BTS Departs Columbia Records to Join Universal Music Group for US Promotions

BTS will be joining Universal Music Group to manage their promotions in the United States after three years with Columbia Records.

Keep on reading to know more.

BTS Departs Columbia Records to Join Universal Music Group for US Promotions

On October 21 local time, Variety and Billboard reported that BTS will be departing Sony Music's Columbia Records to sign on with Universal Music Group, ending BTS' three-year partnership with the former after signing with them in 2018.

According to Variety, BTS' licensing deal will be under Universal Music Group's Geffen division, while their distribution will be handled by INgrooves.

(Photo : Twitter: @bts_bighit)

It is said that BTS' company, HYBE, was on a monthly contract with Sony Music's distribution company The Orchard. With that, HYBE only needed to inform Sony Music of their intent to switch BTS' distributors in the United States.

Variety reported that BTS' and Universal Music Group's partnership is expected to take effect on December 1.

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Why is BTS Moving to Universal Music Group?

While Billboard reported that the reason BTS is leaving Columbia Records is due to a strife between HYBE's chairman Bang Si Hyuk, and Columbia Records' CEO Ron Perry's business relationship, that may not be the case considering Ron Perry took part in the production of BTS' latest hit single "Butter."

(Photo : Facebook: BTS)

However, HYBE and Universal Music Group's partnership is to be expected as Bang Si Hyuk and Scooter Braun of Ithaca Holdings - which was bought with a 100 percent stake by HYBE back in April - are actually known to be close with Universal Music Group's CEO, Lucian Grainge.

In addition, the two companies announced back in February that they had formed a strategic partnership, with plans of launching a joint-venture label. In addition, Universal Music Group is also responsible for distributing BTS in other countries, such as Japan.

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(Photo : Twitter: @bts_bighit)

According to HYBE and Universal Music Group, their partnership hopes to "increase opportunities for artists through innovation and technology, whilst expanding the global reach of K-pop music and culture around the world."

With that, their joint label will be based in Los Angeles, with efforts from HYBE's Big Hit America, Universal Music Group, and Geffen Records to debut a new global K-Pop boy group.

Meanwhile, BTS is gearing up for their first offline concert in two years with "BTS Permission to Dance On Stage - LA," where they will perform at the SoFi Stadium for four days on November 27 and 28, and December 1 and 2.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Coldplay's Executive Director Phil Harvey Shares How the Rock Band's Collaboration with BTS for 'My Universe' Started

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.
Robyn Joan reported this.

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