In their 3rd challenge, f(x)'s dream of taking 1st place on Music Bank has flown away. Starting this week, Music Bank reorganized the way individual categories count toward the final result, bringing mixed joys and sorrows to f(x) and 2PM. Although f(x) has always caught people's interest, they had hoped to rise to the very top as artists; just when they thought they had arrived at that place, they were frustrated at the threshold.
Recently, there have been complaints from every fandom that Music Bank's chart ranking determinations placed too great of an emphasis on album sales points. As a result, Music Bank continually claimed they would be reorganizing the determination of points, but their sudden reshuffle only resulted in snatching away f(x)'s dream. If the points had been determined as in the past, it is certain they would have taken 1st place, but as the percentage of album sales toward total points decreased from 15% to 10%, their third challenge [at being crowned 1st place] ended in failure. This is because they will not be able to challenge Super Junior next week, who have returned with their 4th full album and are already showing explosive album sales.
2PM's 1st place points and f(x)'s total points were separated by only 614 points, clearly showing that the change in the percentage of album sales points [toward the total score] played a decisive role. If the change in point allocation had not taken place, f(x) would have beaten 2PM by at least 1000 points, making this a regrettable outcome. In the end, 2PM took their first 1st place win [last week on Music Bank] due to their album sales, and with this sudden reduction were able to taste the happiness of taking 1st place for the 2nd time this week. It is clear they were helped by the heavens, or at least by the [KBS Music Bank] PD.
F(x), who as a rookie group has outstanding talents, will have to take this regretful experience as an opportunity to keep taking steady steps forward toward future opportunities. Although it is unfortunate for f(x), the Music Bank message board is currently filled with criticisms. As evident in the case of Super Junior, as well, the points for album sales on Music Bank are as destructive as bombs.
Although lower than digital sales points and other categories, fandoms can exert their greatest strength through album points and can always save their artists by pushing them to 1st place. Those who are not biased by being fans cannot help but agree that album sales points, which are the symbol of the music market, should be reduced or even eliminated in order to reflect the general opinion of the public. Though the market for albums has died in reality, the fact that music program charts have stubbornly adhered to album sales points is the reason why they have been able to maintain their current power.
Music Bank cannot help but continue supporting album sales; however, there are other problems with their points reorganization. Through this reorganization, Music Bank reduced the percentage of album sales points by 5%, transferring them to the broadcast scores. The broadcast scores receive less of a positive boost from fandoms, which ostensibly seems to improve the fairness of the chart rankings; however, in actuality the reforms have decreased the fairness of rankings.
This is because it is possible for PDs to fix the broadcast scores and either boost or isolate a singer. Although one should believe that they will not do so, it is the reality that this will always be possible. Even if nothing is fixed, it is possible to refuse entrance to certain companies, once again turning Music Bank's chart into a farce. There is speculation that this reform of Music Bank rankings is a sign that companies are trying to increase their influence over the program.
Music Bank's broadcast ratings are divided between TV (70%) and radio (30%). If you think of adding 1 point to the broadcast points for every 30 seconds of broadcast time, the effect of showing glimpses of singers' music videos can only increase, and in order to make this happen competition between companies will only get stronger. Moreover, the disadvantages for those who are not part of idol groups who appear on entertainment programs will only increase.
It is very disappointing that the Music Bank K-chart rankings must be interpreted this way, without one good intention behind it. It seems that Music Bank, which had previously been more transparent than SBS for revealing the breakdown of points and showing the actualities of artists' popularity, will no longer be able to protect this reputation. The reorganization of Music Bank rankings inexplicably showed their own selfish greed and the result is that they have given up on fairness. Public broadcast rankings, if not directly rigged, have become meaningless. It is extremely bitter that for those who have written depending on Music Bank's influential results.
Credit: NATE News
Article: http://news.nate.com/view/20100515n07405
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