Tiger JK reveals 'sajaegi' trick to manipulate music charts
Rapper Tiger JK featured in SBS's investigative program “Unanswered Questions” and said, “I believe 'sajaegi' exists.” Capture from SBS
By Dong Sun-hwa
Rapper Tiger JK says he was told that if he paid 100 million won ($86,000) his songs' rankings would be boosted on music streaming charts.
“I believe 'sajaegi' exists,” Tiger JK said on SBS's investigative program “Unanswered Questions” on Saturday.
“Sajaegi” literally means hoarding a product ― which is predicted to rise in price ― to make future profit. More recently, it refers to music chart manipulation that rigs the rankings of certain songs by continually replaying the tracks on streaming services. Some PR agencies are suspected of having done this on behalf of singers, either by employing an automatic mouse clicker program “macro” or streaming with dozens of different IDs.
“Five years ago, a PR agency said it could manipulate the charts if I paid 100 million won,” Tiger JK said. “The agencies could also 'edge out' competitors' tracks on the chart by promoting songs of similar genre.”
Singer MALVO also dropped a bombshell on the program.
“A person (from PR agency) asked me if I was satisfied with my album's performance,” MALVO said. “He said he could boost the rank of my numbers without being caught. He also suggested that I release medium-tempo or ballad songs with lyrics that revolve around breakup.”
Although the agencies claim that they have used viral marketing on social media platforms to promote the songs, an industry insider denied this.
“I also spent 10-20 million won ($8,600-17,000) on social media marketing, but it didn't help me much with the promotion,” the insider said.
The chart manipulation scandal has been rocking Korea for years. It reached its peak when Park Kyung of boy band Block B said on Twitter in Nov. 24: "I want to 'hoard up' mine like Vibe, Song Ha-ye, Lim Jae-hyun, Jeon Sang-keun, Jang Deok-cheol and Hwang In-wook."
The singers Park named said they would take legal action against him for alleged defamation. Park said he would fight the action.