Inside The K‑Pop And J‑Pop News Cycle: Contracts, Controversies, And Comebacks

Missed the end‑of‑year whirlwind across K‑pop and J‑pop? We’re back with a clear, no‑fluff breakdown of what happened—and what it means next. We start with a reset after the holiday pause, then hit the biggest swings: ONEUS exiting RBW while keeping the group alive, the ongoing NewJeans contract saga and how legal wins don’t instantly fix trust, and Japan’s shifting ground as ORβIT and HICO change agencies while BUGVEL steps away on their own terms.

We also unpack BMSG’s shockwave: SKY‑HI’s public apology after reports of inviting an underage female idol home late at night. He says no laws were broken; cancellations still followed. It’s a blueprint moment for governance in idol culture—clear boundaries, neutral meeting spaces, and leadership that models the rules it sets. On the performance front, STARTO’s Start To Move Countdown drew enough criticism that the company issued a rare statement condemning slander and false speculation. Live shows are imperfect by nature; attacking artists as people isn’t critique, it’s corrosion. WEST offered a brighter counterpoint with their own countdown chaos—karaoke duels, drag covers, and a dance‑floor set—proving you can build tradition outside the main stage and still give a thrill.

Looking ahead, Stray Kids laid out a packed 2026: new album, tour, fan meetings, and major festival slots that hint at bigger Western stages. BTS quietly circled March 20 for their next album, setting off the customary ticket watch and reminding everyone to ignore fake “leaks” until official announcements land. 

Through it all runs a single thread: autonomy with accountability. Artists want control; fans want clarity; labels need guardrails. When those align, the music wins.

If this roundup helped you catch up and think deeper about the headlines, follow the show, share it with a fellow fan, and leave a review—your support keeps us on the road and in your queue.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:21

Happy New Year, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Music Elixir with me, Sarah.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Happy New Year. This is Misty J Penny.

SPEAKER_03 0:31

It's been a while. Uh-huh. Because once again, life happened.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

We took a break. We took a break.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Not a hiatus.

SPEAKER_03 0:42

No, no, no. It was just crazy holiday time and wanting to spend time with our families, as we said in the the post, you know. And just I don't know why it's such a weird time of year. Like everybody's rushing and in a panic, and you get sort of caught up in stuff.

Holidays, Hiatus Myths, And Podcast Plans

SPEAKER_01 1:00

So anyway. We're back. If you're new to the podcast, welcome. We usually do take a break around the end of the year. Yeah. And um, so we're just like recharge. We gotta be with our family, and some of you also and also in the podcast world, it also seems to be kind of slow. But again, it's because everybody has their family plans and vacations and that. And it's like, uh, yeah, we're taking a break to recharge for the new year, and now we're here for the new year. And we but we have been keeping an eye on what's been happening on news. This is gonna be a ransom rambling. Oh, yeah, we forgot to mention. You know, it's gonna be a new year's ransom rambling. We might talk a little bit about our private lives, maybe, you know. But I mean, work-wise, it's just you know, work, work, whatever. But it it was relatively okay for my side, even though it was like the end of the year. Little dumpster fires here and there, but they were not that severe. But when it comes to our favorite Asian artist, whoa. Yeah, major shit shows.

SPEAKER_03 2:16

Well, you know, there's some good, there's some bad.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

There's some in-between, so yeah, there's some things that's like, wow, we knew that was gonna happen. Wow! How it ended. But new announcements for this year. Oh my god, that we can't wait. That's the two big announcements, and then we have two concerts already lined up. We do, you know, it's very exciting. I was I was thinking that this year was gonna have at least, you know, uh two major concerts lined up, but these two major concerts are one we know is not gonna happen.

SPEAKER_03 2:55

Unless something, you know. Well, I mean it's happening, just we probably aren't gonna be able to go.

SPEAKER_01 3:02

So I will like to say we probably not, but who knows? Yes, that's very true. Anything can happen. The universe, you know, might say, Yeah, well, let me throw this out to you.

SPEAKER_03 3:15

Here you go. The Pisces villain era is over finally. So maybe we're it will be better.

Year Of The Horse Vibes And Personal Teases

SPEAKER_01 3:25

It's the year of the horse, no longer the year of the snake. Uh you know that we like to follow Channy Licolus. Yeah. And um, she was explaining that in the year of the snake it was like a little bit slower, but then you know, they're because snakes do shed that towards the end things are gonna get messy, but it will get better because it will be shiny and new. But uh things that happened in this year that it just felt so like slow, sluggish, and like not really a lot of how you can I say just like a snake, very like intense. Yeah, you know, sometimes you'll be squeezed in just like when they squeeze us on you know prey, you'll be you'll feel that way or feel heavy, like this year was was felting heavy, but now we're the skin, the the skin has been shed at the end of the year, but now we're gonna have the year of the horse. Things are gonna be strong, yeah. Things are gonna go fast, things are gonna be like, oh my god, okay. And yes, there's some things that actually are I had an announcement, but I cannot say the announcement yet. This is um for me, but when that happens, please stay tuned because big things are happening. Alright. Yes, I'm keeping quiet. Keep quiet. You shushush. But I am so excited about this. I can't have to shushush because no, it's still in development. Interesting, cryptic. Yes, yes, yes, I'll keep it that way. Oh, okay. Anyways, so Sarah and I are gonna start talking about some of the shit shows that happen, dumpster fires that happen at the end of 2025. In the music world, yeah, and then we're gonna then go to the lighter, more happy news that we so excited to like yes, too excited. So, now one of my Korean groups that I followed for seven years, and this is one of all the Korean groups that are like, what's going on with them? Because kind of not much has been happening for them. I'm gonna be talking about Wanos. Wano's part ways with agency after seven years. I remember seeing them in New York, and family and I were like, they are so good, and then for some reason they started kind of like fizzle out, and we're like, Well, like, like really, what's going on?

SPEAKER_03 5:55

Then I think one of the members got in trouble, and yeah, and then that's always the downfall.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

Yeah. So it's so uh we were like, ah man. Anyways, so I'm gonna be reading this statement Brevatum from their company, uh saying hello, this is RBW. First, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Tumon for your unwavering love and support for our artist Juanos. Uh, we had in-depth discussion with the WANOS members regarding their future activities, and as a result, we have mutually agreed and our exclusive contracts with all five members as of the end of February 2026. Uh, Juanos will conclude their official scheduled activities as RBW artists with the release of their new album and broadcast promotions planned for January of 2026. Apart from the end of the exclusive contract, both the company and the members share the belief that Juanos' value and identity should be carried forward. Thus, the decision was made to continue group activities under the name Juanos Going Forward. We will actively cooperate on all matters necessary to team activities so that in any environment the members can continue their connection with Two Moon as Juanos. Uh, we extend our deep gratitude to Juanos members who have achieved meaningful growth together with us. And we ask fans to continue offering unwavering interest and support to the five members as they move forward together as Juanos.

SPEAKER_03 7:43

So they're leaving the company but they're staying together. That's been happening a lot. A lot. So that's sort of like good news, sort of bad news. Right. Because you know, depending on where they're going, who they're gonna be represented by, will they get better coverage, more support? Like will there be their own company?

SPEAKER_01 8:04

Yes. We have seen a lot. Are they going to another company? Which is another, you know. So I guess we'll find out because so they're with RBW until February of this year.

SPEAKER_03 8:19

And they're putting out a new album.

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Mm-hmm.

Oneus Contract Exit But Group Continues

SPEAKER_03 8:21

Said January, so coming out this month, or let's see.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Progress Promotions plans for January 2026. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 8:30

So just like I thought you said album. Yeah. Because I do like their music. We and we've talked about them, I believe. Oh yeah. Not an in-depth, but we've talked about singles from them and stuff.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

Right. They have really amazing vocals. They have really good vocals. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:48

We wouldn't have talked about them otherwise.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Yeah. So we'll see. You know, good luck, guys. Good luck. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_03 8:56

So that was actually sort of good news.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

It was, yeah. It's they're just parting. Yeah, I thought they were just completely dissolved.

SPEAKER_03 9:03

Well, you know, I think because most times the contracts are seven years, so maybe they just Yeah. Contracts coming to an end and they're they want to move in a new direction. They want to try something new, you know?

SPEAKER_01 9:15

Hey. Something much.

SPEAKER_03 9:17

They want to grow as artists. So Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:19

Maybe they're like, hey, let's do this. And maybe the company was like, nah, not really. Or the company's like, hey, let's do this, and they're like, nah, not really. Yeah. So they didn't meet, you know.

SPEAKER_03 9:29

Differences of opinion. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:31

So okay. Wanna go with a breaking news with Eugene? Which this is which we kind of knew it was like.

SPEAKER_03 9:40

Yeah, I was gonna say it wasn't so much breaking for us because we already have talked about this so much, and I was like, I think in the last one we talked about, I said, you know, it's very interesting. They invited two of the members back. Adore was like, you know, we talked to them and we're in negotiation. And then three of them just came out with this statement that they'll be back and working on stuff. And Adore was like, We didn't say that. And the two of us were talking about that, going, okay, that doesn't sound good. No. When the company's like, um, no, we have not made an official statement. Exactly. And lo and behold, but from what I can tell, it's only one member that they were like, Yeah, you're not invited back, and we're gonna double down and sue you. I was like, Oh, wow, wow. So you want to say who we're talking about specifically?

SPEAKER_01 10:38

I'm reading this article from Soomy. So the headline goes, New jeans, Hani confirmed, and Minnie and Minji in talks to return to a door, plus Danielle's contract terminated. Well, so one, yes, the other one they're still talking to, but Danielle's like, ah no, we're giving you the boot.

SPEAKER_03 11:02

Well, because those cause those first two, I thought, oh, that's interesting that Minji's not fully back. No, it's they're only in talks. Because they originally they did say they were talking to those two, so maybe they finally I assumed that meant that they were taking them back. Ah, I think they've been reviewing.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

The other one is and the other, but they're already certain that Danielle is not coming back.

SPEAKER_03 11:25

No, they're cheating. Well, and I think she was the the leader of the three that were saying, Oh, we're gonna come back. And Adore was like, Nobody said that.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

So of course, Adore made a long statement regarding this because they're like, We are really covering our behinds. Oh, yeah, because of what's going on over here. You know, it's like we have been in court so many times we don't want it's like it's just what it feels like. We just we're done with this.

SPEAKER_03 11:52

Well, to quote a famous movie, well, maybe not so famous, but it's a movie I really love, and uh they are a bad news buffet. So all they're making lots of headlines, but not always in a good way.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

So on December 29, Adore released an official statement announcing that they notify new jeans member Danielle of the termination of her exclusive contract while Hanny will continue her activities with Adore. Development is accelerated after the court rule on October 30th. Okay, we're gonna go back to that part in favor of contract validity validity. I need a lawsuit, but I need to speak clearer. The lawsuit Adore uh uh filed to confirm the exclusive contract. Subsequently in November, Adore revealed that Heron and High Hyan? Oh, Hyyen?

SPEAKER_03 13:00

Hy-in, I think, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

Um had expressed their intention to continue activities with the agency. So remember there were two that they were in, so those two were in. And then the other three, that's when Oh, okay, okay.

SPEAKER_03 13:15

Ah, alright. Remember, there were five member group, and now the other. Yeah, no, I was trying to think of all the people.

SPEAKER_01 13:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:21

How it went. So yes, okay, then I was right in my original thinking that two of them were invited to return. Right. So now they've accepted a third one, they're in talks about the fourth one, and Danielle is out.

SPEAKER_01 13:36

Yeah. So possibly four girl group, because one is still like, eh, we're still talking to you. Let's see what's going on. What can we offer you? What can you offer us? Yes. Yeah. But Danielle, no, we don't want you. We don't want you. The full statement from Adore, uh, verbatim, following the court's final ruling in the lawsuit confirming the validity of the exclusive contract. Adore has held extensive discussions with Minji, Hani, Danielle, and the families of the three members. Hanny visited Korea with her family and engaged in long, in-depth conversations with Adore. In the process, we revisit past events. It's like a work review. Uh, and took time to view matters objectively, meaning you being review reviewed. It's the job performance. This is, you know, like they do. Yeah, this is after candid talks, Hanny decided to respect the court's ruling and continue with Adore. All right. Minji is also in talks with Adore, and discussions are ongoing to broader mutual understanding.

SPEAKER_03 14:55

In other words, they're like, are you going to fall in line with what we want done? And she has to decide whether or not she wants to.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

In Danielle's case, we determined that it will be difficult to continue together as a new jeans member and an adore artist. And today we notify her of the termination of her exclusive contract. In addition, we plan to pursue legal accountability for one member of Danielle's family. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right. CEO Min He Jin. I didn't know there were family.

SPEAKER_03 15:37

Yeah, well, there were their parents when all of this sort of started were, or at least some family members. I remember reading articles that family members were writing letters and making statements. And I yeah, I I vaguely remember that.

SPEAKER_01 15:56

And it was like, oh still on the same, I'm talking still reading the statement from uh Adore.

SPEAKER_03 16:01

So they're suing her family members.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Oh, and former CEO who bears significant responsibility for participating in this dispute and for New Jean's departure and delayed return. Through these conversations, Ador learned that over a long period, the members had been continuously exposed to distorted and biased information, which led to many misunderstandings about the company and the ultimately to this dispute. The company and the artists agree that to regain the love of fans in public, it is necessary, even if it is takes some time, to fully dis dispel these misunderstandings based on accurate facts. We have also agreed to find an opportunity to address the various controversies that arose during the dispute and are discussing the timing and manner. They're doing deep investigation. Oh yeah. Adore will do its utmost to bring this matter to an amicable conclusion and to ensure that new jeans can return to fans as soon as possible. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 17:18

Does it seem like it all comes down to um Min He Jin? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

We'll just keep an eye on them.

SPEAKER_03 17:27

I don't know who was feeding misinformation, but we'll just keep an eye on this. You know, because Well, I mean that thing I'm it's been what, like a year? Yeah. That this has been going on. Yeah. This is not gonna end. Back and forth, and it's not gonna end.

SPEAKER_01 17:46

So it with that being said, I I mean I feel bad for the the girls watching our new jeans.

SPEAKER_03 17:52

The way I hear it from that article is they're basically saying Min He Jin was feeding the girls misinformation because she's you know the the one that they were turning to for things. Yeah. And um, like I said, that's just my assumption is from the article that the rest of Adore was like the the girls had no reason to believe they were capable of going off on their own. Yeah. And they were investigating men and not the girls, you know, but the girls felt uh loyalty to her and therefore sort of, you know, she started them, all of this, but oh well God, what a mess. But you and I we said from the very beginning, like this is not good, and you have a contract with the company, not her.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

Right.

SPEAKER_03 18:39

So you need to follow the company rules. Despite what she says, despite how you feel about it, if you have a contract, you have a contract. So warning to all you musicians out there, remember when you have a contract and you can't break, they can terminate it. They're in control of the rules. But you agreed to do what they asked.

SPEAKER_01 19:01

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 19:02

Once you don't do what they ask, they can tell you to walk. Go on your way. But you don't get to say, I'm done, I'm outie. Thanks for the exposure, I'm on my way, because they're gonna they're gonna mm mm-hmm get you. Wow. Yeah. So yeah, no, I was thinking I feel bad for girls. Yeah, you know, and even Danielle, it it's very obvious they feel that she was some sort of troublemaker.

SPEAKER_01 19:28

Right.

SPEAKER_03 19:29

Because otherwise, why would they say you're not back? So, you know, they had they had talent as the group, five. All together. They they grew yeah. They still have talent individually, but I mean as a group, they had potential, and this has just been such a mess. As we like to say, this has been a shit show. Mm-hmm. And they've suffered for it because they've been they have not been able to do any promotions, music, nothing. They've just been in this limbo of indecision. And wow. Hopefully things I wonder if they're gonna stay just four if they allow Minji back.

Japan Headlines: ORβIT, HICO, And BUGVEL Changes

SPEAKER_01 20:07

Brian, if Duran talks if her review goes well. Exactly. If her job performance goes well. So wow. Yeah. But yeah. Alrighty. Ygs. So what's our next our next announcement? Which bad news are we going? This one's actually coming from Japan. This is from JB Entertainment. Okay, okay. So we're gonna go with that one. Yeah. Or do you think that's the one?

SPEAKER_03 20:37

No, that's not the that's not really so much bad news.

SPEAKER_01 20:40

No, but um for one of the fandoms, yes.

SPEAKER_03 20:44

Yes. It's it's but it's kind of mixed bag. Well it's sort of like the one us thing. It's it's bad in a way, but it's turning out okay. It's gonna be okay. Things will be good.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

So I'm reading a translated um the translated announcement from JB Entertainment that uh was made on December 30th. Uh it was it says announcement regarding Orbit, Hico, and Bugvell. Orbit, Hico, and Bugvell have been active as artists affiliated with our company since June 2025. And that the company meaning um Jelly Bean Entertainment. Yeah. Uh but as of December 31st, they will each move on to their own future. Uh Orbit has transferred to Playmaker N-E-A-E-N-M, um, a Korean corporation based in Japan and Korea, in order to further their growth and development. While Hiko has a reaffiliated with Dream Passport, uh furthermore, Bugville will be leaving our company on October 30th and will be ceasing activities at members' own discretion. Uh with intention.

SPEAKER_03 22:05

We have the same article and my the translation I have is like different from yours. Okay. Well, I mean it's saying the same sort of thing, but like the wording is like in accordance with the members' wishes was what mine said.

SPEAKER_01 22:20

Oh, really? Yeah. See this translate.

SPEAKER_03 22:24

So cease activities in accordance with members' wishes.

SPEAKER_01 22:28

So we intend to continue to provide full support and encouragement to our artists as needed as they continue their activities. We ask your continued support of the artists themselves and their new agencies. So Bogvelder just doing whatever they want. I mean, they just Well, it's yeah, I don't know. It's just dissolved.

SPEAKER_03 22:52

Well, when it says cease activities, it's not saying they're going to someone else. They're trying their own hand at things. That just seems like a right boom done.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

So Orbit is going with another company, and then uh Hiko's going back to Dream Passport. So Alright, Orbit's still around.

SPEAKER_03 23:13

Yes, they that that I was like, when I first started reading it, I was like, no, no, no. And then I'm like, oh, they're just moving companies, which is good. So Earth can breathe a sigh of relief. I know. They're still staying, which reminds me.

SPEAKER_02 23:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 23:29

Speaking of Earth orbit, I forgot to thank Earth for the wonderful gifts they sent in October, I think. No, we got it early November. It was supposed to be for October. Yes. But and thank you especially for that special C D Touched by Tomo. I'm like, it's like framed on my wall. I was like, so thank you so much for the gifts of little cute costumes for our Tomo and Yugo dolls.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

Yeah. Thank you. I was belated. Thank you for Earth for doing that for us.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

Well, you know, it we kept saying, we gotta remember to thank Earth, and then we'd get like sidetracked.

BMSG’s SKY-HI Apology And Industry Boundaries

SPEAKER_01 24:17

Things happen. I think that that was the episode that yeah. Uh things are going are happening within our families that we have to like see some activities. And some of these episodes are we couldn't record them right because we have some family situations. Yes, exactly. So we were our family comes first. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 24:38

So we were relying on we had recorded like double things for a while, so we had content to give, and so we we were remiss in our thanks for the wonderful gifts and thank you to the earth that told Tomo that I love him. He was probably like, okay.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

He was like Don't worry, girl. You know, they know they know about us.

SPEAKER_03 25:06

And and just you know, talking about Tomo. Have you seen all those like reels and little clips of him singing with the glasses and his looking so yeah, am I yugo being cute?

SPEAKER_01 25:19

There's this like, I don't know, something out there that they look like they're walking or they look really cartoony. It just looks really cute. Like, am I yugo? He's so cute. You know, it's like I don't know what you want to call it, a challenge or whatever's new, whatever new move is out there.

SPEAKER_03 25:34

Yeah, yeah. A trend. Yeah. Challenge, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:37

It could be so cute, of course, the rosy cheeks, of course, his makeup, but he just looks so adorbed. You know, I look at him. He's a cutie. He's like what, 25?

SPEAKER_03 25:50

He can still be a cutie at 25.

SPEAKER_01 25:52

He's just a cutie. He's just my little boy. So adorb. Yes. So, you know, um, I feel bad for the uh the fans for Bugville. I know or Bouvelle, you know. That's sort of a opens. It's but um Orbit's still going, Hiko's still going, you know, they still plan some more stuff. So any oh so you have another one?

SPEAKER_03 26:18

Well, I don't know. Should we talk about this? Is someone that we really like, we like his company. Oh god, yes. And I don't know. I felt very disappointed.

SPEAKER_01 26:27

I'm gonna say this shit's been going down the drain. I I was like, no, not you two. We know, right? What happened?

SPEAKER_03 26:39

Uh we're talking about the same thing here, right? I'm pretty sure. This was you go ahead. Well, this was um just a brief snippet from an article from Oricon about Sky High. Oh my god, BMSG's leader, the you know, creator of so much great music and talent. Uh uh. Or at least producer of, you know, benefactor too. So on December 25th, music production company BMSG updated their official website following reports that Sky High, who is also CEO, artist, and producer, had invited an underage female idol to his home late at night, and they have issued an apology. They announced that they would be canceling some music shows and live performances for the rest of the year. Skyhigh released a statement as CEO Mitsuhiro Hidaka, beginning with an apology. First of all, I would like to offer my deepest apologies to all our fans and those involved for causing so much concern and inconvenience regarding this matter. Continued, I worked hard on my way with the sole desire to bring the project to fruition. However, my personal sense of time and the way I communicate were objectively, socially unreasonable, and as a result, I have caused this uproar for which I deeply regret. He then added, as the investigation report states, I have not violated any laws or ordinances as some have speculated. However, I deeply regret that this uproar itself is a manifestation of my lack of awareness. In order to correct this gap in perception with the public and be trustworthy, I will devote myself to strengthening governance and reviewing my own attitude. I will work wholeheartedly to restore trust. I am truly sorry for this. So wow. So basically that forced him to withdraw from several year-end activities in order to focus on establ establishing a proper system and preventing recurrence. Yeah, they just don't want him out in the limelight right now. Right. This is a pretty pretty long article, but long and short of it is there was some behavior that was viewed unfavorably, yeah. And it's so interesting, right? Because one of their artists from the group Be First got in trouble for dating an older one. Now we got the head of the company with a younger woman. And according to him, there was no laws broken, nothing, you know. It's just a little hanky. So, like you said, yeah, it's kind of disappointing to Right. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:37

I'm like, come on, Sky High. Big CEO. Yeah. We're we're they're like loving the company, the way that they putting it out there, portraying it, you know. And now this happening, and I was like, this is the thing. You know, when your popularity, it's how can I say, you just need to watch out. Mm-hmm. Oh yeah. You know?

SPEAKER_03 29:58

You are under a microscope.

SPEAKER_01 30:00

It's scrutiny is true. The more famous you are, the more trouble's gonna be behind you. So you gotta like unfortunately walk on eggshells because you don't know what's happening. You don't know what's gonna happen. You know, like you cannot trust anybody. So who knows? Somebody who's been looking at what he's doing and be like, hey, he did blah blah blah blah, you know, just check it out. There's always somebody out there who's like so many haters because they just so hate your popularity that you're so popular, right?

STARTO Countdown On Netflix And Backlash

SPEAKER_03 30:31

You know, and you've gotta wonder, right, if this had been one of the young male idols, like would this have just been considered, oh, you know, they're getting together to have a little meeting at his house, but because it was a young female idol, did someone just like go, oh my god, he's having young girls at his house? You know what I mean? Like it's very, it's very interesting how these dynamics work, right? Yeah, because in the history of things, and not all of it has been good histories, but there have been just CEOs, heads of company, managers, whatever, having their artists over to the house to discuss things, whatever. You know, and like maybe sometimes they invite the families, so it's not a big deal, but like not not everybody has ill intent when they do things like this. You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01 31:21

So you know, more to the story, because this has been happening too much. If you go on to have like party or invite people, don't not invite anybody to your home. Yeah, exactly. Find a neutral place, some private place, you know. I don't know. It just yeah.

SPEAKER_03 31:39

Not a hotel though. Don't go there either. But like unless it's you know the conference hall or the whatever. But yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:49

Uh yeah, it's but it just sounds just like, hey, let's go to my place, you know, type of deal. That's what they make it sound that he invited somebody to his place.

SPEAKER_03 31:59

Oh, yeah, no, they definitely said and it seemed to be a very young girl. Yes, so anyway, still review management and structure, and we'll never know how young because it's I don't know, it's a young girl.

SPEAKER_01 32:13

Right. This guy hides a young female idol. Oh, and an idol. Ooh, yeah, that's what I forgot about that. It's an idol.

SPEAKER_03 32:23

Yeah, it's someone underage female idol. To his home late at night. Mmm. So I'm just I was so bummed out when I saw Sarah, I was like, no, not sky high now.

SPEAKER_01 32:45

Oh god.

SPEAKER_03 32:47

But like I said, you know, Ryoki.

SPEAKER_01 32:49

You know, the first thing it comes into my mind, what are you doing? An idol, young idol going to a CEO's apartment.

SPEAKER_03 32:58

Oh well, we grew up during a time where young women were always like, nah, if someone's inviting you to their house, it's not for good reasons.

SPEAKER_01 33:10

So if a grown man, I'm not no, I don't know how old is this kid, this this this girl, this woman, girl, whatever, is but you know, yeah, our parents always say no grown man should be talking to teenagers and inviting them to their place. Exactly. You don't know how old this this female is. They just say younger.

SPEAKER_03 33:33

What is underage in Japan? Japan. Like, like here we consider well legally is legally is 18. Like age of consent and all that. We we have some weird rules here too. But like also depends on the state. Yes. Again, yeah. That's what I'm saying. We have some weird rules.

SPEAKER_01 33:55

But each state has their own laws and stuff. I have to explain that to my family in Puerto Rico, too. And I'm like, yeah, we're in Massachusetts, we do this, but why and I'm like, well, that's you know, California or Florida, and that's why they have those laws, right? They're not for the whole state. I mean exactly.

SPEAKER_03 34:11

But like, so you think about you know, because underage drinking would be under 21.

SPEAKER_02 34:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 34:18

Underage for what like you know, like what exactly is this underage category?

SPEAKER_01 34:25

Let's Google this what's underage for you know, sexual consent for in Japan? Or it's preference.

SPEAKER_03 34:34

Well, it doesn't have it's not even necessarily about any type of sexual consent, just what's underage and that you should not be hanging out with, you know. I don't know. Because like you said, but like think about, you know, if you went to school with someone, you were a freshman, they were a senior.

SPEAKER_01 34:49

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_03 34:50

By the time you're, you know, two years down the road and you're a junior, you're still underage, but they're an adult now.

SPEAKER_01 34:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 34:56

And you were both underage to start with. So now suddenly everybody's judging you because, you know, they're in college and you're still in high school and it's like, well, no, we were friends.

SPEAKER_01 35:06

Right. So yeah, no, yeah. It's this is complicated. This is getting now getting complicated. This is getting complicated. Yeah. So here, let's see. But I would like to know how old was this female? How old was this young idol? Well, and I mean or how old is this young idol? They they just still around.

SPEAKER_03 35:27

Well, and if it's that late at night and I like who's watching her? Who's girl? Right? Like who let her go to that house or apartment late at night? Girl.

SPEAKER_01 35:39

So I have gone some rabbit holes with the female idols, and I don't know talk about it here, but it's very uh yeah, whatever. This is a documentary in Netflix or used to be on Netflix, but anyways, go ahead.

SPEAKER_03 35:51

Well, I was gonna say, so in 2023, okay, the age of consent in Japan was increased from 13 to 16. 13? They used to think at 13 okay. It's it's Japan. I mean, you've seen preschoolers going to school by themselves sometimes. Oh yeah, I know. Well, it we used to be able to do that here too, and then people were like, you know.

SPEAKER_01 36:14

But um uh thirteen.

Why WEST Skipped: Their Wild Countdown Show

SPEAKER_03 36:16

So oh here, wait, but some regional ordinances banning lewd acts with minors raising the age to eighteen. Okay. So so at well, at least it's not thirteen anymore, age of consent. So I guess to be considered underage is under eighteen. So that's a lot like sort of what we've got here. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 36:38

But is you say you each prefecture is different, or like well, regional ordinances have sometimes seen an effect of raising the age. Well, it doesn't say specifically anywhere.

SPEAKER_03 36:54

It just says regional ordinances allow the effect to raise the age to eighteen. Okay. So wow, 13 though. Well, you know, again, some states here. So anyway, sorry, we digress.

SPEAKER_01 37:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 37:08

Yeah, because we're well, we're just so upset about this because I am upset. I mean, I was just like Well, like I said, the minute I saw I was like, no. I was I think I was in my office at work. Yeah. And I did say out loud, no.

SPEAKER_01 37:31

I'm sure everybody was like, what did ch what happened? My friend. When I saw that, I was just like, oh no. Exactly. You too. Like, why? Why? You like having a lot of people. I think I even did the like hands to the sky. No. Yes, exactly. Just like, dude, you have no need to do that. Like, no need to do that.

SPEAKER_03 37:54

I know. Well, and especially seeing as like you just reprimanded Ryoki for the older woman thing. I mean, there was a little more going on with that, but like besides the older thing, he was dating.

SPEAKER_01 38:08

Yeah, yeah. You know, and then the whole but then But it it would have been okay if he did was not caught cheating on the Right, right. On the fiance, because she was saying, We're gonna get married. Uh yeah, there's other articles in there that yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:25

That's why I say it was a little more complicated and than just that.

SPEAKER_01 38:28

But when the uh quote unquote fiance found out that you were cheating on her, that's when it's like hell broke loose.

SPEAKER_03 38:36

But I just mean simply like you can't slap somebody else's hand for bad behavior and then do your own bad behavior. You know what?

SPEAKER_01 38:46

That's a repercussion for what happened to Ryoki. Karma. Karma.

SPEAKER_03 38:53

I was gonna say payback.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

That's a payback. Whoever what you know, this is me speculating, this is not really true, but you know, this because I've been watching drama since I was a kid. This is what I have in my Dululu me, you know, mentality of like what really happened with Sky High. Uh, revenge on the what happened with Roki. Somebody was keeping an eye on him, somebody was keeping an eye on his ass to make sure, you know, to get something on him so they can be like, ha, here you go. Or, you know, blah blah blah blah blah. Uh you know, I just wanted to disclaimer, everybody. This is not true. This is just for entertainment only. What Sarah and I were here talking, entertainment only. Don't come after our asses. We're just being funny.

SPEAKER_03 39:45

Yeah, we're just we're reacting to the news that we're seeing. Yes. And we're sort of, yeah, it puts you in mind of things where you're like, why did this happen? How could this happen? Exactly. Because you don't want to believe that people you were, you know, respecting and looking up to, yes, or putting some faith into and really enjoying what they were doing and getting disappointed. And that's all it is really is just disappointed. Yes. Like because even if nothing happened and he says nothing happened lawfully, nothing was wrong. But like you just got to think a little about what you're doing. Think about how that was going to look right? We don't go inviting underage idol star. Not that we know anything.

SPEAKER_01 40:31

If we ever meet Sky High and they see us go up to his apartment, will somebody say something? No. They probably won't. We don't look underage. They're just going to see two guys Sky High's apartment.

SPEAKER_03 40:44

I was going to say luckily none of the the idols that we like at the moment are underage. So so we can't invite them to anybody over 25.

SPEAKER_00 41:00

That's easy.

Stray Kids 2026 Plans And Festival Speculation

SPEAKER_01 41:01

Yeah just to be safe if you're not 25 we're not inviting right actually any idol over the age of 26 because now we're 2026. Oh yeah okay any idol over the age of 26 you know lately I have been watching Kamenash YouTube. I know I talk about Kamenash and I always criticize Kamenash but you know lately I've been watching his YouTube because he's like completely different person on his channel. I was like wow you're so I told you about him going to a restaurant and he sat on the on two chairs and then he had to put the camera on his crush to tell people see how I'm sitting I'm like what are you doing coming up well it's sort you know there's humor out there that's always a little you know borderline I think like he know we know he knows exactly what he's doing but like it's also you know too funny.

SPEAKER_03 42:05

Oh my god I'm like Kellyanash what are you doing putting the camera on your crotch really dude I don't think that's the first time he's done that either there was something um around the time that Catoon had done their last album and he and he was doing something and he was I was like dude what are you doing it was like they each did their own little two minute you know vlog blog whatever video thing and he was like so off the wall I think it was for that I can't remember but I was like Pisces humor? Yeah inappropriate oh jeez we're we're very good at inappropriate humor so yeah oh my god oh lord so yeah I was gonna say here let's segue with Kamanesh even though he's not with Starto anymore right that's correct but he used to be and we have some other news coming out from Starto World. Oh yes actually we have two news yes things about Starto World but want to start with the uh the more heavy Starto? Yeah all right yeah because then then we can sort of you know yeah I I have you know a thought in mind of how to sort of segue into the other thing.

BTS March Album Rumors And Ticket Panic

SPEAKER_01 43:28

Okay. So this Starto announcement happened on January 2nd and uh this is regarding their countdown concert 2025 2026 start out to move which is on Netflix which I have not watched it yet I want to watch it I want to this isn't this isn't a criticism this is a but why didn't they just say start to move instead of start out to move because it's like start to move right I just I was looking at I was like wow that's a mouthful you know what I mean but yeah like I said it's not a criticism I was just like I I'm not part of that old Sarah well no it was like I said I was looking I was like but they could have like played with it you know what I mean announcement is and now this is a translated uh from the Starto entertainment actually we should everything we read is translated so yes we can't be totally from because they don't have uh um an English anyways so but at least on Starto they do have they also translate the thing so yeah they have the translate button right they have English and all right moving on to the announcements we are pleased to announce that the countdown concert 2025 2026 Starto to move was successfully completed yay we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all those involved in the concert and to all the fans who warmly supported as time change uh the number of webcasts in addition to television uh television appearances increase making it increasingly difficult to coordinate to schedule off performers to schedule off performers uh discussions have arise about whether the countdown concert should continue in the future however the precious precise precious precious yeah alright precious stage was made possible only because a performers agreed on the content based on each artist's passion and mutual respect and once again it was a special performance rich in creativity however while we have received many positive comments about this performance unfortunately we have also seen some harsh criticism we understand that opinions and disagreements are inevitable in entertainment however we cannot tolerate slander or false speculations that cost pain to our artists and their fans the artists themselves have seen these cruel and cruel posts and even the performers who have not been seen subject to slander are suffering and heartbroken. We are very grateful for your support and mention of our artist however please understand that no matter what message you send there is an audience on the other side and that artists are human beings also. Well said we believe it is our important responsibility to maintain an environment where our artists can express themselves with peace of mind if we have previously taken legal action against slanderous comments on social media including seeking damages. Wah we will continue to consider these measures in the future so please be aware of this finally we would like to announce again express our sincere gratitude to the artists who work hard to make this performance's performance a reality all the artists who put on a fantastic performance and all the fans who continue to support us we will continue to take a challenge to cake on challenges with sincerity without fear of change and while respecting each other in line with our mission of creating the best entertainment in history so we didn't actually see this con like the the year end concert so yeah I don't know what criticisms people had. We were like from the sound of this it seems like people were uh being judgy judgmental judgers of things you know what I mean yeah I guess the harsh criticism on some performances so I don't know I you know you know I it's remember when I we have I have what was it when um made comments of like oh god no I I lost my three but I mean so um did they it each make their own skit? I don't they I don't know okay now I remember remember I usually on X Twitter and I'm like oh girl there's this like fans are going off blah blah blah example Arashi you know and I'm like I'm seeing all these negatives and you're like I don't see that and I'm like girl I'm seeing all that I didn't see any of that for the Starto countdown so I'm like where were these uh comments coming from were they sent directly to Starto I don't know but they face maybe media so I'm like I haven't seen that unless they really on top of it oh I'm sure they are I mean they were were they that bad jeez the comments you mean yeah apparently wow because because like I said just saying like oh I didn't like that costume isn't slander it's personal opinion I didn't like that costume you know so it had to be something more extreme. Yeah because you know we've openly admitted before that some of the especially older bands got some really crazy outfits so on that line that I read however w we while we have received many positive comments about this performance unfortunately we have also seen some harsh criticism.

SPEAKER_03 49:44

Yeah yeah well maybe people just didn't like the choices of sets and music picked yeah maybe they didn't like the choreography I mean I don't know because again we haven't seen it so we need to see this yeah we need to see this see what people and then you know I mean I wanna see this it's gonna be different.

SPEAKER_01 50:09

I mean isn't always different I mean it's if you know but then now they're thinking maybe not to do it in the near future yeah well I mean I know during the pandemic it just that didn't happen you know when it we we were just quarantined and it's just like no they did the it was we it was different.

Small Venues, Big Moments: Concert Stories

SPEAKER_03 50:27

Remember I remember that they did on YouTube where they each um yeah yeah they had their own stage and they pre-recorded and but this is yeah I mean and we say this too like don't forget your your idols are people mm-hmm you know like when people are I saw him out with a girl ah I saw him smoking a cigarette ah I saw him eating carbs ah you know what I mean they're people to entertain you they're not they just I don't know it's yeah people yeah they're not that they're your beck and call to do things the way you want them to so exactly yeah like they forget that they they have um they have families they have well and they have feelings you know exactly they have emotions we all make mistakes we all make bad decisions yeah you know and I don't know what this is like I don't know what you could have to say like I don't know it's a performance yeah and you take it for what it is like I don't know I very rarely go to a concert or a show or anything with any type of expectations other than seeing the artist I want to see. Right.

SPEAKER_01 51:36

I was very excited to be like hey it's on Netflix I can you know chill out and watch it.

SPEAKER_03 51:40

Yeah which I mean I know we we've been disappointed in lighting sometimes but that doesn't ruin the whole show for us. Exactly. You know what I mean? So so like yeah we gotta watch this because I gotta try and find what people could criticize so harshly. I mean unless the whole group was flat while they were singing I don't know and even then that happens yeah everybody hits a plunker note once in a while look at geez anyone who's ever had to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl right every time I think there's only one person who's ever not been criticized for their performance of that.

SPEAKER_01 52:18

And it's a difficult song. It is a difficult song. They just to keep it just instrumental. I know right stop having people singing it.

SPEAKER_03 52:25

Yeah or is it gonna have somebody just with like an instrument a violin or a trumpet you know but my point is like these are people who are very talented and and sometimes you just can't hit that note. Yeah but I don't even I again I don't even know if that was what the criticism is. I'm like so yeah we gotta we gotta watch this and see if we can figure out what people possibly had to why they were because like I said I I don't go into things with any expectation of anything other than seeing the group I want to see.

SPEAKER_01 52:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 52:57

And in any live performance something can always go wrong. You know when you're dancing you could trip. When you're singing you can hit a wrong note I mean you know it happens. Not to oh no but okay I'm just kidding I had to throw him in there for some reason.

SPEAKER_01 53:19

I was perfect in Sarah's eyes Oh no you're perfect but speaking of Uno Well no I was gonna say so speaking of this yes starto to move we had talked about why isn't West there?

SPEAKER_03 53:36

Yeah why weren't they come West is not here and again that was not a judgment we were just questioning and I said You were just thinking what happened and I I had said you know maybe they have other plans some other engagement whatever it's because they did they had their own long awaited first solo countdown live performance karaoke event and transformation into a female idol. Yay a festival filled with West Westa you know that would have been fun I know right I I mean come on coming out and drag coming out and drag I love that I love that on December 31st the seven member group West they held their first solo countdown live concert West special live Westa 2526 at the Kayosara Dome in Osaka people bring it in hey that's that's our people I can't wait to go let's see they celebrated the new year with a performance over two days to a total of 1350 people. They don't say fans they say people probably wanted to be in on that because these guys are so much fun I wonder if we can find a copy of that that would be fun to see so the West Festival West Festa Wesa that's a mouthful awesome was a special event celebrating the moment of New Year's Eve packed with songs, costumes performances not found in regular concerts oh so they were bringing in some new content for everybody. Yay that's awesome festive New Year's Eve concert unique to the group what happened I can't see girl I need new glasses we were talking about that yesterday I'm like trying to read so when you hear us stumble it's because the two of us are like yeah what is that word over under our glasses we're like I'm I'm not seeing this I know I need to find a cobbler so so they appeared clad in gorgeous red outfits seated on thrones their sparkling dazzling appearance eliciting thunderous cheers wow somebody was impressed yeah rocked the floor with EDM numbers like uh YSSB and Party Maniac as well as groovy Wasai Soul um instantly creating a club like atmosphere here in the audience dance yeah those are so good yeah they are wow I mean whoever wrote this article is just like glowing glowing glowing they brought out a karaoke machine and they competed with karaoke okay that's cool they did some sort of usual stuff for them but for the most part this was just a whole unique experience like I said this is a long article I can't read the whole thing people will be like What is this Oracon? Like I said this person yeah it's Oricon and this person was like they're probably in love with this where is it so the special night wasn't over yet as the Westa special cover medley a cover project that transcended agency boundaries began the seven members dressed as female idols elicited thunderous cheers from the the audience completely immersed in the group's world they performed Kawai Dake Jadame Deska Cutie Street with cute gestures and flawless choreography they had the celebratory event titled West of Lucky Man Championship determined the lucky man of 2026 from West. So after racing around the perimeter of the arena the group continued with a series of physically demanding activities including searching for candy that's a vigorous activity okay well it's candy in quotes without using their hands ah I see so searching for candy without using their hands in a pile of white powder and speed eating piping hot New Year's Eve soba noodles. Ooh wow made a successful start but the race ended in a turbulent one with the group competing for last place okay they're mixing up the rules so anyways wow so this just sounds like it was an incredibly this sounds like a concert review it was like it this it needs episode yeah it's well the article itself is a whole podcast episode that's just crazy though so they just apparently had loads of fun. Yes West eye they did crazy stuff and everybody just had a good time apparently my Koji appeared in just is this at the towards the end? Yeah seeing the powder covered members Makai Koji from Snowman couldn't help but ask what happened they connected to the live broadcast at Tokyodome and that's when Koji was like what like Senpai what happened what are you guys doing over there well that's what I that's why I couldn't help but crack up because they're searching for quote unquote candy in a white power I'm thinking without using their hands.

SPEAKER_01 59:16

It's gotta be sugar. Oh yeah absolutely but like the you know right oh my god that's so well it's because they're West and they're like you know slash crazy slash coon comedy is that's what it is is musical comedy.

SPEAKER_03 59:34

But anyway so this explains and answers our question as to why they were at the Starto event. Okay, yeah. Oh man Wow we have been talking up a storm about news. Yes like as in you know stuff happening so the uh the other two things that we were gonna mention but we st don't have a whole lot of no full information about yet which One should we say first?

SPEAKER_01 1:00:01

Let's start with Stray Kids.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:03

Stray Kids, let's see. On December 31st, Stray Kids announced plans for 2026, including new album and tour, and step out video. So they made a three-minute video. It was like a recap of the things that they have done for 2025, all their awards, um, you know, singles festivals, yeah, stuff they've done. Oh, the concert, the major concert that they did. But towards the end, I'm gonna reap this uh from Soompi. Um, on January 1st at midnight, Straight Kids rang in the new year with their annual Step Out video teasing their plans for the next year ahead. Uh the group's new Step Out 2026 video starts out by recapping some of Straight Kids' many impressive achievements from 2025 before revealing a little bit of what fans can look forward to in 2026. Uh Straight Kids plans for the year include a new album, a tour, fan meetings. Mm-hmm. That's gonna be interesting. Mm-hmm. Um at oh fan meeting appearances at multiple music festivals and more. So they just left it like that. Music festivals. Are they going to Coachella? I don't know. They could be. We got Coachella, we have Lollapalooza. Yeah. Those are the festivals that I can think of that they could be joining in.

SPEAKER_03 1:01:38

Like the big, big ones.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:40

Right. Yeah, they're not gonna be doing little festivals. They're now in the huge category. Well, cause like I it's sort of well the 88 Ricer Festival is no longer. No, no, no, I like I said, I was thinking there's something what the hell?

SPEAKER_03 1:01:55

Oh, ow, they should come into Boston Calling. That will be awesome. Our usual push for Boston. I know. They should come we have a festival here, Boston Calling. It's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:10

But anyway, alright. It's a three-day event too. Hey. Exactly. Not four days, like what Coachella's four days? Well, it's um I think it's over a few weekends. So it's like Oh, really? Yeah, it's like two or three weekends. So three Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Well, because they have a lot of people showing up from anyway.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:34

Anyways, yes.

Fans, Critique, And Remembering Idols Are Human

SPEAKER_03 1:02:36

And then the other news, although we sort of knew this, yeah. BTS sent out messages to their gold club members. I did not get one. Oh, geez. I am a gold club member. But I think it's overseas. We don't get anything. Only Korean. Or like I said, mine just hasn't come in the mail yet, maybe. Yeah. Uh, but they sent out handwritten notes and announcements. New album coming out March 20th. And we knew it was March.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:08

We knew it was gonna be.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:09

That was hinted that it was gonna be in March. Where we're like, well, that's for the album, but what about concert?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:15

Yeah, they haven't brought up tour yet. There's lots of fake AI stuff circulating around, people playing jokes on each other. But yeah. Because I told you I saw one that someone's like, Ticketmaster did it again. They accidentally dropped the dates, and I was like, wait. Like somebody rehashed the old one of their old concerts. Yeah, it was the the speak yourself tour that we saw in 2019. Those I was like, those are the same dates we saw them. Yeah. I was like, oh, this is this is phony. Fake. But you said you saw one too, someone's like, they've announced all 65 dates. And I was like, East Coast's not on it.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:53

It's how is that possible? It's like stop at Army or whoever's not Army faking it out. Yeah, exactly. Because you don't even know if it's Army just, you know, putting their Dululu things out there or a fake person just like, oh, let's get this people like all rolled up. So we just gotta wait. Yeah. No, we heard album March 20th. We're just gonna be ready for that. We just can't wait for a tour day.

unknown 1:04:19

I know.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:20

It's gonna be uh panic and I are gonna be on our computers. We might even enlist family. We're all gonna put in my gold club member number and try and get two guests. Girl.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:36

Girl.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:37

It's gonna it's gonna be brutal.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:39

Just I know. I know. I mean it the uh we can we're not I mean, I'm not gonna say we're not gonna see RC, but just because I don't know. I have a feel I feel that yes, we're something's going to happen. Just bring out the new universe that we'll we'll we'll see RShi. So some uh somehow we're just gonna see.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:04

It'll happen. Well it'll happen. Yep. And if not, we'll just be satisfied with the shows we can see. Yes. Because you know, that's all you can do. Be happy with what you've got.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:16

Exactly. We've got two line out for this year already. We're gonna see twice in Boston and Bloodywood, coming to Boston Boston. Yes, we're gonna be seeing even closer. I know because paradise wanna be in that pit though. No, no, no, no, no. No, we'll go upstairs. They better have the the second floor open because I ain't gonna be in there. Oh no.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:46

But yeah, that's exciting. When I saw it, I was like, at the paradise, really?

SPEAKER_01 1:05:50

Yeah, awesome. But we saw 10K Rock at the Paradise as well.

SPEAKER_03 1:05:54

I know. Which I was just like they seemed a little It's very funny seeing some artists there, like they're kind of shocked and surprised at how small it is, but how many people cram in and how many people like like how close they are to their audience.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:10

I know.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:12

I saw um Utada Hikaru there. Yeah, and they were like, Wow, you're so close.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:19

Yeah, because you're literally like feet away from the stage. Yeah, there is no barrier.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:27

And so when we saw one okay rock there, I think you could see it a little in Taka's eyes. He was like, Wow, the audience is right there. Yeah, but then he sort of like went with it, you know. Right on my feet. But that's often everybody's first reaction is like, so the the audience is like literally right there.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:52

No, exactly. Like Amber once when we went to see her at her solo tour, she was just like, Wow, look at everybody here, like you're you guys are like right there. I can see your faces, yeah. It's like, oh my god, they're like you guys are like right there. You know, you we only have like maybe uh two feet away, maybe stage, just to whatever, you know, the speaker, yeah, you know, which is for things. Yeah, it's only two feet. Yeah, exactly. Because there's people actually walking up and down, the security guards are there, you know, security's there.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:28

Like, well, then you get crazy people like Dave Vanyan from The Damned who walk around in the crowd and the crowd didn't even notice him. You're I know I did. I had my eyes on him the whole time.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:39

I'm like, wait a minute. And you're like, he tucked my hand. I'm like, dang it.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:43

I think I was like, no, I I watched him and I'm like, peep why are people not noticing? And then I was like, oh, he's coming here, he's coming here. I was so excited. I was so excited. I couldn't believe he did that. You're like, Daddy, Daddy, you tuck my hand.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:02

Which I heard at the tour again, but I don't know if they're coming over.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:05

Oh, they probably will. They love the paradise. They go there every time they're here.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:10

They love Boston. They even talk about remember when we were at La Blah Blois and they keep talking about whatever club that is no longer around. Which I'm like, see, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:22

That's awesome. Gotta see them.

Gratitude, Five Years, And Support Requests

SPEAKER_03 1:08:24

Oh man. All right. Well, we have definitely talked a lot. Yes, girl.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:30

Yes, girl.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:31

We have We're ringing in the new year with a good long rant and ramble.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:37

Of good, you know, things. I know we ended the 2025 and like but I mean we're starting it. Sounds pretty bright of the things that are happening. And we can't wait. Yes. We can't wait.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:50

We can't wait to go to more concerts. So, you know, and we should we should watch the the count the Starto to movie countdown and see what happened and come back and be like, uh, you know, like what was you know, let's give our review.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:06

Yeah. I mean late, but at least because I'm like, why? This announcement was very um unexpected?

SPEAKER_03 1:09:13

Yeah, like because they've mentioned before that they will go after Libel, but this is like specifically about this event.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:22

It just sort of severe.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:24

It was, you know, like at least alarming for me.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:27

Like, why?

SPEAKER_03 1:09:28

Well, and for them to say, you know, remember that artists are human too. I was like, wow, so that means people were like really harsh. Yes, harsh to to artists. And I just again I can't I can't understand that because I just especially if you're there live. Yeah you you're there to see them, just seeing them is like special and memorable and you're loving shit happens. So like, yeah. So if something went wrong or you know, whatever, that's not the artist's fault. Stuff happens. Like I said, people trip, people forget a lyric, people get around.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:09

We don't even know the criticism.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:11

We don't even know what the hearts are criticism, but that it has to be something that personal. It has to be about something because to again their their way of saying you know, these are people and the artists were heartbroken.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:25

There's many criticisms. You gotta think of this thing. We had two members leave start out lah last year. I don't know if if fandoms were like, well, if so and so was still in jump, you know, then blah blah blah. Or if you know if Richard didn't leave at eight, you know, I don't but I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:46

Well, but that's what I mean is like they had to be saying something specific about people. Because you would I wouldn't be too heartbroken if they're like, oh, you know, the set was bad. Like they're talking about the artist's performance. Performances, and it's it's deeper and more personal than just like it's not the same without so and so. Which would be upsetting to other members, but like it sounds the the way they said it, it sounds like people were personally picking on things. So that's why I want to see it to see if I can see anything that people would have reason to criticize. And again, even then, that why criticize it? Like yeah, you didn't enjoy it, that's on you. You know, I'm sure because they said lots of people were very positive. Yeah. And again, if you were there in person, exciting. If you were watching it on TV, you know, the mute that part. Go get a drink.

unknown 1:11:40

You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_03 1:11:42

Like if it wasn't what you wanted to but anyway, so we'll check it out and we'll we'll let everybody know.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:48

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all. Yep. That's being said. Oh less some part uh yeah from Bimbi.

SPEAKER_03 1:11:57

But then I think it was Teddy Roosevelt's daughter said, If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit next to me. She she liked to get the dirt on. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:08

That too. Any tea? Come over here. No Tino Shay. That too.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:17

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:17

So exactly, just keep it in a close, you know, don't don't voice it out. Just come over here and just tell me. Hmm. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:23

And then we can agree to disagree if if I don't agree with it.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:29

Well, just say, well, that's your Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:32

Again, we don't know. Yeah. We I haven't seen any criticism. That's why I was like, Yeah, I didn't. Um that's why I was surprised of that announcement. I'm like, what people were criticizing? I haven't seen anything. And Twitter is very drama. I know, right? Twitter's big on drama, and I don't don't didn't see anything. Yeah, unless it was very you've made me curious.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:53

Now I want to go like no me too. I mean, I wonder, is there a way on the like fan club for people to leave comments? Maybe people did it on the fan clubs. Ooh.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:04

Yeah. If his dad, I mean, we were not able to see that.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:09

But like, I I just I I really sort of can't understand, you know, like I said, we've talked about, oh, we didn't like the lighting or whatever happened at a show we've been to, but we've never been like, mm-hmm. You know what I mean? So if it's an artist you're a fan of, why would you criticize them? And if it's one of the artists you don't care, why would you bother going to their spot and saying anything to them? Just but you know, there are like you said, social media loves drama. Exactly. And and so people, you know, any attentions, good attention, even you know, even if it's negative. Like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 1:13:45

There's some people they just like to What about they just left it on the group social media.

SPEAKER_03 1:13:52

Yeah, that could be too. And that all these you know a lot of these kids have their own accounts, they have also the group account and you know, for the most part, you're pretty anonymous, except for me on social media, but I know But you know what I mean? Like, so you can fulfill your identity, they're not you know. But but what I mean is yeah, for the most part, you can sort of hide behind this wall of like nobody really knows who I am and say what you want.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:22

Not anymore. You can be find out. That's the thing. People's like, yeah, I can put a fake this and that, or don't put it, you know, and nobody knows it's gonna be me. No, they'll they'll find out as you.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:33

Oh well, the the companies will. Yeah. They have ways to, but I mean, like, if I just see, you know, yeah, Karen 123 on my I don't know who Karen is. Yeah. Might not even be her real name.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:44

Yeah.

unknown 1:14:44

No.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:45

So the people who want it, yeah, the people who want to find you to sue your butt, they'll find you. Oh yeah. Personally, I'll just read your comment and be like, wow, what a jerk.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:55

Yeah. Move on. Yeah. But but uh yeah. Oh she says not, yeah, just come on. They're entertainers, you know. They're if you didn't like the performance, then just be it. You know? Yeah. Because that's what pretty much what it sounds like that people were criticizing performances. Mm-hmm. Eh. You know?

SPEAKER_03 1:15:13

Yeah, or individuals even. Uh but again, you know.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:17

Oh, wow. Okay. They're people, they're human. Mm-hmm. And uh we'll be watching that, you know, the Star to 2 move. Um, we're just gonna watch it as fans because we are fans of majority of these groups. Right. If not all, you know? Yeah, well, I mean, we definitely I can't wait to see Kentin. I mean, I'm not gonna see my Kenti. I'm gonna be seeing my Kenti. You know, my Kenti is perfect at all times. He is. I'm trying to get a bag from him. You know, and you know, travel Japan and they're awesome. You know, we saw them live.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:57

Yeah, we did.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:58

Ah, that we're so lucky. We got to see them live.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:00

I put you know Well, in the the Hey Say Jump New Year's show that we watched was awesome. Yes. The A Group show that we watched was awesome. Your debut, yes. I mean, and for the most part, we like the music from everybody. I mean, there's always a song you might not.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:16

Yeah, there's a song that I'm like a little vibrant with, but that's alright. But I mean, they have all the ones that I'm like, yeah, I love the song.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:23

In the choreography, you know?

unknown 1:16:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:26

I was gonna say, maybe Snowman, I pretty much love everything. So girl. Girl.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:32

Yeah, that's hard. Okay, so we have seen the Sarah actually. So this is is is Snowman replacing Arashi? I know I'm not replacing Arashi, but you're you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:44

They're just they're moving in to they're coming into the same place of you know, all my favorite artists. It's it's a it's a very big house that they all live in. So and it gets bigger all the time.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:58

I'm like, I love that girl. So Rashi's still number one.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:03

They got the penthouse.

SPEAKER_01 1:17:04

Okay. How about BTS?

SPEAKER_03 1:17:07

Uh they're the n well, just because I mean RShi was really like the the thing that drew me into all J pop, K pop, everything. So, you know, I branched out from them. Okay. So RShi, they still the kings. They are on top.

SPEAKER_00 1:17:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:25

Love them until I go. They're less.

unknown 1:17:29

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 1:17:30

I don't want to say bad word, but so so until I can't anymore. Exactly. RSH will always be in my heart. You're gonna find the owner hotel? I mean, you bet. You'll be like, I found it and I have booked a week. I'm gonna I'm gonna be like walking with a walker and gray hair and big thick Coke bottle glasses, and I'm gonna be walking around and go, Where's the walk?

SPEAKER_01 1:17:57

Where's all that? I have seen this walker that is amazing. That even if if you try to fall over it, you don't fall over, you suspend. Oh, really? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:07

I was like the baby things only for adults.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:12

Like I said, I'm gonna I'm gonna get a NASA seat.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:15

So you can't girl, I'd be it is it's a baby walker for adults. It's I was like, I want one.

SPEAKER_03 1:18:22

Well, when I'm old in gray and still searching for oh no.

SPEAKER_01 1:18:27

Well, how do I know about all these stuff? Of course, where I work, it's pretty much for people who, you know, in seniors, you know, uh um geriatrics. It's funny, we do the same kind of work. Yeah, but you have so uh well, one of the departments that I help out is called home care, and a lot of them, you know, bring like what's new in mobility and equipment and whatnot. Yo, when I saw that, I was like, forget the scooter. I want that. That's pretty cool. I mean, you can still walk, you can still do uh have some mobility. If you for some reason you missed a step and you go forward, it suspends you. It the the walker doesn't need it, like catches you. And you can be like suspending there until you're able to like get yourself up. I'm like, what? This is amazing.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:19

Well, I think that's a chair. Well, probably by the time we're old and gray, they'll have something else too. But like I said, I will I will continue my fight to find Ono and meet him just once. Yes. Not see him, you know. I saw them live, so I saw him on stage. He went by me on his little RSH mover and all of that, but like want to just meet him, shake his hand, and I would like to see your face if you ever see Ono.

SPEAKER_01 1:19:47

I I will your emotions be so big that you just become a blobber.

SPEAKER_03 1:19:53

Well, no, it I will be so overwhelmed I'll probably just stand there looking like blank. I I've done it before with our my my boy from Duran Duran. Like he walked right by me and I was like, hey. And then like a minute l and he looked at me kind of funny. Yeah. Like, okay, that was weird. And then like two minutes later, I was like, oh my god. I was like, I just said hey to John Taylor, like he was, you know, some clown walking down the street. Cause like 50 people went running past me, screaming after him. And I was that's when I was like, Oh, did I just do that? Like I was there to see him perform. And I'm and he's walking by me, and I'm just like, Hey, hey, how you doing?

unknown 1:20:44

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 1:20:45

I was like, I'm such an idiot. So I'd the same thing would probably happen. I'd see on him and be like, Hello.

SPEAKER_01 1:20:51

Yeah. Who was it? I'm trying to think. Somebody who I I also was like, I was just like, you know, that silent scream because you want to scream but you can't see.

SPEAKER_03 1:21:01

Well, I mean, we walked by people in Boston that we were going to see. We were like, oh my God, wasn't that them? Yeah. We're like, oh, geez. And they knew we recognized them. I did oh, I did that to Henry Rollins too. Henry Rollins of Black Flag. He was he was doing a performance in Northampton. I was going to see him. I saw him. And so this is what happens is my brain is like, you know them. Right? Because you see their face all the time. You follow them. You know, you're a fan. But it doesn't register that I don't actually know him. So I was just like, hi. And he stopped. He looked like a deer in headlights for a second. And then he just sort of raised his coffee cup and turned down the alleyway. And I was like, oh my God, I just said hi to Henry Rollins like I was his best friend. Like we were meeting up for.

SPEAKER_01 1:21:55

I remember Charles from the Pixies. Oh yeah, yeah. Then I call you. Okay, this is a target. And I'm just, you know, shopping with family. And then I I see him with his kids. And I'm like freaking out. Yeah. Oh my god. Oh my god. And then the family's like, uh, why don't we just walk away? Because you're having a moment. I'm like, I am, I am. I cannot be near him because I'm gonna be complete, a complete jerk and ass. I'm gonna be because I was having a moment. My my my blood, it was I was having a moment. So I was like, if I see him again and I'm composed, then I say hello. Leaving. The Target used to have a little food court.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:35

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 1:22:35

He was just sitting there by the by the uh exit, and then I'm like, this is my chance. And I'm like, I'm like, okay, be cool. I'm like, hi Charles! Like if I knew him. And he's like, hello.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:48

Well, that's what I mean. That's how my my brain is just like, you know them.

SPEAKER_00 1:22:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:22:53

Even though it doesn't register, they do not know you. So I just so I don't tend to like you you've said this to me. You're like, aren't you excited? I'm like, you don't understand. Excited to me is sort of like shut down and make sure that you can process all this information. So I don't like until I'm at the event or whatever. So like when we finally went to see Jin, and I was like, ah, you know what I mean? But like prior to that, I was just sort of like, I am excited, trust me. But if I I'm gonna like explode if I don't rein this in. So I tend to be like, oh yeah, that's cool. Which is why I say to my favorite rock star, hey, or hello, like an idiot.

SPEAKER_01 1:23:40

That's what I did to Charles. And I was just like thinking, I was this he probably thought I was the stalker the way I was stalking. I am so sorry, Charles. So sorry. I don't know, you I don't think you're ever gonna be listening to me to this episode unless I send it to you, but I just want to say I am very sorry. Sorry, I'm sorry. You might get an opportunity. I'm sorry. I have not seen him around. They better not say that. Think that I'm stalking him. I'm not stalking you. We just leave in the same town.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:10

Yeah, I was gonna say, but when he's local, yeah, you you're bound to see him, but okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:17

Enough girl.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:18

Let's wrap it up. We've been totally insane. We're crazy. The last 10 minutes.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:25

We are fangirl comedians. Sarah and I were fangirl comedians. You want to say thank you and happy new year to everybody who has been listening and supporting the episode. Even re-listening to the episodes when we were during our break. You were listening to going back to some of the episodes. So thank you. Thank you. Very awesome. Yes. And let's leave it as.

SPEAKER_03 1:24:46

Oh, wait, we gotta do our little yes. We almost forgot. Please rate review and share, share, share.

SPEAKER_01 1:24:54

Give us five stars because we love our constellations. And I even started with our astro, my astral goddess, Shani Nicholas. I don't know, maybe I'll send it to her.

SPEAKER_03 1:25:08

And uh, oh yeah, if you're so inclined, please become a subscriber. Please. So we can maintain the podcast. Please, please, please.

SPEAKER_01 1:25:19

Keep all these episodes active for your listening enjoyment. Mm-hmm. And possibly new equipment. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we very lucky to what we have here. So we're gonna six years with this. I oh my god, yeah, we just turned five. Mm-hmm. We just turned five on December? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. December twenty-fifth. It was, yes, that's right. We're Christmas, baby. All right. So until next time. Bye bye.