102 – Plagiarism Controversy (2)
“Well, it was a song that I sung with great effort, but it was plagiarism…” .”
A week has passed.
Yeom Seon-jeong was called to the Japanese branch office of GI Production.
The plagiarism of the drama OST song in which Yeom Seon-jeong participated as a vocalist, which was decided to monitor the situation, did not disappear at all.
No, rather, the impact only grew bigger.
This is because the YouTuber who first claimed plagiarism uploaded an additional video.
“How about finding this new YouTuber like last time?”
Secretary Jeong Song-i suggested this.
Wouldn’t it be possible to follow the YouTube video that Song Hyun-seung’s vocal trainer posted before bringing him to us?
“I think it’s going to be difficult this time.”
“Really?”
The reason was extremely simple.
In the case of Song Hyun-seung’s vocal trainer, he was filming a video with a camera and found a kongguksu restaurant behind him.
This time, instead of shooting with a camera, the end was comparing subtitles and music made with a video editing program.
There were no clues at all.
If only the drama had been shaken, there would have been no problem for us,
Yeom Seon-jeong’s personal album, which has nothing to do with the drama, also broke the trend on the Deneb chart.
If this continued, Yeom Seon-jeon was going to end her Japanese activities alone with ambiguous results.
“If what the YouTuber said is correct, the song Seonjeong participated in this time is completely messed up.”
“I see….”
The YouTuber claimed that other songs were used here and there, regardless of nationality, in various places, including the intro, sabi, interlude, and outro.
Of course, not only was there an uproar on our side, but controversy also arose regarding composer and music director Moeko Machiyama.
This is especially true because she was a woman who had been working as a professional composer since she was a teenager and had the title of Japan’s genius composer.
Honestly, while watching Moeko Machiyama, I wondered if there was such a person, other than some kind of cartoon.
This is the world of the ‘Idol Producing’ game.
And well, it’s not impossible at all.
“Seonjeong, what do you want to do?”
“Yes, yes? Me?”
“You may be an idol, but in Japan, you have a strong artist personality. “I want to hear your opinion.”
“I’m an artist hehehe….”
It wasn’t a compliment, but her face blushed as she scratched her cheek with her index finger as if she was embarrassed.
“It’s not a drama that really suits my tastes, but I don’t want to go through this controversy over plagiarism.”
… Is it a matter of taste?
It’s something I don’t really want to do, but if trouble arises, I’m sure anyone would want to just beat it up.
“Okay, then I’ll recall the album and ask you not to use your vocals in the drama.”
“Yes, yes!”
I immediately had an interpreter call Chuo Records.
When Yeom Seon-jeong, or artist’s intention, was conveyed, the person in charge sighed.
From noble mtl dot com
“We are considering discontinuing sales and promotions.”
“Please ask them to complete the recall.”
We are in a position to pioneer the market.
It was necessary to look as good as possible to buyers.
Since it is impossible to have no problems while doing business, the important thing is how to deal with them.
“Realistically, it is said that it is too expensive to even carry out a recall.”
Refunds for items already sold, transportation costs for returning them, disposal costs, etc. Are definitely quite a few costs.
However, proof photos of people who have already purchased the drama OST album are also being posted on social media, showing them destroying the CD.
In the long run, taking a loss rather than embracing an image that cannot be restored was a profitable business.
“Please tell us that we will cover all recall costs. Ah, instead, on the condition that our opinions be respected as much as possible from now on.”
It was expressed as respect, but in short, it meant that they should follow our instructions.
They ignored my request to stop the promotion last week, and in the end, the recall cost only increased.
“It’s difficult to do on your own and you have to make decisions through meetings.”
“Please tell your superiors that we have a policy of not doing business with record labels that do not respect the artist’s wishes.”
Including Cursed Dolls, who achieved second place in album sales on the Deneb Chart, they were putting pressure on them that they may not release albums through Chuo Records in the future.
… I don’t want to be abusive, but I was sincere in my feelings about not wanting to get involved with a company that didn’t listen to us and only made things worse, like last time.
In Korea, both Lucky Seven Entertainment and Jeil Entertainment had their own record labels as subsidiaries, so there was no problem like this, but in Japan, since they all had separate companies, it was a bit of a headache.
Now all that remains is the drama production company.
I asked the interpreter to connect me by phone.
“Please tell me that you will be missing Yeom Seon-jeong from the drama and not use Yeom Seon-jeong’s vocals. “I also ask that the songs included in episodes that have already aired be removed as soon as possible.”
“I’m asking for a penalty.”
“There is no reason to ask for a penalty because the fault lies with them.”
“Plagiarism is a general claim and has not been officially acknowledged, so it is not their responsibility.”
As expected, not even the seeds worked.
I was told by a lawyer that it would take about two weeks in Japan to file a provisional injunction before I could take legal action, so I had no choice but to pay a penalty.
We have to deal with it as quickly as possible.
“I will send you the penalty right away, so please tell me to start working right away.”
“I understand.”
***
“Yes? “You want to remove Yeom Seong-jeong’s vocals?”
Moeko Machiyama was dumbfounded when she heard the call from the drama production manager.
She’s already giving her a headache because of that crazy YouTuber who claims plagiarism.
-There is nothing I can do because I have to pay the entire penalty.
“No, what is the reason?”
-This is to prevent image damage caused by plagiarized music.
I liked that unique yet deep vocal.
Moeko Machiyama became irritated and slammed her fist on the desk.
-Mr. Machiyama, you didn’t really plagiarize, right?
“How many times do you say no!!”
At first, I thought it was just a common YouTuber’s video posted on the Internet to get some attention.
I didn’t even know it existed in the first place.
However, due to the videos continuously uploaded by the YouTuber, even other drama production crews began to suspect Moeko Machiyama.
Moeko Machiyama took out her smartphone. She is
She is in the contact list and she called [Sayo Yabusaki].
Every time the phone ring tone passed, her throat burned.
-… Why.
“Yes, Sayo-chan. “You know that song you gave me last time. Did you copy someone else’s song?”
-Are you doubting me?
“It’s not that I doubt it, it’s because other people are so crazy.”
Sayo Yabusaki is a childhood friend of Moeko Machiyama who dreamed of becoming a composer.
To be precise, it was a relationship that began when Moeko Machiyama, whose father was a conductor and her mother was a violinist, taught Sayo Yabusaki her music theory.
Because of her family’s poor circumstances, it was difficult for Sayo Yabusaki to receive proper music education even though she was interested. Moeko March even gave her piano for free.
“You know Yeomseonjeong? The kid who sang your song. “Their company suddenly demanded a penalty and asked me not to use vocals.”
-I see.
“Is that all? “It’s your song, this.”
-My song? It’s your song. It’s all out in your name.
Moeko Machiyama sighed deeply.
She didn’t say anything until now, but she didn’t know why Yabusaki Sayo suddenly took this attitude.
“Don’t you know that if a song is taken down due to plagiarism, it’s the end for both of you?”
Even if they have been active since they were teenagers, there are many people in this field with much more solid careers.
Of course, plagiarism controversies arise from time to time among those people, but they usually end anyway.
But as for Moeko Machiyama, as she has attracted a lot of attention from the public, the ripple effect of the incident becomes even bigger.
-I’m going to give up as a composer because it’s hard to make a living with the money you gave me anyway.
“Is 250,000 yen not enough? “I’m taking 3 and you’re taking 7.”
-… ….
They say people can’t think about their tadpole days.
In the past, people said that it would be nice to earn at least 100,000 yen by composing music.
“Okay, then you take 8 from now on. I’ll just take 2. “Okay?”
-Moeco.
“Huh?”
-You’re not hiding anything from me, are you?
Machiyama Moeko’s body flinched once.
She answered, calming her heart as best as she could.
“Of course not~ Are you hiding anything from me?”
-Well.
Tu—, Tu—.
The ominous sound of the call ending reached Moeko Machiyama’s ears.
She said how much she had supported Sayo Yabusaki all this time, but what is this ungrateful attitude?
She turned on the computer and tapped the keys on the master keyboard.
However, from the time she was young until now, no evil thoughts have ever appeared in Moeko Machiyama’s mind.
***
-Plagiarism is certain, at this point.
These were the words of composer Jeong Byeong-seo after watching the video posted by a YouTuber.
The reason is that it does not simply partially overlap with the melody of a certain song, but is copied, cut and pasted from one song to another, and in a word, it is a rag golem.
Fortunately, thanks to the album recall and the exclusion of Yeom Seon-jeong from participating in the OST, damage to the image was kept to a minimum.
Instead, the male-oriented harem romantic comedy animation that Yeom Seon-jeong so desperately wanted to do became a huge hit, and the animation song entered the top 10 on the Deneb chart.
… It was completely unexpected luck.
Tiriring—.
The office phone rang.
“Representative, this is reporter Hikosaka.”
What’s going on?
We received great help during the ‘NP TV’ incident, and in any case, our media connections are important to us.
I tried to respond with as much sincerity as possible.
“I ask if you have suffered a huge financial loss because of this plagiarized song.”
“Yes, of course.”
Recall costs and penalties.
In my heart, I wanted to receive compensation for my stress.
No matter how much it was money from the company, I couldn’t help but be concerned, even though he was not just an employee but a vice president.
“We have just received a report regarding the weekly issue.”
“Report? “What kind of information?”
“Moeko Machiyama’s Ghost Writer.”
Ghost writer.
In other words, it was a proxy composition.
It was a subject that ‘Weekly Issue’ would have liked.
Why did you tell me this? .
Are you really asking for compensation from Moeko Machiyama?
But I don’t think he gave me this important information just out of favor.
It seems like you want something.
“Ask me what I want.”
“The informant was the ghostwriter himself, and he offered me a job in exchange for being published in the article.”
“… ….”
Are you asking us to hire you?
Strangely enough, Hikosaka was a sincere reporter.
That’s why I treat you properly as a reporter.
“Please ask me to send it to this office. “Bring your portfolio.”
If all of Moeko Machiyama’s songs were written by that ghostwriter,
He is a good talent as a composer.
It’s not for nothing that Moeko Machiyama is called a genius composer of modern Japan.
“It will arrive in 15 minutes.”
… It’s also fast.