A Success Story of QWER That's More Comic-like Than a Comic https://woman.donga.com/culture/article/all/12/4981945/1 A few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine what is happening now in South Korea. This is the story of the girl band QWER, who are making new history with the title track "Gominjungdok(T.B.H)" from their first mini-album "MANITO." The members of QWER are Chodan (drums, sub-vocal), Magenta (bass), Hina (guitar, keyboard), and Siyeon (vocals, guitar). The emergence and success of QWER are like a comic book story brought to life, driven by the changing media environment of the new generation and the spread of subculture consumption in the entertainment market. Animation, J-pop, computer games, and internet broadcasting—these key elements that make up QWER once symbolized subculture. However, these contents are now being consumed more broadly and are more familiar to some younger generations than the content created by legacy media. https://woman.donga.com/culture/article/all/12/4981945/1 QWER's journey from the beginning has diverged from the typical path of singers managed by conventional entertainment agencies. Kim Gyeran, who planned QWER, is well-known as an internet broadcaster for his fitness content on the YouTube channel "Physical Gallery" and as a content creator behind "Fake Men" and "UMA Game." Although he has successfully planned various projects, he had no experience in music production. Nevertheless, he leveraged his infrastructure to establish the agency "Tamago Production" and debuted QWER within a few months. https://www.asiaartistawards.com/news/detail/62147/all Even for professional agencies that spend years preparing, success in the popular music market is not guaranteed. So, why did he embark on such a seemingly reckless challenge? The inspiration for Kim Gyeran came from none other than Japanese animation. Notable examples include "Bocchi the Rock!," a story about a protagonist who grows through music while struggling with interpersonal relationships, and "Oshi no Ko," which depicts the creation and growth of an idol group. Both works have gained significant popularity among domestic animation fans in recent years. Especially, "Oshi no Ko" became well-known as the opening song "Idol" by YOASOBI sparked a challenge craze in Korea. Individual talents and recognition played a role, but a compelling story that people could immerse themselves in was crucial in bringing it all together. The YouTube series "Oshi no Ko-tachi" introduced how the members joined and showcased their efforts, solidifying the concept of a growth-oriented girl band. This narrative emphasized the collaboration between a dreamer producer and members taking on new challenges without the training of major agencies or the support of legacy media, quickly amassing over 20 million cumulative views in a short time. https://digitalchosun.dizzo.com/site/data/html_dir/2023/10/18/2023101880240.html Another essential element of QWER's identity is gaming. Given that gaming is a primary content area for YouTubers, the strong connection between QWER and gaming is natural. The band's name "QWER" explicitly reflects this, as the keys 'Q', 'W', 'E', and 'R' on a QWERTY keyboard are well-known skill activation shortcuts for players of the game "League of Legends." In fact, the four members are introduced in line with their respective positions corresponding to the skills: Q (Chodan), W (Magenta), E (Hina), and R (Siyeon). https://m.yes24.com/Goods/Detail/125582083 QWER, with its overlapping elements of various subcultures, has garnered public affection largely due to the members' charm and the fresh, upbeat nature of their music. Riding this wave of popularity, QWER is now expanding its range of activities, including fan signings, university festivals, military consolation performances, pop-up stores, and even rock festivals. #QWER #GirlBand #Band #PopRock #FanMeeting #MusicFestival #쵸단 #마젠타 #히나 #시연 #걸밴드 All rights reserved Stay14 Bespoke
