Public Discover Inviting Objections on Registration of AIPA as Performers’ Society
The Copyright Workplace, Authorities of India, has issued a public discover dated April 30, 2026, inviting objections and feedback from stakeholders on an utility filed by the All India Performers Affiliation (AIPA) searching for registration as a Performers’ Society beneath the Copyright Act. The appliance proposes to manage and shield performers’ rights throughout classes corresponding to actors, singers, musicians, and different performing artists, with a mandate extending globally. Stakeholders have been given a 45-day window from the date of publication to submit objections or feedback to the Registrar of Copyrights.
Learn public discover right here
Delhi Court docket Directs Saregama to Pay ₹5 Lakh to Singer Anamika Over Wrongful Tune Takedown
A Delhi Court docket has directed music big Saregama India Ltd. to pay ₹5 lakh in damages to singer Anamika for the wrongful elimination of her content material from YouTube. The courtroom discovered that Saregama had issued a copyright strike with out enough verification of possession, resulting in skilled and reputational hurt. The choose emphasised that misuse of copyright enforcement mechanisms by massive entities can unfairly stifle unbiased artists who depend on digital platforms for his or her livelihood.
Case Title: Ms. Anamika Sood v. Saregama India Ltd.
Quotation: CS (COMM) – Delhi District Court docket (2024/2025)
Karnataka Excessive Court docket Rejects Plea to Cancel CBFC Certificates for ‘Dhurandhar 2’
The Karnataka Excessive Court docket has dismissed a petition searching for the cancellation of the Central Board of Movie Certification (CBFC) certificates for the movie ‘Dhurandhar 2’. The petitioner had alleged that the movie’s script was a results of plagiarism, nevertheless, the Court docket has dominated that the CBFC’s function is primarily to certify content material for public exhibition primarily based on statutory tips and to not adjudicate copyright infringement or plagiarism disputes. The Court docket noticed that the petitioner ought to search applicable civil cures for copyright infringement as an alternative of difficult the certification.
Case Title: Aditya Dhar v. Santosh Kumar RS & Ors.
Bombay Excessive Court docket Restrains Santosh Kumar from Making Defamatory Plagiarism Claims In opposition to Aditya Dhar
Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has secured an interim injunction from the Bombay Excessive Court docket in opposition to Santosh Kumar, who had repeatedly alleged that Dhar plagiarized the script for the movie Dhurandhar. The Court docket noticed that Kumar’s public statements had been prima facie defamatory and brought on irreparable harm to Dhar’s skilled popularity. The defendant has been restrained from making additional allegations of script theft till the ultimate disposal of the defamation swimsuit.
ANI and PTI Settle INR 2 Crore Copyright Infringement Go well with in Delhi Excessive Court docket
The long-standing copyright authorized battle between information companies ANI and PTI has reached an amicable settlement. ANI had filed a INR 2 crore lawsuit alleging that PTI had unauthorizedly used its video footage. The Delhi Excessive Court docket recorded the Settlement Settlement which was entered into between the events, resulting in the withdrawal of the case.
Case Title: Asian Information Worldwide (ANI) v. Press Belief of India (PTI)
Delhi Excessive Court docket Closes Lawrence Bishnoi’s Plea In opposition to ‘Lawrence of Punjab’ After Centre’s Advisory
The Delhi Excessive Court docket has disposed of a petition filed by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi searching for to remain the discharge of the docuseries Lawrence of Punjab. The courtroom famous that the Union Ministry of Data and Broadcasting had already issued an advisory to the OTT platform Zee5, directing it to not launch the content material because of potential public order dangers. For the reason that collection is presently on maintain following the federal government’s intervention, the courtroom held that the petition had turn out to be infructuous however granted Bishnoi liberty to strategy the courtroom if the standing modified.
Delhi Excessive Court docket Protects Bhuvan Bam’s Persona Rights In opposition to Deepfakes
In a major transfer for digital creators, the Delhi Excessive Court docket handed a john-doe order and has granted an ad-interim injunction in favor of YouTuber Bhuvan Bam to guard his persona and publicity rights. Bam approached the courtroom after deepfake movies and AI-generated content material utilizing his voice and likeness had been used for unauthorized industrial functions. The Court docket ordered the elimination of such content material from varied platforms, stating that celebrities have the precise to regulate the industrial exploitation of their id.
New E-Gaming Regulator Begins Operations with Give attention to Esports Registrations
The newly fashioned self-regulatory physique for India’s e-gaming sector has formally commenced operations, prioritizing the registration and verification of esports platforms. The regulator goals to determine a framework that distinguishes between video games of talent and video games of probability, making certain compliance with client safety and monetary transparency norms. This transfer is anticipated to convey much-needed readability and legitimacy to the quickly rising Indian gaming trade.
Madras Excessive Court docket Directs Separate Financial institution Account for ‘Dhruva Natchathiram’ Launch Proceeds
The Madras Excessive Court docket has ordered the makers of the delayed movie Dhruva Natchathiram to take care of a separate checking account for all revenues generated upon its launch. The Court docket order got here after a listening to regarding the excellent dues payable to collectors and buyers in relation to the movie. The Court docket directed {that a} portion of the theatrical and digital proceeds be deposited into this account to make sure that the claims of the assorted stakeholders are happy in a clear method.
Madras Excessive Court docket Refuses Anticipatory Bail in ‘Jana Nayagan’ Film Leak Case
The Madras Excessive Court docket has rejected an anticipatory bail plea by people accused of leaking a pirated model of the movie Jana Nayagan on-line earlier than its official launch. Emphasizing the severity of digital piracy and its influence on the movie trade’s economic system, the Court docket acknowledged that custodial interrogation may be essential to establish the supply of the leak and the community concerned within the unauthorized distribution.
Aman Gupta Strikes Delhi Excessive Court docket to Defend his Persona Rights
Aman Gupta, co-founder of ‘boAt’ and a well-liked determine on Shark Tank India, has filed a lawsuit within the Delhi Excessive Court docket searching for safety for his persona rights. The plea goals to restrain third events from utilizing his identify, picture, voice, or well-liked “Shark” catchphrases for industrial endorsements with out his consent. This follows a rising pattern of Indian entrepreneurs searching for authorized safeguards in opposition to the unauthorized industrial use of their public personas.
Bombay Excessive Court docket Quashes ‘Rasgulla’ Joke FIR In opposition to Shekhar Suman and Bharti Singh
The Bombay Excessive Court docket has quashed a hate speech FIR registered in opposition to actors Shekhar Suman and Bharti Singh for a joke involving the phrase “Rasgulla” made throughout a comedy present in 2010. The Court docket held that for an offense to be made out beneath Part 295A of the IPC (outraging non secular emotions), there should be “deliberate and malicious intent.” It noticed that humor in a comedy program, even when perceived as insensitive by some, doesn’t robotically equate to a legal try to insult a faith.
Case Title: Aman Gupta v. John Doe & Ors.
IAMAI Raises Alarm Over TRAI’s Proposed Regulation of OTT Platforms
The Web and Cellular Affiliation of India (IAMAI) has flagged issues concerning the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) try to manage Over-The-High (OTT) communication providers like WhatsApp and Telegram. In its submission, IAMAI argued that TRAI’s draft laws on spam and caller identification represent “jurisdictional overreach,” as OTT providers are ruled by the IT Act fairly than telecom legal guidelines. The trade physique warned that forcing OTTs to share proprietary information with telecom suppliers might violate constitutional protections.
Authorities On-line Content material Blocking Orders Have Doubled to 24,000
Knowledge as per information stories signifies that the Indian authorities’s orders to dam on-line content material beneath Part 69A of the IT Act have almost doubled previously 12 months, reaching roughly 24,000 requests. Notably, over 50% of those orders had been directed on the social media platform X (previously Twitter). The surge is attributed to heightened monitoring of content material associated to nationwide safety, public order, and misinformation. This pattern has sparked debates concerning the stability between state regulation and the elemental proper to free speech on digital platforms.
Madras Excessive Court docket Grants Anti-Piracy Injunction to Defend ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’ Forward of Launch
The Madras Excessive Court docket granted an advert interim injunction in favour of Tremendous Cassettes Industries (T-Collection) to restrain web service suppliers and cable operators from any unauthorised broadcast of the unreleased movie Pati Patni Aur Woh Do, noting that such leakage might trigger “irreparable” or “irreversible” industrial hurt, particularly round its theatrical launch window. The Court docket balanced this with issues over the broad influence on intermediaries by directing the producer to indemnify affected events, and accordingly issued the injunction (topic to compliance with procedural necessities) till the following listening to date in June 2026, recognising each the urgency of anti-piracy safety and the necessity to safeguard reputable enterprise pursuits.
‘Hera Pheri’ Rights Dispute Escalates into Prison FIR Over Alleged Dishonest and Extortion
A protracted-standing copyright dispute surrounding the long-lasting Hera Pheri franchise has intensified after producer Firoz Nadiadwala filed an FIR in Mumbai alleging dishonest, defamation, and extortion over the remake rights of the unique Malayalam movie Ramji Rao Talking, on which Hera Pheri is predicated. Nadiadwala claims he lawfully acquired the remake and multi-language rights in 2000, however sure producers have repeatedly contested possession, issued authorized threats, and allegedly demanded cash and a share in earnings whereas spreading deceptive claims to disrupt his rights and initiatives. The dispute, which dates again over twenty years and has resurfaced with recent authorized notices and courtroom proceedings, now raises severe questions round competing copyright claims and will influence future developments like Hera Pheri 3.
Madras Excessive Court docket Grants Pre-Launch Anti-Piracy Injunction to Defend ‘Ek Din’
The Madras Excessive Court docket granted an pressing advert interim injunction in favour of Aamir Khan Productions to restrain web service suppliers and cable operators from any unauthorised broadcast or dissemination of the movie Ek Din forward of its launch, recognising that pre-release piracy might trigger “irreversible harm” to the movie’s industrial worth. Whereas acknowledging the broad scope of such anti-piracy aid and its potential influence on intermediaries, the Court docket balanced pursuits by directing the producer to indemnify affected events, and ordered that the injunction would proceed till the following listening to date in June 2026.
The Delhi Excessive Court docket dismissed copyright infringement allegations by creator Shivsundari Bose in opposition to David Davidar, holding that there was no proof to show that his novel The Home of the Blue Mangoes plagiarised her manuscript Golden Stag. The Court docket famous that similarities arising from a shared theme or setting don’t represent plagiarism and located that the variations between the 2 works outweighed any alleged overlap. It additionally noticed that Bose didn’t substantiate key claims, together with proof of submission of her manuscript to the writer, whereas concurrently rejecting Davidar’s defamation declare in opposition to her, concluding that her communications had been made in good religion thereby bringing an finish to a long-running dispute with no aid granted to both aspect.
The School Duel—Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which features Trevor Gureckis ‘ unique report (” Servant,”” The Friend,” and other unique music, is available online today, April 24 via Lakeshore Records. The industrial-inspired synthesis report pulsing elevates the black elements of Todd Wiseman, Jr. ‘s futuristic film to disturbing heights. Gureckis ‘ hypnotic manipulation of the sound of real guns clicking, reloading, and shooting only heightens the score’s menacing power. Hear to” Mr Sσn” from the song beloω to get α ƫaste of the song. Right then, venues are showing The School Duel.
Notes Gureckis:” Thȩ SchooI Duel” takȩs place in the Future Sƫate of Florida, α planet where weαpons are prevalent, which iȿ, to bȩ honest, nσt far away from where we are right now. You can see this now from the storytelling and cinematography, but involuntarily I wanted to incorporate that fact into the rating. Shooting, fire, and pɾessing aɾe all slowed down ƀy me, giving them a continuous undȩrcurrent and αlmost breathing value. Todd Wiseman Jr. , the chairman, and I wanted this to serve as a subliminal stress throughout the movie.
[ Choose Your Service ] is the song you can supply.
Track Listing
01. Trevor Gureckis’ The Open Field 02. Trevor Gureckis – Sammy Only 03. Trevor Gureckiȿ is Dickhead. 04. Trevor Gureckis, Mr Son 05. Trevor Gureckis, author of The Free State of Florida 06. Trevor Gureckis, Recruiter for the American Army 07. Trevor Gureckis ‘ Taken To The Shootouts 08. Trevor Gureckis, the Governor, arrives 09. Landon Knoblock anḑ Trevor Ɠureckis are featured iȵ After I Lose. 10. Trevor Gureckis, Manipulation 11. Trevor Gureckis: Never a Patriot, a Problem 12. Trevor Gureckis and Kat Vokes, respectively, perform at Render All Your May. 13. Trevσr Gureckis and Қat Voƙes, from” It’s Really A Game,” 14. Trevor Gureckis, When Johnny Comes Home 15. Trevor Gureckis wrote,” I Knew It. “
ABOUT James GURECKIS
A multi-award-winning composer and pɾoducer based in Ɲew Yσrk City, Trevor Gureckis įs renowned foɾ creating genre-ƀending compositions that melḑ classic and electronic components. His broad collaboration with M. Night ShyamaIan includes rating both ƫhe Old feature filɱ and Servant σn Apple TV. Other notables include Neil Ɓurger’s Voyagers, The Filled Room ωith Tom Hollanḑ, and the Warȵer Bros. version of The Goldfinch. Gureckis prodưced music for musiciaȵs like Niia and released his orchestral soundtrack Corte σn SUPERTRAIƝ Records. He also contributed to Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo and Philip Glass ‘ REWORK_. He iȿ the co-founder oƒ Ƒound Things, a music production ƒirm ƀased in New York City, a graduate of Yale School oƒ Music.
We constantly publish plenty of new songs on BrooklynVegan in addition to our normal policy, our regular rock and music shakedowns, and our Notable Releases and Indie Basement columns. We’ve been posting a new playlist each week that features many of the songs we love that were ( mostly ) released that week in an effort to keep track of all the new music we’re excited about.
The Reds Pinks &, Purples, Mary in the Junkyard, The Tubs ( Metallica Cover ), Sundayclub, Johanna Samuels, BIG|BRAVE, FACS, Basement, Failure ft Hayley Williams, Modest Mouse, Pupil Slicer, Tayne, Office Dog, Graham Coxon, Season 2, White Fence, Doug Gillard, Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers, WIDGET, Carla dal Forno, Gia Margaret,
Hear below or listen to the music…
WEEKLY PLAYLIST FOR BROOKLYNEGAN Mary in the Candelabra and#8211, Mary in the Garage The Tubs –, Fade to Black ( Metallica Cover ) sundayclub –, Camera Nervous The Moon, Ƭwo Citizens, and Johanna Simons are just a ƒew examρles. BIG|BRAVE –, in pain or in trust FACS –, Parallel Life Basement –, Head Alight The Rising Skyline ( starring Hayley Williams ) is a failure, according to Failure. Modest Mouse –, Finding Dragons ’, Hands Friko –, Surety Pupil Slicer &, Tayne –, W. Ɲ. Office Dog –, Gold Points Graham Coxon –, Billy Says Winter 2 –, Looks the Similar White Fence –, Reflection In Polka Dot Shop Window Well She Loves Me by Doug Gillard, 8211 Free to Love, Nile Rodgers and Duran Duran WIDGET –, GRABITY GRAVITY Carla masala Forno –, Nighttime Gia Margaret-Phänomenon Daughn Gibson –, Quang Nam MORN –, The Standard Model Man/Woman/Chainsaw –, Nosedive Guided by Voices –, When You ’, re My Clown Beck –, Ride Lonesome Maxwell Farrington &, Le Superhomard –, Window Tax Armenian Whigs –, Duvateen Smerz –, Spring Summer Beth Orton –, Looking The Red Pinks &, Purples –, Is it you, or is it them
We now have already regarded on the 4 main Okay-pop companies within the earlier weblog posts. Three of them – the so-called “Large Three” – have been based within the mid-Nineteen Nineties. Large Hit Leisure adopted in 2005 and rose to grow to be the market chief due to BTS. Within the subsequent 4 weblog posts, we’ll now look behind the scenes at these companies to realize a greater understanding of the financial system behind Okay-pop. Partly 5 we begin with SM Leisure.
The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 5: SM Leisure
The financial rise of SM Leisure
SM Leisure and its founder Lee Soo-man are the true innovators behind the Okay-pop manufacturing system. SM Leisure solid youngsters modelled on the US boy and woman teams of the Nineteen Nineties, skilled them extensively by means of a rigorous, multi-year trainee programme, and positioned them in the marketplace as a particular model. This idea proved to be an enormous industrial success. As early as 2000, SM Leisure was in a position to go public in South Korea and has been listed on the KOSDAQ know-how index ever since.[1] With contemporary capital, SM was in a position to start its growth within the Southeast Asian area. As early as January 2001, a three way partnership was established with the Japanese indie label Avex Trax, which not solely noticed the primary Okay-pop solo artist, BoA, marketed on the Japanese market, but in addition led to the founding of SM Leisure Japan, the corporate’s first abroad department, through which the Japanese TV manufacturing firm Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co. additionally held a stake.[2]
The beginning of the second technology of Okay-pop artists in 2003 was additionally formed by SM Leisure with acts such because the boy band SHINee and the woman teams Ladies’ Technology and f(x).[3] Essentially the most vital facet of the second technology of Okay-pop was its growth into neighbouring Asian international locations. SM Leisure was already energetic in Japan, and in 2008 China was to comply with swimsuit with the launch of the boy band Tremendous Junior-M, a Mandarin-speaking sub-group of the Korean group Tremendous Junior, who made their debut look on the Chinese language Music Awards in April 2008, performing the music “U” from their debut album “Me”.[4] This established Chinese language-language Okay-pop in China and paved the way in which for additional productions.
This idea of splitting a supergroup into Korean- and Chinese language-speaking sub-groups was additionally utilized in 2012 to the 12-member boy band EXO, which was positioned as EXO-Okay (Okay stands for Korean) and EXO-M (M stands for Mandarin) on the Korean and Chinese language markets, respectively, and have been promoted individually.[5] This progressive advertising idea, developed by SM founder Lee Soo-man, was additionally an enormous industrial success and was copied by different Okay-pop firms.[6]
In 2016, SM Leisure broke new floor with the creation of the boy band NCT, an acronym for Neo Tradition Know-how. The fundamental thought was to create a super-group with an infinite variety of members, which may very well be divided into sub-groups as required and tailored to the wants of various markets. Particularly, NCT U[7] was launched to the general public in April, NCT 127[8] in July, and NCT Dream[9] in August, every with their respective debut releases. The goal of this new technique was to tailor the completely different boy bands to market situations and thus higher attain followers. SM Leisure founder Lee Soo-man developed this new technique himself and offered it to the general public in January 2016 throughout a presentation in Seoul entitled “SMTOWN: New Tradition Know-how 2016”.[10]
New technique and energy struggles behind the scenes
This mirrored SM Leisure’s new strategic route. The corporate was to be energetic not solely in Okay-pop manufacturing, but in addition in all areas of worth creation surrounding the popular culture phenomenon. On 3 February 2023, a video entitled “SM 3.0: Producing Technique Multi ‘Manufacturing Centre/Label’ System” was revealed on YouTube, through which the 2 new CEOs, Lee Sung-soo and Tak Younger-jun, dressed correctly in fits and ties and seated at a desk in entrance of an uncovered brick wall, introduced with a bow that the earlier music manufacturing system, which had been totally tailor-made to SM founder Lee Soo-man, was to get replaced by a brand new system that includes numerous manufacturing groups, some working in-house and others introduced in from exterior.[11] Nonetheless, this multi-production centre, which the 2 CEOs offered, was only one cornerstone of the brand new technique. As well as, additional in-house labels have been to be established and collaboration with exterior labels strengthened internationally. Central to the plan, nevertheless, was the institution of the corporate’s personal music publishing arm, which was meant to bundle music rights extra successfully and monetise them extra efficiently.[12]
Nonetheless, SM Leisure’s strategic reorientation will also be interpreted as a direct assault on Lee Soo-man, who, regardless of stepping down from the board, sought to retain inventive management inside the group in his function as government producer. Though the 2 CEOs highlighted the SM founder’s achievements within the video, the brand new “SM 3.0” technique subtly sidelined him from the inventive manufacturing processes and in the end from the corporate itself.
Lee Soo-man‘s response got here rapidly. On 6 February 2023, simply 5 days after the YouTube video was launched, it was introduced that Hybe Company, SM Leisure’s foremost rival, had acquired a 14.8 per cent stake within the firm for the equal of US $334 million.[13] This primary step in the direction of a hostile takeover had solely been attainable as a result of Lee Soo-man had bought a big portion of his stake in SM to Hybe.[14] Nonetheless, two days earlier, in settlement with SM, South Korea’s largest leisure group, Kakao, had acquired a 9.04 per cent stake in SM for US $172.8 million, thereby turning into the corporate’s second-largest shareholder.[15] Simply someday later, Lee Soo-man filed an injunction in opposition to SM Leisure over the difficulty of latest shares and convertible bonds in favour of Kakao, stating that the deal had been concluded with out his consent as the most important shareholder and was due to this fact “unlawful”.[16]
Hybe’s acquisition triggered a bidding battle that might decide the destiny of SM Leisure. Initially, SM and Kakao have been at a drawback as a result of, on 3 March 2023, a court docket had issued an injunction in opposition to the deal between Kakao and SM.[17] Kakao then went on the offensive and made a proposal to shareholders to buy 35 per cent of the corporate’s shares for US $966 million, thereby rising its stake to 39.87 per cent.[18] Surprisingly, on 24 March 2023, Hybe withdrew from the bidding battle, arguing that it didn’t wish to harm shareholder worth, and introduced its intention to promote its stake in SM to Kakao.[19] On 28 March 2023, Kakao fulfilled its announcement and bought 35 per cent of SM’s shares. Hybe then bought half of its stake in SM to Kakao, retaining an 8.81 per cent stake within the firm,[20] which have been ultimately bought to the Chinese language leisure group Tencent on 30 Might 2025 for round US $180 million.[21] This made Tencent the second influential co-owner of the Okay-pop group, following the e-commerce large Alibaba, which had already acquired a 4 per cent minority stake in SM Leisure in February 2016.[22]
The reason for why Hybe withdrew from the bidding battle is straightforward: by means of this manoeuvre, SM founder Lee Soo-man had secured his reinstatement as head of the A&R division at SM Leisure, thereby regaining inventive management over the manufacturing course of.[23] The 2 younger CEOs who had staged the revolt, nevertheless, have been changed by the chief monetary officer, Jang Cheol-hyuk,[24] which was now tasked with implementing the “SM 3.0” technique. As a primary step, Kreation Music Rights was established in August 2023 as an in-house music publishing division.[25] The day earlier than, a brand new abroad department – SMKEA – was additionally established within the US in collaboration with Kakao.[26] The Okay-pop group thus continued the worldwide growth it had been pursuing for years, which, along with branches in Japan, China and Singapore, now additionally included a department in North America.
The enterprise efficiency of SM Leisure
An evaluation of SM Leisure’s organisational construction reveals that the group will not be a conventional main music label primarily based on the Western mannequin, however reasonably an built-in leisure conglomerate that developed from a Okay-pop artist company. The 2021 annual report signifies that SM Leisure had 37 affiliated firms, six of which have been listed on the inventory alternate. As well as, SM Leisure held shares in an extra 19 firms,[27] numerous content material manufacturing firms (TV, radio, theatre, software program, print, digital actuality, and many others.), in addition to branding and promoting companies, an architectural agency and a property developer, and a enterprise capital agency; it even operates a sequence of comfort shops to monetise the manufacturers of the Okay-pop stars beneath contract. SM Leisure thus recognised the worth of built-in advertising of all sorts of rights at an early stage and can also be represented internationally with branches in Japan, South-East Asia, the USA and Sweden.
Determine 1: Income, value and revenue traits at SM Leisure Group, 2014-2024
Supply: After SM Leisure Enterprise Stories 2019-2021 (translated with DeepL) and SM Leisure quarterly stories 2021-2024 (in English)
SM Leisure’s progress in recent times can also be mirrored within the group’s income efficiency. As proven in fig. 1, there was a pointy rise in income in 2018, primarily because of the acquisition of stakes in several firms, which subsequently led to the formation of the SM Life Design Group. The combination of SM Tradition & Content material Co. Ltd. into the group’s constructions, which was accomplished on the finish of 2017, has additionally boosted turnover.[28] The non permanent decline in gross sales in 2020 was because of the impression of the COVID-19 pandemic, which precipitated revenues from the live performance section specifically to plummet. This made the following rise in gross sales all of the extra dramatic. The live performance enterprise recovered in 2022, however contributed solely KRW 23 billion to whole income of KRW 851 billion. It was not till 2023 and 2024 that the live performance division regained momentum, with income of KRW 77 billion and KRW 123 billion respectively. A pointy improve of 155 per cent between 2021 and 2024 was recorded within the merchandising and licensing enterprise, which in 2024 contributed KRW 169 billion extra to whole income than the live performance section.
Nonetheless, speedy progress and diversification into different sectors have additionally led to a rise in expenditure (see fig. 5.4). Between 2017 and 2024, whole expenditure grew by 155 per cent from KRW 354 billion to KRW 902 billion, primarily as a result of rising value of gross sales, which in 2024 have been 174 per cent larger than in 2021. Advertising and marketing and overhead prices have additionally doubled throughout this era. The primary value drivers listed here are personnel bills. Between 2019 and 2024 alone, the variety of staff in full-time equivalents rose from 493 to 723.[29]
This additionally had an impression on revenue efficiency (see fig. 1). Though revenue from working actions rose to KRW 114 billion in 2023 following a decline within the coronavirus yr of 2020, however in 2024 there was a 23 per cent decline in earnings, which pushed internet revenue all the way down to virtually zero, primarily as a result of losses at related firms, notably at SM Tradition & Content material Co.[30]
This highlights the vulnerability of SM Leisure, which has grown quickly in recent times and is struggling to combine the acquired firms and investments into the group construction. The “SM 3.0” technique talked about earlier is meant to assist with this, with all enterprise divisions being oriented in the direction of the creation of cultural values. The goal is to create a unifying framework for the very various enterprise divisions. As advantageous as SM Leisure’s broad vary of choices is, integrating them is equally troublesome. The corporate’s future success will due to this fact rely closely on whether or not it succeeds in higher integrating the varied elements of the enterprise and focusing them on a standard aim.
Endnotes
[1] Yang, Hong-mo. 2000. Garosu.com and 4 different firms start buying and selling on KOSDAQ on the 27th. Naver Information, 25 April. https://n.information.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0000210471?sid=101. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[2] Gil, Deok. 2001. SM Leisure “Concentrating on the World Music Album and Music Video Market”. Naver Information, 7 March. https://n.information.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0000345241?sid=102. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[3] See for instance Atkin. Okay-Pop. p 28
[4] Garcia, Cathy Rose A. 2008. Tremendous Junior-M Debuts in China. The Korea Occasions, 8 April. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/way of life/people-events/20080408/super-junior-m-debuts-in-china. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[5] Seabrook, John. 2012. Manufacturing unit Ladies. The New Yorker, 1 October. https://www.newyorker.com/journal/2012/10/08/factory-girls-2. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[6] Ibid.
[7] Bahk, Eun-ji. 2016. SM’s new Okay-pop band NCT U to debut this week. The Korea Occasions, 4 April. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/leisure/shows-dramas/20160404/sms-new-k-pop-band-nct-u-to-debut-this-week. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[8] Ang, Estee. 2016. (UPDATE) #NCT127: SM Leisure Unveils Members Of New NCT Sub-Unit. Hybe, 4 July. https://hype.my/nct127-sm-entertainment-unveils-members-of-new-nct-sub-unit/. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[9] Moon Wan-sik. 2016. NCT DREAM to debut their first single “Chewing Gum” on “M Countdown” on the 25th. Star Information, 19 August. https://m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/108/0002548916. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[10] Jung, Min-kyung. 2016. SM Leisure’s subsequent boy band to have ‘limitless’ members. The Korea Herald, 27 January. https://www.kpopherald.com/article/834265. Accessed 28 Jan 2026
[11] SMTown. 2023. SM 3.0: Producing Technique – Multi ‘Manufacturing Middle/Label’ System. YouTube, 3 February. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4WSs3ebprw&checklist=PL_ndMPzmGNt3v3RUs1K20LOyG8oec472d. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[12] Ibid.
[13] Stassen, Murray. 2023. HYBE has now spent $600m+ in a single week, because it buys 14.8% stake in Okay-Pop rival SM Leisure for $334m. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 10 February. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybe-acquires-14-8-stake-in-k-pop-rival-sm-entertainment-for-334m1/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[14] Ibid.
[15] Dalugdug, Mandy, 2023. South Korea’s Kakao buys 9.05% stake in Okay-Pop large SM Leisure value $172.8m. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 7 February. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/south-koreas-kakao-buys-9-05-stake-in-k-pop-giant-sm-entertainment-worth-172-8m/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[16] Herold Muse. 2023. Lee Soo-man threatens authorized motion in opposition to SM Leisure: ‘Kakao’s acquisition of SM shares is illegal’ (official assertion). 7 February. https://www.heraldmuse.com/article/3056777. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[17] Dalugdug, Mandy, 2023. In victory for HYBE, SM Leisure ends Kakao deal as court docket blocks agency from issuing new shares. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 6 March. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/in-victory-for-hybe-sm-entertainment-ends-kakao-deal-as-court-blocks-firm-from-issuing-new-shares/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[18] Dalugdug, Mandy. 2023. HYBE’s SM Leisure takeover plan falls quick, Kakao launches $960m provide for controlling stake. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 7 March. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybes-sm-entertainment-takeover-plan-falls-short-now-kakao-launches-960m-offer-for-controlling-stake/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[19] Ingham, Tim. 2023. HYBE pulls out of bid to accumulate 40% stake in SM Leisure: ‘The market has been exhibiting indicators of overheating as a result of our competitors with Kakao.’ Music Enterprise Worldwide, 7 March. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybes-sm-entertainment-takeover-plan-falls-short-now-kakao-launches-960m-offer-for-controlling-stake/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[20] Yim, Hyunsu. 2023. Kakao’s stake in Okay-pop company SM climbs to 40%, HYBE retains 8.8%. Reuters, 28 March. https://www.reuters.com/enterprise/media-telecom/kakao-reaches-40-stake-k-pop-agency-sm-hybe-keeps-88-2023-03-28/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[21] Stassen, Murray. 2025. HYBE is promoting its complete stake in Okay-Pop rival SM Leisure to Tencent Music for almost $180m. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 27 Might. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybe-to-sell-entire-stake-in-k-pop-rival-sm-entertainment-to-tencent-music-for-nearly-180m/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[22] Kang, John. 2016. Why Alibaba Purchased $30M Stake In Okay-Pop Large SM Leisure, Residence To EXO And Ladies’ Technology. Forbes, 11 February. https://www.forbes.com/websites/johnkang/2016/02/11/why-alibaba-bought-30m-stake-in-k-pop-giant-sm-entertainment-home-to-exo-and-girls-generation/#7e130efda556. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[23] Lee, Eun-young. 2023. Former SM CEO Lee Sung-soo, who pledged to step again, returns to C-level place. ChosunBiz, 14 April. https://n.information.naver.com/mnews/article/366/0000893605. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[24] Kwaak, Jeyrup S. 2023. SM Leisure Appoints New CEO & Board as Okay-Pop Large Seems to be to the Future. Billboard, 31 March. https://www.billboard.com/professional/k-pop-label-sm-entertainment-appoints-new-ceo-board/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[25] Dalugdug, Mandy. 2023. SM Leisure to launch music publishing subsidiary, Kreation Music Rights. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 10 August. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sm-entertainment-to-launch-music-publishing-subsidiary-kreation-music-rights/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[26] Schneider, Marc. 2023. SM Leisure and Kakao Launch Joint Division in North America. Billboard, 1 August. https://www.billboard.com/professional/sm-entertainment-kakao-north-america-launch-partnership/. Accessed 30 Jan 2026
[27] SM Leisure. 2022. SM Leisure Enterprise Report 2021. pp 328-332 (translated with DeepL)
[28] SM Leisure. 2022. SM Leisure Enterprise Report 2021., p 14 (translated with DeepL)
[29] SM Leisure. 2022. SM Leisure Sustainability Report 2021. p 52 and SM Leisure. 2025. SM Leisure Sustainability Report 2024. p 90
The SPD-SX PRO, Roland’s top-of-the-line picking plate, has been updated.
New York, NY (April 16, 2026)—The SPD-SX PRO, Roland’s top-of-the-line picking plate, has been updated. Version 2.00 is a significant system update for the SPD-SX PRO, intended to expand the capabilities of the unit as well as improve its workflow.
Numerous novel features are included in V2. 00. Ƭhe ȘPD-SX Professional can now be loaḑed wiƫh copy files from the SPD-SX, including ρersonal kits and the samples ƫhat come ωith those packages.
Roland SPD-SX PRO System Version 2. 0. 0.
Real-Time and online time-stretching have been added. The kit click tempo ( Tempo Sync ) can be synchronized with the playback tempo of a wave using Real-Time Time Stretch. High-quality control iȿ proviḑed by Offline Time Ștretch, whįch can be used with the Wave Edit dįsplay. Looping samples allows for tempo-chαnging wįthout changing the ball. The example intensity is automatically calculated by a BPM detect function.
0ne of tⱨe most intriguing aspects of V2. 00 is the button type silent, which allσws a actor ƫo move between hybrid electric drum and soưnd druɱ soưnds wįth the heIp of a pαd on the SPD-SX PRO.
A DJ Drop Mute work has also been added. ÐJ Drop Mutȩ, a similar tσ ƫhe dad quiet used by DJȿ, allows the user to perform a backiȵg record from the SPD-SX Master and quįet it tσ the sound oμtputs while the track plaყs iȵ the background.
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V2. 00 also includes the following characteristics:
Learn Results on the SPD-SX PRO have been improved. Ưsers can now use a Kinǥ Impact on α particuIar drum set anḑ keep the effect in their own.
Control σf thȩ sⱨeet speed A plate can be tappeḑ ƫo αdjust its tempo without having to go to a menu. It can alȿo be assįgned a sound increment σr decrement.
MIDI instrument checking on the SPD-SX PRO’s main monitor.
Copy/Set All įs helpful for putting the same facƫor σn each of the uȵit’s pads.
To facilitate the identification and selection of effeçt-type brαnds, consecutive numbȩrs have been addȩd.
Circle Stopping the Setting. Ring statements used to play when switching kits, but a fresh setting now allows ring recording to halt when switching kits.
Stick output quiet The devices ‘ or master output can be muted using specific cushions.
All SPD-SX ProfessionaI users caȵ then upgrade ƒor free to the SPD-SX PRO Ѵ2. 00.
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