/vt/ - Virtual Youtubers

So there's been some confusion about this particular group, the biggest misconception being that VERSEn is somehow related to Sony Music's vtuber project Veepigenesis (more commonly known as Vee, the one that's going to have 50 members). This is completely wrong. Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ for short) announced Vee in the summer of 2021, but the first vtubers from Vee did not debut until spring 2022. Meanwhile, VERSEn debuted in late 2021 and the timing led to some confusing them for Vee. Now that that's been cleared, we arrive at the relevant question:

>What the fuck is VERSEn, then?
The VERSE-N Project, as you can see, is NOT called "Sony VERSEn" or any other variation. It's just VERSEn, no company names attached. But obviously it was created by someone, and here's where it gets confusing. The official website states that the VERSEn IP is property of Sony Music Labels Inc. and Helixes Inc. Sony Music Labels Inc. is part of the Sony Music Group under SMEJ, SMEJ being the entity that directly owns and operates Sony Vee. So is VERSEn a "sony corpo" after all? Not exactly. Like mentioned, Sony Music Labels Inc. keeps their name out of all VERSEn media. But Helixes Inc. doesn't, their name actually pops up in places other than the official website, like in the credits for the animated trailer that was the first piece of VERSEn media ever published on Youtube. So who's Helixes and what's their deal? Helixes Inc. is a Tokyo-based company who, by their own word, "creates content IP-driven business, to pursuit the unknown". I'm sure it makes more sense in japanese. Anyway, on their website they advertise VERSEn as their "vtuber business division", and call it a "cross-media project by Sony Music Labels Inc. and Helixes Inc." Helixes has another business division called maxilla, a multimedia studio that is credited on most or all of VERSEn's video content such as the original trailer and various MVs. Considering that Helixes Inc. creates IPs as part of their business and calls VERSEn their business division, whereas Sony Music Labels Inc. is a record company, it seems reasonable to conclude that VERSEn is Helixes' vtuber group rather than Sony's. Especially since SMEJ has their own project Vee. Sony Music Labels Inc.'s role in VERSEn most likely has to do with their connections in the music industry, since two of VERSEn's members are vsingers. This would also explain why VERSEn has low output and why it's not being shilled everywhere, Helixes does not appear to be a big company and VERSEn is not their primary business, being their first foray into the industry and conceived during peak covid lockdown period that created a vtubing boom.

I hope this information has been helpful.

This seems like an apt time to bring up that VERSEn will have their second anniversary in four months, and 3 out of 5 of them have not reached 10 000 subscribers or 1 million channel views.

Their 1 year anniversary is on November 19th, exactly two months from now. How would you describe the impact VERSEn has had on the vtubing industry? Do you think Sony Music Japan's strategy of not using their corporate branding or platforms to promote VERSEn paid off?

I bring you Great News! The combined subscriber total of Sony's VERSEn girls has finally passed Ankimo, 37.7k versus 37.6k!