Making a significant artist debut from a small to mid-sized agency is no simple feat. This is due to the significant discrepancies between such agencies and their larger counterparts, ranging from training systems to production environments and even post-debut promotion costs. Unlike the so-called 'golden spoon' singers who attract attention from debut just because they are signed with large agencies, singers from smaller agencies are often not afforded the same opportunities. It's for this reason that FIFTY FIFTY, who made a record-breaking Billboard debut shortly after their initiation under the rookie agency Attrakt Entertainment, is hailed as a 'miracle of a mid-tier idol'.

The future was looking bright for FIFTY FIFTY, until the discord between their agency, Attrakt, and their distribution company, Warner Music Korea, came into play.

On the 23rd, Attrakt announced a strong response to external forces attempting to poach members of FIFTY FIFTY. Attrakt claimed that these external entities are "carrying out illegal activities, prompting our artists to make wrongful judgments through defamation against our company and embellishing their image, encouraging them to ignore valid exclusive contracts and sign with them instead". Then, on the morning of the 26th, they expressed their stance stating, "We sent a content certificate to Warner Music Korea. It's because we found evidence that an outsourced service company approached Warner Music Korea, proposing to sell off Attrakt's girl group, FIFTY FIFTY."

Attrakt mentioned Warner Music as the 'target of the outsourced service company' but did not reveal the 'outsourced service company'. Attrakt remains silent about why they only pointed out the 'target' and concealed the 'disruptive forces'.

Warner Music issued a rebuttal to Attrakt's allegations. They stated it was regrettable that unpleasant suspicions were raised, while they've been doing their best to shine a spotlight on the stunning achievements made by FIFTY FIFTY and their agency, leveraging their group's capabilities and networks. They called Attrakt's allegations 'groundless'.

Warner Music has been handling the overseas album distribution for Attrakt. According to industry insiders, when FIFTY FIFTY was actively promoting and raising their stock price, Attrakt faced financial and investment difficulties. Warner Music stepped in to assist. Attrakt has now turned against its partner, Warner Music, labeling them as 'dark forces' and is putting up a fight.

The four-member group FIFTY FIFTY, who debuted last November, achieved a 'surprise success' by entering the Billboard Main Single Chart 'Billboard Hot 100' just four months after their debut with 'Cupid'. They stayed on the 'Billboard Hot 100' in the U.S. for 13 weeks and the 'Official Single Chart Top 100' in the U.K. for 13 consecutive weeks. This is a new record for K-pop girl groups.

At a point when they should be actively promoting and growing, FIFTY FIFTY is caught in this dispute. While the members of FIFTY FIFTY are the ones hurt as their agency and the so-called external forces engage in a game of chicken, the members' direct stance remains undisclosed.

FIFTY FIFTY, who pursued their dreams as singers and achieved what could be considered a small miracle, certainly wish for themselves to be a long-running group and not just a fleeting star. It is crucial for both parties to come to a swift agreement so that their dreams, efforts, and potential can fully blossom.

If both sides continue to run parallel, the Korea Entertainment Management Association should step in before this situation drags on too long. Leaving FIFTY FIFTY, who show the potential to be the next global star, in the middle of this dispute is, in the end, a loss for the K-pop market.

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