Guckkasten changes to major label

This article is actually some weeks old. I thought it's interesting and tried to translate it. But I failed and tried instead to type it up myself, fitting in some lines from the original article. I'm sorry for the weird.

Popular indie band Guckkasten recently made a contract with major label Yedang Company. The reactions in general were positive, since it gives Guckkasten a chance to get known more broadly and the conditions of the new contract seem to the band’s advantage too. The label won’t interfere with the musical parts and will also support the band’s advance overseas. Guckkasten’s leader Ha Hyeon Woo says that “We wanted to concentrate on music under a more systematic support as the band is growing, so we decided for a contract with a new label.”

Despite that, the process of the transfer is seen with critic eyes, as Yedang did not contacted Guckkasten’s original label Ruby Salon even once. Popular music critic Park Eun Seok said that “in foreign countries, when a band enters a major label, it is common that each of the labels have a smooth agreement and grope the way of harmony, Yedang ignored this process.”

Guckkasten and Ruby Salon kept a verbal contract for one year. Ruby Salon president Lee Gyu Young is frustrated that “Because there is no contract itself, we have no way to oppose.” A large majority of Indie labels has no documented contract or earnest money and even if there is earnest money, it’s actually at a level below 5 mil Won. Indie music industry professionals point out that ‘the indie scene too has to set up a system’, but they can’t come up with a proper measure.

Also between the colleague bands the opinions cross. One leader of a main indie band, who doesn’t want to be named, says “Looking at the contract conditions, it has positive points since they seem to change to a major label preserving their pride and music” and “That they excluded Ruby Salon, whom they grew with since their debut, completely from the transfer process, seems not a good pattern.”

source

Thomas Cook - Mintpaper Interview

Thomas Cook was the Artist Of The Month June at Mintpaper's and 3 month after starting, I finished the translation of the interview that came with it.


T/N: I realized while proofreading, that my english is still awkward and fail. I'm sorry for that. If there is something you don't understand, ask!

Highlights:
- talking about the time before his comeback and his search
- talking about producer Kim Dong Ryul
- My Aunt Mary's future (the reason I translated the whole thing, actually)
- the lovely that is Jeong Sun Yong.