Seogang বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় on June 22, 2013. It was pretty successful, but Hello Venus's অনুরাগী were disappointed with the low quality of service. The agencies promised the অনুরাগী goodies, but failed to deliver. Although the entire সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান video was supposed to be released via the website AfreecaTV as a live stream, it was edited too much. Half of the সঙ্গীতানুষ্ঠান was not shown in the video; even the songs they performed live were not shown. Furthermore, the agencies promised to release a ছবি book following the concert, but অনুরাগী have yet to see it for a বছর now.
অনুরাগী felt cheated as a result, and once again, Hello Venus missed an opportunity to sell and spread their merchandise goodies for অনুরাগী and interested bystanders alike. An agency half-assing things with its rookie groups, অথবা any of its idols, is never a good sign.
5. 'I'm Your Venus' সেকেন্ড season WTF-ery
Hello Venus's first season of 'I'm Your Venus', like any other idol show, displayed the members' personalities and their hard work behind the scenes. It was pretty successful, enough for the producer to announce a season two back in October of 2013. Season two, however, turned out to be a completely different show. Renamed 'Hello Beauty School', the প্রদর্শনী went from focusing on the girls' journey to K-Pop stardom to focusing on makeup products and their origins. Wat?
Perhaps this was meant to attract viewers who weren't necessarily Hello Venus fans, but potential অনুরাগী who could fall for Hello Venus's bright and cute charms on screen. Unfortunately, the tactic didn't really work. The concept fell flat to the audience, disappointing the অনুরাগী once again.
6. Pledis has প্রদত্ত up
Over the past few years, Pledis has been suffering major losses in terms of finances. While in 2012, Pledis হারিয়ে গেছে 940 million won (~ $917,000 USD), in 2013, the company হারিয়ে গেছে 260 million won (~ $254,000 USD). They showed improvement thanks to money earned from their তারকা players UEE and Son Dam Bi, but still not enough to turn a profit.
Yet rather than focusing on the idols it's promoting now, Pledis Entertainment has announced that it will be coming out with a brand new group called Seventeen. Public opinion is mostly negative, as অনুরাগী feel that Pledis should continue to cultivate its current groups After School, NU'EST, and Hello Venus instead, especially since the latter two are still new to the K-Pop scene. It's possible that Pledis is creating this new group, however, because নিউএস্ট and Hello Venus aren't doing as well as they had hoped. Their সাম্প্রতিক সরানো to withdraw Ara and Yoonjo from Hello Venus is a sign that they have প্রদত্ত up on making profit off the girl group altogether, and are saving their funds and energy to focus on the upcoming new boy band. Perhaps the label believes that Seventeen will be their saving grace, but this certainly does not sit well with অনুরাগী of current groups, not to mention the hardworking group members themselves!
It's unfortunate that Hello Venus has come to this point--that they missed many opportunities, weren't promoted to the fullest, and now have হারিয়ে গেছে the support and funding of Pledis Entertainment, an established label despite its flaws.
Now that the joint project of Hello Venus has ended, what do আপনি think will be the fate of the girl group? Is Pledis right in thinking that Hello Venus doesn't have a chance অথবা can the group blossom with better marketing and bigger drive?
Whatever the future holds, I hope it's a bright one for Hello Venus. Let me know your thoughts in the মতামত below.
After successfully rounding out their first comeback promotions with “What Are আপনি Doing Today?“, rookie group Hello Venus will be starting follow-up promotions with another track from their সেকেন্ড mini album, “Romantic Love“.
A medium-pop song with a bright and cheerful rock rhythm, the song will প্রদর্শনী off the superb vocal qualities of the group’s lead vocals – Yoo Ara, Alice, and Lime.
Their first broadcast with “Romantic Love” will be a performance on the upcoming episode of MBC Music‘s ‘Show Champion‘, which f(x)‘s Amber and T-ara‘s Eunjung will be hosting following the leave of Shindong and Kim Shin Young.
A medium-pop song with a bright and cheerful rock rhythm, the song will প্রদর্শনী off the superb vocal qualities of the group’s lead vocals – Yoo Ara, Alice, and Lime.
Their first broadcast with “Romantic Love” will be a performance on the upcoming episode of MBC Music‘s ‘Show Champion‘, which f(x)‘s Amber and T-ara‘s Eunjung will be hosting following the leave of Shindong and Kim Shin Young.
Yoonjo পোষ্ট হয়েছে ছবি with the cast and choir (which আপনি can see below) on the group's Official অনুরাগী Cafe and expressed her thanks. The idol (Yoonjo) spent the last three months preparing for the 'Family Choir Project' and its finally come to an end.
She wrote "Unavoidably, i was unable to with my members (Hello Venus), and 'Qualifications of Men', which আপনি first all saw me on, has been a meaningful and precious time for me."