*The reason why I'm posting this today when I was going to do so tomorrow was because their TikTok to Ateez's song "Work" has been picked up by big and moderate Ateez fan accounts and is making the rounds on Twitter and Instagram. It was a good move on the boys' part. (Pics above)*

So in my first ever post, I talked about how part of MTM growing their fanbase involved opening for a bigger act to gain more momentum and reach the next level. This is still true. Previously, Conor was honest in a live a few months back when he said that fans buying tickets to their tours helps them show outsiders they can sell, which puts them in a better position to book an opening slot for a larger artist. So what should they do and what are their options? That is the question.

I once asked if any of you had ideas as to who they could possibly open for. Obviously 5SOS. Some of you also said Benson. I've contemplated maybe one of the 1D guys, and we know one of Zayn's official accounts did see their "Die For Me" cover. Another option could be a prominent Australian act, but I don't know who that could be. It's possible they can get on the radar of a pop act if he/she comes across their music and likes it. But which one of these options sounds the most realistic? I want to say probably the 5SOS option is the likeliest, but even that I don't know if it'll ever happen. Yes, Louis and Niall found 5SOS on YouTube and built that band's careers, but 5SOS has no obligation to do the same or pass the torch. They could very well choose to keep MTM at arms length or ignore them entirely. If so, where does this leave MTM?

Even though their lane is pop-rock/pop-punk, their path is narrower. There aren't a lot of options to choose from. One of the reasons I've pushed so hard on here for them to promote themselves as a band--irrespective of whether they're promoting anything specific--is because it keeps them in the cultural conversation. It reminds people that they exist and creates consistency, which helps them stay on radars or get on them. Do video, radio, and written interviews. If it's possible for Chugg/TT Publicity to do, book them a profile/wide-ranging article in an Aussie industry publication like *RollingStone Australia*, or *Variety AU* or another in the country. The closest they came to this was last year when they talked a bit with *The Australian*. More of this, please. Appear on YouTube music accounts or shows. I also think it was a missed opportunity to not appear at the iHeart Radio Awards, which was a lower bar to clear. They were on tour.

I've said this before and it's still the vibe I get: it seems to me that all sides are so hooked on virality, they think they don't have to play the game. You know, *the* game. That they don't have to do the rounds. That they don't have to make connections. They absolutely do because everyone does to some extent. Why do I think this? Because making TikTok's was their plan to promote "Math." Literally one a day. They didn't even visit a radio station or TV show until "Math" had already been out for a month, and it was added to the calendar after it had already been posted, which most likely means those appearances were booked late in a clear pivot. I also suspect it's why we didn't get "Math" performances. If people don't come calling, reach out and knock on doors yourselves. Appear at industry music events. Go to lower-tier award shows. Talk to people there. See who you meet. Making connections will help them with the above and in the long run.

But I'll get to the point of my post now. Could the K-pop world provide an alternative? Could this be an option if prominent western acts don’t pick them up as openers? I think it can be, yes. It takes **a)** fostering a fanbase in these regions and **b)** making connections in the Asian market. I was sad to see them cancel their Seoul and Hong Kong tour dates because those fans are such a powerful machine, and even if inroads are hard, you won't make any until you start.

There's also an opportunity to meet bigger Asian acts and make connections with their Summer Sonic and BST Hyde Park festival stops. They'll be sharing a stage with SB19, who have 1.2M followers on Instagram. Also performing on that day is Be:First, who just did a remix with Janet Jackson and also has 1M followers. At BST, they're a supporting act for Ateez, who have 11M Instagram followers. Interestingly, MTM's account chose to give them a follow after the announcement. It's the only outside boyband they follow.

Though MTM is bigger than they are, another act there is dearALICE. They're British in nationality, but the experiment that is that particular boyband has been...sonically interesting to say the least. Formed on the BBC show *Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience*, they're sort of this joint venture between SM Entertainment and gamma. They're essentially a UK boyband trying to do K-pop adjacent music. Whether that has worked out for them remains to be seen, but that's a peer they could meet. Similar ages to them too.

It could also be as basic as having a common friend circle. They were at a party with Katseye's Daniela (HYBE x Geffen). Geffen is home to blink-182, Yungblud, Olivia Rodrigo, Camila Cabello, etc.

I believe opportunities are there. They just have to release music and work rooms.

Should MTM try to make K-pop connections?