- b.stage's first media day, “2024 b.stage Media Day: All About Fandom Business,” took place on February 20, 2024.
- The presenters and co-CEOs Brice Kiyoung Lee and Steve Wooseok Seo, alongside Aaron Sanghun Bae, CSO and CEO of the Japanese subsidiary, unveiled three years of achievements.
- b.stage is “a total solution for the fandom business, including IT infrastructure, consulting, IP business, and datalabs” and “a partner for successful global fandom businesses.”
SEOUL, Korea - February 20, 2024 - On February 20, bemyfriends, renowned for its expertise in helping its clients succeed in the fandom business, held its first media day on the theme of “2024 b.stage Media Day: All About Fandom Business.”
As the developer and operator of b.stage, bemyfriends showcased its activities, achievements, and global reach, supported by data and examples from the past three years. b.stage is a fandom business total solution that provides a full range of features, covering everything from content management to community building, global eCommerce, live streaming, and real-time communication. It also offers IP business solutions and consulting services to support fandom business owners.
In the opening presentation, co-CEO Brice Kiyoung Lee spoke on "b.stage, 3 Years of Global Fandom Business Performance and Future.” He highlighted the company's achievements in proactively acquiring customers and expanding the scope of the fandom business. According to Lee, fans from 224 countries around the world have visited b.stage, with 155 countries engaging with various fandom-oriented products and digital services such as merchandise offered through b.stage.
The cumulative page views (PV) of fandom platforms built with b.stage have also exceeded 180 million, establishing it as a key global communication channel for fan-artist interaction. Lee emphasized that the number of customers adopting b.stage has been increasing rapidly as a result of the company's three years of refined expertise in the fandom business, with more than 100 clients now building their fandom platforms on b.stage. He added that more than 41% of customers have entered the active monetization phase by using b.stage’s membership or eCommerce features, and the percentage of eCommerce and logistics operation contracts signed through b.stage has increased by more than 900%.
"With the belief that 'everyone is a fan of something', we've worked with clients across K-POP, esports, creators, entertainment, culture and arts, and more to showcase the power of fandom around the world," said Lee. "Over the past three years, we've expanded our customer success stories, demonstrated our global reach, and proven that we are the right partner for global fandom businesses."
In his presentation, "Successful Fandom Business with b.stage," Aaron Sanghun Bae, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and CEO of bemyfriends Japan, shared various customer success stories and the emerging trends in fandom for 2024, leveraging insights from b.stage data. Bae emphasized that b.stage was built to target global markets from the very beginning. The solution’s efforts to improve global usability, such as support for five languages and payment and shipping systems extending to over 210 countries, have helped customers build successful global fandoms.
Bae specifically highlighted the development of global fandom businesses in the esports and K-POP sectors. He shared how leading esports teams such as T1, Dplus KIA, KT Rolster, and DRX are leveraging b.stage to engage with their global fandoms and enhance fan experiences by bridging online and offline activities, making use of features such as “Onsite Pickup.” This has positioned b.stage as a popular fan communication platform for esports teams. Bae also explained how K-POP artists, ranging from first-generation idols to soon-to-debut fifth-generation ones, are making use of b.stage. He noted that b.stage has recently been instrumental in creating fandom hubs that bring together global fans even before an artist's debut, showcasing b.stage's leadership and tailored services for the K-POP industry.
"As a total fandom business solution, b.stage provides services that span both online and offline spaces for our customers," said Bae. He highlighted the recent success of AB6IX's pop-up store in Seoul, Korea, which b.stage managed from concept to execution. Furthermore, he emphasized b.stage’s proactive role in the formation of fandoms for content IPs, noting, "Content IPs such as 'Phantom Singer 4,' where Liberante, Fortena, and Crezl were born, are successfully building fandom businesses based on b.stage's expertise in the industry.”
Steve Wooseok Seo, co-CEO of b.stage, delivered a presentation titled "b.stage, a Partner for Global Fandom Business Success.” He noted, “The more than 100 IPs that have joined b.stage represent 5% of our total sales leads, and we expect the share of our global client base to grow to 50% within three years." Highlighting the recent launch of a subsidiary in Japan, Seo pointed out that the focus is on J-POP artists and celebrities looking to go global, as well as Korean newcomers aiming to break into the Japanese market, with b.stage offering localized IT solutions and infrastructure to support their growth. In the US, as the market is growing through integration with platforms and agent-driven sales leads, b.stage's advanced capabilities such as branding, hub platform, and data solutions are expected to enable growth in cooperation with major labels.
"We are pleased to introduce our proven fandom business capabilities in the global market through our first media day," stated Seo. "b.stage is a total fandom business solution that integrates consulting, IP business, eCommerce, and datalabs. We interact with fans to carefully understand their needs, elevate the fan experience, and add sustainability through appropriate revenue models. This enables many fandoms to connect and interact intimately with their favorite artists, brands, creators, and more, creating a unique fandom experience."
After expanding into the US market last year, b.stage entered the Japanese market in January of this year, accelerating its global fandom business expansion. Leveraging expertise in IP business, fandom consulting, and eCommerce, b.stage offers a total solution to support customers' successful fandom business. Additionally, the recent introduction of datalabs helps customers operate and grow their fandom businesses efficiently. By identifying the preferences and traits of fandoms active on b.stage, customers can plan and produce customized content that meets fandom demands. It also aids in the efficient management of eCommerce and the strategic use of marketing and promotions, guided by insightful data analysis.
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