The Reincarnated Idol Hard Carries an Indie Band - Chapter 132

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Former Idol Idol Does a Hard Carry for an Indie Band
Chapter 132
Liam Patrick’s performance didn’t end with just a single cover.
A Billboard number-one artist had singled out the song.
That weight showed up in the numbers immediately.
The overseas market moved first.
After The Greenroom broadcast, Fire Truck—which was already making the rounds as a challenge—showed a dramatic surge in streaming numbers.
It was a different kind of momentum than what happened with Riot.
The two most-used streaming platforms overseas.
Spotify and Apple Music.
Fire Truck secured a spot near the top of Spotify’s Viral 50 chart.
The ranking was 3rd place.
On the Global Top 50 chart, Fire Truck sat at 49th—nearly at the tail end—but it was still an extraordinary achievement.
Apple Music’s Today Top 100.
Fire Truck was charting at 47th on this chart.
A band with no company backing and an unfamiliar name was carving itself into the charts of foreign countries.
And domestically.
22nd place upon release.
Fire Truck, which had been quiet for a while, started its counter-trend rise.
Within days, it was knocking on single-digit rankings.
Of course, it hadn’t reached 1st place.
It was an achievement built on nothing but the music and a shout-out from an overseas musician.
There was a sense that the spectacle was a bit lacking.
4th Place: OKTOP – Fire Truck
Still, it wasn’t common for a song released two months ago to climb back up the charts.
As the chart rose, videos and news about Oktatop spread rapidly to the public.
And there were small but meaningful shout-outs from fellow artists.
First came the official account of the Maruru Band.
-Really curious how far Oktatop will go @OKTOP Official
The Maruru Band uploaded a short caption with a tag for Oktatop and a clip of Liam Patrick’s performance to their story.
The Odyssey Band posted with a fire emoji.
The Jo Sung Hoon Band congratulated them, calling them their proud juniors.
And Distruction posted a congratulatory story without further comment.
“It’s reassuring.”
I was lazing around on the studio couch.
Today was band practice day, but Kim Ji Hu and Kang Min hadn’t arrived yet.
I was grateful for bandmates who’d give us a shout-out like this and congratulate us sincerely.
When I was signed to an entertainment company, nothing could happen without the label’s approval.
Yeah, the band life is good.
“Kehehehehe…….”
“Hahahaha!”
Lee Do Young and Heo Jun Sung were giggling while looking at their phones.
“Hey, this is hilarious. Seo Ha, come check this out.”
“What is it?”
On the screen was Dampa.
-No, seriously! You’re telling me Oktatop’s crazy? They blow up overseas off one guitar riff! What do you lot know, huh? Come on, get the guitar.
“Ah! Ha-ha! This is so funny—he’s doing a solo broadcast and keeps talking to people who aren’t even there.”
So Dampa went and grabbed his guitar, then started playing Heo Jun Sung’s riff.
“Wow!”
“Yeah, he really is skilled.”
“Man, he’s actually really good.”
The person who’d just been loud and uncouth moments before turned into someone completely different the moment he picked up the guitar.
“This guy—is he doing that on purpose?”
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed intentional.
“Ah, so he builds up this rowdy image on purpose, then gets serious when he plays guitar?”
“Man, the contrast is solid.”
The guys understood what I was saying, and then I dropped my line.
“I think this is calculated.”
“Pfffft!”
“Ha-ha!”
Exactly what Dampa had said.
And perfectly timed—Dampa’s comment came right on the heels of mine.
-Look, from my perspective, Oktatop’s got the same calculation going on!
“Puhahahaha!”
“Oh man! The timing! What’s the deal with the timing!”
Lee Do Young and Heo Jun Sung burst out laughing and rolled on the floor.
Right on cue, Kim Ji Hu and Kang Min walked in.
“Sorry I’m late!”
“What’s with those two rolling around?”
* * *
Expectations around us had risen considerably.
Up until now, the impact of Fire Truck overseas was mostly known through frequent challenges and short-form video insertions.
It was hard to confirm through concrete numbers.
But now the charts were speaking for us.
And we decided to make an announcement at this point.
-KTP Entertainment Official.
While all these events were unfolding, President Jo Hyun Seop quietly completed the business registration.
He opened a record label company under the name KTP Entertainment.
The roster artist was Oktatop.
There was no one else.
The company website was sparse.
Company introduction, staff introduction, artist introduction, directions, and so on.
It was perfectly ordinary and nothing special.
But the important thing was that Oktatop had signed to a record label.
As soon as the announcement went up, reactions poured in.
-Oktatop finally signed with a label! Congrats!
-But where is KTP? Is it a startup?
-Finally!! Now we’ll see Oktatop everywhere
-Is overseas expansion actually happening?
-Oktatop being indie forever made no sense for their level anyway
-So they’re not an indie band anymore?
└If music and capital are separated, it’s still indie even after signing. But once you sign, separation becomes impossible, doesn’t it?
-Anyway, I’m just so happy Oktatop’s getting proper support now ㅠㅠ
-It’s pretty surprising though, I thought they’d go to a big label, not a startup
Overall, most fans sent their congratulations.
Since we’d only posted a link, people didn’t know that Oktatop and Jo Hyun Seop had created the company together.
Naturally, they assumed Oktatop had signed with an existing label.
Which is why there were reactions like these too.
Somewhere in the corners of the scene.
-Oktatop’s signing with a label too, figured as much. So much for indie
-It was cool how they got this far without a company, but now they’re betraying that
-So they’re becoming a label band too. Maruru and Odyssey are walking the commercial path now
-I liked the indie band vibe, this is disappointing
-They’re just kids who saw the money, don’t be too harsh on them
-Are they really doing the idol band thing now?
People openly hating on Oktatop or throwing shade.
Most of them were people who’d been waiting for this moment all along.
The moment Oktatop signed with a label, they wanted to erase the indie image and paint them as turncoats who’d abandoned the band scene.
In other words….
The antis.
* * *
I just watched those reactions quietly.
So many fans cheering us on.
And there probably were people genuinely disappointed too.
And there were those who hated us, trying to drag us underwater.
I felt grateful to the fans.
I felt sorry for those who were disappointed.
The antis didn’t bother me at all.
No matter who hates us, we’re just going to do what we do.
And besides, antis are exactly what we need.
The most fun way to prove ourselves is crushing the antis, after all.
Please, I’m begging you—keep biting at us until Oktatop grows old and dies.
After the official announcement.
Today was the first official meeting since the company was established.
The location was an empty studio at ST Studio.
Yeah, pretty humble.
We sat in a line on the couch, and the president stood.
Wait, what kind of label meeting is this?
The picture was absolutely ridiculous.
“I don’t feel like we’ve joined a company.”
“Because we haven’t.”
“Yes, we have.”
“No, I mean this place isn’t a company.”
“It’s not a company?”
“No, I’m saying this location isn’t a company, idiot.”
“Oh, I thought you meant KTP isn’t a company.”
“Are you dumb?”
“Yeah, you are.”
Is this really a label meeting?
I glanced over at the president, but he didn’t seem bothered.
Ah, right.
He’s known us for a long time.
We’ve been together for over two years already, so he’s used to this.
“Alright, look—I’ll find us a proper office building gradually. For now, we’ll hold meetings here.”
“Yes, sir!”
That sounded like kindergarteners responding.
“Now, let me announce the meeting agenda. First item: the next album.”
“Dun dun!”
“Don’t make sound effects, Kang Min.”
“Sorry.”
Ugh.
Once this meeting’s done, I’m gonna need to have a serious talk with these guys.
Yeah, indie is good, but their mindset is way too indie.
“I think it’d be good to release a regular album. What do you all think?”
I answered the president’s question.
“We were actually thinking the same thing. It’s been frustrating only doing small releases so far.”
“Good. What’s the concept?”
Then came discussion about the concept and overall direction.
The guys who’d been rowdy like kids moments before turned serious and focused once music came up.
“Alright, so we’ll lock in the track count like that…. Are we going with one title track?”
“We’ll think about it as we write the songs.”
“Good. And the Music Video—those people who always shoot for us, do they have a company?”
“No, those are just college kids.”
“Ah, yeah? Hmm, should we bring them in?”
“I’ll ask them.”
“Alright, and also…….”
The matter of bringing in the Jo Sung Hoon Band crew came up casually.
Then the music discussion wrapped up roughly.
The president checked his phone and moved on to the next agenda item.
“Now, the next item.”
Honestly, I was wondering if there was anything else to discuss besides music.
The others looked curious too—wondering what he was about to say.
Just before the president opened his mouth.
A few scenes flickered through my mind.
‘Ah, this president had something he wanted from us all along….’
And my guess was spot on.
“TV appearances!”
“Huh?”
“Seriously?”
“Ah! No way!”
“Damn…….”
At that single statement, the studio erupted.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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