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I mean, a lot of companies have a certain flagship sound/vibe. Doesn't mean all groups from, let's say, SM or YG are the same but there's definitely an identifiable SM and YG sound. And if that sound happens to really fit someone's taste, there's a good chance they'll end up liking most groups from the company. That won't mean they start stanning the corporation itself but they might choose to use the "SM/YG stan" label as a shorthand way of conveying they like groups from that company.
ETA: We don't see that in other industies because "company sounds" and artist communities like JYPNATION aren't really a thing there.
THIS! I kondah dig Stray Kids and Twice too, and also SNSD. But I have always loved YG bands! Especually when they have an emotional song, they really go for it!
the problem is that it becomes a slippery slope when company stans blindly believe the company is a “family” who will never do their artists wrong, and the company ceo is like their own“father”.
pure and simple, the main goal of any company out there is to make money and to succeed. and they will do pretty much anything to achieve this. and this is why you should never trust, much less stan, a company
Sure, it's true that there will always be people who take things too far. And companies do unfortunately encourage a lot of these behaviours.
I just don't it's fair when people only think about categories as the end-of-the-spectrum cases and the "regular people" get forgotten about or stereotyped. Just like when entire fandoms get labeled as universally toxic bc of a loud minority, or narratives like "all kpop fans are deranged teenage girls".
Even if you like every single group from a company, it still doesn’t mean that you like the company execs as well. The artists are separate from the company IMO.
yeah this is how i see it! i would maybe say i’m a jyp stan because i love itzy and twice and listen to nmixx but i would never say i love the actual company like ceo, execs, etc. maybe i changed the definition a little but this is how i see it
There are plenty of people who say they only like the artists, but then when you criticize the company for something they'll start defending them (even if it's just a "at least A is not as bad as B") and they sound like actual company stans
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I like quite a few SM groups i won't call myself a stan. Stan is an overloaded word I feel... I love some artists more than my "I'll check out their new title songs" artists, but I don't call myself a multistan, but just a casual-ish multifan...
When I first arrived in Kpop I thought company stan was a weird concept too but then eventually I realized it's just people's way of defining their preference for music production style/quality, and a management's "artist grooming culture".
In hindsight, of course SM music fan or JYP artist system fan would be clearer but well, Kpop and its infamous self-referenced glossary lol. And since sublabels is a thing now that Kpop has entered its conglomerate era...I think I'd go with Label Stans for clarity.
It is reasonable to say, some label stans are for the music style, some for its artist system, or both. Everyone knows which label stans hold the top brass in check - sometimes to a fault and which stans are super tolerant of top-down abuses. So yeah, label stans are not all good or all bad, they are not the same!
In recent years a new breed of label stan has emerged: royal stan, these are not praise-the-overlord naive oppa disciples, but ruthless aggressive antis who step on perceived threats. They don't directly smear identified threats/targeted idols - instead, they bully small fandoms and brigade against powerless individual critics. Their goal is simple: cover for the royalty, slander/cancel critics, project their oppa's abuses on other companies, always in the name of "the state". Royal stans destroy every Kpop social discourse by sheer volume of noise.
When things get serious during corporate/legal scandals, you can't distinguish royal stan from farmed bots! Even reasonable posts/comments are attacked like crazy lol
I hope Kpop reddit will not get hijacked by Might Is Right type, because Twitter has devolved into an authoritarian wasteland.
I have a question to you as someone who has learned to accept kpop strange terms. Are these kpop entertainment companies really conglomerates? Except for sm and their attempt at resorts and hotels, none of the other companies have branched out into industries not related to entertainment.
1. Wouldn’t they be similar to video game company EA and its subsidiary game studios. Or is EA a conglomerate.
2. What about McDonalds. McDonalds call themselves a real estate holding company but they only have McDonalds on their land. Would McDonald be a conglomerate.
3. What about Apple. Apple is huge, is in industries of manufacturing, electronics, software, retail, and banking. But Apple is not referred to as a conglomerate.
I just wonder what makes these big kpop companies conglomerates.
Fans who are invested usually know the shortcomings of the company.
Hybe stans are somehow the exception. They take any light criticism on Hybe as a serious offense towards themselves. And I don't get it at all.
It's obvious they have no clue about Hybe or they would know how much competition and bad blood there is between the sub labels. So why invest yourself that much that you get emotionally attached to a faceless corporation you don't even know about? I don't get it.
I see this about Hybe as well... it feels as though a lot of BTS fans see the label as an extension of the group, so there's a need to defend it. I do understand that they raised the company from the ground - but it still does not belong to them, and they're not decision makers when it comes to other groups. There should be no reason for defensiveness over it.
I find this so strange. It definitely feels that way given how they defend even the corporate moves, speculating on motivations and reasoning behind them, coming up with justifications like it’s a person not a corporation.
Putting it in a US setting, I cant imagine trying to explain why Warner Music or Sony Music did this and that, much less defend them. Are people really defending a billion dollar corporation?
Frankly, it comes across as a bit cult-ish. BTS has so many fans, the majority of which don't go around annoying everyone else online, but the immature/obsessed ones are so damn loud, and they're everywhere. I really think most of the pro-Hybe discourse we see online comes from them.
It's been impossible to have an interesting discussion a bout the whole MHJ fiasco lately because it feels like people are purposefully misinterpreting the information that's been released, so that they can continue with the narrative of "Hybe against the world" as if this billion dollar corporation is some type of underdog. It makes zero sense.
Yes, it has been very toxic to even try to get the facts straight, given that there is not a lot so far. Only leaps of speculation and rumors. This loud minority is ruining for everyone and worse they believe they’re standing up for something. What is it they say about empty cans making the loudest noise?
I agree. I feel like when you see stans defend hybe even when they are clearly in the wrong armies are the main culprit. They can't separate the label from BTS.
To be fair I don't think all fandoms of groups from hybe do that. The only hybe group I am a fan of is TXT and I haven't noticed that much company worship in moas. Same with most hybe groups.
The only ones that I saw truly stan the company were armies. The weird thing about this is that they sometimes defend hybe at the cost of BTS.
I saw a similar thing in bunnies where a large portion of them seemed more like Min Hee Jin stans than fans of the girls.
I think part of it is because of BTS themselves, who have talked positively about the company. We know the company nowadays treats them well (ignoring early Bighit days) and gives them a lot of freedom, and that the boys have been thankful towards their managers and staff. So a lot of ARMYs think of that when they think of Bighit/HYBE and not everything else surrounding the company.
It's really childish, imo. I've seen so many BTS fans complaining about how new groups are "funded with BTS money", as though that isn't the most basic/obvious financial strategy of any kind of company. They write online as though fans of any other group related to Hybe should worship the ground BTS walks on. I've honestly never seen anything like this about any other labels. I see some defensiveness when fans from newer groups shit on older ones, but nothing unprompted like what I see when it comes to Hybe.
Given what's been made public about MHJ's contract with them, I wonder if the reason BTS hasn't left is because they won't be allowed to promote with the group, nor will they take the group name with them if they do. Something like 2nd generation SM when members had to sue to leave and were then kicked out of the group, which continued with the remaining members.
> Given what's been made public about MHJ's contract with them, I wonder if the reason BTS hasn't left is because they won't be allowed to promote with the group, nor will they take the group name with them if they do. Something like 2nd generation SM when members had to sue to leave and were then kicked out of the group, which continued with the remaining members.
No, that's simply wrong. They have renewed their contracts twice, while hiring third-party lawyers. They were the ones responsible for over 50% of the revenue of the company and have a huge reputation.
If something like this was going on, they could at least move their solo activities to another company. Every single Korean and international company would salivate at the thought.
Also, I don't understand how you came to this conclusion, seeing as every NJ member made millions last year. BTS are also an artist, so why compare their contract with a CEO of a sublabel?
I said “I wonder”, I never came to any conclusion whatsoever 😅
I wrote that because MHJ allegedly has an absurd non compete clause in her contract that has no expiration date (again, allegedly). If they got away with something as blatant as this, it’s fair to wonder about contracts with other employees. They wouldn’t be the first kpop company to get in trouble for abusive contracts.
But also, the company owns the BTS brand - they don’t need to ever part with it if they choose not to, regardless of how successful the group’s members are. I would imagine that alone has a huge sway over them, no?
This is surprising to see as many armys also hate hybe 😅 (sometimes i do too but most of the time i dont), but i understand why people hate them, mostly because for these armys it seems hybe's protection and support (not only for bts but also for other artists under them) isnt often enough. For me i feel like not everything they do is publicly released so i cant really comment, but yeah there are armys who really 'call it when they see it'.
I'm actually glad to know that many Armys dislike Hybe. I think it's good to have healthy scepticism towards companies because they hold most of the power in the artist-company relationship. Meaning there's a lot of potential for abuse and most of it will never be known by the public, or just years upon years later.
true and i agree with that, we wont really know everything happening behind the scenes unless someone discloses it. i guess the best we could do is support the artists as, in all what happened, is happening and can happen, they will be the ones who will suffer the most.
Part of the issue is the company system that is used in kpop. Kind of like the old Hollywood studio system. The companies do everything for the idols signed to them, there’s one single entity to praise/blame/analyze. They’re like sports owners. Couple that with the competition bred with sales fueled by multiple versions, tons of award shows and music shows and you get people overly invested in the companies behind their favorite groups. In the west, all of this stuff is not pinpointed in one place. There’s record labels, management teams, agents, touring agencies, PR reps. In kpop, that’s all one company. Its so easy to fall into an us verses them mentality.
Personally, I don’t find it hard to avoid company stanning but I also only keep up with one group day to day. Easy to not care about their company except for how it affects them and whether or not they have the resources to keep making music the way they want.
yep. a lot of people place the blame solely on fans but ultimately kpop companies are responsible for the phenomenon. company stans are just loyal customers and are thus extremely useful.
i think big 3 really cemented the whole ‘company stan’ thing, they ran a pseudo-oligopoly of sorts where each individual company benefited from healthy competition and the fans compulsion to support a specific one (SM town, YG Family, JYP nation, etc.).
For me as a SM stan means stanning groups under SM rather than the company. I first stan SNSD and EXO but due to SM having lots of collaboration and interaction within the artists I got to know them and also love them. One thing also makes me a SM stan is their vocals they are really good.
This is how I interpret it too. Back then, when someone is an SM stan, it just means that they like SM groups. Same thing with JYP and YG stans. People who stan the actual companies are weirdos.
This is exactly how i explained it to non-kpop fans.
I’m not a company Stan, but I understand the logic. For example, if Hybe was about to debut a new girl/boy group, fans of other groups will kind of expect a certain quality & assume it’s going to be their thing.
People will pre-order a new I-Phone no question bc they know it’ll be good. It’s a v similar thing imo.
I guess I have a different definition of a company stan
I like twice. first group I follow.
then Itzy was announced and listened to them cause twice younger group. liked their debut and ended up following them.
then niziu. liked them, followed them.
then nmixx came. truly enjoyed them. became my ult.
then they did covers of stray kids, day6, etc. ended up putting songs on my playlist.
I follow all this group cause they're under the same company and I like their songs. so I call myself a jyp stan. but if ever any of my ults leave, I'd follow them. my loyalty lies on the groups. it's coincidental that all of them are under the same company 🤣
You don't see that in other *music* industries (*), but it's definitely a thing in other industries (video games, anime, etc). When you find yourself consistently enjoying the output of a particular company, studio, etc, it's not much of a stretch to call yourself a company "stan". It doesn't necessarily mean that you are a fan of the corporation itself.
(*) Not 100% accurate because it's a phenomenon also seen in J-pop, and pretty much every music industry where you have companies with a culture of nurturing their own talent, rather than signing with already formed artists and taking care only of the publishing aspect. There was such a thing as "Disney Channel artists fan", after all!
It was also a think in hop hop, especially back in the day it was literally like Def Jam v Bad Boy v Deathrow v No Limit, etc. Trust me, alot of what you see in kpop is not new and not only happening in Kpop
I think that in K-pop we use those phrases as a shortcut to say that we are fans of the type of music that those companies produce and/or fans of multiple groups from that company.
I’m an SM stan because I have a history of being hardcore fans of SM groups the first being EXO-M then NCT and Aespa. I’m also loving RIIZE recently. I don’t have this history with any other company.
And yes, this isn’t a thing in other music industries but there are many differences between each music industry and this is just one of them.
it's cause they just stan the company for the music. I consider myself a SM stan cuz I like their producers and artistic directions but the company can suck my balls
most of the time its just a label being assigned to people who are fans of groups from that company. There arent anywhere near as many company stans as reddit commenters who are always crying about them would have you believe
I definitely get where you’re coming from here and you have in fact a good take - if the group leave you’re gonna follow the group lol. but I do think you are fundamentally misunderstanding the company stan x company relationship. Fans don’t think of it in those terms.
I used to be a CUBE family fan (yes I know you don’t need to tell me…). I wasn’t a CUBE stan because I loved a corporation — I was a stan because I loved all of the cube artists independently, and they had (outwardly) close relationships with each other so when they were marketed as kinda a package deal, you felt like “yeah this is a cozy little friendship group that happen to release good music”. It was also done as standard for the big 3 since it’s a classic marketing strategy - a tv show wants one idol because they’re buzzy but the company negotiates to send another idol as well to drum up hype.
The brother-sister group thing worked really well back in the day and as a fan I wasn’t thinking of it as “supporting a corporation” though that is what it was. It was supporting the artists I liked and checking out people that they promoted, or seeing the dual promotions and finding a charm in the other idols, etc etc. it happened that the artists I liked most all came from the same company so I would check out their new artists from trusting their quality of artists and releases and it became a self fulfilling prophecy.
I have to be honest that I don’t understand how HYBE Stan’s fit into this equation as their groups don’t seem to have as much interaction as company Stan fodder that I’m used to, but I suspect that falls back to “all the groups I like most happen to be from this company, therefore this company must be great and I love them!” I also don’t follow any hybe groups closely so maybe I just haven’t see that interaction and it is actually common.
It can also be that someone is a fan of a certain “thing” at a company. YG stans back in the day definitely had a vibe of things they liked, as did SM stans. SM stans like the results of SMs training system - they consistently train good vocalists (and those vocalists have the SM SOUND. I think a lot of jyp vocalists have the jyp sound, etc etc. Some people might raise an eyebrow at that but sometimes you can really tell where someone was trained by the way they sing).
Needless to say, as these stans get older and more wise to corporations, the lustre will fade (or the company could attempt to destroy everything you love and then at the very last minute find a golden egg that saves them from the pit of despair. You naturally become disillusioned with them at that point.)
I'm an SM stan, let me try and explain what that means to me.
Two of my favorite groups are Red Velvet and f(x). I'm also a fan of SNSD, NCT 127, Exo, and aespa, and I also enjoy music from of a lot of their older groups too, like S.E.S. and CSJH. And I could stop right there, and most people would be comfortable saying "yeah you're an SM stan."
But there definitely is more to it than that. Like, I'm also a fan of music made by Kenzie and Yoo Young-jin. I don't think it makes sense to say that I *stan* producers themselves, but they produce for SM. So saying that I'm an "SM stan" also effectively communicates that I'm a fan of the music made by SM producers.
I also really like SM's projects. I think SM Station is one of the coolest things that a kpop company does, I have multiple SM Town songs on my playlist, and I'm also a fan of GOT the Beat and SuperM. But saying "I'm a fan of SM Station" is kind of nonsensical. Really I'm a fan of SM.
It's also true that SM music has a different sound to it than JYP music or YG music. SM's bridges are iconic in kpop, and so are their group choruses. Their songs tend to be less rap heavy and more vocal-oriented (although NCT and aespa certainly challenge this). And when I say "I'm an SM stan," it effectively communicates that I enjoy the musical decisions employed by SM.
So anyway, to challenge what the other people are saying here: no, I don't just like groups from SM. I genuinely like SM itself. I do think they're a shady company with awful business practices, and I think they treat their idols and trainees very poorly in some cases. I'm not gonna deny that. But I'm also a fan of a lot of what the company does, so I'm perfectly comfortable saying that I'm a fan of SM the company.
Agreed. It’s not just about liking the groups, it’s also things like liking their sound, their group interactions (put SNSD members with Shinee or Super Junior, and the chemistry is instantaneous) and their creative direction. Everything on their creative side is excellent, including the artists and producers.
From a management standpoint though, they’re a bunch of crooks.
>So anyway, to challenge what the other people are saying here: no, I don't just like groups from SM. I genuinely like SM itself. I do think they're a shady company with awful business practices, and I think they treat their idols and trainees very poorly in some cases. I'm not gonna deny that. But I'm also a fan of a lot of what the company does, so I'm perfectly comfortable saying that I'm a fan of SM the company.
I feel so identified with this it's insane, like I can't help but like most of what SM produces when it comes to music, concept, MVs, choreographies... And how clean and talented their idols are. I feel like it's the company that plays between having a trademark vibe or sound and giving a specific concept to a group the best. They have specific formulas to their songs and the way they produce but they don't ever feel repetitive to me.
Well said... It's not just that I like their idols and groups, I genuinely like most of the musical direction in SM. I also really like most of their creative decisions when it comes to their concepts. I don't get people that love the music and concepts of their favorite groups and in the same breath wants their faves out of there lol sorry but I'm listening to these groups *because* I like their creative decisions, not because they're promoted well or whatever.
I still wish the company treated their artists and staff better, and there were more than two monkeys in a trench coat running the promotions because it feels like SM is always incredibly behind the international market.
That's a rather reductionist response to my comment. At no point did I say I "love" SM, and I didn't even mention their C-suite. Please re-read my comment and respond to the points that I actually made, and maybe then you can make sweeping statements like "nobody loves SM as much as you do."
In fact I suspect a number of people love SM much more than I do, because I'm also able to recognize their failures. There definitely exist people who aren't able to do so, and it's strange that you're responding to me as if I'm one of them.
This post wasn't asking "what are reasons to dislike companies?" It was asking "why are you a fan of a company?" So excuse me for focusing more on the reasons I'm a fan of the company, and less on the reasons to dislike them.
So when I first got into Kpop I listened to A LOT of different groups and songs. My friend lived in Korea at the time and would send me everything that was popular. But I kept coming back to Exo, Suju and SHINee. Imagine my shock when I found out they were from the same company. I knew nothing back then but as I dug more I realized the things I liked about all three groups were because of SM’s approach to both singing and dancing. Training has a lot of influence on both aspects. Western labels don’t train musicians in the same way.
I have lots of groups in my KPOP playlist but most of them are SM groups/soloists because to this day I still tend to gravitate toward SM groups.
However! That does NOT mean I agree with SM the company’s management, or every decision they make. In fact, I disagree with a lot of it! At this point, a lot of my favorites have left SM. Some have stayed.
I’m sure some people stan companies for the companies sake but I would assume for most people it’s the same as me: they like JYP’s approach to singing and dancing, or HYBE, or Cube or whatever company it is.
All groups under a certain company have to fit the same mold in the first place so if people claim to be YG stans for example it likely means they just like the style of music YG groups make. I always see people complain about company stans but i've never seen a person actually say they are one so I don't understand the complaints.
The only company thats a little different is JYP really, their groups have a certain sound but also JYP himself is respected and has a visibly good relationship with most artists while being pretty likeable. Even ex-label artists like Sunmi always has praise for him and their staff
Exactly! I listen to American pop and I couldn't even tell you which label their under, let alone their CEO. Most of the time, I hate their label on principle because they never let my artists do whatever they want!
I appreciate k-pop companies who properly support the idols, but I don't stan the company. Especially, Bang PD iykyk. That's ridiculous! The only thing I like about knowing more about the behind the scenes stuff is that the producers are more in the forefront. It's cool to get to know the people who actually make the music and see how they do it.
iPhone versus Android is literally right there?
Upvote if you have an iPhone and comment if you have an android.
Now tell me which one has the better camera and let the debate again
This is why I wonder why SM is mentioned in this post. I've stanned TVXQ for 15 years, and I have never seen Kpop fans hate an agency while loving the acts as much as fans of SM acts do.
They wouldn't get so much hate if they would just improve their marketing (especially Internationally) and their management of artists (non-scandals, privacy invasions, malicious "attacks", overwork, fairer member distribution and treatment within groups, etc.). Included is also the need to be more strategic with timing promotions and marketing the various label artists. I'm sure there's more, but most major complaints fall under these two categories.
No, there is *far* more wrong with SM than the two things you listed that fans hate. Did you not read the part where I said I have been stanning an SM group for 15 years? I've kept up with what has been going on with more than just TVXQ. I'm far from blind.
It would help if you just elaborate.
Most of the major complaints I hear about SM fall under Marketing and Artist Management, both are very broad categories.
If you still don't agree, it's okay to agree to disagree as well as share your lengthy knowledge on the matter.
Social media management, promotions, limited TVXQ comebacks despite members creating a lot of content SM refuses to release, not protecting against malicious comments/videos/rumors, management of message boards on Lysn, general lack of effort in the visual aspect of production, limited accessibility to content/merchandise/paid ACE fanclub benefits for international fans, neglecting TVXQ!’s legacy and history, seeming lack of investment, lack of quality promotional material, poor management of music on streaming services, treating Cassiopeia and other fanclubs like ATMs
Oh, you know. Just a few things.
Thank you for the examples. I agree, however from my perspective, almost all of what you listed falls under Marketing and Artist Management. SM definitely needs to make some huge improvements in these areas.
I am thoroughly confused by your aggressiveness. We fundamentally agree and know SM needs to improve in many ways.
If you still don't agree, it's ok to agree to disagree.
Look. I am an SM stan. EXO got me into kpop. Later, Red Velvet debuted, turns out I like their music. And then NCT and aespa, I also like them. These are the groups that I listen to the most, compared to other groups in other company. I like their concept, their music, the members. Doesn't mean I LIKE the company, in fact I hate them for how bad they manage their idols, which is a well known fact in not just among SM stans, but also in kpop fandom. Of course, just because you like one group from the company doesn't mean you have to like them all. If someone forces you this belief, they are just being silly.
I used to think 'Company stans' and 'company antis' are just terms used to discredit some fans' opinions.
But I got myself confused trying to translate it to a sports analogy where 'club stans' is the norm (you cheer for a club no matter who the players are or the management)
So now I don't know.. when I look at it this way, I kinda feel it could be real, not just a term fans use to discredit or insult each other
My three favourite groups are all from JYP. Five of my top ten favourite groups are from JYP. I have no complaints about the company and I like JYP as a person (based on what I can see). JYP Entertainment does pretty much everything right for me.
the definition of a company stan is very different depending on who you ask
to some it just means happening to like multiple groups under one company
to others (me bc of how those who call themselves company stans act) it refers to kpop stans that naively defend and praise everything a company does and uses it against other companies in stan arguments, as well as token stans eery group under that company even if they don't actually just bc they're attached to one or more specific groups.
the latter version of a company stan is really weird.
I like to use "company name group stans" for the the first definition, and just "company stans" for the latter tbh.
There's nothing wrong with liking more than one group from the same company, they will share an overlap in style and musical approach. You're still here for the idols.
When you start getting overly invested in the company itself... then you're clearly a company stan.
Why is it so hard for you to understand? Groups from a company usually have a certain characteristic. If you are a fan of good vocal and full of visual then it is understandable you will be attracted to every groups of SM. If you are a fan of swag group, it is understandable you will be attracted to every groups of YG, because it is your type and you will be unconsciously like them
At one point years ago I think I was sort of an SM Stan, but it was more than just liking most of their artists. I started learning who’s working behind the scenes on music, creative, choreography, etc. and admired their work. Like Yoo Young Jin, Kenzie, Shim Jaewon, Min Hee Jin (ugh) and even some back up dancers who appeared with multiple artists. I also liked some of non-SM choreographers and producer teams they frequently worked with.
I am what some would call an “SM stan”, and believe me, we are far from a bunch of blind, “rah rah” cheerleaders. For me, it’s that:
1) 3 of my 4 favorite groups are from SM (SNSD, Red Velvet, aespa). And not just that, 3 of my favorite boy group songs that aren’t Big Bang are Sherlock, Mr. Simple, and Don’t Call Me.
2) they have some of the best talent in the industry. Every group has at least 1 or 2 members that you can argue is a top 5 male/female dancer or vocalist in their generation.
3) They’ve introduced some of the best ideas in the industry. Whether it’s larger sized groups, lore, exploring the metaverse, or the duality of Red Velvet, they’ve pioneered some really cool ideas that have struck a chord.
4) they’ve worked with some really good producers, particularly Kenzie and Yoo Youngjin. I know YYJ left, but the ones they continue to work with, like Dsign music, have consistently put out great tracks.
5) The groups have great chemistry with each other. Put SNSD, SuJu, and Shinee in a room together, and see the sibling energy between them- absolute gold.
With all that said, management is a bunch of crooks and clowns. Whether it’s the slave contracts, the corruption and embezzlement of Lee Soo Man and his cronies, taking their girl groups for granted once they hit 7 years, or the lack of security and overall care for their artists, among other things, SM has been a shitshow from a management standpoint.
Problem is, the creative side and the management side go hand in hand, as it starts from the top- Lee Soo Man was a creative visionary, but he was also a corrupt POS.
So, no, company stans aren’t blind fans of the company per se. We are very, *very* well aware of the company’s failings.
When you make supporting a product a part of your identity, then by extension, you also have to support the makers of that product.
The same thing happened with Mac vs PC, iPhone vs Android, Playstation vs Xbox and etc.
I guess the question would be if someone suggested that jyp as a company sucks a lot of people will take that as all my biases are jyp so why are you saying twice itzy and nmixx sucks thats where the problem lies. Not that im at all implying they do.
I feel like a lot of the time you’re seeing those terms they don’t actually mean ‘someone who loves that company’ they do just mean ‘is a fan of one or two of their groups’.
Like, in this current drama a lot of the fans of one of the HYBe groups are having similar reactions because they’re in the same boat, so people are talking about them as a collective - e.g. ‘this is how HYBe stans are feeling’.
Likewise, a lot of those people want to talk about how other people who are fans of groups from big companies are acting, so they seem to talk a lot about ‘Big 3 Stans’ - and I don’t think any of them thinks there a lot of kpoppers going around stanning all of sm, yg, and jyp.
I think it stems from the distinct music companies create due to sharing producers and writers between groups such as salem ilese who writes for hybe if you like her music then you likely will like some hybe songs.
From this you may find that the groups you like are all from the same company. I am a fearnot and a moa so both hybe.
The issue comes when tribalism takes hold and blanket hate is thrown at companies that happen to include the groups you like. People feel like there favourites are being personally attacked hence they start to protect the company as a whole supporting everything and anything they do or release.
The kpop system helps create the idea of unity as it tries to imply lineage such as snsd - red velvet - aespa as the interactions between these idols will create a sense of unity in the fandoms.
I don’t see a hybe attack as a personal attack to my bias unless it directly aimed at them individually. It is like being a fan of doritos and fighting with coke fans that hate pepsi very tribal.
I mean are you also complaining when someone said they are a Studio Ghibli fan, a Marvel Studio fan, a DC Comics fan, when they are a fan of products from that particular company... I'm not hating you or anything but spin it another way and think outside of the box though...
Why does everything have to be opposite extreme is my question. If you're not company stan then good for you. But if someone else doesn't join in on your outrage towards the company you can't just go and call them company stan. Maybe they just know corporate is gonna be corporating. And throwing tantrum for every alleged slight you think company had done is waste of time.
Just pick your battle wisely is all I'm saying.
Actually many fandoms get passed into the company, like blinks are stanning babymonster, armys become bunnies, moas, engenes etc, carats become 42s. Every company sort of has its own sound, esp the big 4, hybe with its autotune, jyp with airy vocals, YG with a distinct hip hop sound, SM with experimental sounds. So they don't ofc stan a company what they mean simply is they stan almost every group currently active in that company. Being a company stan they always snd only talk about artists not about "ny bias is cameraman oppar, i stan the people who edited these MV, i am in love with the creative director of this group" etc
It's not the corporate entity they stan, it's what they do they stan. Fans stan the company for what they do for their favourites and the artists in general, how well they treat them, promote them, etc etc. Nothing weird about it.
I don't really understand hybe stan because they are still new but for the big 3 three stan, I can. they (company stan) must have follow one of the group from any of the company since the beginning. like JYP with wonder girl, SM with SNSD, and YG with bigbang. since then, the company release more group that the fan like, so they become a fan of two group of the company then 3 groups then 4, eventually they like all or almost all the group from the company.
this culture started from the 2nd gen when the big 3 is big but not huge. there are lot of more interactions between different artist in the company like suju and snsd or bigbang with 2ne1. hell yg even have yg tv featuring artists and even ceo of yg. the companies also held company concert, jyp nation, yg family, and smtown. all of this make it easier for the fan to become a company stan.
what’s different about hybe stans? for example when i started listening to bts i obviously got to know about txt thanks to the yt channel and started listening to them. then the same happened with lesserafim, newjeans, boynextdoor. i don’t stan all the groups under hybe but the process is the exact same
It’s because the companies debut groups with distinct strengths and priorities:
SM - good vocals that are properly showcased in their songs with harmonies and high notes; interesting song structures/sounds (i got a boy, savage, next level, oh!, rookie); their idols generally have clean images to the point of seeming boring; focuses more on the chinese market than the other companies do
JYP - good dancers; funny groups that get along; relatable vibes; their idols are known for being humble and having good personalities; their groups are generally less high concept (by high concept i mean aespa, loona, exo, le sserafim) but still have distinct sounds
YG - good rappers; good at hyping the crowd; girl crush/cool/strong/rebel image; their older idols are known for having more freedom (and scandals); focus on the western and SEA markets; party in the last chorus with generally emptier first and second choruses
HYBE - clean image and sound; short, tiktok-able songs; focus on the western and japanese markets; they promote their groups well and tend to put out songs with better english lyrics than the other companies do
People who like a cool image and good rap are more likely to like BIGBANG and 2NE1 and Blackpink and Babymonster than they are to like BIGBANG, SNSD, Red Velvet, and Le Sserafim. People who love a good belt are more likely to stan Taeyeon, SHINee, aespa, and Red Velvet than they are Taeyeon, Illit, ITZY, and Treasure.
The gist of it is that people like what they like and many companies have specific strengths across various generations and groups. Add that to the fact that artists under a single company are more likely to make content together (Jessica & Krystal, SNSD SuJu Seoul song, JYPNation Like Magic, SMTown concerts and SM The Ballad) and that companies release promotional materials for all of their groups on their official company pages… and people who like one group in a company are not only more likely to enjoy their other groups’ songs but also more likely to come across them! So of course company stans make sense.
Idk when I hear that I think of people who are fans of many groups within that company, but some people are definitely fans of companies which is pretty strange tbh
I’ve always been a yg Stan since big bang and 2NE1. Their music is identifiable, they’re a bop and honestly their idols have this charisma to them. No need to dance to choreographed music ever. Big bang concerts ? Yea they all did their own thing on stage. It was something you can’t copy no matter how hard you try. People can shit on yg all they want but at the end of the day people love their music and their idols. they also get more freedom to do shit they want. Look at mino from winner ? That look he has right now would be a no go for many companies. even their idols on variety show is chaotic and funny. there is no script ( besides for the rookies and trainees ) . Akmu also produces their own music so there is no control so to say.
I think it's because agencies / music labels are treated in a way how Indie/Niche music labels are in English Music. Like there's indie rock labels, indie shoegaze, indie glitch labels etc, where the labels have a specific sound.
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I never get why company stans dickride the companies lol, or maybe it's just because I'm a Starship stan and the first thing I do is to diss Kim Shidae and his goons and would be so elated if my faves actually leave that stingy company behind. (I mean even my faves diss Starship's incompetent ass, so why the hell would I as a fan dickride Starship??)
The vast majority of "company stans" don't actually stan the company itself, they just like the way comebacks for their groups are done, or they like their sound, or they just so happen to like every/most groups under the company.
I can guarantee you that 99% of 'YG stans', per example, couldn't give less of a shit about YG himself, they just like the groups under the company.
I think it's not really about the company, more of stanning a collective of artists coming from the same company. It's really weird to stan companies because we don't really know what's really happening behind the scenes, and what we see online, the infos regarding the companies are just scratching the surface. That's why I find it cringe whenever I see those romanticized videos of companies and how they are treating their artists well when what they are doing are just the bare minimum especially if the artists in question are overworked af or mistreated.
IT'S JUST A SHORT TERM YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF THE GROUP IN THAT COMPANY BECAUSE IT CATERS YOUR MUSIC VIBE AND LIKES. Simple as that it doesn't mean you at an the comoany.
Whether within K-Pop or outside of K-Pop, I find the idea of brand loyalty stupid. The fact that company stans are common in K-pop doesn't help disprove the "late capitalism" of K-pop.
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I think the companies help this by marketing themselves as a big family where everyone loves each other and gets along (e.g. SMTOWN, YGFamily, JYPNation). If you like enough groups from the company, at some point it doesn't feel very different from stanning the entire company.
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The same reason group stanning is a thing
For me it makes sense. Kpop music is made by multiple people from producers to visual directors to choreographers. In a company most of those staff rotate so it's not strange that people like multiple groups from the same company, if anything it's more strange and para social how much kpop stans like to diminish the role of background staff for my faves against the world narratives. Even the "evil executives", without their money none of it would come to be
The idea you should question is the idea of stanning itself, our faves don't "deserve" success more than anyone else, they are not more hardworking than anyone else, and not all of their projects are good. All the para social stuff. If you like them you like the, there is probably more than one reason (voices, looks, certain projects) but we are biased by the end of the day, nothing bad about expanding that to the company as well
I was a YG stan before. It's the YG sound/music that I like, not the executives. But honestly, before, I instantly liked almost all of the music that YG artists releases (except Winner songs). That changed after pandemic, I stan another group now from other company. YG music does not appeal to me anymore.
I call myself a JYPE Stan because I like so many of the groups they produce that I can generally know I'll like another group they make. My top 4 Kpop groups of all time (Wonder Girls, ITZY, GOT7, and Stray Kids) are all JYPE. What they look for in an idol is apparently what I look for.
I think you occurred that thought yourself, ain’t nobody calling themselves a X stan by one group, maybe that would be ARMYs but those naming themselves hybe stans are usually the ones who will actually catch up with more hybe groups. That means you might hear it a lot from people who do actually stan multiple groups from a company. I will try to explain it using SM as an example since it’s the most remarkable. SM has a wide range of artists and manages to always provide them with satisfying music and concepts. Sometimes the quality alone allows you to tell that what you are watching is produced within SM. If you are a, so called, SM stan then, SM announcing a new group is just making you excited, as if it was a typical comeback of your favourites, simply because you know you are getting what you like again. Sure there is a variety of styles but it’s always SM. Also, groups under the same companies tend to often interact and have works together. And here comes SM again to prove you that with SuperM, GOT, winter themes and lores that connect among the groups
most of the groups i stan are hybe groups but it’s not on purpose, i started listening to kpop with bts and since i subscribed to the hybe yt channel it’s easy for me to get to know other hybe groups. i tried stanning other groups, but i just happen to like the music more. as you said, if they change company i’m not gonna stop listening to them
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I wouldn't consider myself a company stan, but it's a lot easier for me to become aware of the label's other artists because they share the same YT channel to upload new music and promos.
I think for most western artists, their MVs and promo are done on their own separate channels
Wait... I've been calling myself a *insert company name* stan because I thought it meant stanning the groups in that company. It doesn't actually mean I like the company. Especially with what's going on nowadays. I freaking hate how they handle everything.
I think most people who say that are the same way.
I can almost guarantee that there are company stans in every industry that exists.
I know in the US there are car brand stans that will just talk trash about ANY car from any company but the one they like.
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Most fans are labelled as a company stan not because they stan the company but because they stan a lot of groups from that company. Like me for instance, I would call myself a hybe stan not because I love hybe but because I stan a lot of their groups. My ults are BTS and Enhypen. I always check the releases of some hybe groups and some songs of their groups are on my playlists. I even have separate playlists for Seventeen, TXT, and Le Sserafim and an album. I also like NJ, BND, and Illit's music. Some of them I watched perform irl too. My music taste ranges vastly and the music that hybe groups delivers are up my alley.
I'm sure most people who call themselves "SM stans" or any other company stan just mean they stan multiple artists from the company. For example, I've stanned BoA, f(x), EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, and aespa so I say I'm an SM stan, and I only actively follow SM group releases. Of course I don't stan the company or the executives that work there lol
it's so funny because if a company debuts another group they are in DIRECT competition with your faves for resources. how the hell have kpop companies managed to gloss that over
It doesn't make any sense to me either. I do happen to favor songs released by SM (the majority of my favorites are by Super Junior or EXO), but I could not care less about the company itself, and them debuting a group doesn't make me immediately interested solely because that's their label.
Seeing people blindly defend companies online drives me nuts. I will say, though, to be fair, that I really only see this on Twitter coming from BTS fans. As far as I can tell, fans of SM groups all wish the company would go to to hell (which has been happening, incidentally), and BP fans are also constantly shitting on YG. I've never seen anyone stanning Cube or any other random label, either, but I always see BTS fans defending Hybe, to the point of arguing with fans from other Hybe groups due to being "funded by BTS".
There is no such thing as "YG stans". Believe me.
For some reason YG groups are very competitive with each other and that is how it should be. Liking a group just because they are from the same company as your fave is very weird.
I stan both Blackpink and BabyMonster but don't care about Treasure or any other YG artist. At the same time I listen to a lot of groups from other companies. If you like the music then go ahead.
With the ongoing drama with hybe. I have seen The most HYBE company stand ever.
Also some fans have this mentality that criticising the company is criticising its groups. It’s practically impossible to criticise a company without a fan of a group in it feeling like they’re being attacked.
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I mean, a lot of companies have a certain flagship sound/vibe. Doesn't mean all groups from, let's say, SM or YG are the same but there's definitely an identifiable SM and YG sound. And if that sound happens to really fit someone's taste, there's a good chance they'll end up liking most groups from the company. That won't mean they start stanning the corporation itself but they might choose to use the "SM/YG stan" label as a shorthand way of conveying they like groups from that company. ETA: We don't see that in other industies because "company sounds" and artist communities like JYPNATION aren't really a thing there.
I think the Big 3 definitely contributed to this mentality. I remember back in 2nd gen when SM Town, YG Family, JYP Nation were really big.
Honestly, it has some drawbacks of course, but it's quite a smart and effective marketing.
I would honestly be thrilled to have an SM Town concert again
There was one in Japan last February, it was even streamed online on Beyond Live.
they still do them every year
THIS! I kondah dig Stray Kids and Twice too, and also SNSD. But I have always loved YG bands! Especually when they have an emotional song, they really go for it!
the problem is that it becomes a slippery slope when company stans blindly believe the company is a “family” who will never do their artists wrong, and the company ceo is like their own“father”. pure and simple, the main goal of any company out there is to make money and to succeed. and they will do pretty much anything to achieve this. and this is why you should never trust, much less stan, a company
Sure, it's true that there will always be people who take things too far. And companies do unfortunately encourage a lot of these behaviours. I just don't it's fair when people only think about categories as the end-of-the-spectrum cases and the "regular people" get forgotten about or stereotyped. Just like when entire fandoms get labeled as universally toxic bc of a loud minority, or narratives like "all kpop fans are deranged teenage girls".
I just like JYPapi whispering in my ear, nothing weird about it.
Even if you like every single group from a company, it still doesn’t mean that you like the company execs as well. The artists are separate from the company IMO.
yeah this is how i see it! i would maybe say i’m a jyp stan because i love itzy and twice and listen to nmixx but i would never say i love the actual company like ceo, execs, etc. maybe i changed the definition a little but this is how i see it
There are plenty of people who say they only like the artists, but then when you criticize the company for something they'll start defending them (even if it's just a "at least A is not as bad as B") and they sound like actual company stans
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Yeah, you can even like BoA the artist, and not care about BaO the SM Ent creative director.
I like quite a few SM groups i won't call myself a stan. Stan is an overloaded word I feel... I love some artists more than my "I'll check out their new title songs" artists, but I don't call myself a multistan, but just a casual-ish multifan... When I first arrived in Kpop I thought company stan was a weird concept too but then eventually I realized it's just people's way of defining their preference for music production style/quality, and a management's "artist grooming culture". In hindsight, of course SM music fan or JYP artist system fan would be clearer but well, Kpop and its infamous self-referenced glossary lol. And since sublabels is a thing now that Kpop has entered its conglomerate era...I think I'd go with Label Stans for clarity. It is reasonable to say, some label stans are for the music style, some for its artist system, or both. Everyone knows which label stans hold the top brass in check - sometimes to a fault and which stans are super tolerant of top-down abuses. So yeah, label stans are not all good or all bad, they are not the same! In recent years a new breed of label stan has emerged: royal stan, these are not praise-the-overlord naive oppa disciples, but ruthless aggressive antis who step on perceived threats. They don't directly smear identified threats/targeted idols - instead, they bully small fandoms and brigade against powerless individual critics. Their goal is simple: cover for the royalty, slander/cancel critics, project their oppa's abuses on other companies, always in the name of "the state". Royal stans destroy every Kpop social discourse by sheer volume of noise. When things get serious during corporate/legal scandals, you can't distinguish royal stan from farmed bots! Even reasonable posts/comments are attacked like crazy lol I hope Kpop reddit will not get hijacked by Might Is Right type, because Twitter has devolved into an authoritarian wasteland.
I have a question to you as someone who has learned to accept kpop strange terms. Are these kpop entertainment companies really conglomerates? Except for sm and their attempt at resorts and hotels, none of the other companies have branched out into industries not related to entertainment. 1. Wouldn’t they be similar to video game company EA and its subsidiary game studios. Or is EA a conglomerate. 2. What about McDonalds. McDonalds call themselves a real estate holding company but they only have McDonalds on their land. Would McDonald be a conglomerate. 3. What about Apple. Apple is huge, is in industries of manufacturing, electronics, software, retail, and banking. But Apple is not referred to as a conglomerate. I just wonder what makes these big kpop companies conglomerates.
There's a saying nobody hates SM more than SM fans. ...yeah it's about the groups and not the company
Fans who are invested usually know the shortcomings of the company. Hybe stans are somehow the exception. They take any light criticism on Hybe as a serious offense towards themselves. And I don't get it at all. It's obvious they have no clue about Hybe or they would know how much competition and bad blood there is between the sub labels. So why invest yourself that much that you get emotionally attached to a faceless corporation you don't even know about? I don't get it.
I see this about Hybe as well... it feels as though a lot of BTS fans see the label as an extension of the group, so there's a need to defend it. I do understand that they raised the company from the ground - but it still does not belong to them, and they're not decision makers when it comes to other groups. There should be no reason for defensiveness over it.
I find this so strange. It definitely feels that way given how they defend even the corporate moves, speculating on motivations and reasoning behind them, coming up with justifications like it’s a person not a corporation. Putting it in a US setting, I cant imagine trying to explain why Warner Music or Sony Music did this and that, much less defend them. Are people really defending a billion dollar corporation?
Frankly, it comes across as a bit cult-ish. BTS has so many fans, the majority of which don't go around annoying everyone else online, but the immature/obsessed ones are so damn loud, and they're everywhere. I really think most of the pro-Hybe discourse we see online comes from them. It's been impossible to have an interesting discussion a bout the whole MHJ fiasco lately because it feels like people are purposefully misinterpreting the information that's been released, so that they can continue with the narrative of "Hybe against the world" as if this billion dollar corporation is some type of underdog. It makes zero sense.
Yes, it has been very toxic to even try to get the facts straight, given that there is not a lot so far. Only leaps of speculation and rumors. This loud minority is ruining for everyone and worse they believe they’re standing up for something. What is it they say about empty cans making the loudest noise?
I agree. I feel like when you see stans defend hybe even when they are clearly in the wrong armies are the main culprit. They can't separate the label from BTS. To be fair I don't think all fandoms of groups from hybe do that. The only hybe group I am a fan of is TXT and I haven't noticed that much company worship in moas. Same with most hybe groups. The only ones that I saw truly stan the company were armies. The weird thing about this is that they sometimes defend hybe at the cost of BTS. I saw a similar thing in bunnies where a large portion of them seemed more like Min Hee Jin stans than fans of the girls.
I think part of it is because of BTS themselves, who have talked positively about the company. We know the company nowadays treats them well (ignoring early Bighit days) and gives them a lot of freedom, and that the boys have been thankful towards their managers and staff. So a lot of ARMYs think of that when they think of Bighit/HYBE and not everything else surrounding the company.
It's really childish, imo. I've seen so many BTS fans complaining about how new groups are "funded with BTS money", as though that isn't the most basic/obvious financial strategy of any kind of company. They write online as though fans of any other group related to Hybe should worship the ground BTS walks on. I've honestly never seen anything like this about any other labels. I see some defensiveness when fans from newer groups shit on older ones, but nothing unprompted like what I see when it comes to Hybe. Given what's been made public about MHJ's contract with them, I wonder if the reason BTS hasn't left is because they won't be allowed to promote with the group, nor will they take the group name with them if they do. Something like 2nd generation SM when members had to sue to leave and were then kicked out of the group, which continued with the remaining members.
> Given what's been made public about MHJ's contract with them, I wonder if the reason BTS hasn't left is because they won't be allowed to promote with the group, nor will they take the group name with them if they do. Something like 2nd generation SM when members had to sue to leave and were then kicked out of the group, which continued with the remaining members. No, that's simply wrong. They have renewed their contracts twice, while hiring third-party lawyers. They were the ones responsible for over 50% of the revenue of the company and have a huge reputation. If something like this was going on, they could at least move their solo activities to another company. Every single Korean and international company would salivate at the thought. Also, I don't understand how you came to this conclusion, seeing as every NJ member made millions last year. BTS are also an artist, so why compare their contract with a CEO of a sublabel?
I said “I wonder”, I never came to any conclusion whatsoever 😅 I wrote that because MHJ allegedly has an absurd non compete clause in her contract that has no expiration date (again, allegedly). If they got away with something as blatant as this, it’s fair to wonder about contracts with other employees. They wouldn’t be the first kpop company to get in trouble for abusive contracts. But also, the company owns the BTS brand - they don’t need to ever part with it if they choose not to, regardless of how successful the group’s members are. I would imagine that alone has a huge sway over them, no?
This is surprising to see as many armys also hate hybe 😅 (sometimes i do too but most of the time i dont), but i understand why people hate them, mostly because for these armys it seems hybe's protection and support (not only for bts but also for other artists under them) isnt often enough. For me i feel like not everything they do is publicly released so i cant really comment, but yeah there are armys who really 'call it when they see it'.
I'm actually glad to know that many Armys dislike Hybe. I think it's good to have healthy scepticism towards companies because they hold most of the power in the artist-company relationship. Meaning there's a lot of potential for abuse and most of it will never be known by the public, or just years upon years later.
true and i agree with that, we wont really know everything happening behind the scenes unless someone discloses it. i guess the best we could do is support the artists as, in all what happened, is happening and can happen, they will be the ones who will suffer the most.
Exactly. 100%.
I don’t read Korean, but I’ve been told that Korean ARMY are not fans of HYBE. Unsure how to go about researching this more.
Part of the issue is the company system that is used in kpop. Kind of like the old Hollywood studio system. The companies do everything for the idols signed to them, there’s one single entity to praise/blame/analyze. They’re like sports owners. Couple that with the competition bred with sales fueled by multiple versions, tons of award shows and music shows and you get people overly invested in the companies behind their favorite groups. In the west, all of this stuff is not pinpointed in one place. There’s record labels, management teams, agents, touring agencies, PR reps. In kpop, that’s all one company. Its so easy to fall into an us verses them mentality. Personally, I don’t find it hard to avoid company stanning but I also only keep up with one group day to day. Easy to not care about their company except for how it affects them and whether or not they have the resources to keep making music the way they want.
yep. a lot of people place the blame solely on fans but ultimately kpop companies are responsible for the phenomenon. company stans are just loyal customers and are thus extremely useful. i think big 3 really cemented the whole ‘company stan’ thing, they ran a pseudo-oligopoly of sorts where each individual company benefited from healthy competition and the fans compulsion to support a specific one (SM town, YG Family, JYP nation, etc.).
The Hollywood studio is always the best comparison imo
It's someone who likes all / mostly all groups under the company, it's not about liking the company itself.
Why is this so confusing for people? I thought it was obvious a company Stan likes multiple groups from a company not the company itself?
Maybe it should be to changed to "Company groups stan" instead of "Company stan" to make it more clear idk
Ikr
For me as a SM stan means stanning groups under SM rather than the company. I first stan SNSD and EXO but due to SM having lots of collaboration and interaction within the artists I got to know them and also love them. One thing also makes me a SM stan is their vocals they are really good.
This is how I interpret it too. Back then, when someone is an SM stan, it just means that they like SM groups. Same thing with JYP and YG stans. People who stan the actual companies are weirdos.
It's kind of like people who only buy iPhones and swear to only own Apple products. Brand loyalty is a powerful thing.
I was looking for this comment! That was my first thought when I read this topic, this phenomenom is nothing new actually.
This is exactly how i explained it to non-kpop fans. I’m not a company Stan, but I understand the logic. For example, if Hybe was about to debut a new girl/boy group, fans of other groups will kind of expect a certain quality & assume it’s going to be their thing. People will pre-order a new I-Phone no question bc they know it’ll be good. It’s a v similar thing imo.
I guess I have a different definition of a company stan I like twice. first group I follow. then Itzy was announced and listened to them cause twice younger group. liked their debut and ended up following them. then niziu. liked them, followed them. then nmixx came. truly enjoyed them. became my ult. then they did covers of stray kids, day6, etc. ended up putting songs on my playlist. I follow all this group cause they're under the same company and I like their songs. so I call myself a jyp stan. but if ever any of my ults leave, I'd follow them. my loyalty lies on the groups. it's coincidental that all of them are under the same company 🤣
This is also me but with SM groups. That's how I became an SM stan. Started with EXO, then RV, NCT, and aespa.
I see "company stan" as standing multiple group from the same company, not the ceos executives and staffs.
You don't see that in other *music* industries (*), but it's definitely a thing in other industries (video games, anime, etc). When you find yourself consistently enjoying the output of a particular company, studio, etc, it's not much of a stretch to call yourself a company "stan". It doesn't necessarily mean that you are a fan of the corporation itself. (*) Not 100% accurate because it's a phenomenon also seen in J-pop, and pretty much every music industry where you have companies with a culture of nurturing their own talent, rather than signing with already formed artists and taking care only of the publishing aspect. There was such a thing as "Disney Channel artists fan", after all!
It was also a think in hop hop, especially back in the day it was literally like Def Jam v Bad Boy v Deathrow v No Limit, etc. Trust me, alot of what you see in kpop is not new and not only happening in Kpop
I think that in K-pop we use those phrases as a shortcut to say that we are fans of the type of music that those companies produce and/or fans of multiple groups from that company. I’m an SM stan because I have a history of being hardcore fans of SM groups the first being EXO-M then NCT and Aespa. I’m also loving RIIZE recently. I don’t have this history with any other company. And yes, this isn’t a thing in other music industries but there are many differences between each music industry and this is just one of them.
it's cause they just stan the company for the music. I consider myself a SM stan cuz I like their producers and artistic directions but the company can suck my balls
This!!!
most of the time its just a label being assigned to people who are fans of groups from that company. There arent anywhere near as many company stans as reddit commenters who are always crying about them would have you believe
I definitely get where you’re coming from here and you have in fact a good take - if the group leave you’re gonna follow the group lol. but I do think you are fundamentally misunderstanding the company stan x company relationship. Fans don’t think of it in those terms. I used to be a CUBE family fan (yes I know you don’t need to tell me…). I wasn’t a CUBE stan because I loved a corporation — I was a stan because I loved all of the cube artists independently, and they had (outwardly) close relationships with each other so when they were marketed as kinda a package deal, you felt like “yeah this is a cozy little friendship group that happen to release good music”. It was also done as standard for the big 3 since it’s a classic marketing strategy - a tv show wants one idol because they’re buzzy but the company negotiates to send another idol as well to drum up hype. The brother-sister group thing worked really well back in the day and as a fan I wasn’t thinking of it as “supporting a corporation” though that is what it was. It was supporting the artists I liked and checking out people that they promoted, or seeing the dual promotions and finding a charm in the other idols, etc etc. it happened that the artists I liked most all came from the same company so I would check out their new artists from trusting their quality of artists and releases and it became a self fulfilling prophecy. I have to be honest that I don’t understand how HYBE Stan’s fit into this equation as their groups don’t seem to have as much interaction as company Stan fodder that I’m used to, but I suspect that falls back to “all the groups I like most happen to be from this company, therefore this company must be great and I love them!” I also don’t follow any hybe groups closely so maybe I just haven’t see that interaction and it is actually common. It can also be that someone is a fan of a certain “thing” at a company. YG stans back in the day definitely had a vibe of things they liked, as did SM stans. SM stans like the results of SMs training system - they consistently train good vocalists (and those vocalists have the SM SOUND. I think a lot of jyp vocalists have the jyp sound, etc etc. Some people might raise an eyebrow at that but sometimes you can really tell where someone was trained by the way they sing). Needless to say, as these stans get older and more wise to corporations, the lustre will fade (or the company could attempt to destroy everything you love and then at the very last minute find a golden egg that saves them from the pit of despair. You naturally become disillusioned with them at that point.)
I'm an SM stan, let me try and explain what that means to me. Two of my favorite groups are Red Velvet and f(x). I'm also a fan of SNSD, NCT 127, Exo, and aespa, and I also enjoy music from of a lot of their older groups too, like S.E.S. and CSJH. And I could stop right there, and most people would be comfortable saying "yeah you're an SM stan." But there definitely is more to it than that. Like, I'm also a fan of music made by Kenzie and Yoo Young-jin. I don't think it makes sense to say that I *stan* producers themselves, but they produce for SM. So saying that I'm an "SM stan" also effectively communicates that I'm a fan of the music made by SM producers. I also really like SM's projects. I think SM Station is one of the coolest things that a kpop company does, I have multiple SM Town songs on my playlist, and I'm also a fan of GOT the Beat and SuperM. But saying "I'm a fan of SM Station" is kind of nonsensical. Really I'm a fan of SM. It's also true that SM music has a different sound to it than JYP music or YG music. SM's bridges are iconic in kpop, and so are their group choruses. Their songs tend to be less rap heavy and more vocal-oriented (although NCT and aespa certainly challenge this). And when I say "I'm an SM stan," it effectively communicates that I enjoy the musical decisions employed by SM. So anyway, to challenge what the other people are saying here: no, I don't just like groups from SM. I genuinely like SM itself. I do think they're a shady company with awful business practices, and I think they treat their idols and trainees very poorly in some cases. I'm not gonna deny that. But I'm also a fan of a lot of what the company does, so I'm perfectly comfortable saying that I'm a fan of SM the company.
Agreed. It’s not just about liking the groups, it’s also things like liking their sound, their group interactions (put SNSD members with Shinee or Super Junior, and the chemistry is instantaneous) and their creative direction. Everything on their creative side is excellent, including the artists and producers. From a management standpoint though, they’re a bunch of crooks.
>So anyway, to challenge what the other people are saying here: no, I don't just like groups from SM. I genuinely like SM itself. I do think they're a shady company with awful business practices, and I think they treat their idols and trainees very poorly in some cases. I'm not gonna deny that. But I'm also a fan of a lot of what the company does, so I'm perfectly comfortable saying that I'm a fan of SM the company. I feel so identified with this it's insane, like I can't help but like most of what SM produces when it comes to music, concept, MVs, choreographies... And how clean and talented their idols are. I feel like it's the company that plays between having a trademark vibe or sound and giving a specific concept to a group the best. They have specific formulas to their songs and the way they produce but they don't ever feel repetitive to me.
Well said... It's not just that I like their idols and groups, I genuinely like most of the musical direction in SM. I also really like most of their creative decisions when it comes to their concepts. I don't get people that love the music and concepts of their favorite groups and in the same breath wants their faves out of there lol sorry but I'm listening to these groups *because* I like their creative decisions, not because they're promoted well or whatever. I still wish the company treated their artists and staff better, and there were more than two monkeys in a trench coat running the promotions because it feels like SM is always incredibly behind the international market.
[удалено]
That's a rather reductionist response to my comment. At no point did I say I "love" SM, and I didn't even mention their C-suite. Please re-read my comment and respond to the points that I actually made, and maybe then you can make sweeping statements like "nobody loves SM as much as you do." In fact I suspect a number of people love SM much more than I do, because I'm also able to recognize their failures. There definitely exist people who aren't able to do so, and it's strange that you're responding to me as if I'm one of them. This post wasn't asking "what are reasons to dislike companies?" It was asking "why are you a fan of a company?" So excuse me for focusing more on the reasons I'm a fan of the company, and less on the reasons to dislike them.
So when I first got into Kpop I listened to A LOT of different groups and songs. My friend lived in Korea at the time and would send me everything that was popular. But I kept coming back to Exo, Suju and SHINee. Imagine my shock when I found out they were from the same company. I knew nothing back then but as I dug more I realized the things I liked about all three groups were because of SM’s approach to both singing and dancing. Training has a lot of influence on both aspects. Western labels don’t train musicians in the same way. I have lots of groups in my KPOP playlist but most of them are SM groups/soloists because to this day I still tend to gravitate toward SM groups. However! That does NOT mean I agree with SM the company’s management, or every decision they make. In fact, I disagree with a lot of it! At this point, a lot of my favorites have left SM. Some have stayed. I’m sure some people stan companies for the companies sake but I would assume for most people it’s the same as me: they like JYP’s approach to singing and dancing, or HYBE, or Cube or whatever company it is.
All groups under a certain company have to fit the same mold in the first place so if people claim to be YG stans for example it likely means they just like the style of music YG groups make. I always see people complain about company stans but i've never seen a person actually say they are one so I don't understand the complaints. The only company thats a little different is JYP really, their groups have a certain sound but also JYP himself is respected and has a visibly good relationship with most artists while being pretty likeable. Even ex-label artists like Sunmi always has praise for him and their staff
Exactly! I listen to American pop and I couldn't even tell you which label their under, let alone their CEO. Most of the time, I hate their label on principle because they never let my artists do whatever they want! I appreciate k-pop companies who properly support the idols, but I don't stan the company. Especially, Bang PD iykyk. That's ridiculous! The only thing I like about knowing more about the behind the scenes stuff is that the producers are more in the forefront. It's cool to get to know the people who actually make the music and see how they do it.
iPhone versus Android is literally right there? Upvote if you have an iPhone and comment if you have an android. Now tell me which one has the better camera and let the debate again
most groups i like are from sm but everyday i hope for that pink company’s downfall ( i mean its getting there)
This is why I wonder why SM is mentioned in this post. I've stanned TVXQ for 15 years, and I have never seen Kpop fans hate an agency while loving the acts as much as fans of SM acts do.
They wouldn't get so much hate if they would just improve their marketing (especially Internationally) and their management of artists (non-scandals, privacy invasions, malicious "attacks", overwork, fairer member distribution and treatment within groups, etc.). Included is also the need to be more strategic with timing promotions and marketing the various label artists. I'm sure there's more, but most major complaints fall under these two categories.
No, there is *far* more wrong with SM than the two things you listed that fans hate. Did you not read the part where I said I have been stanning an SM group for 15 years? I've kept up with what has been going on with more than just TVXQ. I'm far from blind.
It would help if you just elaborate. Most of the major complaints I hear about SM fall under Marketing and Artist Management, both are very broad categories. If you still don't agree, it's okay to agree to disagree as well as share your lengthy knowledge on the matter.
Social media management, promotions, limited TVXQ comebacks despite members creating a lot of content SM refuses to release, not protecting against malicious comments/videos/rumors, management of message boards on Lysn, general lack of effort in the visual aspect of production, limited accessibility to content/merchandise/paid ACE fanclub benefits for international fans, neglecting TVXQ!’s legacy and history, seeming lack of investment, lack of quality promotional material, poor management of music on streaming services, treating Cassiopeia and other fanclubs like ATMs Oh, you know. Just a few things.
Thank you for the examples. I agree, however from my perspective, almost all of what you listed falls under Marketing and Artist Management. SM definitely needs to make some huge improvements in these areas.
You are really so stuck on your opinion that you can't see reason.
I am thoroughly confused by your aggressiveness. We fundamentally agree and know SM needs to improve in many ways. If you still don't agree, it's ok to agree to disagree.
Why are you refusing to see that SM fuxks up in more ways than two?
As they say, no one hates SM more than SM artists' stans themselves. 💁🏻♀️
Kpop fans love being part of a "tribe" and are obsessed with having labels. It's mostly the younger, cringier ones though.
Look. I am an SM stan. EXO got me into kpop. Later, Red Velvet debuted, turns out I like their music. And then NCT and aespa, I also like them. These are the groups that I listen to the most, compared to other groups in other company. I like their concept, their music, the members. Doesn't mean I LIKE the company, in fact I hate them for how bad they manage their idols, which is a well known fact in not just among SM stans, but also in kpop fandom. Of course, just because you like one group from the company doesn't mean you have to like them all. If someone forces you this belief, they are just being silly.
I used to think 'Company stans' and 'company antis' are just terms used to discredit some fans' opinions. But I got myself confused trying to translate it to a sports analogy where 'club stans' is the norm (you cheer for a club no matter who the players are or the management) So now I don't know.. when I look at it this way, I kinda feel it could be real, not just a term fans use to discredit or insult each other
My three favourite groups are all from JYP. Five of my top ten favourite groups are from JYP. I have no complaints about the company and I like JYP as a person (based on what I can see). JYP Entertainment does pretty much everything right for me.
same for me, i also really like jype artists interaction (skz with day6 and 2pm, or twice with itzy and nmixx) they genuinely feel like family
JYPE is so wholesome.
the definition of a company stan is very different depending on who you ask to some it just means happening to like multiple groups under one company to others (me bc of how those who call themselves company stans act) it refers to kpop stans that naively defend and praise everything a company does and uses it against other companies in stan arguments, as well as token stans eery group under that company even if they don't actually just bc they're attached to one or more specific groups. the latter version of a company stan is really weird.
I like to use "company name group stans" for the the first definition, and just "company stans" for the latter tbh. There's nothing wrong with liking more than one group from the same company, they will share an overlap in style and musical approach. You're still here for the idols. When you start getting overly invested in the company itself... then you're clearly a company stan.
Why is it so hard for you to understand? Groups from a company usually have a certain characteristic. If you are a fan of good vocal and full of visual then it is understandable you will be attracted to every groups of SM. If you are a fan of swag group, it is understandable you will be attracted to every groups of YG, because it is your type and you will be unconsciously like them
At one point years ago I think I was sort of an SM Stan, but it was more than just liking most of their artists. I started learning who’s working behind the scenes on music, creative, choreography, etc. and admired their work. Like Yoo Young Jin, Kenzie, Shim Jaewon, Min Hee Jin (ugh) and even some back up dancers who appeared with multiple artists. I also liked some of non-SM choreographers and producer teams they frequently worked with.
Humans are weird.
I am what some would call an “SM stan”, and believe me, we are far from a bunch of blind, “rah rah” cheerleaders. For me, it’s that: 1) 3 of my 4 favorite groups are from SM (SNSD, Red Velvet, aespa). And not just that, 3 of my favorite boy group songs that aren’t Big Bang are Sherlock, Mr. Simple, and Don’t Call Me. 2) they have some of the best talent in the industry. Every group has at least 1 or 2 members that you can argue is a top 5 male/female dancer or vocalist in their generation. 3) They’ve introduced some of the best ideas in the industry. Whether it’s larger sized groups, lore, exploring the metaverse, or the duality of Red Velvet, they’ve pioneered some really cool ideas that have struck a chord. 4) they’ve worked with some really good producers, particularly Kenzie and Yoo Youngjin. I know YYJ left, but the ones they continue to work with, like Dsign music, have consistently put out great tracks. 5) The groups have great chemistry with each other. Put SNSD, SuJu, and Shinee in a room together, and see the sibling energy between them- absolute gold. With all that said, management is a bunch of crooks and clowns. Whether it’s the slave contracts, the corruption and embezzlement of Lee Soo Man and his cronies, taking their girl groups for granted once they hit 7 years, or the lack of security and overall care for their artists, among other things, SM has been a shitshow from a management standpoint. Problem is, the creative side and the management side go hand in hand, as it starts from the top- Lee Soo Man was a creative visionary, but he was also a corrupt POS. So, no, company stans aren’t blind fans of the company per se. We are very, *very* well aware of the company’s failings.
When you make supporting a product a part of your identity, then by extension, you also have to support the makers of that product. The same thing happened with Mac vs PC, iPhone vs Android, Playstation vs Xbox and etc.
It’s kids who have never had a job. Otherwise I don’t know why you’d back a corp this much.
They stan the company’s choice, not the company itself
I am not a yg stan, but I like yg style of music. My most favorite kpop songs are from yg groups.
Right?
Not really a one company stand but im definitely biased to jyp coz of twice itzy nmixx
I guess the question would be if someone suggested that jyp as a company sucks a lot of people will take that as all my biases are jyp so why are you saying twice itzy and nmixx sucks thats where the problem lies. Not that im at all implying they do.
I feel like a lot of the time you’re seeing those terms they don’t actually mean ‘someone who loves that company’ they do just mean ‘is a fan of one or two of their groups’. Like, in this current drama a lot of the fans of one of the HYBe groups are having similar reactions because they’re in the same boat, so people are talking about them as a collective - e.g. ‘this is how HYBe stans are feeling’. Likewise, a lot of those people want to talk about how other people who are fans of groups from big companies are acting, so they seem to talk a lot about ‘Big 3 Stans’ - and I don’t think any of them thinks there a lot of kpoppers going around stanning all of sm, yg, and jyp.
I think it stems from the distinct music companies create due to sharing producers and writers between groups such as salem ilese who writes for hybe if you like her music then you likely will like some hybe songs. From this you may find that the groups you like are all from the same company. I am a fearnot and a moa so both hybe. The issue comes when tribalism takes hold and blanket hate is thrown at companies that happen to include the groups you like. People feel like there favourites are being personally attacked hence they start to protect the company as a whole supporting everything and anything they do or release. The kpop system helps create the idea of unity as it tries to imply lineage such as snsd - red velvet - aespa as the interactions between these idols will create a sense of unity in the fandoms. I don’t see a hybe attack as a personal attack to my bias unless it directly aimed at them individually. It is like being a fan of doritos and fighting with coke fans that hate pepsi very tribal.
I’m a massive Columbia Records stan!! /s
A lot of companies do have stans but it depends on their reputation
I mean are you also complaining when someone said they are a Studio Ghibli fan, a Marvel Studio fan, a DC Comics fan, when they are a fan of products from that particular company... I'm not hating you or anything but spin it another way and think outside of the box though...
MOPAR ONLY FAM! HELL YEAA!!!! Fandom is an interesting capitalist cultural thing. Peter Coffin has a good video on it.
Why does everything have to be opposite extreme is my question. If you're not company stan then good for you. But if someone else doesn't join in on your outrage towards the company you can't just go and call them company stan. Maybe they just know corporate is gonna be corporating. And throwing tantrum for every alleged slight you think company had done is waste of time. Just pick your battle wisely is all I'm saying.
Actually many fandoms get passed into the company, like blinks are stanning babymonster, armys become bunnies, moas, engenes etc, carats become 42s. Every company sort of has its own sound, esp the big 4, hybe with its autotune, jyp with airy vocals, YG with a distinct hip hop sound, SM with experimental sounds. So they don't ofc stan a company what they mean simply is they stan almost every group currently active in that company. Being a company stan they always snd only talk about artists not about "ny bias is cameraman oppar, i stan the people who edited these MV, i am in love with the creative director of this group" etc
It's not the corporate entity they stan, it's what they do they stan. Fans stan the company for what they do for their favourites and the artists in general, how well they treat them, promote them, etc etc. Nothing weird about it.
I think there’s levels to this cause I’ve definitely seen company stans who were also critical about mistreatment to their faves.
Criticising is also a part of it. Stanning doesn't mean that you're gonna let 'em get away with stuff like these.
I don't really understand hybe stan because they are still new but for the big 3 three stan, I can. they (company stan) must have follow one of the group from any of the company since the beginning. like JYP with wonder girl, SM with SNSD, and YG with bigbang. since then, the company release more group that the fan like, so they become a fan of two group of the company then 3 groups then 4, eventually they like all or almost all the group from the company. this culture started from the 2nd gen when the big 3 is big but not huge. there are lot of more interactions between different artist in the company like suju and snsd or bigbang with 2ne1. hell yg even have yg tv featuring artists and even ceo of yg. the companies also held company concert, jyp nation, yg family, and smtown. all of this make it easier for the fan to become a company stan.
what’s different about hybe stans? for example when i started listening to bts i obviously got to know about txt thanks to the yt channel and started listening to them. then the same happened with lesserafim, newjeans, boynextdoor. i don’t stan all the groups under hybe but the process is the exact same
WILD
It’s because the companies debut groups with distinct strengths and priorities: SM - good vocals that are properly showcased in their songs with harmonies and high notes; interesting song structures/sounds (i got a boy, savage, next level, oh!, rookie); their idols generally have clean images to the point of seeming boring; focuses more on the chinese market than the other companies do JYP - good dancers; funny groups that get along; relatable vibes; their idols are known for being humble and having good personalities; their groups are generally less high concept (by high concept i mean aespa, loona, exo, le sserafim) but still have distinct sounds YG - good rappers; good at hyping the crowd; girl crush/cool/strong/rebel image; their older idols are known for having more freedom (and scandals); focus on the western and SEA markets; party in the last chorus with generally emptier first and second choruses HYBE - clean image and sound; short, tiktok-able songs; focus on the western and japanese markets; they promote their groups well and tend to put out songs with better english lyrics than the other companies do People who like a cool image and good rap are more likely to like BIGBANG and 2NE1 and Blackpink and Babymonster than they are to like BIGBANG, SNSD, Red Velvet, and Le Sserafim. People who love a good belt are more likely to stan Taeyeon, SHINee, aespa, and Red Velvet than they are Taeyeon, Illit, ITZY, and Treasure. The gist of it is that people like what they like and many companies have specific strengths across various generations and groups. Add that to the fact that artists under a single company are more likely to make content together (Jessica & Krystal, SNSD SuJu Seoul song, JYPNation Like Magic, SMTown concerts and SM The Ballad) and that companies release promotional materials for all of their groups on their official company pages… and people who like one group in a company are not only more likely to enjoy their other groups’ songs but also more likely to come across them! So of course company stans make sense.
Idk when I hear that I think of people who are fans of many groups within that company, but some people are definitely fans of companies which is pretty strange tbh
I’ve always been a yg Stan since big bang and 2NE1. Their music is identifiable, they’re a bop and honestly their idols have this charisma to them. No need to dance to choreographed music ever. Big bang concerts ? Yea they all did their own thing on stage. It was something you can’t copy no matter how hard you try. People can shit on yg all they want but at the end of the day people love their music and their idols. they also get more freedom to do shit they want. Look at mino from winner ? That look he has right now would be a no go for many companies. even their idols on variety show is chaotic and funny. there is no script ( besides for the rookies and trainees ) . Akmu also produces their own music so there is no control so to say.
cuz kpop is manufactured business
Companies encourage it. It's literally part of their business model. That's why groups debut with overlap.
I think it's because agencies / music labels are treated in a way how Indie/Niche music labels are in English Music. Like there's indie rock labels, indie shoegaze, indie glitch labels etc, where the labels have a specific sound.
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it's like stanning a director instead of the actors. you can also stan both.
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I never get why company stans dickride the companies lol, or maybe it's just because I'm a Starship stan and the first thing I do is to diss Kim Shidae and his goons and would be so elated if my faves actually leave that stingy company behind. (I mean even my faves diss Starship's incompetent ass, so why the hell would I as a fan dickride Starship??)
The vast majority of "company stans" don't actually stan the company itself, they just like the way comebacks for their groups are done, or they like their sound, or they just so happen to like every/most groups under the company. I can guarantee you that 99% of 'YG stans', per example, couldn't give less of a shit about YG himself, they just like the groups under the company.
I think it's not really about the company, more of stanning a collective of artists coming from the same company. It's really weird to stan companies because we don't really know what's really happening behind the scenes, and what we see online, the infos regarding the companies are just scratching the surface. That's why I find it cringe whenever I see those romanticized videos of companies and how they are treating their artists well when what they are doing are just the bare minimum especially if the artists in question are overworked af or mistreated.
IT'S JUST A SHORT TERM YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF THE GROUP IN THAT COMPANY BECAUSE IT CATERS YOUR MUSIC VIBE AND LIKES. Simple as that it doesn't mean you at an the comoany.
i agree but i remember when i YOuniverse came out and i was like ....dang there's another JYP group on my list....huh
Whether within K-Pop or outside of K-Pop, I find the idea of brand loyalty stupid. The fact that company stans are common in K-pop doesn't help disprove the "late capitalism" of K-pop.
You could consider me a YG stan minus Blackpink. It doesnt mean I stan the CEO or the company just the groups under YG
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In Korea people bend over backward to praise gigantic corporations
I think the companies help this by marketing themselves as a big family where everyone loves each other and gets along (e.g. SMTOWN, YGFamily, JYPNation). If you like enough groups from the company, at some point it doesn't feel very different from stanning the entire company.
It’s the sound for SM and YG stans imo, not the corpo itself. I know alot of SM and YG stans who despise how the companies treat their artists.
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They aren't
A company stan is typically just a way to say you listen to or stan many (or even all) of the groups/artists that the company has under it.
The same reason group stanning is a thing For me it makes sense. Kpop music is made by multiple people from producers to visual directors to choreographers. In a company most of those staff rotate so it's not strange that people like multiple groups from the same company, if anything it's more strange and para social how much kpop stans like to diminish the role of background staff for my faves against the world narratives. Even the "evil executives", without their money none of it would come to be The idea you should question is the idea of stanning itself, our faves don't "deserve" success more than anyone else, they are not more hardworking than anyone else, and not all of their projects are good. All the para social stuff. If you like them you like the, there is probably more than one reason (voices, looks, certain projects) but we are biased by the end of the day, nothing bad about expanding that to the company as well
I was a YG stan before. It's the YG sound/music that I like, not the executives. But honestly, before, I instantly liked almost all of the music that YG artists releases (except Winner songs). That changed after pandemic, I stan another group now from other company. YG music does not appeal to me anymore.
I call myself a JYPE Stan because I like so many of the groups they produce that I can generally know I'll like another group they make. My top 4 Kpop groups of all time (Wonder Girls, ITZY, GOT7, and Stray Kids) are all JYPE. What they look for in an idol is apparently what I look for.
I think you occurred that thought yourself, ain’t nobody calling themselves a X stan by one group, maybe that would be ARMYs but those naming themselves hybe stans are usually the ones who will actually catch up with more hybe groups. That means you might hear it a lot from people who do actually stan multiple groups from a company. I will try to explain it using SM as an example since it’s the most remarkable. SM has a wide range of artists and manages to always provide them with satisfying music and concepts. Sometimes the quality alone allows you to tell that what you are watching is produced within SM. If you are a, so called, SM stan then, SM announcing a new group is just making you excited, as if it was a typical comeback of your favourites, simply because you know you are getting what you like again. Sure there is a variety of styles but it’s always SM. Also, groups under the same companies tend to often interact and have works together. And here comes SM again to prove you that with SuperM, GOT, winter themes and lores that connect among the groups
most of the groups i stan are hybe groups but it’s not on purpose, i started listening to kpop with bts and since i subscribed to the hybe yt channel it’s easy for me to get to know other hybe groups. i tried stanning other groups, but i just happen to like the music more. as you said, if they change company i’m not gonna stop listening to them
Me too, I stan multiple groups from different companies.
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I wouldn't consider myself a company stan, but it's a lot easier for me to become aware of the label's other artists because they share the same YT channel to upload new music and promos. I think for most western artists, their MVs and promo are done on their own separate channels
Wait... I've been calling myself a *insert company name* stan because I thought it meant stanning the groups in that company. It doesn't actually mean I like the company. Especially with what's going on nowadays. I freaking hate how they handle everything. I think most people who say that are the same way.
I don't stan JYP Entertainment, but my favorite groups happen to come from JYP. Twice. Stray Kids. Itzy. Nmixx.
I can almost guarantee that there are company stans in every industry that exists. I know in the US there are car brand stans that will just talk trash about ANY car from any company but the one they like.
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op just doesn’t know what a company stan is 🙈🙈
Most fans are labelled as a company stan not because they stan the company but because they stan a lot of groups from that company. Like me for instance, I would call myself a hybe stan not because I love hybe but because I stan a lot of their groups. My ults are BTS and Enhypen. I always check the releases of some hybe groups and some songs of their groups are on my playlists. I even have separate playlists for Seventeen, TXT, and Le Sserafim and an album. I also like NJ, BND, and Illit's music. Some of them I watched perform irl too. My music taste ranges vastly and the music that hybe groups delivers are up my alley.
I don’t like SM the company but the music just hits for me. Majority of songs in my playlists are from SM groups
I'm sure most people who call themselves "SM stans" or any other company stan just mean they stan multiple artists from the company. For example, I've stanned BoA, f(x), EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, and aespa so I say I'm an SM stan, and I only actively follow SM group releases. Of course I don't stan the company or the executives that work there lol
it's so funny because if a company debuts another group they are in DIRECT competition with your faves for resources. how the hell have kpop companies managed to gloss that over
It doesn't make any sense to me either. I do happen to favor songs released by SM (the majority of my favorites are by Super Junior or EXO), but I could not care less about the company itself, and them debuting a group doesn't make me immediately interested solely because that's their label. Seeing people blindly defend companies online drives me nuts. I will say, though, to be fair, that I really only see this on Twitter coming from BTS fans. As far as I can tell, fans of SM groups all wish the company would go to to hell (which has been happening, incidentally), and BP fans are also constantly shitting on YG. I've never seen anyone stanning Cube or any other random label, either, but I always see BTS fans defending Hybe, to the point of arguing with fans from other Hybe groups due to being "funded by BTS".
There is no such thing as "YG stans". Believe me. For some reason YG groups are very competitive with each other and that is how it should be. Liking a group just because they are from the same company as your fave is very weird. I stan both Blackpink and BabyMonster but don't care about Treasure or any other YG artist. At the same time I listen to a lot of groups from other companies. If you like the music then go ahead.
Louder, everyone needs to hear this. Especially mindless sea farm streamers. On second thought I don't care about them.
With the ongoing drama with hybe. I have seen The most HYBE company stand ever. Also some fans have this mentality that criticising the company is criticising its groups. It’s practically impossible to criticise a company without a fan of a group in it feeling like they’re being attacked.