RESCENE's Agency Accused of Asking Fans to Buy Expensive In-Ears for Liv

RESCENE has found itself at the center of an unexpected debate over birthday gifts after the group's agency specifically mentioned custom in-ear monitors in a recent fan support notice for member Liv.

On Sept. 28, THE MUZE Entertainment posted guidelines ahead of Liv's Oct. 11 birthday, outlining how fans could send gifts and other forms of support. While the notice included standard information on delivery periods and prohibited items, one line drew particular attention: items requiring advance coordination with the company, "such as custom in-ear monitors," should first be discussed with the agency via email.

The reference quickly drew criticism online. Custom in-ear monitors, or CIEMs, are professionally fitted to an individual's ears and commonly used by singers during performances and broadcasts. Because they can be costly, some questioned why professional equipment was being mentioned in a birthday support notice rather than provided by the agency itself. Others argued that naming the item so specifically could be interpreted as encouraging fans to cover an expense that should fall to the company.

The criticism also comes as RESCENE's profile has risen sharply. The group's 2024 track "LOVE ATTACK" gained renewed attention alongside the viral "Geoje YAHO" meme, helping RESCENE expand its presence across advertising, events and broadcasts. Some therefore questioned whether an agency overseeing a group enjoying such momentum should be relying on fan support for equipment.

However, accounts from within the fandom have provided additional context. According to fans, the idea of purchasing custom in-ears did not originate with THE MUZE Entertainment. Some fans had already discussed collectively funding a pair for Liv and contacted the agency about whether such a gift could be arranged, while similar fan-led support projects have reportedly been discussed for other members.

Custom in-ears also require impressions or measurements of the wearer's ears, meaning the artist must be directly involved in the fitting process. Fans defending the notice have therefore argued that the agency was simply explaining the procedure for a gift that had already been proposed, rather than asking fans to purchase one.

THE MUZE Entertainment has not released a separate statement addressing the criticism. The debate has since shifted from whether the company explicitly asked fans to buy Liv expensive equipment to whether naming custom in-ears in the notice created unnecessary room for misunderstanding.

The controversy also reflects a wider discussion in K-POP over where fan support ends and an agency's responsibility begins, particularly as some artists have increasingly limited high-value gifts to reduce the financial burden on fans.