Chapter 69: MCN

And so, some time after the situation had somewhat stabilized.

“Hello, everyone?”

-Cheongha~

-Cheongha~

-You’re not late today.

Ren, feeling good, started her broadcast as usual.

-What are we doing today?

-Dinosaur game again, go?

-Dino(saur) game.

-But isn’t that game getting an update?

-But there are too few types of dinosaurs there;;;

Well, honestly, that game is fun.

FPS games are good too, but I think survival games like this suit me surprisingly well.

Of course, separate from that..

“I’m not playing that one because of the Spino.”

No, the size difference is almost tenfold, so why is that d*mn thing faster than me?

What an unreasonable physics engine.

Did they say you have to donate a certain amount or more on the developer’s Discord to use the Spino?

I once again realized that money is everything in this world.

Anyway, I have a separate schedule for today.

“···Everyone.”

-??

-Why?

-Did something happen?

-What is it?

-Stream ending announcement?

-No no, that can’t happen.

When I spoke in a serious, low voice, the viewers responded with confusion.

“I’m planning to take streaming seriously now.”

-??

-Suddenly?

-You said that last time too.

-So you were just kidding around until now?

-Boss, are you ashamed of us?

“Ah, it’s not like that.”

It’s already been three months since I started streaming.

Now that I’m in Korea and my stream’s growth is quite remarkable.

I thought it was about time to push forward with the plans I’ve only been thinking about.

“I should start getting sponsorships and managing my channel too, right?”

I may look like this, but huh?

This is my full-time job.

Most of a streamer’s income comes from donations and views, but sponsorships also make up a large part.

Famous big-shot streamers even film three commercials a week.

Those people probably earn more than most celebrities, you know?

And the one that acts as such an advertising agency is the MCN.

‘Well, it’s not absolutely necessary, though.’

If I get an agency, I’ll have to share profits with them, so the money I get at once will decrease.

Still, since I can receive a larger base amount of advertisements.

It was a system that was convenient in many ways if you had it.

The internet broadcasting industry is also gradually entering its growth phase.

Wouldn’t it be less regrettable to secure even one more advertisement at a time like this?

It’s not like something spectacular changes like with an entertainment agency, but what does it matter.

‘More than anything, I’m running out of money now.’

It was about time for the remaining money in my bank account to feel precarious.

It’s not enough to live on just the small amount of donations.

I also needed a proper income.

“Today, we’re looking into MCNs.”

So···· in a nutshell, we’ll be conducting a reverse interview content.

The fact that you suffer if you join a strange place is something, well, I already felt keenly during my celebrity days.

Now I wanted to find a place with a good and comfortable atmosphere.

Since they’ve been in this industry longer than me, they’ll know well which places are good.

-??? You’re doing that?

-Will they even accept you?

-Prospective employee evaluating the company,  (shivers).

-But can you even get in?

-Wow, here the employee conducts the interview?

“···Excuse me, I’m still a top ranker on Live Stream, you know?”

Huh?

I may look like this, but I’m a streamer who hasn’t dropped from the top ranks since I started growing.

Let’s see.

My current rank is 12th.

‘Hmm, 12th in the whole school is pretty high up, right?’

Even considering it wasn’t peak time, it wasn’t a very low position.

Didn’t I make it into the top 20 in the first place?

At this level, I should be able to pull my weight sufficiently in any MCN I join.

“Then, I’ll start taking your opinions.”

The way the content proceeded was simple.

When viewers recommended an MCN, I would search for related information on the internet.

I figured my viewers would watch many other people too, so they’d know enough about MCNs, which is why I decided on this content.

-How about Morae Company?

-That place is the most famous, at least.

-There are many big shots there.

-Emerald is also good.

“Ah, Morae Company?”

Emerald?

Okay, one suggestion came in.

I immediately started searching for information about the company on the internet.

First, Morae Company.

“Let’s see···.”

Hmm, the treatment is quite good too.

I especially like the profit distribution.

Good, everything’s good, but….

“···This place seems too big in scale.”

I don’t think a place like this would necessarily accept me, you see?

It’s a company where dozens of big shots with millions of subscribers already exist.

Even if I did get in, I think it would be too burdensome.

“Let’s look for another place first.”

After writing down the company’s name in the ‘pending’ section, I looked for other MCNs.

-???

-You’re throwing this away?

-Are you dissing Morae Company right now?

-Unforgivable.

[Anonymous Supporter] has donated 1,000 won]

[=Wow, our new recruit’s guts are insane, for real lol.]

“Why, it can happen.”

People always go to places they like.

Huh?

Say you were planning to go to a university in the metropolitan area.

But then you got into a medical school in a provincial university.

Everyone would go for that one, wouldn’t they?

Isn’t that right?

It’s similar to that.

I’ll go where I want to go.

After that, several other MCNs came up, but there weren’t many that I particularly liked.

“You all don’t know my taste very well.”

[-How would we know if you don’t tell us…]

[-Then tell us something.]

[-At least set some criteria.]

“Criteria?”

Hmm····, a comfortable atmosphere where I can relax?

Like with friends.

Respecting each other is good, but I prefer an atmosphere where everyone can get along like friends.

Like, huh?

If you’re in a bad mood, you can even curse at each other.

-Then just go to Dot.

-Yeah, Solnamu and Baekro are all there too.

-But that place works on a recommendation-only basis for admission.

“Hmm, Dot Entertainment?”

I think I’ve heard that name before.

As always, I started searching through the internet wiki.

[Dot Entertainment]

Fortunately, there seemed to be a document on the wiki, so information appeared quickly.

I’ll look at the affiliated streamers later; for now, I should check items like operations.

“The CEO is···· Gu Jisu.”

Hmm, it’s a name I feel like I’ve heard somewhere.

[CheonghaIsPathetic has donated 10,000 won]

[=That person is a former child actor.]

“Ah, thanks for the 10,000 won···.”

But why is their name like that?

[-lol.]

[-They’re donating with that name?]

[-Crazy, for real lol.]

Hmm, a former child actor, huh.

After giving a warning to the viewer with the strange name, I searched for information about the CEO.

Somehow, being connected to the entertainment industry makes me anxious first.

This can’t be helped.

And the search results obtained were as follows.

“Currently on hiatus from acting activities···.”

[-Hiatus (20 years).]

[-At that point, isn’t it honestly retirement?]

[-Jisu doesn’t even have an agency anymore, right?]

[-Yeah, at that point, it’s not a hiatus, just retirement.]

[-It’s just her calling it a hiatus.]

Well, the reason is pretty obvious.

She was too successful when she was young, so she couldn’t escape the shadow of the roles she played back then.

Or rather, it’s like the person was consumed by the character.

Even in my case, my scary image became more fixed.

So for a while, I only received offers for villain roles.

If even I, an idol, am this stressed, how much worse must it be for real actors?

This is a global problem, so in severe cases, they often don’t receive any role offers at all.

And, it was the same for my acquaintances.

I wondered why an actor I filmed with when I was young hadn’t been seen lately.

Later, when I heard about their current situation, they said they were filming in the p*rn industry because business was bad.

She was talented in acting and had a pretty face too.

I was incredibly shocked when I heard that.

That’s why actors who were popular child stars and then made it big are amazing.

It means they have the talent, effort, and looks to back up their ability to shed the image imprinted on them.

Well, anyway.

“This place seems pretty good in its own way.”

First off, the fact that the CEO herself transitioned from the entertainment industry to the internet broadcasting scene gives it bonus points right from the start.

Doesn’t it feel like there’s some kind of kinship?

I continued to read more detailed information about the person named Gu Jisu.

<While spending time with friends she met in games, she has now transitioned from an actress to an internet broadcaster.>

After that, she established Dot Entertainment with a crew-like feel with her friends, and it’s been growing in scale more than expected…

Hmm, this place is really good, isn’t it?

The company’s own scale is moderate, and there are a few familiar faces among the affiliated streamers.

Above all, the atmosphere itself doesn’t seem too bad.

“Alright, let’s put this place as the first priority for now.”

I immediately changed the order in my memo pad.

Farewell, Morae Company, you were too big for me to choose you.

-Finally decided.

-Filtered everyone out and eventually chose Dot.

-But honestly, it doesn’t make much difference which MCN you go to.

-In the end, the broadcaster’s own caliber is what’s important.

“Well, that’s true.”

An MCN’s main job is, after all, advertisement agency work.

Only entertainment agencies can arrange activities beyond that or provide direct management.

It’s not a matter of lack of experience or anything like that; it’s legally prohibited.

Of course, if you submit additional documents, you can also serve as an entertainment agency…

But Dot Entertainment isn’t that kind of company.

-But that place is recommendation-only, how do you get in?

“As for that···, couldn’t I just ask Baekro-nim to write one?”

She even asked me to join her MCN last time, and considering her personality, I think she’d write one surprisingly easily.

And.

[Well, I can write one for you, can’t I?]

“Ah, really?”

Fortunately, a positive reply came back from Baekro.

However, there was one problem.

[Hmm, but··· for free?]

“···What?”

It means she won’t just write it; there’s another condition attached.

Ah, this feels somewhat ominous…

“So, what do you want?”

And an answer that didn’t deviate an inch from my expectation came back.

[Do some aegyo for me once!]

I thought you did a pretty good job with your voice last time.

This time, something cute…

“···What?”

No, which b*stard exported that kind of thing again.

I clearly said I’d blow up the stream if that happened.

-Uh oh.

-It wasn’t us.

-Definitely not me.

-Don’t go, Kim Cheongha.

-Seeing those eyes, she’s scary as h*ll, crazy.

As I narrowed my eyes and glanced at the chat window.

The panicked reactions of the viewers returned.

No, then how does she know about that?

[Now, if you don’t do it, then the recommendation letter isn’t coming~?]

“·······.”

This girl, really.

Threatening someone with their job, how petty.

Ultimately, only after performing a short aegyo could I get a confirmation from Baekro that she would write the recommendation letter.

“Hoo···.”

Trying to force myself to do something I haven’t done once in the past 20 years really drains all my energy.

[Anonymous Supporter] has donated 10,000 won]

[=But then, couldn’t you have just asked Solnamu to write it?]

“···Huh?”

…That’s right, isn’t it?

Come to think of it, that person is also from Dot.

What have I been doing all this time?

No, more importantly.

“Why are you only telling me that now—”

And so, along with Cheongha’s anger-laced voice.

That day’s content came to an end.