ZERO COMEBACK

The LOONA vs BBC Saga Thus Far...
A TIMELINE OF CHUU VS BLOCKBERRY CREATIVE
ZERO COMEBACK
ZERO COMEBACK "POSTPONED INDEFINITELY"
LOONA LAWSUIT RESULTS
LIE OF THE MONTH (이달의 거짓말)
BBC VS CHUU & OEC+
LOONA - YOUR FAVOURITE JPOP GIRL GROUP?
HYUNJIN & VIVI FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST BBC
LOONAJP Continues The Hustle
Are We Being Trolled by Promo Videos for "LOONATHEWORLD IN TOKYO"?
Former Loona Members Sign with MODHAUS
Jaden Jeong on the Status of OEC+
CEMA Update on CHUU & OEC+







BBC has announced a "LOONA comeback", with "LOONA The Origin Album [0]". Online promotions begun with the release of a trailer (featuring stock footage with none of the girls appearing, no there will be no link to the video), following a image tease, and subsequently a Track List (see below). The first album cover / group photo(s) has also dropped (Scroll thru to watch).



Preorders for the albums have also been solicited in select online venues, including KTOWN4U (where these images are from), all of whom showcase blurred out images, which is not out of the ordinary for past LOONA preorders.

With 20 days (as time of this blogpost publication) leading to the scheduled release indicated to be "2023.01.03 TUE 6PM (KST)", it remains to be seen how promotions and reveals will show themselves to be.



Further schedules for Fan-Signs, Video-Calls and Offline-Events have also been announced and solicited. It is now down to the girls themselves to adhere to them, or risk "breaching their contract" (IMHO).

These are the schedules posted on social thus far:

Off-line & Video Call Event
- EVENT TIME: 2022.01.05 8PM(KST)
- PERIOD: 12/14 15:00 ~12/22 23:59PM

Face-to-face + video call fan signing event
- Duration: ~ 12/22 (Thu) 23:59 (KST)
- Date: 1/6 (Fri) 20:00 ~ (KST)







DISCLAIMER
From here on, everything is based off my personal impressions and speculations, some of whom based off observations and tweets, and in no way am I able to authenticate these as "facts", and present them here as "discussion topics" in a private capacity in my person blog, cheers.

THE SONGS
This is an album featuring a compilation/collection of songs already recorded by members of LOONA, from past recordings (no doubt prior to the current LOONA vs BBC situation), since brought out of the archives/library/vault. One tweet as alleged that "A writer of LOONA’s upcoming song “B.U.R.N (Be U Right Now)” says that it was meant to be released on the “[Flip That]” album but was pushed back".



Or [O] could be made as an example of "if the company calls ALL the shots, disregarding the artists section or plea". It would only be "levels of success", I am afraid.

THE IMAGES
Based on a single tweet and comparison (see below embed), seems images from past shoots might be used for photo-cards - which might not be the exact same cards previously released, but from the similar series or the days' line-up that were previously taken by the girls themselves. Best case scenario, they are curated and chosen to have less obvious styling to match earlier album releases, and could well be everyday selfies not connected immediately to "album specific releases". I cannot authenticate this, but it is a tangible possiblity, IMHO.



THE GIRLS
The only aspect of this comeback equation, are the girls themselves, when they are expected to perform for the album launch showcase, or broadcast stages, which could easily be held against them for "breach of contract". Once the album sells, and broadcast schedules signed and scheduled, it woukd in the girls' court. I schedule a practise session and you do not turn up, so okay... I book a broadcast stage performance, and you do not turn up to perform?

I am not a lawyer nor do I possess any credible knowledge (beyond casual "logical assumption"), so the following is just that, "my personal assumption(s)";

If the rumours of 9 girls of LOONA having filed an injunction against BBC (similar to what Chuu has done), it remains to be seen if said injunction(s) have been received, or accepted in the rule of law. BBC fast-tracking this comeback feels like a loophole in the timeline of events, which might put the girls at a disadvantage.

From the end of LOONATHEWORLD Tour on October 16th, to Comeback on January 3rd, 2023, not counting any events in-between, is less than 3 months. And from the end of "Flip That" promotions (prior to launch of LOONATHEWORLD Tour) was someone in July 2022. About 6 months' time for a album-to-album comeback.

"Business as Usual" in the public eye, perhaps.

US VS THEM
BBC is doubling-down, choosing to not give in in any capacity whatsoever, with this being the immediate response ("chronologically" speaking) to the boycott started by @unionloona: A LOONA Fanbase Union comprising both Orbits from South Korea and Internationally.



Folks online have been attributing BBC's actions and specific direction to be "mocking the fandom", and with their past actions since "revealed" in the recent week(s), it will not be beneath their attempts to. It all points to a deliberate "So What Can YOU Do About It?" So who is the bigger and more effective "bully" here? The assumtion could go both ways, depending on your point of pespective.

"Emotion" aside, it all seems to prove a "business" side of the situation - even without the physical participation of the girls themselves (for the time being) - they do own the "LOONA" brand, and have rights to the songs recorded, and can do with them whatever they please. With all the media play and media interest, folks will be curious about the situation - a "newsworthy" mention alongside Lee Seung-gi vs Hook Entertainment, and Omega X vs Spire Entertainment - plus the public ousting of Chuu and the subsequent response. Regardless "truth" or vindictive actions/reactions, the publicity machine is on over-time, and eyes are on the situation. What better time to sell albums?

The comeback announcement looks to be a perfect buffer to both placate the casual fans (who put "music" over the welfare of the girls), and for likewise businesses to bank in on the awareness.

Only the fandom knows of what to expect from LOONA comebacks, but to the average Kpop listener or enthusiast? Everything looks par for course.

With a successful "world tour" behind them, how much can folks guarantee that the fans who attended the shows, will not end up buying the albums and merch, in the continuation to maintain their high and what they deem to be "support of LOONA"?

At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own choices and actions, and we/I can only trust in the respective fandoms around the world to have a clearer gauge on said fandoms, than BBC does. But also do not expect them to be "idiots" who don't know what they are doing, because I think they DO know, or at least attemtping to conduct "damage control", beyond what they might already have expected to happen... Am I giving them too much credit? Or are we under-estimating them?



On one end of the fandom, fans have selected to boycott sales and promotions (including unfollowing BBC socials), and on the other, there have been continued "engagement" with BBC socials, continuing to trend on Twitter, and provide eyeballs and curiosity to the situation. The ratio between the vocal naysayers versus the amount of "LIKES" for their social posts can be baffling, but would that equate to "sales"?

A aspect of the fandom is concerned with the plight of the girls, while there are people perhaps only in it for the music, which I do not suspect that the songs listed were sung by them (in previous recordings).

An "interesting" thought: That the continued engagement on socials are not necessarily all fans, as they could be anti-LOONA or haters, who might be relishing in and contributing to "the downfall of LOONA", regardless of the company situation. There might well be a silent few/many engaging in such promotions quietly behind-the-social-scene. I have chosen not to use the term "Orbits" (the chosen fandom name for LOONA) in this blogpost, because I do not trust the radar of conspiracy buzzing in the ether ~ LOL

It remains to be seen if these folks will physically plonk down cash to buy the albums, to support their cause leading to the "downfall of LOONA". Would be utterly tragic if this came to fruition though. I would not be surprised if "manipulated-purchases" are utiilized to drum up the stats, but of course that is all "groundless speculations".

MISGUIDED INTENTIONS
Bad Actors could easily hide themselves within the fold, by tweeting support, and purposefully sowing discord and chaos amongst other fandoms. I am in neither parties to adequately support my assumptions though.

But I do not understand why folks would continue to tag @loonatheworld in their "anti-BBC tweets", unless it is to intentionally inform BBC of what is happening. "Boycotting" is one thing, a media-blackout is another aspect that is wholly impossible to do, but it can still be mitigated or minimised. It's like you are planning a revolt, and yet you tag the people you are revolting against?

I always disagree with Taiwan daytime dramas, where the "victims" of the show tells the "villains" exactly what they will do to them next, before they do it ~ LOL (Mum like to watch, I have no say in the matter lol).

WHO SCARED WHO?
At this point in time, do you think there is any conceivable reason the company would be "fearful" of the fandom? "Pettiness", "Vindictive" and "Shrewd Business-making" is not mutually exclusive. It might not be a "100% Slam Dunk" at the end of the day, but neither will it be a "Zero Sum Game".

How Chuu has been treated even before her public ousting, being ostracised by the company, is now seen in reversal with the supposedly 9 members who had rumoured to filed the injunction, where instead of putting them on ice, they are now put on blast, very publicly too.

Will the music industry, and non-Orbit KPOP-loving or even pedestrian public deem them "unprofessional" and "irresponsible"? They might shake their heads in solidarity and tsk in whispers, but in the end, "business is business", isn't it? Hence the "loophole" I speculated in the timeline leading to the comeback, coinciding with the period of the supposed injunction(s). I really need some lawyers or folks knowledgable in this aspect to educate us though...

COMING BACK VS COMEBACK
Is there any coming back from the current situation? The relationship between artists and company is already tainted, and it will be "power" that rules what happens next, not "empathy" much less "sympathy".

Irate fans might scream "Shameless Cashgrab", and it all could indeed be a last ditch attempt to make bank, be it to fund their own opposition to said injunctions, or simply to strike while the iron is hot, and with attention on them. Not exactly a time to "go quietly into the night"...

BUSINESS AS USUAL
I have used the expression "Business as usual" a few times here. Beyond the bubble (and it IS a huge bubble surrounding the globe), we are fighting for the girls with forming a line, a border around what we assume to be the "truth" (some blatantly obvious, no fkn doubt), with emotions and empathy ... but what of everyone else? Do we even need anyone else? "Everyone" else?

For this blogpost, I'd actually delved into the music makers credited for the songs, and in most of their social media postings, everyone is jazzed about their songs credited and coming out with the album release, and are actively promoting the album launch and times, either oblivious to the plight of the girls, or it is all "business as usual". I have since decided not to list their socials or song credits, and you can research for yourselves and discern the situation unfolding.

The next stage the fandom (casual or hardcore) has to battle, will be when the PREVIEW/HIGHLIGHT MEDLEY for [O] gets released. If folks could get over the first two promotional images released, that is...!




I noticed HyunJin is center in one of the images ... I cannot help but wonder: What if all this was a "condition" for them "leaving" the company? "Take these pictures for our next comeback release, then we will maybe let you go" ... just like how Chuu has been keeping quiet about her ousting, because it might have been a condition where she too would be "let go" is she agreed to keep quiet about the nonsensical reasons for her ousting ... like I need these conspiracies swimming about in my brains!!!!!

The nine girls keeping quiet does not help, but neither do I want to hear from them anything that would jeopardise their careers. It is not their burden to bear, but alas the company has decided to abandon the fans by openly waging war with the fandom, while shoving the carrot in our noses (That MonoTree song credit tho), and I fear some will take the bait, the question is "How Many Will?"

UPDATED 15.12.2022
In what might be the "clearest" indication of their current situation with BBC thus far, take note of this (translated) line written within member HaSeul's message/"Letter" to Orbits for #6yearswithHaseul (from the official #이달의소녀 fancafe): "I trust that Orbits know that I cannot say anything right now". = Now we know that they are intentionally keeping quiet. The faces in the images reveal tell a whole other saddening story now .... :(



I find it exceedingly hard to enjoy the music now, and it certainly has affected me more than I ever expect it to, or allow it to. And I don't appreciate that at all, selfishly speaking, and that matters too. I might not be able to affect others, but I can at least manage how I feel, no? And right now I feel angry, frustrated and saddened at the fkdup situation unfolding, unable to hold on to the joy of listening to LOONA I so proudly exclaim in this blog.

Regardless, KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED; JEON HEE-JIN, KIM HYUN-JIN, CHO HA-SEUL, IM YEO-JIN, WONG KAHEI, KIM JUNG-EUN, JEONG JIN-SOL, CHOI YE-RIM, HA SOO-YOUNG, KIM JI-WOO, PARK CHAE-WON, and SON HYE-JU! Hwaiting!

Andy





UPDATED December 22, 2022: The Comeback is "postponed indefinitely".

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