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Source Music claims to debut first girl group with HYBE, GFriend fans say ‘pathetic’

Source Music to debut first girl group Lesserafim after merging with HYBE consisting of IZ*ONE's Sakura and Chaewon

Following IZ*ONE and GFriend’s disbandment in 2021, the two girl groups’ fandoms seem to be crossing paths for a surprising reason. It was rumored that former IZ*ONE members Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chaewon would be redebuting in Lesserafim (rumored group name). It would be managed under the partnership of Source Music and HYBE, the label’s parent company. However, the latest announcement has GFriend fans irked as they were previously under Source Music and HYBE.

On March 14, the K-pop label, Source Music announced that they had signed on Sakura and Chaewon. They would be debuting in “the first girl group to be launched in collaboration with HYBE and Source Music.” Fans have taken it upon themselves to trend GFriend and share their milestones and accomplishments after being peeved off with Source Music for not mentioning their first girl group GFriend.

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GFriend is the first and only girl group of Source Music

Source Music debuted GFriend in 2015. The label has had a history with HYBE, then known as Big Hit as they had managed the groups 8Eight and Glam. However, GFriend was independent Source Music’s first and only girl group. They had gone on to dominate the K-pop industry in the 2010s as they were in the same league as currently popular girl groups TWICE and Blackpink. After Source Music was officially acquired by HYBE in 2020, GFriend had three comebacks before they disbanded and according to SinB they didn’t even know that they were being let go.

Furthermore, Source Music and HYBE are under fire for trying to trademark GFriend’s name which means the girls will not be able to reunite in the future unless they team up with HYBE if the application request goes through. And with rumors of more mistreatment in the past, GFriend fans are angry with Source Music for not mentioning GFriend while announcing their new girl group with Sakura and Chaewon.

‘You are nothing without GFriend'

Fans understand that the label meant that Lesserafim was their new girl group after merging with HYBE but they are still miffed, “Like i get that its their first group after joining HYBE but sourceshit didn’t even mention Gfriend ??? Gfriend was their first gg.” Another fan explained, “If u read it a logical way, the article mean, their first gg to be created after merge with Hybe. But yea i still mad at the title because it wrote first gg there as if gfriend wasnt exist before :').” Another Buddy added, “Source music burying the name gfriend in deep trenches as if the same girl group brought where they are right now it's just so pathetic.” 

One fan said, “Didn’t even bother to tweet a proper farewell to the artists that made them successful. YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT GFRIEND.” Another pointed out, “The wierdest sht is Hybe insight prepared the Gfriend content in their museum for MONTHS, but Gfriend contract termination was announced 4 DAYS after the opening. And only removed it 2 MONTHS after the official termination. But theyre still selling gfriend merch there?” One Buddy clarified, “I SEE SOMEONE ALREADY SAYING BUDDIES ARE HATING THE GIRLS AND BLAMING THEM BECAUSE OF GFRIEND’S DISBANDMENT WHILE BUDDIES ARE ACTUALLY BLAMING SOURCE MUSIC AND HYBE YOU GUYS PLEASE STOP BEING DRAMATIC.”

Another commented, “Everything you have is thanks to gfriend,even this ability to debut another girl group the least you can do is give gfriends belonging back, TROPHIES, UNRELEASED PICTURES AND THE F**KING TRADEMARK.” One fan said, “Congratulations to GFRIEND for become the only successful girlgroup in history with no senior and junior groups who help them carry their bankrupt former company for 7 years. THANK YOU.”

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