Last time around we met some of our platform services Krew and this time we’re going in for a deep dive on the music side. We recently sat down with several music distribution and development Krew members, including John, who handles contracting for music sourcing and distribution, and Jenna and Paul, who are on marketing and new music distribution. Here’s a condensed version of our chat.

Q. Let’s start with the basics… what’s the Music distribution and development team all about? 

John

In a nutshell, we handle music distribution, old and new, right from the beginning of the process, both in terms of signing new talent and making sure their work is marketed well. 

Q. Do you also do album planning?

Paul

Yes, we do. In addition to music distribution, we’re always thinking about new ways to bring great music to fans, and album planning is one of them. For example, last year I helped launch the “Confession Project,” which is a remake project that reinterpreted the songs with the same title “Confession” in the voice of various artists. It got really good pickup. 

Q. What’s the main thing you’re trying to achieve on the team? 

John

My goal is to sign up as many awesome artists as possible and bring their music to the public. To do that, I have to keep up with all the latest trends in the industry. For example, 2018 was the year of Indie music here in Korea. A big win for me was signing the up-and-coming band “Jannabi.” We hanlded all of their music distribution, from album planning to distribution and marketing. It was a big success and I’m always trying to repeat that to find the next big hit. 

Jenna

I’m with John on that. I mean, first, you really need to be able to read the trends. So we’re always studying what people like and putting our learnings into the music. I work hard to be at the top of my game. 

Q. Can you be more specific? I’m sure a lot of readers will want to know how they should be developing themselves. 

Jenna

Definitely great communication skills, and attention to detail. These are important because the bar is high. We need to be able to maintain trust with our clients and help expand the company’s position.

Q. What’s the best part about being a Krew member on the music distribution and development team? 

Paul

There is a lot of scope to learn and broaden your horizons, especially with K-pop being as big as it is. 

John

Plus, we get to listen to great unreleased songs every day.

Jenna

Right, and there are so many genres.

Q. How did you find out about this team, and what made you want to work for Kakao Entertainment to begin with?

Paul

I used to work at an entertainment agency before joining Kakao Entertainment. So I collaborated with a lot of distributors, and that led me into music distribution and development.

Q. How about you Jenna? I heard you joined Kakao Entertainment last year. 

Jenna

I’ve always been a big K-pop fan and Melon was like a part of me as I was growing up. There’s a lot of information about entertainment agencies, but not so much about the music side and it got me curious. So I did my research and decided to go for it. So far so good! 

Q. What do you think it was that set you apart when you got the job?

Jenna

I think it’s my passion for music, K-pop in particular. But also, that attention to detail I mentioned before. Companies like Kakao Entertainment are looking for people who will be meticulous in everything and really take responsibility for their work. I like to think that the company recognized that in my character. 

Q. Any words of wisdom for readers out there looking to break into the industry?

John

There’s no right answer but I think it’s important to have a broad perspective. Beyond the nuts and bolts of distribution, we really need to be able to analyze the data and consult with clients. The more you know about K-pop, the more helpful you can be.

Jenna

One of the best experiences I’ve had is the things I never expected, like realizing how hard artists are working to perfect their music. That changed my attitude a lot.

Paul

That’s so true. I loved K-pop before I got here and now I think I love it even more. So if you’re really into it, this might be the perfect job for you.