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'Road to Max': K-pop groups' promotion to depend on fans: 'What in the Hunger Games'

Mnet launches a new show where fandoms need to compete in order to get their K-pop groups promoted on platforms like 'M Countdown', KCON and MAMA

Korean music broadcasting channel Mnet has been dominating the K-pop industry for the last few years. They have been hosting MAMA, one of the biggest K-pop award shows in the country. The channel has also been responsible for one of the popular music shows and KCON. They have also taken up the responsibility of debuting several K-pop groups with their survival shows like the ‘Produce’ series which led to the formation of IZ*ONE, I.O.I, and Wanna One. However, their latest venture ‘Road to Max’ has been met with much criticism.

On April 21, Mnet announced their next project ‘Road to Max’. The channel shared that it will be online and dubbed it a ‘fans’ promotion war. Through this platform, fans can nominate their favorite K-pop act to participate in Mnet’s music show ‘M Countdown’, KCON, and a special MAMA stage. The first event where fans will have to fight to promote their artists on these platforms will begin on April 22.

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Mnet announces ‘Road to Max’ for fans

Fans pointed out that Mnet’s ‘Road to Max’ will only benefit groups that are under financially big companies and have huge fandoms while only giving false hope to smaller and less popular groups. On top of that, with K-pop having a very nasty and toxic side, this particular show would only encourage fan wars.

‘What is the point’

Knetizens were blunt as they claimed that the show would be rigged, “So they're going to make it look like it's made by fans and produce this like they want as usual?” One user felt the show was pointless, “This kind of content done through fans' slavery labor requires a lot of international fans. The international fans area always ready to spend a lot for big idols. But their biases already able to attend Mcountdown/KCON and MAMA by themselves, so is this necessary???”

Another suggested, “I would rather see Mnet make Road to Queendoom casting Dreamcatcher, everglow or weki meki than doing this freaking road to max.” One user shared that the show would only be a good idea if the eligibility was for smaller groups, “This would be a good idea for nugu group s. We all know the ones who will be winning are those with large Fandoms so what is the point?”

‘Unnecessary fan war’

One fan tweeted, “What in the hunger games is this.” One user pointed out, “Welcome to the generation where good music is not important anymore, as long as you have a big fandom you will get everything.” Another wrote, “More ridiculous & unnecessary fanwars so you can mistreat our artists? No fkn way msnake. I’d rather ateez have a ROAD TRIP than Road to Max. Stop pitting fans & artists against each other for your profit.” One user commented, “Yall better boycott mnet road to max program, dont nominate your faves. this award is not healthy anymore.” Another fan added, “Plot twist: we fight mnet instead."

One fan joked, “Me winning road to max so gfriend would reunite in MAMA.” Another added, “Me in road to max so cix can finally be invited to their first year-end show.” One fan made a reaction meme, “Me when itzy ask me to join road to max so that they can go to mama.” Another commented, “Me performing on road to max so i can get wjsn to attend MAMA.” One posted, "Mnet after inventing the most pointless show ever knowing damn well kpop stans will fall for it."

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