IZONE DISBANDMENT, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM WIZONE, HISTORY.

Just as planned and like any other produce team, the time for IZONE to disband is finally come. On 10th March, Mnet already made official statements regarding their disbandment. It seems the discussion of izone contract extension isn’t going smooth. Let’s recheck and discuss what is happening based on rumor and official articles that has been circulated on internet. I will state as objective as possible with several opinion from my side. Even with breaking record for 4th generation girl group left and right, IZONE’s journey hasn’t been smooth. There are several up and down in their history.

On July 17th, 2017, Mnet is said to have found a middle ground that will allow the Top 12 girls from PRODUCE 48, to debut as a project girl group and still promote with their respective groups should they belong to any. The winners will promote exclusively with the project girl group in and outside of Korea for 18 months. Then, for the remaining 12 months, the members will be able to promote with other groups as well. This means, IZONE member will have 2.5 years long contract. IZONE’s contract is scheduled to end in April 2021.

Finally, Izone were formed through Mnet's competition reality show Produce 48 and officially debuted on October 29, 2018 with mini album COLOR*IZ. IZONE as expected get tremendous success with their debut. The album broke the record for highest first week sales of a debut album by a girl group and became the fourth highest first week sales of an album by a South Korean girl group on Hanteo. Iz*One held their Japanese debut show-con in Tokyo Dome City Hall on January 20, where they performed their debut Japanese single "Suki to Iwasetai" for the first time. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) with over 250,000 unit sales, the group's first Platinum certification.

IZONE then continue their journey and was releasing several successful comeback in Korea and Japan for several months, solidify their existence as the top girl group from 4th generation. At the same year, IZONE received MAMA best rookie award for their continuous achievement.

On August 1, 2019, Suddenly a controversy involving mnet produce 101 arise. The Mnet vote manipulation investigation is a 2019 South Korean entertainment scandal involving electoral fraud in several reality competition series produced and broadcast by the television channel Mnet. On December 3, 2019, Ahn, Kim, and six other entertainment agency representatives were indicted for charges including obstruction of business, fraud, and bribery.

The eighth individual who was recently indicted in the “Produce 101” series manipulation controversy according to Yonhap News are:

Around US Entertainment’s Kim, PD Ahn Joon Young, PD Lee, CP (chief producer) Kim Yong Bum, two Starship Entertainment executives Kim, former Woollim Entertainment employee Lee, and former 8D Creative employee Ryu. According to Yonhap News, the agency representatives provided bribes worth between 10 million won (approximately $8,400) and 50 million won (approximately $42,000). Due to this, the new born group from produce x 101, X1, unfortunately is disbanded. With X1 disbanding due to the inability of CJ E&M/Mnet to reach an agreement with the companies of the members, the attention then turned to IZ*ONE. Actually before the controversy, IZONE is scheduled to have a comeback around November 2019. It is getting postponed and all IZONE members are in hiatus. Back then Izone has recorded a guest appearance on popular variety show: Idol rooms, but it get cancelled since the show is ending even before IZONE could make a comeback.

On January 6th, 2020, In regards to IZ*ONE, CJ ENM company and each of the agencies are all thinking positively about a resumption of their activities. The difference lies in the contract, while x1 member hasn’t able to sign any contract yet, in the other hand, Izone has already their contract signed.

Finally, Fiesta was released on February 17, 2020, serving as the title track for their first studio album Bloom*Iz. IZONE’s schedule continues as usual, with some draw back: IDOL ROOM appearance is getting wasted, the limited time of contract is getting wasted because of their hiatus due to controversy. (About 2 and half months)

Back on November 10, 2020, one media outlet reported that CJ ENM secretively reached out to the agencies of the current IZ*ONE members some time last month, to begin discussions for a renewal of the group's contract. According to insiders, CJ ENM will be seeking to renew IZ*ONE's contract, while also considering other options including unit promotions. When asked by media, IZONE agency only give official statements that they’re only focusing on a comeback in December (Panorama), so nothing else to be discussed.

Around December 2020, a rumor/information from insider was floating around in the internet.

INSIDER INFO:

On the outside it looks like IZ*ONE’s contracts end in April 2021, but in reality, there was an internal agreement to only have the group work together until December 31, 2020. The decision was made in conjunction with various situations, such as the producers being arrested and IZ*ONE’s dorm contract ending at the end of 2020. After their contract expires, they will go back to their original company and either join their company's pre-existing girl group, or become a solo artist.

In early January of 2021, the group's management agencies Off The Record and Swing Entertainment said they had been discussing a potential extension of the group's contracts. Ilgan Sports inform that CJ ENM has recently been meeting with the IZ*ONE members’ agencies to discuss in earnest the potential for a contract extension. Although they have not yet been in contact with all of the agencies, some of the members and agencies who have been contacted are reportedly confirming that they want to stay with IZ*ONE. Talks are apparently shooting towards speeding up the process of a contract extension.

If an extension is completed, this will mark the first time within the Produce 101 series groups that an extension was agreed upon, and not have the group disband when the contract is up. Of course, Mnet realize that it won’t be easy. Many agencies have been preparing for their artists’ second chapter of promotions after the project group’s disbandment. CJ ENM stated that this is an issue they are aware of and will make a new contract for IZ*ONE while respecting the opinions of the various agencies.

The news outlet commented that agencies who were preparing new plans following IZ*ONE’s disbandment in 2021 would be surprised by CJ ENM’s sudden proposal to extend the contract, and because CJ ENM is also aware that this is a sensitive issue, they will carefully draft out a new contract that respects the agencies’ opinions

In the mean time, WIZONE is clouded with hopeful thinking that IZONE might get contract extension that they wanted. The reason is not really baseless, because:

1. IZ*ONE Private mail service launched in SEA in 2020. Why they launched it in 2020, if they will disband 4 months later. Plus, they also have a lifetime moobang sticker on vapps for sell.

2. They buy Twitter hashtags campaign for izone that isn’t cheap for a disbanded group

3. 2 of izone members are lining up as MC in music program

4. IZONE joins on weverse with other Active Kpop idols group

5. They just launched an endorsement with PEPSI x STARSHIP campaign, with IZONE 5 of members, on Feb.

6. Some WIZONE spotted IZONE members to record a new variety show, rumored as IZONE CHU season 3. Why would a disbanded group need a variety show? It hasn’t been any schedule when they will release it, probably it will get cancelled just like idol room.

7. Looking back on produce group, 2 months before their disbandment, mnet will milk them with a farawell concert + last final album and announce it as “FINAL” or LAST” in every schedule they get, but for IZONE, it is only after 10th March they got the same treatment.

Out of the blue, on 10th March 2020, Mnet make official statements after a special meeting with all individuals agency are discussing about contract extension end:

The statement reads as follows:

Hello. This is Off The Record and Swing Entertainment, jointly in charge of IZ*ONE’s management. As officially announced on March 10, the IZ*ONE project will end in April. IZ*ONE’s official fan cafe, content, and social media will operate until the end of the project, and future plans [for these platforms] will be announced via a separate statement later on. We express gratitude to WIZ*ONE who have given love and support to IZ*ONE until now, and we ask that much support be given for the members’ future activities. IZ*ONE will greet fans through their online concert “ONE, THE STORY” which will be held for two days on March 13 and 14. The IZ*ONE members are currently working their hardest to meet fans at the concert. We once again thank WIZ*ONE who always show support, and Off The Record and Swing Entertainment will always support the IZ*ONE members who will grow further as artists. We ask that you show much anticipation and support for the new sides that the IZ*ONE members will show from now on. Thank you.

With this statement, IZONE last activity as a group will probably their virtual concert in March, 13&14.

One day after the official disband statement, A rumor that BIG HIT tried to sign a contract with One of IZONE members, SAkura Miyawaki arise. It seems that it’s true, after all Big hit didn’t deny it just like any other rumor that turn out to be true later.

So why is it happening?

Rumor said that on February 2020, the talk of contract extension is discussed among members and all the members give positive feedback about it, each agency also give their support for the idols’s opinion. On 10th March, CJENM with each individual agency will discuss about the length of contract for the extension, rumored to be another 2 years. Yet, 3 of agency representatives decided to bail out last minute and not joining the meeting. This break all trust between each company and anger some upper CJENM CEO. Which, resulted with sudden announcement from mnet. The member themselves are only informed soon later after their concert rehearsal ended on the same day of 10th March. The rumored 3 agencies who disappeared are STARSHIP, YUEHUA, and 8D CREATIVE. Interesting enough, the agency who get prisoned along with PD Ahn Joon Young for bribery .The offers need all 12 members to sign. In history, any KPOP group which it lost any of the members experienced a draw back in their popularity as a whole group: SNSD, TVXQ, BEAST, WONDER GIRLS, IKON, and more. It’s crucial for a group to maintain all of its members. Only by losing one member, the member will need to practice again all their formation and pass choreography and line distribution. Not to mention that there is a symbolize 12 on IZ*ONE name (12 one).

The fandom is strongly oppose of IZone's disbandment. Wizone are actively expressing opinions, such as petitions against the termination of the contract, declaration of boycotts, and demonstrations by trucks on a billboard. In this situation, interest in unit activities is build up. From'COLOR*IZ to One-reeler, IZone has never shown disorganized performances. Meanwhile, MNET or CJENM plans to create a Korea-China-Japan girl group under survival program'Girls Planet 999'.

Expert said that a moment will come when the flowers that in wizone heart will bloom again, but not as IZONE. How fragrant & wonderful the stage will unfold? Finally, the girls evolved. No, twelve women have evolved. This starts a new chapter for IZONE members.