Lee Moo-jin’s YouTube Views Reset Sparks Outrage: Agency Apologizes Amid fan Protests
In a shocking turn of events, South Korean singer-songwriter Lee Moo-jin’s agency, Big Planet Made, has issued a public apology after the reset of his YouTube music views due to a change in music distribution companies. The incident has sparked outrage among fans, who have accused the agency of mishandling the situation and erasing years of hard-earned milestones.
The controversy began when Big Planet Made announced on January 16, 2025, that it had entered into a new distribution partnership with YG plus. As part of this agreement, 31 albums and 109 tracks previously distributed through a third party where transferred to YG Plus. However, during the transfer process, the YouTube art track service policy required the termination of the existing distributor’s art track and its replacement with a new one registered by YG Plus. this resulted in the reset of view counts to zero,a move that has left fans and the artist devastated.
Big Planet Made explained, “During the Kubo content transfer process, in accordance with YouTube’s art track service policy, a situation occurred where the art track registered by the existing distributor was terminated and replaced with an art track newly registered by YG Plus. Consequently,the number of art track views was reset. YG Plus’ official explanation is that there was an unavoidable situation where it was set to ‘0’.”
Despite efforts to resolve the issue, discussions with YouTube’s channel management team concluded that restoring the original view counts would be “difficult.” The agency acknowledged its shortcomings, stating, “This situation arose because we were unable to sufficiently check the issue in advance.The problem resulted from the insufficient planning procedures of both us and YG Plus.”
The apology did little to quell the anger of Lee Moo-jin’s fandom,who had been eagerly anticipating the milestone of 100 million streams for his hit song ‘Episode’. Fans expressed their frustration by sending a protest truck to the agency’s headquarters, emblazoned with messages such as, “I’m not a beggar, I don’t want to pay fees, so the agency reset the music scores,” and “BIG PROBLEM MADE.”
this incident is not the first time Big Planet Made has faced scrutiny. Last year, the agency accused Kakao Entertainment of discriminatory distribution fees, prompting an ongoing examination by the Fair trade Commission. Kakao Entertainment defended its practices, stating, “The distribution commission rate is steadfast in consultation with the other party in accordance with our strict standards, taking into account various conditions such as advance payment investment provided to the other party, contract period, offset rate, and valuation of the title to be distributed.”
As the dust settles, Big Planet Made has vowed to improve its internal systems to prevent similar incidents in the future. “We sincerely apologize for causing damage to the precious records and efforts that artists and fans have accumulated over a long period of time,” the agency said. “We promise that we will use this incident as an possibility to thoroughly improve our internal system management and preparation processes.”
Key Points at a Glance
Table of Contents
| Aspect | details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Agency | Big Planet Made |
| New Distributor | YG Plus |
| Content Transferred | 31 albums, 109 tracks |
| Issue | YouTube views reset to zero due to art track policy |
| Fan Reaction | Protest truck sent to agency headquarters |
| Ongoing Investigation| Fair Trade Commission probing Kakao Entertainment’s distribution practices |
The reset of Lee Moo-jin’s YouTube views serves as a stark reminder of the challenges artists and fans face in the digital age.As the industry evolves, agencies must prioritize openness and accountability to maintain the trust of their artists and supporters.
What are your thoughts on this controversy? Share your opinions in the comments below and stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Lee Moo-jin’s YouTube Views Reset Sparks Outrage: Agency Apologizes Amid Fan Protests
In a shocking turn of events, South Korean singer-songwriter Lee Moo-jin’s agency, Big Planet Made, has issued a public apology after teh reset of his YouTube music views due to a change in music distribution companies. The incident has sparked outrage among fans, who have accused the agency of mishandling the situation and erasing years of hard-earned milestones.
To delve deeper into this controversy, Senior Editor of World-Today-News.com,Elena Martinez,sits down with Dr. Ji-hoon Kim, a digital media and entertainment law expert, to discuss the implications of this incident and its broader impact on the music industry.
The transfer Process and YouTube’s Art Track Policy
Elena Martinez: Dr. Kim, thank you for joining us today. Let’s start with the core of the issue. Can you explain how the transfer of Lee Moo-jin’s music from the previous distributor to YG Plus led to the reset of his YouTube views?
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: Thank you for having me, elena. This situation highlights a critical aspect of YouTube’s art track service policy. When music is distributed through YouTube,each distributor registers an art track—essentially a unique identifier for the song. When Big Planet Made switched distributors to YG Plus, the existing art track had to be terminated, and a new one was registered. Sadly, YouTube’s policy does not allow for the transfer of view counts between art tracks, which is why the views where reset to zero.
Elena Martinez: So, this wasn’t a decision made by Big Planet Made or YG Plus, but rather a limitation of YouTube’s system?
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: Exactly. While the agencies could have anticipated this outcome, the root cause lies in YouTube’s policy. Though, the lack of interaction and preparation from both Big Planet Made and YG Plus exacerbated the situation, leading to critically important backlash from fans.
Fan Outrage and the Protest Truck
Elena Martinez: Speaking of backlash, fans were understandably devastated, especially as Lee Moo-jin’s hit song ‘Episode’ was nearing 100 million streams. How significant is this milestone for artists and their fandoms?
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: Milestones like 100 million streams are incredibly meaningful. They represent not just the artist’s success but also the collective effort of fans who stream, share, and promote the music. For Lee Moo-jin’s fans, this reset felt like their contributions were erased overnight. The protest truck sent to big Planet Made’s headquarters is a clear indication of how deeply this has affected them.
Elena Martinez: Do you think the agency’s apology was sufficient to address the fans’ concerns?
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: While the apology acknowledged the agency’s shortcomings, it didn’t offer a concrete solution to restore the views. Fans wanted accountability and action, not just words. This incident underscores the importance of clarity and proactive communication between agencies and fandoms.
Broader Implications for the Music industry
Elena Martinez: This isn’t the first time Big Planet Made has faced scrutiny.Last year, they accused Kakao Entertainment of discriminatory distribution fees, which is now under inquiry by the Fair Trade Commission. How do these controversies reflect on the state of the music industry?
Dr. ji-hoon Kim: These incidents reveal systemic issues within the industry, especially around distribution practices and digital rights management. The shift to digital platforms has created new challenges, such as how view counts and royalties are managed. Agencies and distributors must adapt to these changes while ensuring fair practices and protecting artists’ and fans’ interests.
Elena Martinez: What steps can agencies take to prevent similar issues in the future?
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: First, agencies need to thoroughly understand the policies of platforms like YouTube before making significant changes, such as switching distributors. Second, they should prioritize open communication with artists and fans to manage expectations. investing in robust internal systems and legal expertise can help navigate these complex issues more effectively.
Looking ahead: Lessons Learned
Elena Martinez: As we wrap up, what do you think the industry can learn from this incident?
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: This serves as a wake-up call for the industry to modernize its practices and prioritize transparency. Digital platforms are here to stay, and agencies must evolve to meet the demands of this new landscape. For fans, it’s a reminder of their power to hold agencies accountable.Ultimately, the goal should be to create a system that respects both artists’ hard work and fans’ dedication.
elena Martinez: Thank you, Dr. Kim, for your insights. This has been an enlightening discussion.
Dr. Ji-hoon Kim: Thank you, Elena.It’s been a pleasure.
What are your thoughts on this controversy? Share your opinions in the comments below and stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
