Should you’ve ever attended a Ok-pop live performance, holding an artist’s official “gentle stick” is a vital side of the viewing expertise. On the Paris 2024 Olympics Video games, Workforce Korea will embrace this particular side of Ok-pop tremendous fandom with its personal gentle sticks, an official cheer tune, and extra in partnership with business chief HYBE.
Often a handheld machine with a plastic tubing and a glowing prime, gentle sticks aren’t one-time-use glowsticks however are personalised for every act with particular colours, markers, and designs that turn out to be a manner for followers and artists to benefit from the reside expertise collectively. BTS has an “ARMY BOMB” gentle stick to a black stand and clear globe atop that may signify stated “bomb” and glow a spectrum of colours in rhythm to the group’s music due to Bluetooth expertise. An artist revealing an official gentle stick is taken into account an vital profession step and alerts upcoming live shows.
Whereas HYBE simply unveiled the sunshine stick for considered one of its latest boy bands, BOYNEXTDOOR, lower than six months in the past, the corporate’s enterprise unit, HYBE IPX, has been concurrently in dialog with the Olympic Video games to carry its expertise to encourage related fandom to Paris. The corporate will present specifically designed “Workforce Korea Gentle Sticks” to assist South Korea’s nationwide staff competing within the video games. Designed with inspiration from the Olympic torch and stadium, the sunshine sticks make the most of the identical tech and experience at HYBE artists’ live shows to alter colours and glow in sync with chants.
“Centralized management is probably the most excellent expertise that differentiates us from others,” explains Seung Suk Rhee, President of HYBE IPX, in an unique interview with Billboard. “Merely put, we are able to simply management gentle sticks dispersed in a big house from a centralized console field. We are able to make variations in response to the event, ranging from Ok-pop live shows to theme park rides.”
The newly unveiled gentle stick for Workforce Korea coordinates with this yr’s official cheer anthem, “Combating,” by SEVENTEEN’s BSS and Lee Younger-Ji, which comes with its personal accompanying problem.
“It’s going to be extremely shifting to see the big crowd coming along with one spirit, singing our tune in unison to cheer for the athletes,” BSS tells Billboard in a press release. “We’re very proud and honored that ‘Combating,” that includes Lee Younger-Ji, might contribute to the thrill for Workforce Korea athletes at such a historic sports activities competition.That is all due to [our fans] CARATs, who’ve proven a lot love for the tune since final yr, and we’re as soon as once more crammed with gratitude for our followers. Via the tune’s energetic beat and enjoyable lyrics boosting the eagerness and enthusiasm for cheering, we hope to move on BSS’ positivity and power to Workforce Korea athletes. We’re rooting for all of them the best way to take pleasure in their second and obtain their targets with all our hearts.”
Talking extra about how the Ok-pop gentle stick made its method to the Olympics and the place it could go subsequent, learn on for extra with HYBE IPX President Seung Suk Rhee.
When did the chance to create gentle sticks for Workforce Korea come about?
Beginning early summer time final yr, with the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 producing vital international momentum, we explored methods to combine this occasion into HYBE. We determined that introducing gentle sticks could be superb, as they signify the idea of “cheer” and “assist” which is equally essential for each music followers and sports activities fans. We approached the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee with this concept and located a mutual understanding to steer the cheering tradition, setting sail on the sunshine stick mission.
Essentially the most essential issue was the design. We couldn’t simply create any gentle stick however needed to give you a design that symbolizes our nation because the nationwide flag, Taegeukgi, does. To keep up the distinctive form of a lightweight stick whereas making it immediately recognizable as a nationwide flag, we included motifs of a torch and a stadium into the ultimate design.
The design is centered on a easy white aesthetic with a form that echoes a torch or a flame. The sunshine rays, which change colours or flash with every button press, are impressed by the Olympic symbols — together with the 5 circles of blue, pink, yellow, inexperienced, and black. Since black can’t be produced with gentle, we changed it with white, the background shade of the Olympic flag, and added a contact of gold, impressed by the emblem of the Olympic Video games Paris 2024. Contemplating a design that displays the identification of the Olympics, we additionally ensured that it blends in with Workforce Korea’s official uniforms.
What ought to followers and viewers look out for when the sunshine sticks are televised Opening Ceremony?
Personally, what makes it much more thrilling, is that will probably be the primary time that HYBE’s gentle stick will likely be showcased in entrance of a worldwide viewers of each nationality. Since Workforce Korea athletes will make an entrance to the Opening Ceremony holding Workforce Korea Official Digital Flag, we hope to contribute to spreading out the Olympic spirit, even whether it is within the slightest manner attainable.
The sunshine stick carried by Workforce Korea athletes options the Korean flag connected to the Workforce Korea Official Gentle Stick, commonplace model supplied to the Korean viewers. Firstly, we wished to strengthen the connection between the athletes and their followers. Secondly, we aimed for it to signify the Taegeukgi in a brand new kind fairly than simply being a lightweight stick. That’s why we additionally named it the Workforce Korea Official Digital Flag.
What was probably the most difficult a part of creating this chance?
All members a part of my staff have been engaged on this mission with nice gravity. In fact we’ve skilled strain coming from the magnitude of the occasion, even with live shows hosted by HYBE artists in arenas. Nevertheless, that is the primary time that we’ll be placing out our gentle sticks in entrance of the world to see. Much more so, this would be the first time that Workforce Korea athletes will likely be holding a lightweight stick as an alternative of an odd nationwide flag on the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Video games. We hope that our gentle sticks can contribute to igniting the Olympic spirit amongst Workforce Korea.
How did discussions to carry SEVENTEEN’s BSS and their tune “Combating” because the official cheer tune for Workforce Korea come collectively?
BSS’ “Combating,” that includes Lee Younger-Ji, emits probably the most becoming message and the temper for a festive occasion, particularly when the athletes want all of the assist that they’ll get. We wished to maintain the thrill going all through the Olympic Video games Paris 2024 for Workforce Korea, and make it a tune that the followers will bear in mind for years to return. We will likely be enjoying “Combating” as one of many cheering anthems at Korea Home in Paris, the place the cheering occasion for Workforce Korea will happen.
What does a possibility like this say about Ok-pop and Ok-pop fandom?
At HYBE, we don’t see Ok-pop followers and sports activities followers as totally different. We consider that fandoms, whether or not they’re for sports activities, video games, motion pictures, anime, or theme parks, share a typical core “ardour.” Whereas they might look totally different on the skin, they’re all pushed by the identical heartfelt need to cheer for and assist one thing or somebody they love. Whether or not sports activities followers put on jerseys and chant slogans, or Ok-pop followers wave gentle sticks, they’re sending the identical message: “I assist you.” From this angle, we realized that we might create a brand new type of cheering tradition by introducing HYBE’s gentle persist with the sports activities world. We consider that followers are consistently evolving by actively collaborating and sending their power to artists and athletes in numerous methods.
HYBE IPX first prolonged this tech past music with the Korean esports staff T1 for the League of Legends Champions match this summer time. How did this concept come to be?
It’s been lengthy since we now have been getting ready for an outbound mission that might showcase our gentle stick expertise to a wider viewers, even past the music business. With this in thoughts, we’ve been discussing new alternatives with companions in numerous fields. We’re at the moment discussing numerous collaborations for a long-term partnership, the primary of which is the T1 OFFICIAL LIGHT BAND that was first showcased at T1’s “Dwelling Floor” occasion in late June. HYBE’s manufacturing staff helped direct the sunshine bands all through the occasion.
Are you able to share extra about HYBE IPX and your function within the firm?
HYBE IPX is a enterprise unit that focuses on creating boundless alternatives primarily based on artist IP and delivering contemporary experiences to followers. We develop official merchandise for occasions like excursions and birthdays, supply licensed merchandise that carry artist characters and IP into on a regular basis use, and host international pop-up shops that present followers with distinctive and immersive experiences. HYBE’s gentle sticks, now increasing into sports activities and esports past music, are designed, produced, and provided by HYBE IPX, the mastermind behind the sunshine stick expertise.
As well as, HYBE IPX spearheads the planning and execution of collaborative IP tasks with a number of labels and different enterprise items inside HYBE, together with BTS tenth Anniversary FESTA in 2023 and “THE CITY” tasks…SEVENTEEN ‘FOLLOW’ THE CITY BANGKOK in 2023, with one other thrilling version coming quickly in August at ENHYPEN World Tour “FATE PLUS” THE CITY JAKARTA. Model ambassadorships, commercials, and numerous partnerships involving HYBE artists are additionally a part of our enterprise.
Because the chief of the group answerable for these numerous initiatives and tasks, I’m totally dedicated to making sure that followers have an distinctive expertise with the artists they love, in addition to creating alternatives for them to attach and luxuriate in memorable experiences collectively.
HYBE stated, “With this unique gentle stick system, HYBE goals to increase the Ok-pop-originated improvements to festivals and arenas worldwide.” Are you able to clarify this extra?
I’m certain you’ve been to live shows hosted by Ok-pop artists or labels. The second you step foot within the enviornment, you’ll see followers waving gentle sticks to assist their favourite artists. It’s a particular tradition and expertise nurtured throughout the Ok-pop business. “Superfans,” which stands out as the most trending key phrase within the music business nowadays, will not be restricted to the music business, however additionally they exist in different industries resembling sports activities, esports, and animation. We’ve witnessed Ok-pop followers crying, laughing, cheering in happiness [while] elevating their gentle sticks up excessive. We want to prolong this stirring second to worldwide followers, regardless of who their favorites are.
From the executives on this expertise to the followers who purchase and use gentle sticks, what else would you like readers to know presently?
At HYBE, we consider that gentle sticks are greater than only a device for cheering. It’s a manner that followers use to point out their assist for his or her favourite artists, and athletes, and a medium to create a way of fellowship with different followers and a “fan tradition” that has ripened over time. It’s additionally a manner for followers to participate in stage performances or occasions and work together with different followers in addition to the artists who’re on stage. Cherishing the worth, we’ll proceed to make efforts to additional broaden the Ok-pop originated gentle stick tradition to numerous areas.
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