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Weverse

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 6 min
Short description: South Korean mobile app and web platform
Weverse
Weverse logo on the Google Play Store
Weverse logo on the Google Play Store
Developer(s)Weverse Company,[lower-alpha 1] Hybe Corporation
Initial releaseJune 10, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-06-10)
PlatformAndroid, iOS
Available in
TypeSocial media, entertainment
LicenceProprietary software
Website

Weverse (Korean: 위버스: romanized: wibeoseu) is a South Korean mobile app and web platform created by South Korean entertainment company Hybe Corporation. The app specializes in hosting multimedia content and artist-to-fan communications for musicians while its e-commerce counterpart, Weverse Shop (formerly known as Weply), sells artist-related merchandise and subscriptions for content on Weverse.

Weverse hosts a variety of free and paid content including educational and entertainment videos, Instagram Story-style updates, and artist-to-fan interactions and communities for users to connect with each other. The app is also used to publish official statements by Hybe (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) on behalf of artists signed with its labels.[1]

The software was developed by Hybe's technology subsidiary Weverse Company (formerly beNX). By March 2020, Weverse had 1.4 million daily users and Weverse Shop over 1.8 million users from 200 countries.[2] As of 2022, Weverse has over 6.8 million monthly users.[3]

Development

The app was developed by Weverse Company (formerly beNX),[4][5][6] a subsidiary technology company of Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) specializing in digital platforms and customer service.[2][7] According to Weverse Company president, Seo Wooseok, the app was developed to offer a platform for K-pop artists to interact with fans "on a deeper level" than that offered by YouTube or Twitter, which emphasize content delivery over communication.[4] Hybe co-CEO Lenzo Yoon characterized the app as a "one-stop service within the music industry."[2][8]

According to Jenny Zha, CEO of the digital media consultancy firm Infinitize, K-pop "market leaders like BTS", who have amassed significant fan followings, no longer need to focus on being discovered but rather on monetization and ownership of their content. Zha, in an interview with Billboard, explained that "labels want to [...] create an asset they can own and mobilize for other artists and ventures because they know that fans will follow to where the content is. It creates more security for the label for the long term."[4]

Hybe launched the e-commerce platform Weply in June 2019. It later became the app Weverse Shop.[8]

News of the app's development was first announced in October 2019 through an advertisement shown at the beginning of BTS's three-day Love Yourself: Speak Yourself stadium tour in Seoul, South Korea. The advertisement played simultaneously to 130,000 in-person concertgoers, as well as viewers watching via live-stream and in movie theaters.[2][4]

On January 27, 2021, Naver Corporation announced the transfer of their V-Live service to Weverse Company and its integration with the Weverse platform.[9]

Platforms and content

Weverse is currently available as a website, an entertainment and communication-focused app of the same name, and an e-commerce app called Weverse Shop.[4][10] Both apps are available for free for Android on the Google Play Store and for iOS on the Apple App Store. The Weverse web and app platforms host a variety of free and subscription content including videos, Instagram Story-style updates, and artist-to-fan interactions and communities for users to connect with each other.[7][11] The Weverse Shop website and app sell subscriptions for individual series on Weverse, as well as fan memberships and merchandise for the artists on its platform.[2][4]

Communities of acts or artists who are no longer active or have disbanded (e.g. GFriend,[12] NU'EST),[13] whether due to contract expiration or other factors, remain open on Weverse and existing content can still be viewed, but features such as creating new posts and editing profiles are disabled.[14]

Artists

Tomorrow X Together was the first artist to join the earliest version of Weverse, on June 11, 2019.[4] Labelmate BTS followed afterwards on July 1.[15] Since then various artists signed to companies under Hybe's multi-label system (e.g. Seventeen,[10][7] Boynextdoor, Le Sserafim),[16] including acts formed as part of joint venture projects (e.g. Enhypen),[17] have also joined.

Artists from YG Entertainment, including Blackpink,[18] Winner,[19] and Treasure,[20] began joining the platform in 2021 following Big Hit's investment in YG Plus.[21] International artists under Universal Music Group (e.g. Gracie Abrams, New Hope Club,[22] Alexander 23,[23] Jeremy Zucker)[24] also utilize the platform per a formal partnership with Hybe established that same year.[25]

Artists from SM Entertainment joined the platform on September 12, 2023, transferring from the label's own platform Kwangya Club, as a part of an agreement between SM, Hybe, and Kakao Entertainment in early 2023 after the dispute on the right on management over SM Entertainment.[26][27]

Japanese artists on the platform include XG,[28] Yurina Hirate,[29] and AKB48.[30]

Concerts

Weverse Concerts

List of concerts and live performances organized/produced solely by or in conjunction with Weverse
Date Title Venue Organizer(s) Attendance Ref.
December 31, 2020 2021 NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE presented by Weverse Weverse (online) Weverse, Hybe Labels N/A [31]
December 31, 2021 2022 Weverse Con [New Era] KINTEX Hall 4 (in-person) /
Weverse, Venewlive (online) 		Hybe, Weverse N/A [32]
October 15, 2022 BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN Busan Asiad Main Stadium (in-person) / Weverse (online) Hybe, Bighit Music, Weverse 50,000 (in-person) / 49.07 million (online) [33]

See also

  • Hybe Corporation

Notes

  1. ↑ formerly beNX

References

  1. ↑ Delgado, Sara (February 28, 2020). "BTS and ARMY Donate to Coronavirus Relief After Big Hit Cancels Seoul Concerts". https://www.teenvogue.com/story/bts-fans-donate-coronavirus-relief-big-hit-cancels-seoul-concerts. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mehta, Stephanie (March 10, 2020). "Millions of BTS fans use these 2 apps to connect and shop. No tech startups needed". https://www.fastcompany.com/90457458/big-hit-entertainment-most-innovative-companies-2020. 
  3. ↑ Farley, Amy (March 8, 2022). "How the BTS ARMY turned their fandom into the future of entertainment". Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/90721903/bts-hybe-korean-record-label-weverse. Retrieved February 8, 2022. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Benjamin, Jeff (March 16, 2020). "K-Pop Content Creators Are Leaving YouTube for Startups". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/articles/deep-dive/9332981/why-k-pop-content-creators-are-leaving-youtube-and-v-live. Retrieved March 26, 2020. 
  5. ↑ Choi, Ji-won (January 31, 2021). "Big Hit partnership with Naver, YG Plus a win-win for entertainment industry". http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210131000171. 
  6. ↑ "Big Hit Entertainment: Who We Are section". https://www.bighitcorp.com/eng/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Benjamin, Jeff (March 22, 2020). "'Learn Korean With BTS' Aims To Break Down Language Barrier & Further Connect Global Fans". https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2020/03/22/learn-korean-with-bts-announcement-launch-weverse/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The 10 most innovative music companies of 2020". March 10, 2020. https://www.fastcompany.com/90457855/music-most-innovative-companies-2020. 
  9. ↑ Jeon, A-ram (January 27, 2021) (in ko). http://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1382865. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Herman, Tamar (February 5, 2020). "BTS Label Big Hit Entertainment Announces Profit, Plans & New Acts". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/bts/8550165/big-hit-entertainment-bts-major-profits-plans. Retrieved March 26, 2020. 
  11. ↑ Devoe, Noelle (July 1, 2019). "What Is Weverse? BTS & TXT's New Official Fan Community App Is A Game-Changer". https://www.elitedaily.com/p/what-is-weverse-bts-txts-new-official-fan-community-app-is-a-game-changer-18160828. 
  12. ↑ Hwang, Hye-jin (July 29, 2019). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ko). https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201907290916410410. 
  13. ↑ Hwang, Ji-young (September 8, 2020). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ko). http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=23866793. 
  14. ↑ "Weverse GFRIEND Community Modification Announcement". July 1, 2021. https://www.weverse.io/gfriend/feed/1664065213278290. 
  15. ↑ "BTS community opens on Weverse". July 2019. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2019/07/01/etc/BTS-community-opens-on-Weverse/3064961.html. 
  16. ↑ "[브레이크뉴스 사쿠라·김채원 '하이브 최초 걸그룹' 르세라핌, 위버스 커뮤니티 오픈 '관심↑'"] (in ko). 2022-03-28. https://www.breaknews.com/882383. 
  17. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (October 4, 2020). "Meet ENHYPEN: Belift Lab's New K-Pop Boy Band Shares Goals & What You Didn't See On TV". https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2020/10/04/meet-enhypen-belift-labs-new-k-pop-boy-band-shares-goals--what-you-didnt-see-on-tv/. 
  18. ↑ Kim Soo-jin (July 14, 2021). "블랙핑크, 오는 8월 2일 위버스 합류 [공식"] (in ko). MT Star News. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002971850. 
  19. ↑ Park, Jeong-sun. "완전체 활동 앞둔 위너, 위버스 합류…팬 소통 강화" (in ko). https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/119/0002538993. 
  20. ↑ Ji, Min-kyung. "YG 대형 신인 트레저, 위버스 합류..글로벌 인기 이어간다 [공식"] (in ko). https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004376846. 
  21. ↑ Frater, Patrick (January 27, 2021). "BTS Agency Big Hit Entertainment to Invest $63 Million in Rival YG". Variety. https://variety.com/2021/biz/asia/bts-agency-big-hit-entertainment-invest-in-yg-1234893216/. Retrieved February 17, 2021. 
  22. ↑ Hwang, Ji-young (February 1, 2021). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ko). http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?Total_Id=23943160. 
  23. ↑ Hwang, Ji-young (February 15, 2021). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=23991759. 
  24. ↑ Choi, Hee-jae (April 19, 2021). "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ko). https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/311/0001288985. 
  25. ↑ Perez, Lexy; Sun, Rebecca (February 17, 2021). "Universal Music Group and Big Hit Records Partnering to Debut New Boy Group". The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-music-group-and-big-hit-records-partnering-to-debut-new-boy-group. Retrieved February 18, 2021. 
  26. ↑ Oh Seo-rin (August 29, 2023). "엑소→에스파, SM 소속 아티스트들 9월부터 위버스 합류" (in ko). https://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=15387932. 
  27. ↑ Peoples, Glenn (2023-09-05). "NCT 127, Aespa & More SM Entertainment Artists Are Joining HYBE’s Weverse". https://www.billboard.com/pro/nct-127-aespa-sm-entertainment-acts-joining-hybe-weverse/. 
  28. ↑ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}" (in ja). Real Sound. March 14, 2022. https://realsound.jp/2022/03/post-987384.html. 
  29. ↑ Yim, Seung-hye (December 21, 2022). "HYBE launches new Japanese label called Naeco". JoongAng Ilbo. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/12/21/entertainment/kpop/naeco-hybe-japan-yurina-hirate/20221221180445041.html. 
  30. ↑ Cho, Yong-jun (April 25, 2023). "Japanese girl group AKB48 to join HYBE's Weverse DM". JoongAng Ilbo. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2023/04/25/entertainment/kpop/Korea-Kpop-Jpop/20230425142706452.html. 
  31. ↑ Mamo, Heran (December 30, 2020). "How to Watch BTS, Halsey, Lauv & More on Big Hit Labels' 2021 New Year's Eve Live". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/9505818/bts-new-years-eve-big-hit-labels-2021-halsey-lauv-steve-aoki. Retrieved February 18, 2021. 
  32. ↑ 2022 Weverse Con:
  33. ↑ Ji, Min-Kyung (October 16, 202). "방탄소년단, 부산을 대통합의 장으로..전세계 229개 국가+지역서 함께". https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004720245. 

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