[Misc] Thought Corner: Cube's Conundrum

Should probably have had some more of these throughout the years - they're simple, easy to write, and have basically no restrictions on what or how I want to write. Anyway, Kpop has had an...interesting week. All kinds of news and most of it is not the good kind. The main headline is of course that Hyuna and E'Dawn would be leaving Cube Entertainment. This comes a month after their revealed relationship which has been a thing for over two years. Buckle up because this is quite the doozy.

Now obviously since this is very recent news, there's nothing concrete out there and mostly from news sites but still. Artists leaving their labels doesn't happen like this. We're used to members wanting out (there's too many examples, you know 'em all by now) but not the company kicking them out. While I could spew my thoughts on the whole idol dating business and company dynamic, I'd rather not. Instead I'm gonna talk about where Cube Entertainment will attempt to go from here, assuming that Hyuna and E'Dawn will in fact be leaving. I gotta say though that if this is a troll that amounts to nothing it'll be the most Kpop thing to happen this year.

Cube Entertainment's remaining roster is limited to say the least. Their groups are BTOB, CLC, Pentagon, and (G)-IDLE. I will begrudgingly use that name once and only once. BTOB became the "premier" group ever since 4minute disbanded but they're pedestrian both music-wise and popularity-wise. I wouldn't be surprised if Pentagon already has better sales compared to them. Both their boy groups are serviceable but with E'Dawn out Pentagon will take a hit. He's supposedly on the most popular members within the group so it could be even worse than expected. They also have Jo Kwon but he's a ballad soloist. He won't be making major waves either way. What about those girl groups?

CLC and Cube's newest group have potential, but they are far from contending with the top tier names. Just to take the last Group Power Rankings for reference, their combined discography doesn't even come close to matching Loona's in terms of quality and production, nor do they have any solid history for them to be considered "better" than Girl's Day. Also I may be mistaken but I think I've read about how much help and influence Hyuna had with her juniors. Her experience and wisdom is no joke, plus she was the main breadwinner in Cube for years. To combat the loss, Soyeon will inevitably become the new face of Cube Entertainment and they'll try and work the two-headed girl group monster I guess? Can't really see that working out as they'll just split resources between the two of them.

With other top labels faltering in the last year or so, many people thought that Cube was gonna make a step forwards led by the mighty Hyuna and possibly challenge the titans of JYP, YG, and S.M. Now that plan (and everything else) has vanished and Cube is in some serious trouble. I like to think that somewhere out there, at a bar or in a groupchat, the old 4minute gang is probably smiling.