Top-tier artists BIGBANG GD, EXO, and BLACKPINK made headlines after leaving their respective agencies SM and YG Entertainment.
What could be the REAL reason behind their departures
Before 2023 ended, several huge K-pop artists decided to leave agencies they'd been with for about a decade. Some even launched their one-man labels to start anew.
Hearing this, some K-pop fans were disappointed since these artists had been staying in huge companies like SM and YG, which is only a dream to others.
But what could be the reason they are still leaving considering the benefits they would get?
EXO, BLACKPINK Members Establish Own Labels to Pursue Solo Careers
In December, BLACKPINK announced that they signed a contract with YG for the group's promotion, but failed to entrust another solo agreement.
As a result, Jennie launched her own label, ODD ATELIER (OA), along with her mother, while Jisoo also started the agency, Blissoo, in partnership with her older brother.
Following the group BLACKPINK, SM also announced that EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) after D.O. would also leave the company while continuing to work with EXO under a separate contract.
Under Baekhyun's independent label I&B100, the three members will proceed with their sub-unit schedules on top of their individual activities.
Music Experts Present 3 Reasons SM & YG Artists Leave Labels
Regarding this, music officials and experts via Star Today highlighted the reasons idols would want to pursue group activities under their original agencies while pursuing solo endeavors under their own agencies.
First, for higher profits without having to divide it among group members. A music agency official explained:
"It is true that group members, especially vocal members, have a strong tendency to want to become independent over time.
Since the public has recognized their solo capabilities, this leads them to have higher name values. Thus, rather than remaining in the team, individual activities increase more diverse appearances and real profits."
Another reason why artists leave huge agencies is to break the limited musical challenges and opportunities given to them.
"It is not easy to pursue the style of music that each artist wants in an agency with a distinct musical color such as YG, SM, and JYP.
This is because it is a result of the music pursued by the agency, and the choreography and music are decided within that big framework. Even if the members write and compose songs themselves, it is common to be limited to the style of the agency only."
As a result, frustrated members leave to have the freedom of making music without being entangled in the musical style of the agency.
Third and last, another decisive reason for their departure is the emergence of prominent junior groups from their management agencies.
SM has aespa and RIIZE, while YG has BABYMONSTER. Rather than using their resources on groups such as EXO and BLACKPINK solely, their focus was divided into various artists.
For this reason, senior groups are much slower to work on their team albums than in the past.
READ MORE: BLACKPINK Jennie Reveals REASON She Didn't Sign Individual Contract With YG
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
