KPOP Groups on Life Support: Lightsum's Uneventful Career

Hey everyone! First off, I need to pin a CORRECTION in regards to the Produce 101/48 point made in the video. I didn't watch either season, so that makes me the misinformed dummy for just assuming that Soyeon was eliminated before Eunbin, but a couple of you guys have told me that she wasn't. She placed 20th in the final episode and Eunbin placed 35th before elimination. Though Soyeon didn't get into I.O.I, she did remain longer than Eunbin. Sorry for the misinformation! Also, I really do want to say thank you to everyone who decided to watch, like and comment. I truly appreciate anyone who took time out of their day to listen to my random stream of conscienceness.

I honestly thought what give I-dle the chance is Queendom. Sure they are pretty popular even before joining the said show, but Queendom provided them that extra boost in popularity. It allowed I-dle to introduce them to the world such as their versatility and creativity when it comes to concepts.

As a 4minute ult, and someone who’s been at clc and idles debut (I kinda fell out of kpop for a bit when lightsum debuted), I think I have a take that a lot of people aren’t talking about. Lightsums situation is eerily similar to early CLC. CLC debuted during 4minutes peak fame and with the opposite concept of 4m which was just asking for clc to flop. All eyes were on 4minute that year and no one paid attention to CLC. Which is pretty much identical to GIDLE and lightsum. It’s a little upsetting that cube didn’t learn. When they have such popular groups and pillars of kpop like 4minute and idle they just need to focus on them. Debuting other groups during their peak has just never worked out for them. Maybe when IDLE leaves, lightsum will develop a niche fanbase just like CLC did when 4minute disbanded. Even looking at their music video qualities they’re similar. 4minute and idle seemed to have always had high quality MVs (and that may be because both groups were very involved in the creative process with hyuna Sohyun and jiyoon writing, gayoon being the lead stylist and Soyeon ofc too) while clc and lightsum never seemed to have that same quality 4m and idle got. Also just wanted to mention that 4minute was VERY successful at debut! Very similar to idles situation, just at a different moment in time when kpop wasn’t as huge. So i wouldn’t say idle was the only exception to instant fame, but followed in 4minutes footsteps to success, just with more explosive numbers since kpop is so huge now. Bc 4minute has always been huge! They’re the first gg outside of the big 3 to reach 100m views! Idk I just think they’re a super important thing to look at when analyzing cubes groups as they paved the way for a ton of non big 3 groups

I think the problem with Cube Entertainment is that, they don't seem to observe the market or what the fans is looking for in their idols. Even though they had Beast which I still love even as Highlight, and BtoB, the king of ballads. I feel like Cube Entertainement image is not them and that they don't know themselves. Big four companies have an identity, we know what they're known for, Cube, we don't. CLC had great songs, and I like them, but even if the members were talented, the debuts were great, the followups were quite good, there was something lacking with them. They were clearly mismanaged like the company did not know what to do with them, they switched their sounds a lot, and when they found one, they switched again without even listening to the fans which saw the potentiel of this group to become a selfproduced one with Sorn, Yeeun, and Seungyeon. They had their 1st win with a song made by Soyeon. This is where they failed to noticed what the fans wanted to see. So this was the end for them. I feel like they understood a bit with Pentagon, which is why they had a breakthrough with Shine, unfortunately the Hyuna and Dawn thing was terrible. They lost their momentum and when they came back, the sound was so different from Shine that it made them lost their fans. And they had to start over again but I feel like they just followed Monsta X, Ateez, Straykids, the heavy sound a lot of male groups that was there for a moment. With Idle it's different. First, they were not supposed to debut. Second, Cube didn't have a song for them so Soyeon took into her hands their debut song, and mini album. Latata is a good song because it's easy to listen, easy to sing, repetitive and enough bounce to it to be memorable. On stage, they are charismatics despite their youthful look. Soyeon being on unpretty rapstar left her quite known to the public which helps attract people, that's why she was in a very different outfit in the beginning. Idle is the combinaison of what Cube Entertainement failed to aknowledge the fans wants to see from their idols. Soyeon even to these days says that Cube does not agree with her songs and often the title tracks, but since she pushed it's released and became a success. LATATA, UH-OH, OMG, TOMBOY, NXDE. This company don't listen to the fans, to their idols and don't observe the market. Cube is known for producing really good idols, their training is good and impactful. Their idols can all play instruments, sing, compose, write, produce, dance, and the rappers can usually write their own rap. The training is good, so why don't they let their idols do things themselves when it's when their idols are involved that they somehow chart. Cube management team is lacking and it's a fact even tough we don't what's behind the scene. I really feel like Lightsum could have followed the light Idle brings to Cube if they were Selfproduced and had a better song because clearly Vanilla was not it and even the girls talent couldn't help. What's following up is not impactful enough, people don't notice them. They don't bring anything new, and even if luck is part of a success, the company could do better if they changed a few things. But Cube Entertainement don't seem to learn, and that's why their next groups will fail despite the fact that their idols are super talented. (Quite long sorry but i feel like you open a discussion and I wanted to point a few things).

Thank you for this nuanced and fair take on Lightsum! I have a lot of thoughts about the group, many of which you have noted here. Here are a couple things, that I believe hurt the group from the time of their debut: - They were obviously rushed together as a response to the Soojin scandal. I think Cube put together their best crop of trainees without any regard to whether or not their sounds, aesthetics or personalities went together. This was addressed on their reality show "Do You Lightsum" during which Juhyeon notes that the girls really hadn't spent much time together and felt that they'd debuted in a hurry. As a result, you have a group where half of the members are cute and half are "girl crush", which can work if it fits the concept or if they've had time to figure out the chemistry, but they didn't have that time. So Sangah's edgier look and Chowon's more mature look clashed with the cuteness of a Huiyeon or a Hina, and they didn't have a good way to balance that out. I think by Into the Light, they've figured some of that out, but that's stuff they should've done pre-debut. - Their variety content is very bland. One thing I think about when I think of Lightsum is an episode of some variety show that they did early after Vanilla. They are playing a game where their teams are trying to flip cards to their colors and Nayoung stops in the middle of the game to call the rest of the group out for not being loud or interesting enough for TV. All the girls seem nice and sweet, but Nayoung can't carry the whole "TV ready" personality for a whole group of six (or eight). Their YouTube channel is full of videos of the group being very kind and polite and often awkward, earnestly playing games together and excellent covers. They've gotten a little better...but when people are starting to get into the group, the members all having well defined and distinct personalities is even more important. I hope they're all getting some media training. That being said, I saw them in concert when they were in the US and they were awesome. They had a really good buzz during the KCon tour and at the end of last year with their performances, so I do believe the right song and situation they can have a good career long term. The benefit of being in a company the size of Cube is that if Lightsum can turn a profit, they'll be active for a long, long time. The negative, of course, is that unless they write their own songs or pave their own way like Idle have, their support system will be limited.

Lightsum’s debut concept was really smart, credit where credit is due. It was a refreshing pop of sweetness in a generation that is quickly becoming saturated with girl crush and similar concept. Wholesome and sweet is both very k-pop and also pretty unique among 4th gen girl group concepts. I do agree that what Lightsum lacks the most right now is luck.

The problem with Lightsum in CUBE... Is that since they thought Idle would crash and burn with soojin scandal. They pushed Lightsum to be their new girl group. When Idle came back with tomboy.. they kinda put Lightsum in the back burner... They use to the same with Hyuna. If some group had a scandal or didn't have the result they expected... Hyuna would comeback with the skanki est of comebacks ever to pull focus from their other groups. (Hyuna fan here) Cube can only handle ONE BIG group/solo at time it seems... And if their other groups manage to succeed and breakout then they will start to give them some attention.

Both Soyeon and Chowon made it to the final in their respective produce series. But I have to agree that Chowon did better.

I have been a fan of kpop ever since 2nd gen, so I am pretty familiar with Cube Ent groups (Beast, 4Minutes, BTOB, CLC, gidle). There is this saying that Cube recruited the best trainees, the most talented trainees, yet always seemed to eff up with the management of their groups. They don’t have the best track record with their idols, from legal dispute with Beast, allegedly tricking Hyuna to resign without telling her the other 4 minutes members didn’t sign, how they dealt with Hyuna and Dawn, how they dealt with Soojin case. I do agree with the point you put out here that cube indeed tried harder with Lightsum debut, my heart still ache when I remember how idle first album jacket and Shuhua posed near the garbage bin. If I have to answer why gidle becomes so iconic today, people would say Jeon Soyeon. I would wholeheartedly agree, she is genius songwriter. But I would also add, I also don’t know how exactly Tomboy blew up. Tomboy may not even be Soyeon’s best work, but it’s what Koreans like at the time. Saying that there is luck factor behind tomboy sure, but there should be still something cube can learn from their experience to manage their groups better in the future, right Cube? P.S.: Soyeon in produce 101, I remember her being talented in rapping (and Yeap about people telling her she is not fulfilling beauty standard), but I think there were too many other contestants. We seriously don’t know that she is A GENIUS until Unpretty Rapstar/her debut.

this is one of the most sober commentary on the topic. It's a hard truth, but LUCK plays soooo so so much role on the group's success. Talents are everywhere, opportunity and timing are not

I have loved Lightsum since their debut, and saw them in LA at KCON. They were AMAZING. Their songs are catchy and under appreciated. CUBE needs to try to make them into the next Twice. That is where their strength is.

I didn’t care for the debut too much but I was rooting for Nayoung and Chowon so hard since PD48. Especially knowing Chowon was done dirty by producers for their paid line up. I have been feeling like most groups are getting stale so this encouraged me to catch up on Lightsum releases and content 💕

Lightsum is literally so talented

I think Cube's problem is that they're a huge company, but they've NEVER been good at promoting multiple groups at once. Ever. One group always gets the majority focus. CLC suffered at debut because of 4minute and then suffered later when G-idle started becoming more popular, only getting an experimental and great song (that got them an award). Gidle released Hann not too far behind NO, and were about to release Senorita next month. I think Senorita blowing up for Gidle and showing a gradual and steady climb to success is what cemented CLC's death. They released they could profit off of Soyeon's genius, and a lot more of G-Idle's members fit the "visual bill" that Korea imposes. I mean even now Shuhua is still regarded as one of the most beautiful 4th gen girl group members.

This video was recommended, so I decided to check it out. Even though I couldn’t name a single Lightsum song, I listened to the entire vid because I appreciated your thoughtful analysis about Cube without delving into histrionics. I agree that K-pop companies are imperfect and often don’t do a proper job. But you are absolutely correct that luck, timing, and the unknown nature of music virality play a significant part in a group’s success, especially for those that aren’t in a Big 3 company whose rookie groups automatically garner high-profile attention and fan support. Also, the restaurant analogies were on point! You got a follow from me. Looking forward to your future vids

YouTube recommended me this video and I am super glad they did! Love the level of detail you put into this. Looking forward to the next part and hoping for news on Lightsum's next comeback. 🥰 And while Vanilla is not on my top 25 most played songs, it was definitely on heavy rotation in June 2021 on my rides to and from work.

I love lightsum so much and it hurts my heart knowing cube would probably hinder in their growth :'((

I really loved Lightsum's concept and I loved all their songs. That being said I'm glad I didn't get attached. I knew what their fate was as soon as I saw their label.

hii i just wanna say i think ur storytelling skills are great! i love the layout of your video and all ur verbal segues/transitions

This video was so good! I think I found a new fav commentator on kpop!!! Lightsum got my attention during Alive era the song was fun and so was the concept! I do hope the girls gain more popularity with this next comeback, I really do enjoy all their songs! Also I totally get what you mean when you say you don’t want to stand groups from smaller companies because there’s a higher chance that they will disband within a couple of years. It really does suck when one of your fav groups disbands out of nowhere but I really do hope these girls stay long! They have so much potential!