CJ E&M, which manages the music site mnet.com, has decided to abolish its ‘recommended music’ section. (Image : Mnet.com homepage capture)
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – CJ E&M, which manages the music site mnet.com, has decided to abolish its ‘recommended music’ section.
‘Recommended music’ refers to songs that are selected by music sites for increased promotion, and are displayed right above the ranking charts. If a song is selected as ‘recommended music’, it is easier for it to receive a high ranking.
Because of this influence, some in the music industry have been expressing discontent that the music distribution companies usually leaned towards selecting songs that they had produced and/or were distributing.
CJ E&M announced that it would get rid of the recommended music section in the near future, and will look for ways to improve the controversial ‘real time charts’ that encourage illicit bulk purchases of music for the purpose of manipulating rankings.
CJ E&M, which manages the music site mnet.com, has decided to abolish its ‘recommended music’ section. (Image : Mnet.com homepage capture)
As mnet.com has decided to abolish its music recommendation service, the actions of the number one and two music sites, Melon and Genie, are attracting attention.
Officials from Loen Entertainment, the owner of Melon, commented at a press conference on October 12 that they are aware of the problems associated with the recommended music section, but feel that the service is necessary. However, to solve the controversy over fairness in a reasonable way, the company plans to develop an algorithm that will automatically select and recommend music to users.
KT Music, the owner of Genie, also acknowledged the problems of bulk music purchases and recommended music. The company is considering all options regarding music recommendations, including improving the system, supplementing it, and even abolishing it, and are looking for ways in which the platform, distribution company, entertainment company and their artists can all coexist.
By Francine Jung (francine.jung@kobizmedia.co.kr)
