Artist: 벨 - MusicBrainz
For this artist, I’m not entirely sure what to do with it, since this is the first time I encountered a split option. (Generally, we go by legal name, and just list all their other names under it.)
Here’s the situation for this artist (Jin Hyeon-Ju):
- Her first gig was as 럭키 (Lucky).
- Group name: Good Day
- Agency: C9 Entertainment
- Her second gig is as 벨 (Belle).
- Group name: Cignature
- Agency when they started: J9 Entertainment (a subsidiary of C9 Entertainment)
- As of 2023, official communications reverted to C9 Entertainment, so everyone assumed J9 Entertainment was silently disbanded.
- Her third gig is under her legal name 진현주 (Jin Hyeon-Ju).
- Group name: UNIS
- Agency: F&F Entertainment
Under the most popular name rule, 벨 (Belle) is the artist name. However, when she joined the “Universe Ticket” competition, she went by her own legal name as her stage name. Which is what’s being used now under “UNIS”. So, 벨 (Belle) as the “popular name” is now questionable, as her legal/stage name 진현주 (Jing Hyeonju) is now more popular. (Her new fans doesn’t even know her as 벨 (Belle).)
Under the “Performance names and legal names” guideline:
Generally, use the name the artist mainly performs under as the artist name. Alternative names, including any legal names and name variations, should generally be entered as aliases, and can be used in artist credits and relationship credits when appropriate.
In some cases, a person (or, more rarely, a group) can perform under multiple names that they actually consider different projects, and not just alternative names. In that case, you should add each artist separately. If they’re a person, a separate legal name artist should be added, and linked to all performance names with the is person (“performs as”) relationship. In this case, do not add legal name aliases to the performance names. If the legal name is not known but it is known that several performance names refer to the same artist, you can instead choose one performance name and link all other performance names to it. For groups, just link each group to their members.
“that they actually consider different projects, and not just alternative names”
- We do not know if she considers her Cignature (under C9 Entertainment) and UNIS (under F&F Entertainment) as different projects; but legally, it is.
- And the fact that she did not use her current stage name 벨 (Belle) in the competition and UNIS, points that 벨 (Belle) is under ownership of C9 Entertainment; and is her identity only under Cignature.
Her contract with C9 Entertainment is still valid. A few days ago, C9 Entertainment released a statement that her activities as part of the group, Cignature, are only temporarily on-hold while she is working for the group UNIS. (Although, they did not say if she will return after her contract with F&F Entertainment, as part of UNIS, ends.)
I am thinking that in her case, it is better to split her Musicbrainz entry, considering the above situation.
If so, then:
If they’re a person, a separate legal name artist should be added, and linked to all performance names with the is person (“performs as”) relationship.
Since her current stage name is also her legal name:
- Should I create two “legal name” entries? One as the “legal name” and one as “performance name”?
I’m thinking it should be one, and just link the 벨 (Belle) page to it.
(P.S. In other databases and sites, I noticed some switched her name to her current active artist/stage name, which is her legal name; others retained 벨 (Belle).)
