Top agencies SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and Star Empire Entertainment have filed an official complaint to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office against digital music chart manipulation issues.

The four agencies requested a thorough investigation on acts of manipulation regarding digital music streaming usage figures. They pointed out that several agencies have been hiring companies to manipulate the data a song has been played or downloaded, and put a certain song in the upper ranks of music charts.

Songs that have landed higher on the charts easily gain more attention and royalties. Especially, as data from online music charts are frequently used for main channel music shows, these songs have high chances to rise to the top 10 on the programs.

A representative stated, “These manipulating acts in the digital music market should be stopped. The digital music industry must work together to clear up any such bad trend and to make online charts fair and reliable.”