The livestream app Kpop stars have been using is shutting down by the end of this year. This is why

Popular livestream app used by Kpop artists, VLIVE, announced that the platform will be terminated by the end of the year. HYBE, the Kpop entertainment company that is also responsible for artists like BTS, explained that they will be phasing out the app over time.

“Existing VLIVE users can continue to use VLIVE until the end of the year when the gradual integration proceeds,” wrote HYBE in a notice.

If you’re not familair with VLIVE, it’s a popular livestreaming app used by Kpop artists and South Korean celebrities. Fans can use the platform to follow their favourite Kpop artists and get notifications whenever the artists streams live.

However, on 2 March 2022, the platform was transferred to WeVerse Company—a platform owned by HYBE. In addition to this, all the past VLIVE streams of BTS have transferred to WeVerse, which implies that WeVerse is going to be an official communication channel for BTS. 

This, in turn, means that Kpop bands from other companies like Stray Kids, NCT, and BlackPink won’t be using the platform. Recently, Bang Chan of Stray Kids has also recently moved to YouTube instead to stream. However, YouTube has its own set of issues as well. Fans are worried that from now on he will only be able to play music by his company’s artists due to YouTube’s copyright policy.

“I can play songs that are all a part of JYP,” said Bang Chan in his first YouTube livestream.

Fans of BTS might not be too happy as well, even if VLIVE is in their favour. WeVerse reportedly has a poor interface and often crashes if there are millions of viewers simultaneously watching a video—like what happened during BTS’ Yet to Come Busan concert.

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