K-Pop's Big Survival Show Problem

For a long time, K-pop had a simple formula. Get a bunch of trainees, make a TV show, and let the fans vote. It worked. Shows like Produce 101 were massive hits. But that era is cooling down. Fast.

The big labels are quietly moving away from that model. And the reason is pretty simple.

First, the money.

These shows cost a ton. Think millions of dollars for production, housing trainees, and everything else. That was fine when the shows were guaranteed hits and sponsors were lining up. But that's not the case anymore. The ratings just aren't what they used to be. It's a huge financial risk for a payoff that's getting smaller.

Second, the fans are exhausted.

Honestly, people are just tired. Following a survival show for months is a lot of work. It costs time and money to vote and support trainees. Fans are saying they're burnt out from all the drama and stress. They just want to enjoy the group's music, not fight a war to get them to debut.

So what's the new plan?

Labels are going back to basics. They're making their own content on YouTube. Instead of a 12-episode TV series, you get a short documentary. Think about how YG introduced BABYMONSTER with Last Evaluation. It had the drama of a competition but it was quick, cheap, and totally controlled by YG.

JYP has been doing this for years with shows like Nizi Project for Japan and A2K for America. They are more like documentaries than cutthroat competitions. It's a smarter way to build a fanbase in a specific market.

This doesn't mean survival shows are completely dead. Big shows like Mnet's I-LAND 2 can still make noise. But they're not the only option anymore. And for most labels, they're not the best one either. The risk is too high, and there are easier ways to get the job done.