Weverse

Weverse (also stylized as WeVerse; Korean: 위버스) is a Korean mobile app and web platform created by South Korean entertainment company Big Hit Entertainment. The app specializes in hosting multimedia content and artist-to-fan communications for musicians.[1][2] Its accompanying e-commerce app, Weverse Shop (formerly known as Weply), sells subscriptions for content on Weverse, band-related products, and merchandise.[3]

Weverse
Weverse logo on the Google Play Store
Developer(s)beNX, Big Hit Entertainment
Initial releaseJune 10, 2019 (2019-06-10)
PlatformiOS, Android
Available inEnglish, Korean, Japanese
TypeSocial media, Entertainment
LicenceProprietary software
Websitehttps://www.weverse.io/

Weverse hosts a variety of free and subscription content including educational and entertainment videos, Instagram Story-style updates, and artist-to-fan interactions and platforms for users to connect with each other.[4][5] The app is also used to publish official statements by Big Hit Entertainment on behalf of artists on its labels.[6] As of January 2021, the platform is used by K-pop boy groups BTS, Seventeen, TXT, NU'EST, Enhypen, P1Harmony, girl groups GFriend, Weeekly, Dreamcatcher, Cherry Bullet, solo artists CL, Sunmi, Henry Lau, Gracie Abrams, and trio group New Hope Club.

The software was developed by Big Hit technology subsidiary beNX.[1] As of March 2020, Weverse had 1.4 million daily users and Weverse Shop over 1.8 million users from 200 countries.[3]

Development

The app was developed by beNX, a subsidiary technology company of Big Hit Entertainment specializing in digital platforms and customer service.[3][5] According to beNX 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.[1] Big Hit co-CEO Lenzo Yoon characterized the app as a “one-stop service within the music industry.”[3][7]

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.”[1]

Big Hit launched the e-commerce platform Weply in June 2019, which was later became the app Weverse Shop.[7]

News of the app's development was first announced in October 2019 in an advertisement shown at the beginning of BTS's three-day Love Yourself: Speak Yourself stadium tour in Seoul, South Korea. The advertisement ran simultaneously to the 130,000 attendee of the concert as well as viewers watching via live-stream and in movie theaters.[1][3]

Application

Platforms

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.[2] Both apps are available for free for iOS on the Apple App Store and for Android on the Google Play 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 platforms for users to connect with each other.[4] The Weverse Shop website and app sell subscriptions for individual series on Weverse, as well as fan memberships and merchandise for the groups on its platform.[1]

Content

BTS

Weverse hosts a variety of content for BTS, including video series and social media posts by individual BTS members.

BTS announced during the finale of its Love Yourself: Speak Yourself stadium tour in Seoul that the fourth season of its annual reality show, Bon Voyage, would be leaving the Korean video streaming service V Live, which hosted its first three seasons, for the new platform Weverse.[1] The fourth season of Bon Voyage is available by direct purchase on the Weverse Shop app or with the purchase of an annual membership for BTS's global fan club.[1] beNX reported sales of Bon Voyage's fourth season exceeded that of the third season which was available by subscription on V Live+.[1]

In August 2019, BTS launched a six-episode mini-documentary series for purchase on Weverse entitle Bring the Soul: Docu-Series, which expands on BTS's 2019 documentary film Bring the Soul: The Movie.[1][8] The first episode aired on Weverse on 27 August and concluded on 1 October. Each episode centered on a theme related to the group's Love Yourself album series and showcased content from the 2018 Love Yourself world tour.[8]

On 22 March 2020, Big Hit Entertainment announced the launch of a video series entitled "Learn Korean With BTS" on the social media app Weverse.[5] The project was first mentioned in February during a live-streamed press release by Big Hit Labels on YouTube, in which Bang Si-Hyuk explained that the project intended to “make it easy and fun for global fans who have difficulty enjoying BTS' music and contents due to the language barrier.” [9][5] The idea for the project emerged in reaction to fans asking for English subtitles for BTS's videos.[10] The series consists of thirty three-minute lessons on Korean expressions and grammar using footage from existing BTS content on YouTube and VLive, such as Run BTS and "Bangtan Bomb."[5] The videos were developed in collaboration with experts at the Korean Language Content Institute and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Big Hit Entertainment stated its intent to develop more educational programs with other artists on its labels.[9] The first three episodes were released on 24 March, with subsequent videos posted weekly on Mondays.[5]

Big Hit used Weverse to issue an official statement regarding the cancellation of the first four stops on BTS's upcoming world tour, Map of the Soul, in light of the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea.[6] As of January 2021, over 8.8 million fans of BTS had signed up for either free or subscription services on the platform.

TXT

Big Hit boy group TXT opened their official fan community on Weverse in June 2019. They were also the first ever artist to be on Weverse. Weverse offers a monthly, on-demand subscription called Behind which offers photos and videos of TXT, as well as BTS.[1] As of January 2021, TXT has over 3.4 million fans registered on Weverse.

GFriend

K-pop act GFriend was the first girl group to join Weverse. GFriend's label, Source Music, was acquired by Big Hit in 2019.[11][5] As of January 2021, GFriend has over 1 million fans on the platform.

Seventeen

Boy group Seventeen, managed by Pledis Entertainment, was the first artist not managed by Big Hit to join Weverse.[2][5] Seventeen joined the platform in March 2020. As of January 2021, Seventeen has over 1.7 million fans on the platform.

Enhypen

Enhypen, which is formed by Belift Lab through the reality survival show I-LAND joined the platform in June 2020. The original account was called "I-LAND" referring to the show which was then converted to ENHYPEN after the show finished airing.[12] As of January 2021, Enhypen has over 3.3 million fans on the platform.

NU'EST

Boy group NU'EST, managed by Pledis Entertainment joined the platform in September 2020.[13] As of January 2021, NU'EST has about 381,060 fans on the platform.

CL

Solo artist CL joined the platform in September 2020.[14] As of January 2021, CL has over 461,845 fans on the platform.

P1Harmony

Rookie boy group P1Harmony, managed by FNC Entertainment joined the platform in October 2020.[15] As of January 2021, P1Harmony has over 260,227 fans on the platform.

Weeekly

Rookie girl group Weeekly, managed by Play M Entertainment, joined the platform in October 2020.[16] As of January 2021, Weeekly has over 144,490 fans on the platform.

Sunmi

Solo artist Sunmi, managed by MAKEUS Entertainment, joined the platform in October 2020.[17] As of January 2021, Sunmi has over 278,125 fans on the platform.

Henry

Solo artist Henry Lau, managed by Monster Entertainment Group, joined the platform in October 2020.[18] As of January 2021, Henry has over 194,096 fans on the platform.

Dreamcatcher

Girl group Dreamcatcher, managed by Dreamcatcher Company, joined the platform in November 2020.[19] As of January 2021, Dreamcatcher has over 174,330 fans on the platform.

Gracie Abrams

American singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams, managed by Universal Music Group, joined the platform in November 2020.[20] As of January 2021, Gracie has 153,495 fans on the platform.

Cherry Bullet

Girl group Cherry Bullet, managed by FNC Entertainment, joined the platform in January 2021.[21]

New Hope Club

British-pop trio New Hope Club joined the platform in February 2021.[22]

Alexander 23

After announcing that Gracie Abrams will join Weverse, Alexander 23 will join Weverse soon.[20]

Yungblud

After announcing that Gracie Abrams will join Weverse, Yungblud will join Weverse soon.[20]

See also

References
  1. Benjamin, Jeff (2020-03-16). "K-Pop Content Creators Are Leaving YouTube for Startups". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  2. Herman, Tamar (2020-02-05). "Big Hit Entertainment -- Home to BTS -- Unveils Profits, Upcoming Ventures & New Signings". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  3. Mehta, Stephanie (2020-03-10). "Millions of BTS fans use these 2 apps to connect and shop. No tech startups needed". Fast Company. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  4. Devoe, Noelle (July 1, 2019). "Here's Everything ARMYs Should Know About Weverse, BTS' New Fan Community". Elite Daily. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  5. Benjamin, Jeff. "'Learn Korean With BTS' Aims To Break Down Language Barrier & Further Connect Global Fans". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  6. Delgado, Sara. "BTS and ARMY Donate to Coronavirus Relief After Canceled Seoul Shows". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  7. "The 10 most innovative music companies of 2020". Fast Company. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  8. Herman, Tamar (August 16, 2019). "BTS to Release 'Bring The Soul' Docu-Series Through Weverse App". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. Delgado, Sara (February 5, 2020). "BTS fans will soon be able to officially learn Korean with Bangtan". Teen Vogue. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  10. Zemler, Emily (March 24, 2020). "BTS Launches Web Series to Help Fans Learn Korean". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. Hwang, Hye-jin (July 29, 2019). "빅히트 측 "쏘스뮤직 인수 계약→자회사 편입, 독립성 유지"(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  12. Benjamin, Jeff (October 4, 2020). "Meet ENHYPEN: Belift Lab's New K-Pop Boy Band Shares Goals & What You Didn't See On TV". Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  13. Hwang, Ji-young (September 8, 2020). "영국 밴드 뉴 호프 클럽, 위버스에 팬 커뮤니티 오픈". isplus.live.joins.com (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  14. Hwang, Hye-jin (September 28, 2020). "CL도 빅히트 위버스 합류→본격 활동 시동 "글로벌 팬들과 소통"(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  15. Lee, Min-ji (September 25, 2020). "FNC 신예 피원하모니, 위버스 입점 "10월5일 오픈"(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  16. "위버스, 신인 걸그룹 Weeekly(위클리) 커뮤니티 오픈… "글로벌 소통 강화"". news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  17. Kim, Hyo-jeong (October 19, 2020). "선미도 빅히트 '위버스'에 커뮤니티 개설…"글로벌 팬과 소통"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  18. Oh, Bo-ram (October 26, 2020). "가수 헨리도 '위버스'에 팬 커뮤니티 개설". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  19. Oh, Bo-ram (November 9, 2020). "드림캐쳐, 빅히트 '위버스'에 팬 커뮤니티 오픈". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  20. "Gracie Abrams joins fan community Weverse". Yonhap News Agency. November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  21. Kim, Hyo-jeong (January 4, 2021). "걸그룹 체리블렛, 빅히트 운영 팬플랫폼 '위버스' 합류". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  22. Hwang, Ji-young (February 1, 2021). 뉴 호프 클럽, 1일 위버스 커뮤니티 오픈…해외 아티스트로는 2번째 [New Hope Club opens Weverse Community on the 1st… 2nd overseas artist]. isplus.live.joins.com (in Korean). Retrieved February 1, 2021.
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