Singer-actress IU has stepped forward to address the recent backlash from fans towards her agency regarding the release process of her new songs.
On Wednesday, IU took to Weverse, the official fan communication platform, writing that she’s well aware that (fans) have expressed considerable disappointment and frustration about the single drops of “Unknown Planet” and “Dear My Crazy Soulmate,” as well as the promotional strategy.
IU explained that to be clear, these single drops were an unplanned, last-minute decision. Had it not been for her health issues, the album would have dropped in early September, followed by a concert a few weeks later. She felt terrible that the September celebration had been derailed because of her, so she hastily decided to release these two singles to somewhat appease the fans’ disappointment.
She continued that throughout this process, the distribution team was incredibly accommodating. Moreover, her sudden decision put extra strain on the Idam agency staff. When the marketing team suggested, Even for a casual single drop, shouldn’t we have some promotions to give it a comeback feel?, she countered with, I don’t view this single as an official comeback since it’s just a teaser for next year’s full album. This is more of an event for fans craving new music. Let’s save our promotional efforts for next year’s album release.
Addressing fans’ concerns about the agency’s seemingly lackluster promotion of the new releases, IU stated that if it felt the promotion for these singles was disappointing or insufficient, she takes full responsibility for that.
She added that she’s actually pleasantly surprised that listeners’ reactions to these two impromptu singles have been more positive than anticipated.
IU also expressed that she’s truly sorry for causing frustration among the fans who were unaware of the circumstances. She debated whether it was appropriate to discuss this during everyone’s holiday, which is why she delayed sharing her thoughts.
Looking ahead, she mentioned that for the upcoming full album, it’s already ahead of the game. They’ve filmed all the live clips, identified potential songs for challenges, and she’s even considering whether to film dance practice videos.
Regarding her agency, IU stated that while Idam isn’t perfect, they consistently respects and supports her decisions. Despite their shortcomings, she wants to emphasize that they genuinely strive to improve for the fans.
IU released her new digital single “Unknown Planet” on September 10. In the wake of its release, some fans voiced concerns about the perceived lack of promotion from her agency, Idam Entertainment, prompting IU to address the situation directly.