The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 9: The manufacturing system of Okay-pop – Music Enterprise Analysis

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 9: The manufacturing system of Okay-pop – Music Enterprise Analysis

by | Jun 8, 2026 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


Okay-pop is not only a brand new music style, however a manufacturing system that, traditionally talking, is most similar to New York’s Tin Pan Alley within the late 19th century or the Brill Constructing pop of the Sixties. The Okay-pop manufacturing system is a collaborative value-creation community that features artist and repertoire (A&R), an intensive, long-term coaching programme, songwriting and music manufacturing, an built-in advertising mannequin, and fan engagement actions. On this a part of the weblog sequence, we are going to now analyse this manufacturing system intimately.

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 9: The manufacturing system of Okay-pop

A&R: Expertise recruitment

The recruitment of recent expertise for the Okay-pop {industry} has given rise to a whole ecosystem wherein auditions and preparatory programs are frequently provided. Broadly talking, three completely different recruitment paths for Okay-pop artists might be recognized.[1]

  1. The 4 main Okay-pop businesses maintain auditions on a weekly or month-to-month foundation, not solely in South Korea but additionally in neighbouring Asian international locations and past. For instance, SM Leisure’s web site lists auditions working from January to March 2026 in all main cities in South Korea, in addition to in lots of Chinese language and Japanese cities, in Bangkok, Brisbane, Sydney, Los Angeles and New Jersey, and you may register right away through the web site.[2] Locations at auditions are extremely sought-after. In line with media studies, just one in a thousand candidates is invited to SM Leisure’s auditions. At smaller businesses, this ratio stands at one in 250 functions.[3]
  2.  Along with in-person auditions, JYP Leisure additionally presents on-line auditions on its web site, the place candidates can add their movies for analysis by a jury.[4] Hybe’s sub-label Supply Music additionally presents a web based audition platform the place movies might be uploaded.[5]
  3. Casting TV reveals are notably necessary in South Korea for locating new expertise. The nation’s main TV broadcasters, comparable to CJ ENM Leisure’s Mnet, have developed their very own TV codecs, comparable to “Celebrity Okay” or the rap contest “Present Me The Cash”, which function like auditions.[6] Moreover, survival casting reveals are being developed in collaboration with Okay-pop labels; as we’ve got already seen, these have produced celebrity acts such because the woman group Twice from the casting present “Sixteen” or Stray Children from the present of the identical title. These TV codecs have the benefit that the viewers is a part of the choice course of, thereby enabling fan loyalty to be established proper from the beginning.

The auditions are primarily aimed toward youngsters aged between 15 and 20, though in some instances youthful candidates are additionally admitted to the choice course of. The demand for a spot within the auditions is overwhelming. Because of this, a whole {industry} has emerged within the run-up to the auditions, devoted solely to making ready candidates for them. Non-public music academies and music faculties provide programs designed to coach college students for auditions. One instance is the personal singing college Sand Manufacturing unit Academy, which, along with vocal coaching, additionally presents different expertise required for a profitable audition course of. The Sand Manufacturing unit Academy collaborates with the “Massive Three” – SM, YG and JYP Leisure – in addition to with smaller businesses comparable to Starship Leisure.[7] Even the state-run Seoul Music Excessive Faculty presents programs with a concentrate on Okay-pop that put together college students for auditions.[8]

Artist coaching

If an applicant is profitable within the auditions, they then enter a coaching programme lasting a number of years, which might take as much as eight years.[9] The coaching facilities are like a well-organized army camp.[10] The trainees should not solely skilled in dance, singing and composition, but additionally obtain intensive instruction in varied languages, notably English, Mandarin and Japanese, in addition to coaching in etiquette and communication. The every day schedule is strictly organised. The trainees spend as much as 12 hours or much more every day in varied lessons – at a JYP coaching centre, this quantities to as much as 76 completely different topics[11] – and they also have little or no free time left. John Lie distinguishes between three various kinds of trainees.[12] The chunbisaeng might be described as preparatory college students and are often nonetheless so younger that they’re attending major college. For them, collaborating in coaching remains to be a form of leisure exercise. They type the inspiration for the yŏnsusaeng (practising college students), who’re already present process the total coaching programme to develop into Okay-pop stars, which might last as long as 5 years. They’re often nonetheless attending college and subsequently solely participate in coaching periods within the afternoons, which might final till late at evening. The yŏnsusaeng are subjected to in depth and really rigorous examinations no less than as soon as a month, that are a part of a range course of. Solely those that cross these examinations make it into the mission teams after three to 5 years, which serve to arrange them for an expert music profession. The members of those mission teams often dwell in shared lodging built-in into the corporate’s personal academies. They’re thus not solely subjected to a inflexible every day routine of classes and coaching, however are additionally continuously monitored, leaving them with nearly no privateness.[13]

In line with an govt at SM Leisure, solely 5 per cent of trainees make it into an expert inventive profession following this rigorous choice course of.[14] Nonetheless, there’s often one other hurdle within the type of inside survival casting reveals, that are broadcast on tv and, more and more, on-line – for instance, on YouTube – as we’ve got already seen with the formation of the assorted sub-groups of NCT at SM Leisure, or with the woman group Twice and the boy group Stray Children from JYP Leisure.

A Okay-pop star who has achieved a breakthrough has subsequently undergone a really lengthy and expensive coaching course of. SM Leisure is alleged to have invested round US $5 million within the profession of Okay-pop star BoA.[15] John Lie estimates that, on common, US $300,000 is spent per individual on constructing a single skilled Okay-pop star.[16] Nonetheless, the celebs first should recoup these immense prices. A examine commissioned by the South Korean authorities reveals {that a} Okay-pop artist earns a median of simply US $10,000 a 12 months.[17] Lie subsequently factors out critically {that a} life “of a Okay-pop star appears extra just like the lifetime of a low-wage international migrant employee than just like the lifetime of the proverbial rock star”.[18]

The division of labour within the Okay-pop manufacturing system

The Okay-pop enterprise is characterised by a extremely specialised division of labour. Songwriting groups create the musical content material. Music producers and music video administrators create the precise sound and accompanying visuals. Choreographers are liable for the skilled dance routines in music movies and on stage at concert events. Stylists and make-up artists create the precise look and total look. All these parts come collectively inside the Okay-pop corporations, whose advertising departments prepare branding partnerships and endorsements. In-house distribution arms promote the recordings and merchandise, and the Okay-pop corporations even have stakes in Korean music streaming providers.

Inside this Fordist-style manufacturing system, Okay-pop artists merely perform what they’re advised to do. John Lie even argues that Okay-pop stars must be considered as staff of Okay-pop businesses moderately than as impartial inventive personalities.[19]

Songwriting and music manufacturing

The truth is, Okay-pop artists are solely hardly ever concerned in songwriting and music manufacturing, as within the case of Stray Children or BTS. The key Okay-pop labels SM, YG and JYP Leisure, in addition to Hybe Company, make use of quite a few in-house songwriters, composers and music producers, who often work collectively in groups on a selected mission – an EP or a studio album.[20] This entails working very intently with the artists within the recording studio, and the blending and mastering of the recordings is often completed in-house.[21]

Nonetheless, this in-house manufacturing system is ceaselessly supplemented by collaborations with famend worldwide songwriters and composers. As early because the preliminary part of Okay-pop’s internationalisation within the 2010s, Okay-pop corporations entered into collaborations with Western songwriters and producers, as within the case of the Norwegian songwriting and manufacturing agency Dsign Group, which labored intently with SM Leisure[22] or the US songwriter and producer Claude Kelly, who has labored with JYP Leisure’s Marvel Women.[23] instance of worldwide collaboration is the album ‘I Acquired a Boy’ by Women’ Era, launched by SM Leisure in 2013. A complete of 74 contributors are credited on this launch, together with 36 songwriters and 15 producers, who come from South Korea, the USA, the Netherlands, Eire, Denmark, Morocco, Sweden, Norway and the UK.[24] These embody such famend artists because the British producer Steve Booker, the US producer workforce The Stereotypes, the British Grammy winner Victoria Jane Horn, and the US-based songwriter and producer Jordan Kyle.[25]

In the meantime, it has develop into customary follow for Western songwriters and producers to work with Okay-pop superstars comparable to BLACKPINK, BTS, Stray Children and Twice. Nonetheless, South Korean songwriters and producers who initially labored as staff for Okay-pop corporations have additionally efficiently gone impartial. One of the best-known instance is Massive Hit founder Bang Si-hyuk, who initially labored at JYP Leisure as a composer, arranger and producer. One other instance is the rapper, songwriter and producer Kang Dong-chul, higher often called Courageous Brothers, who labored for YG Leisure as a composer and producer between 2004 and 2008 earlier than organising his personal label, Courageous Leisure.[26] The songwriter and producer Pdogg (whose actual title is Kang Hyo-won) turned notably well-known; he had been working at Massive Hit Leisure from an early stage and was the primary to develop into conscious of the 15-year-old rapper RM, round whom BTS was subsequently shaped.[27] He’s liable for quite a few hits by BTS in addition to different main artists comparable to TXT, Suga and Enhypen, and was named the nation’s highest-earning songwriter and producer by the Korea Music Copyright Affiliation in 2019.[28] Amongst others[29] price mentioning is Teddy Park, whose actual title is Park Hong-jun; he initially loved success with the boy band 1TYM, however after the group disbanded in 2006, he started working as a producer at YG Leisure.[30] For ten years, he was liable for quite a few hits by YG artists comparable to Jinusean, SEVEN, Massive Bang, 2NE1 and, above all, BLACKPINK, earlier than founding “The Black Label” as a sub-label of YG and producing additional hits by BLACKPINK.[31]

Music video manufacturing

On the one hand, Okay-pop corporations are extremely built-in conglomerates; alternatively, they make use of versatile specialisation, whereby prices and dangers are outsourced to exterior corporations which can be, nevertheless, sure by strict contractual agreements.[32] This additionally applies to music video manufacturing. Music movies are an integral a part of the Okay-pop {industry}, and no launch is full with no rigorously crafted music video. A Guardian article estimates that, on common, a Okay-pop video prices US $100,000, with some productions exceeding the US $1 million mark.[33] The manufacturing prices for BLACKPINK‘s music video ‘Kill This Love’ rose to US $1.4 million, while US $2.4 million was spent on ‘Boy With Luv’, a collaboration between BTS and the US pop star Halsey.[34]

Okay-pop corporations don’t wish to bear these prices and the related dangers alone, and subsequently collaborate with main South Korean music video manufacturing corporations comparable to ZanyBros and Digipedi. ZanyBros is the market chief, having produced greater than a thousand Okay-pop movies and labored with nearly all main Okay-pop acts since its basis in 2002.[35] The second main music video manufacturing firm in South Korea is Digipedia – which stands for Digital Pedicure – based in Seoul in 2007 by two graphic designers. Digipedia takes a extra inventive method and is understood for its experimental movies.[36] Nonetheless, the manufacturing duo has additionally labored with among the largest names in Okay-pop, comparable to BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT, GOT7, ENHYPEN and Stray Children.[37] Nonetheless, smaller music video manufacturing corporations have additionally managed to safe main contracts, comparable to GDW and Lumpens, each of which have produced quite a few music movies for BTS, or Naive Inventive, which works primarily with JYP artists.[38]

Choreography and stage efficiency

Dance routines and the accompanying choreography are an integral a part of Okay-pop. Dance coaching is given particular consideration throughout artist coaching and takes up a good portion of the trainees’ timetable. Choreographies are practised to perfection and likewise require good bodily health. Okay-Pop stars who’ve made their breakthrough work with the most effective choreographers for his or her music movies and stage performances. In South Korea, the 1MILLION Dance Studio is the premier vacation spot for this. Co-founded in 2014 by the now world-renowned choreographer, Lia Kim, who additionally serves as CEO and continues to steer dance lessons, 1MILLION rapidly turned a powerhouse for Okay-pop stars. Kim has choreographed many iconic songs, together with “TT” by Twice, “La Di Da” by Everglow and “Wannabe” by Itzy.[39] Nonetheless, well-known international choreographers have additionally develop into concerned within the Okay-pop {industry}, comparable to Keone Madrid from the USA, who was liable for the choreography for the BTS songs “Dope” and “Fireplace”, and the New Zealand dancer and choreographer Parris Goebel, who has labored with Massive Bang, BLACKPINK and 2NE1.[40]

Artist branding

The celebrities’ look – that’s, their look and clothes – can also be deliberate all the way down to the final element and tailor-made to the artists’ picture. To this finish, Okay-pop labels make use of groups of stylists, costume designers, hairdressers and make-up artists who fashion the celebs for public appearances, concert events and music movies.[41] This isn’t nearly selling a sure picture, but additionally about setting new traits. This side, too, is intently linked to the business advertising of the artists. SM, YG and JYP Leisure, in addition to Hybe, profit from important income generated by branding partnerships with main manufacturers and from their artists’ endorsement offers. A few of these corporations even run their very own vogue manufacturers, magnificence product strains and comfort shops to monetise the idols’ model picture.[42]

The artists’ contribution to the model picture is minimal. They execute to perfection what’s given to them. For this goal, the artists inside the woman and boy teams are assigned very clear roles. Within the literature, that is additionally known as archetypes, that are related to sure expectations.[43] Each group has a “chief”, comparable to RM from BTS or Jihyo from Twice, who’s liable for decision-making inside the group and likewise communicates these choices to the corporate. Then there’s the “Face of the Group”, also called the “Visible”, who most intently matches a selected excellent of magnificence and is successfully the group’s “face” in exterior promoting campaigns. “Vocalist” refers back to the group’s lead singer. They’ve probably the most distinctive or highly effective voice and subsequently carry out many of the singing components. Indispensable in most Okay-pop teams are the “rappers”, who’ve the most important share of the rap sections and are expert at improvising. One of the best dancers within the group are the “lead/foremost dancers”, who take centre stage throughout performances and likewise carry out crucial dance routines solo. The “centre” has a unique position; that is the group member who stands on the centre of the formation throughout a efficiency. That is often additionally the individual most ceaselessly captured by the digital camera. Lastly, there’s the position of the “maknae”, which often refers back to the youngest member of the group and might be described because the “child of the group”.

Along with these official roles inside a Okay-pop band, there are additionally unofficial archetypes which, in keeping with Kara Atkin, largely function stereotypes[44], such because the “Momzzang”, who has a very masculine physique and is bursting with health, or the “Fairly Boy”, who’s characterised by mushy facial options and has a extra light picture. One other male stereotype is the “Alien”, whose persona shouldn’t be really easy to decode and who stands for unconventional concepts. Among the many feminine members of a bunch, a distinction is made between “Woman Crush”, i.e. a robust and independent-seeming persona who exudes self-confidence. In distinction are the group members described as “cute” or “harmless”, who conform to female beliefs of magnificence and are supposed to seem notably female. They thus differ from the “elegant/mature” archetypes, who costume elegantly, are thought to be stylish and grown-up, and in doing so exude a sure distance and aloofness. It must be famous that the artists don’t select these archetypes or stereotypes themselves; moderately, these roles are assigned to them by the Okay-pop corporations. The artists are subsequently merchandise that function a mirrored image floor and are supposed to correspond to a selected advertising idea.

Endnotes

[1] An summary offers Chung, Annika. 2018. All About Okay-Pop. Inside Tales behind Okay-pop’s Rise to World Fandom. Coal Harbour Publishing. pp 120-121

[2] See https://audition.smtown.com/global-auditions. Accessed 04 Mar 2026

[3] Sin, Ben. 2018. Contained in the Okay-pop hit machine: how South Korea’s music {industry} has gone world. South China Morning Submit, 2 April. https://www.scmp.com/tradition/music/article/2139864/inside-k-pop-hit-machine-how-south-koreas-music-industry-has-gone. Accessed 04 Mar 2026

[4] See https://audition.jype.com/audition/auditions/1. Accessed 04 Mar 2026

[5] See https://www.sourcemusic.com/audition/index?lang=en. Accessed 04 Mar 2026

[6] Chung. All About Okay-Pop. p 120

[7] See https://www.sandfactory.co.kr/information/new_content_view.php?strSection=Information&strSeq=931&ckattempt=1 (Accessed 04 Mar 2026)

[8] Chung. All About Okay-Pop. p 120

[9] Ibid. p 122

[10] Sin. Contained in the Okay-pop hit machine

[11] Lie. Okay-Pop. p 120

[12] Lie. Okay-Pop. pp 124-125

[13] The Netflix documentary “BLACKPINK. Lights Up The Sky” presents a glimpse into the lives of the mission teams, offering a – nonetheless considerably idealised – look behind the scenes of the Okay-pop {industry}: https://www.netflix.com/at/title/81106901. Accessed 05 Mar 2026

[14] Lie. Okay-Pop. p 125

[15] Shin, Solee and Lanu Kim. 2013. Organizing Okay-Pop: Emergence and Market Making of Massive Korean Leisure Homes, 1980-2010. East Asia 30.

[16] Lie. Okay-Pop. p 125

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.

[19] Ibid., p 124

[20] Hallyu Press authors’ workforce. p 49

[21] Ibid. p 50

[22] Kim, Suk-young. 2016. The Many Faces of Okay-pop Music Movies: Revues, Motown and Broadway in “Twinkle”. The Journal of Fashionable Tradition 49(1): pp 136-154. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpcu.12382

[23] An summary of the “Massive Three” corporations collaborating with Western songwriters and producers within the early 2010s present Oh, Ingyu and Gil-sung Park. 2012. From B2C to B2B: Promoting Korean Pop Music within the Age of Social Media. Korea Observer 43(3): S. 365-397

[24] Chung. All About Okay-pop. p 113

[25] Wikipedia. 2026. I Acquired a Boy. 2 February. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Got_a_Boy. Accessed 05 Mar 2026

[26] Chung. All About Okay-pop. p 109

[27] Sprinkel. BTS: One. pp 46-47

[28] Kwak, Yeon-soo. 2019. BTS producer Pdogg acknowledged for prime music royalty earnings. The Korea Instances, 17 February. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/leisure/k-pop/20190217/bts-producer-pdogg-recognized-for-top-music-royalty-earnings. Accessed 05 Mar 2026

[29] An inventory of probably the most distinguished South Korean songwriters and producers might be discovered at Chung. All About Okay-pop. pp 111-112

[30] Soulbeats. 2012. Exploring Hit-Makers: YG’s Teddy Park. 1 August. https://seoulbeats.com/2012/08/exploring-hit-makers-ygs-teddy-park/. Accessed 05 Mar 2026

[31] Choi, Na-young. 2015. Teddy and Kush to ascertain impartial label below YG Leisure.. Yang Hyun-suk personally concerned in planning. Osen, 22 September. https://m.entertain.naver.com/rating/article/109/0003162238. Accessed 05 Mar 2026

[32] Storper, Michael und Susan Christoperson. 1987. Versatile Specialisation and Regional Industrial Agglomerations: The Case of the US Movement Image Business. Annals of the Affiliation of American Geographers 77(1): pp 104-117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8306.1987.tb00148.x

[33] Glasby, Taylor. 2018. The A-Z of Okay-pop: know your sasaengs out of your monster rookies. The Guardian, 5 June. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/05/the-a-z-of-k-pop-know-your-sasaengs-from-your-monster-rookies. Accessed 05 Mar 2026

[34] Atkin. Okay-Pop. p 63

[35] Chakraborty, Riddhi. 2019. The Legacy of ZanyBros. Rolling Stone India, 18 April. https://rollingstoneindia.com/the-legacy-of-zanybros/. Accessed 09 Mar 2026

[36] Jackson, Julie. 2016. Digipedi, the duo behind a few of Okay-pop’s oddest movies. The Korea Herald, 8 March. https://www.koreaherald.com/article/890685. Accessed 09 Mar 2026

[37] Wikipedia. 2026. Digidepi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digipedi. Accessed 09 Mar 2026

[38] An summary offers Chung. All About Okay-Pop. p 119

[39] Sukri, Hazeeq. 2024. How South Korea’s 1Million Dance Studio turned one of many largest names in Okay-dance. CAN Way of life, 29 December. https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/leisure/1million-dance-studio-south-korea-427101. Accessed 09 Mar 2026

[40] Hallyu Press authors’ workforce. The Okay-Pop Phenomenon. p 53

[41] Ibid. p 54

[42] Ibid. p 55

[43] See Hallyu Press authors’ groups. The Okay-Pop Phenomenon. pp 56-57 and Atkin. Okay-Pop. pp 68-72

[44] Ibid. pp 72-75

June Classical Music Anniversaries: Full Information

June Classical Music Anniversaries: Full Information

by | Jun 1, 2026 | Classic, Musical Industry


June is a genuinely outstanding month in classical music historical past.

It’s the delivery month of Elgar, Grieg, Stravinsky, and Schumann. It noticed the premieres of Peter Grimes, The Firebird, and the Enigma Variations. And it’s the month that claimed Bizet, Delius, and probably the most proficient younger composers of the 20 th century, Vítězslava Kaprálová, at simply 25 years outdated.

Under, we’ve gathered the anniversaries, premieres, births, and deaths that make June probably the most eventful months within the classical calendar – together with the articles and listening suggestions to go deeper on each.

1 June 1804

Start of Mikhail Glinka

Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila – Overture (Benjamin Zander, Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra)

Generally referred to as the daddy of Russian classical music, Glinka helped set up a distinctly nationwide fashion that influenced generations of composers.

His dazzling overture to his opera Ruslan and Ludmila stays probably the most exhilarating curtain-raisers within the orchestral repertoire.

Mikhail Glinka

We checked out his childhood – and why he by no means noticed his mother and father for his first few years of life.

2 June 1857

Start of Sir Edward Elgar

Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85: I. Adagio; Moderato | Gautier Capuçon, LSO, Pappano

Sir Edward Elgar turned certainly one of Victorian Britain’s most celebrated composers, recognized for grand, noble music of nice emotional depth.

Works like his Enigma Variations and Pomp and Circumstance marches helped outline English music on the flip of the 20 th century.

Be taught extra concerning the story of Edward Elgar’s childhood.

3 June 1875

Loss of life of Georges Bizet

Bizet – L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1 & Suite No. 2 / Nathalie Stutzmann

French composer Georges Bizet died at simply 36 years outdated, solely months after the premiere of his opera Carmen.

Georges Bizet, 1875 (Photograph by Étienne Carjat)

Although initially controversial, Carmen would go on to change into probably the most beloved and incessantly carried out operas in historical past – and the publicity behind Bizet’s sudden demise was one of many first causes for its reassessment.

Learn our article celebrating one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Bizet’s demise in 2025.

4 June 1951

Loss of life of Serge Koussevitzky

Serge Koussevitzky conducts…

Serge Koussevitzky was an influential conductor, double bassist, and champion of contemporary music who was the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra for 1 / 4 century.

He commissioned and premiered necessary works by composers together with Bartók, Copland, and Ravel.

Uncover why Koussevitzky may need been probably the most necessary musicians ever.

5 June 1941

Start of Martha Argerich

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 | Martha Argerich, Charles Dutoit & the Verbier Competition Orchestra

Broadly thought to be one of many biggest pianists of her technology, Martha Argerich is widely known for her electrifying approach, intensely expressive performances, and inventive free-spiritedness.

Her interpretations of composers like Chopin, Prokofiev, and Ravel have impressed audiences for many years.

Listed here are fifteen info about Martha Argerich chances are you’ll not know.

6 June 1903

Start of Aram Khachaturian

Khachaturian: Sabre Dance / Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker

Aram Khachaturian introduced Armenian folks influences into the live performance corridor by means of vivid orchestral color and rhythmic power.

He’s greatest remembered for works such because the ballet Spartacus and the “Sabre Dance” from the ballet Gayane.

Aram Khachaturian

We wrote about his piano concerto – and the way it turned an in a single day sensation.

7 June 1945

Premiere of Peter Grimes

Peter Grimes: “Now the Nice Bear and the Pleiades”

Benjamin Britten‘s opera Peter Grimes premiered in London in 1945 and is a landmark of twentieth-century British music.

Its dramatic portrait of isolation and neighborhood prejudice helped revive English opera on the worldwide stage.

Uncover all concerning the premiere of Peter Grimes.

8 June 1810

Start of Robert Schumann

Yuja Wang: Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 [HD]

Robert Schumann was a central determine of the Romantic period, admired for the music he composed, mixing poetic creativeness with deep emotional depth.

Alongside his spouse, pianist and composer Clara Schumann, he formed nineteenth-century musical tradition by means of his composition and music criticism.

Examine his childhood, in addition to how he struggled selecting between literature and music.

9 June 1865

Start of Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen’s Helios Overture (Danish Nationwide Symphony Orchestra & Fabio Luisi)

Carl Nielsen is thought to be Denmark’s biggest composer, recognized for symphonies and different orchestral works that mix fastidiously crafted construction with a uncooked, putting originality.

His music usually explores themes of battle, vitality, and human resilience.

Georg Lindstrøm: Carl Nielsen carte de visite, ca 1908

Examine his upbringing, with particulars straight from his autobiography.

10 June 1934

Loss of life of Frederick Delius

Delius’s On Listening to the First Cuckoo in Spring

Frederick Delius composed atmospheric, richly textured music impressed by themes like nature and reminiscence.

Though a lot of his works have been gradual to achieve recognition, others, resembling On Listening to the First Cuckoo in Spring, have earned audiences’ lasting admiration.

Uncover concerning the tough demise of Frederick Delius.

11 June 1864

Start of Richard Strauss

Strauss: Additionally sprach Zarathustra ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Richard Strauss was one of many main composers of the late Romantic period, famend for his sensible orchestration and dramatic creativeness.

His tone poems and operas, together with Additionally sprach Zarathustra and Der Rosenkavalier, stay staples of the live performance and operatic repertoire.

We took a take a look at Strauss’s childhood, in addition to what it was like for him rising up with a well-known horn-playing father.

12 June 1917

Loss of life of Teresa Carreño

Romance for violin and piano – Teresa Carreño

Teresa Carreño was an internationally celebrated pianist, singer, and composer whose extraordinary profession started when she was nonetheless a toddler prodigy.

Teresa Carreño

Admired for her commanding approach and charismatic performances, she turned probably the most outstanding musicians of her technology – and a serious inspiration for women who needed to be live performance pianists.

Listed here are 13 info concerning the life and profession of this boundary-breaking pianist.

13 June 1911

Premiere of Petrushka

Strawinsky: Petruschka (Fassung 1947) ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

On this present day in 1911, Igor Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka premiered in Paris with the Ballets Russes beneath the route of Sergei Diaghilev.

Its vibrant orchestration, rhythmic vitality, and vivid storytelling helped set up Stravinsky as one of many twentieth century’s most revolutionary composers.

We wrote about how Stravinsky wrote this masterpiece.

14 June 1982

Start of Lang Lang

Lang Lang – Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Main, Op. 9 No. 2

Chinese language-born pianist Lang Lang rose to worldwide fame by means of his dazzling virtuosity, expressive performances, and charismatic stage presence.

He has additionally change into a serious advocate for music training, inspiring new generations of younger pianists world wide.

We delved into the story of Lang Lang’s tough childhood.

15 June 1843

Start of Edvard Grieg

Grieg: Piano Concerto ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Jan Lisiecki ∙ Alain Altinoglu

Throughout a time of rising nationalism, Edvard Grieg helped form a distinctly Norwegian musical identification by means of works impressed by folks melodies and landscapes.

Edvard Grieg

His lyrical fashion is very beloved in items such because the Piano Concerto in A minor and the music for Peer Gynt.

We rounded up a high ten checklist of Grieg’s most beloved works.

16 June 1940

Loss of life of Vítězslava Kaprálová

4 April Preludes, op. 13 by Vítězslava Kaprálová performed by Kirill Gerstein on the Wigmore Corridor

Vítězslava Kaprálová was a gifted Czech composer and conductor whose promising profession was reduce tragically brief when she died of a sudden sickness – probably typhoid fever; probably tuberculosis – at simply 25 years outdated.

Regardless of her temporary life, her music has gained rising recognition for its intense originality and putting orchestral colour.

Vítězslava Kaprálová

Listed here are 13 info you won’t learn about Kaprálová’s astonishing profession.

17 June 1882

Start of Igor Stravinsky

Stravinsky: Le sacre du printemps / The Ceremony of Spring – Jaap van Zweden

Igor Stravinsky remodeled twentieth-century music by means of daring rhythms, stunning harmonies, and the fixed, obsessive reinvention of his private fashion.

From The Firebird and Petrushka to The Ceremony of Spring and past, his works formed what twentieth-century classical music would change into.

Find out about his limitless inventive transformations.

18 June 1821

Premiere of Der Freischütz

Weber – Ouvertüre „Der Freischütz“ | Eschenbach | SWR Symphonieorchester

Carl Maria von Weber‘s Der Freischütz premiered in Berlin and rapidly turned a landmark of German Romantic opera.

Mixing folklore and supernatural parts with richly atmospheric music, it anticipated generations of future composers, together with Wagner.

Caroline Bardua: Carl Maria von Weber, 1821 (Berlin: Alte Nationalgalerie)

We broke down precisely why this opera was such a success in 1821 – and why it’s nonetheless related at the moment.

19 June 1899

Premiere of the Enigma Variations

Elgar: Enigma-Variationen ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Alain Altinoglu

Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations for orchestra premiered in London in the summertime of 1899. It could mark the composer’s worldwide breakthrough.

Every variation portrays certainly one of Elgar’s associates and acquaintances, combining humour, affection, and emotional depth in a uniquely private orchestral work.

Learn concerning the origin story behind the variations.

20 June 1819

Start of Jacques Offenbach

Anna Netrebko & Elīna Garanča – Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Barcarolle

Jacques Offenbach turned the undisputed grasp of French operetta, delighting audiences with music filled with wit and sparkle.

Works resembling Orpheus within the Underworld helped form fashionable musical comedy and stay beloved in popular culture at the moment.

21 June 1732

Start of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

J.C.F. Bach – Sinfonia in d-minor – Barrocada – Amit Tiefenbrunn

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, certainly one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sons, turned often known as the “Bückeburg Bach” after the court docket the place he spent most of his profession.

Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach

His music bridges the Baroque and Classical eras, combining magnificence and lyricism with the affect of his well-known musical household.

22 June 1974

Loss of life of Darius Milhaud

Milhaud : Le Boeuf sur le toit (Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France)

Darius Milhaud was a prolific twentieth-century composer related to the French group Les Six.

His music is famous for its rhythmic vitality, polytonality, and eclectic influences, together with jazz and Brazilian music.

Darius Milhaud

We delved into certainly one of Milhaud’s hottest works, the irresistibly jazzy Le Boeuf sur le toit.

23 June 1956

Loss of life of Reinhold Glière

Reinhold Glière’s Sailors Dance from The Crimson Poppy Teatro dell’Opera di Roma

Reinhold Glière composed richly melodic orchestral, chamber, and ballet music rooted within the late Romantic custom.

Although his fashion remained conservative throughout a interval of fast musical change, his ballets specifically stay common.

Reinhold Glière

We wrote about his uncommon concerto for coloratura soprano and orchestra.

24 June 1906

Start of Pierre Fournier

Pierre Fournier performs the Sarabande from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 3

Cellist Pierre Fournier was celebrated for his refined tone and swish phrasing, incomes him the nickname “the aristocrat of cellists.”

To this present day, his recordings are admired for his or her heat and readability.

We checked out Fournier and his colleagues on this article concerning the biggest cellists of the 20 th century.

25 June 1910

Premiere of The Firebird

Stravinsky’s The Firebird – Ballettmusik (1910) ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Stravinsky’s The Firebird premiered in Paris with the Ballets Russes and introduced the younger composer worldwide acclaim.

Its vivid orchestration and magical storytelling marked the start of Stravinsky’s extraordinary rise to prominence.

26 June 1926

Premiere of Leoš Janáček‘s Sinfonietta

Leoš Janáček – Sinfonietta op. 60 | Semyon Bychkov | WDR Sinfonieorchester

Leoš Janáček’s Sinfonietta premiered in Prague and rapidly turned one of many composer’s most beloved orchestral works.

Leoš Janáček

Well-known for its sensible brass fanfares and energetic spirit, the piece displays Janáček’s pleasure in Czech tradition and independence.

27 June 1729

Loss of life of Élisabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre

Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre – Suite in A minor

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre was probably the most outstanding musicians of the French Baroque period, acclaimed as each a composer and virtuoso harpsichordist.

Supported by the court docket of Louis XIV, she turned one of many few skilled ladies composers of her time to attain wide-scale recognition.

Here’s a biography about her and her work.

28 June 1831

Start of Joseph Joachim

Joachim performs the Adagio from Bach’s Sonata No. 1 for Solo Violin

Joseph Joachim was one of many nineteenth century’s biggest violinists and an necessary champion of composers together with Brahms and Beethoven.

Johannes Brahms and Joseph Joachim

His shut friendship with Johannes Brahms deeply influenced the event and efficiency of Romantic chamber and orchestral music.

We checked out that friendship with Brahms – and the divorce drama that almost broke it up.

29 June 1963

Start of Anne-Sophie Mutter

Anne-Sophie Mutter performs Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen

Anne-Sophie Mutter gained worldwide consideration as a youngster beneath the mentorship of Herbert von Karajan.

Famend for her sensible approach, expressive artistry, and impeccable onstage trend sense, she has change into one of many world’s main violinists and a robust advocate for up to date music.

30 June 1958

Start of Esa-Pekka Salonen

Esa-Pekka Salonen taking part in his Sinfonia concertante for organ and orchestra (NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester)

Esa-Pekka Salonen is widely known each as a conductor and as a composer.

His management of main orchestras, together with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, helped broaden audiences for up to date classical music in America.

Esa-Pekka Salonen

Uncover about Salonen’s profession – and the way he went from composer to conductor.

Conclusion

From Glinka’s delivery on the primary of the month to Esa-Pekka Salonen’s on the final, June covers a rare vary of musical historical past.

Whether or not you’re drawn to Romantic symphonies, twentieth-century ballet, or the tales behind the music, there’s one thing right here price exploring.

For extra of the perfect in classical music, for our E-Publication

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 8: The Hybe Company – Music Enterprise Analysis

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 8: The Hybe Company – Music Enterprise Analysis

by | May 18, 2026 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


Hybe Company is the latecomer amongst Okay-pop companies and was based in Seoul in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. How a expertise company that had simply 4 staff in 2007 and was getting ready to chapter managed to overhaul the “Huge Three” and develop into the biggest Okay-pop conglomerate is a exceptional success story that’s now to be examined in better element.

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 8: The Hybe Company

Bang Si-hyuk[1] was already a composer and songwriter throughout his faculty days[2] and in 1997 met Park Jin-young, who was about the identical age and went on to discovered the Okay-pop company YG Leisure that very same yr.[3] Bang joined YG as a composer, arranger and producer, and was primarily chargeable for a number of hits by the boy band g.o.d.[4] In 2005, he left YG Leisure to start out his personal expertise company, Huge Hit Leisure, which didn’t get off to begin. It was solely after signing the trio 8Eight that the corporate started to see its first successes and safe its monetary stability.[5]

Nevertheless, Bang laid the foundations for constructing a company empire in 2010 when he signed the then 15-year-old Kim Nam-joon, higher often called Rap Monster or RM for brief. As now we have already seen, Huge Hit Leisure constructed BTS – arguably probably the most profitable Okay-pop act up to now – round RM. In 2013, when BTS was launched to the general public, Huge Hit Leisure was nonetheless a small fish within the Okay-pop ocean, which was dominated by SM, YG and JPG Leisure. At the moment, hardly anybody took any discover of BTS and Huge Hit Leisure, because the creator of the e-book “BTS – The Overview” famous in an interview.[6] To remain afloat financially, Huge Hit had been working with JYP Leisure since 2010, managing the boy band 2AM, which had been spun off from the eleven-member group One Day after successful the fact TV present “Sizzling Blood Males”.[7] In April 2014, the contract between Huge Hit and JYP Leisure ended, and three members of 2AM returned to JYP, while Lee Chang-min remained with Huge Hit and shaped the duo Homme with Lee Hyun from the just lately disbanded pop group 8Eight.[8]

In the meantime, BTS continued to construct their profession with album releases and their first worldwide excursions, although that they had but to attain a significant breakthrough. In September 2017, nonetheless, BTS lastly managed to interrupt into the worldwide charts for the primary time with their EP “Love Your self: Her”.[9] This caught the eye of buyers, and so the Korean cellular gaming firm Netmarble acquired a stake in Huge Hit for KRW 201.4 billion (equal to US $191.8 million), changing into the second-largest shareholder with a 25.71 per cent stake. The funding was actually additionally facilitated by the truth that the founding father of Netmarble was a cousin of Bang Si-hyuk.[10]

In March 2019, Huge Hit launched one other boy band, Tomorrow X Collectively (TXT for brief),[11] which was set to develop into the corporate’s second supply of revenue. Nevertheless, 2019 was above all a yr of company acquisitions. In July, Huge Hit acquired the label Supply Music[12] and, a month later, the video games developer Excellent.[13] In Could 2020, Huge Hit additionally grew to become the bulk shareholder of Pledis Leisure, a label based in 2007,[14] which had launched Son Dam-bi, the feminine counterpart to Okay-pop star Rain, in addition to the massively profitable boy band SEVENTEEN.[15]

The growth of the artist roster and the institution of a multi-label construction had been additionally pushed by the upcoming IPO. This proved to be an important success. The preliminary difficulty value for Hit Huge Leisure shares was set on the equal of US $117 on 15 October 2020. By the tip of the primary buying and selling day, the share value had virtually doubled to the equal of US $225.[16] This not solely made Huge Hit founder Bang Si-hyuk, who held a 36.6 per cent stake within the firm on the time, a billionaire, but in addition benefited the seven BTS members, who had opted to be paid in firm shares when renewing their contracts. Every band member grew to become US $15.6 million richer in a single stroke.[17]

This meant that Huge Hit Leisure had joined the ranks of the “Huge Three” within the Okay-pop business and would go on to surpass the three conglomerates within the years that adopted. An preliminary try was made as early as January 2021, when Huge Hit and its three way partnership BeNX acquired a 17.9 per cent stake in YG Plus, a subsidiary of YG Leisure. BeNX operated the fan group platform Weverse, by which the web group Naver has now invested KRW 355 billion (US$321 million), buying 49 per cent of the corporate’s shares in return. This deal catapulted Huge Hit into new spheres. Weverse had develop into not solely an essential platform for followers to speak with their idols, but in addition a key distribution channel for merchandise and different fan gadgets. Finally, BeNX was restructured into Weverse Firm.[18]

Nevertheless, probably the most vital step in the direction of changing into a number one Okay-pop firm was the company restructuring that started in March 2021, which additionally resulted within the renaming of the corporate to Hybe Company. Huge Hit grew to become the label Huge Hit Music, which now contains BTS and Tomorrow X Collectively, in addition to former 8Eight member Lee Hyun. Alongside Huge Hit Music, the label conglomerate now comprised Belift Lab (that includes the boy band Enhypen), Supply Music (that includes the lady band Le Sserafim), Pledis Leisure (that includes the boy band SEVENTEEN), Koz Leisure (that includes the rapper Zico) and Hybe Labels Japan (later renamed YX Labels). The second pillar was designated because the “Options” division, comprising the sport developer Excellent Corp., HYBE Three Sixty, HYBE IP, HYBE Edu, and the 2 Japanese subsidiaries HYBE Options Japan and HYBE T&D Japan. Lastly, Weverse Firm shaped the third pillar, “Platforms”.[19]

Whereas the restructuring course of was nonetheless underway, the Okay-pop group—now often called Hybe Company—set about its subsequent growth, this time into the US. In April 2021, Hybe America acquired Ithaca Holdings from Scooter Braun for US $950 million, a deal that included Taylor Swift’s label, Huge Machine.[20] Nevertheless, previous to this deal, Scooter Braun had already offered the celebrity’s first six studio albums to the personal fairness agency, the Carlyle Group.[21] Nevertheless, the Carlyle Group additionally held a stake in Ithaca Holdings and, as a part of this deal, has now offered its stake to Hybe Company. Scooter Braun has develop into co-CEO of Hybe America[22] and Scott Borchetta remained CEO of Huge Machine Label Group till February 2026.[23] A US $100 million capital improve carried out at Hybe America on the finish of March 2026 reveals that income fell by 59 per cent between 2022 and 2024, from KRW 70.4 billion to KRW 28.8 billion (equal to US$19 million). Though losses fell by 76 per cent to KRW 18.3 billion (US$12 million) over the identical interval, they continue to be properly into the crimson.[24] These figures present that increasing into overseas markets, and significantly into the US, includes excessive prices and dangers.

Nonetheless, following the group’s restructuring into Hybe Company in 2022, issues have settled down. The corporate’s founder, Bang Si-hyuk, stepped down from his position as CEO to affix the supervisory board, leaving the day-to-day operating of the enterprise to a youthful administration duo.[25]

In February 2023, Hybe then launched its massive transfer. Following a dispute amongst SM Leisure’s high administration, Hybe acquired the 14.8 per cent stake that SM founder Lee So-man had put up on the market.[26] This triggered a bidding battle for SM Leisure, because the leisure and media group Kakao additionally wished to amass a stake in SM. Finally, nonetheless, Hybe withdrew from the hostile takeover and offered half of its stake to Kakao, retaining simply 8.81 per cent in its rival.[27] This stake was finally offered to the Chinese language tech large Tencent in Could 2025.[28] With this deal – although it finally failed – Hybe demonstrated that it had not solely risen to affix the “Huge Three”, however was even able to taking on one in all its opponents. In consequence, Hybe had develop into the main Okay-pop company.

This was additional underlined by the truth that Hybe not solely had workplaces in Japan and the US, however had additionally expanded its operations to China, Latin America and India. Hybe Latin America was established following the acquisition of Exile Content material’s music division in November 2023, with Spanish-speaking workplaces opening in Mexico Metropolis, Los Angeles and Miami.[29] The institution of a department in China adopted with the founding of Hybe China in April 2025[30] and 5 months later, Hybe India Leisure was launched in Mumbai.[31]

Hybe had thus develop into an internationally energetic group that had outperformed its South Korean opponents, a reality additionally mirrored in its monetary figures (fig. 5.8). Even within the yr of its IPO, Hybe was clearly in first place with consolidated group income of KRW 796 billion, properly forward of SM Leisure (KRW 580 billion). The breathtaking income development over the subsequent two years – up 174 per cent to KRW 2.2 trillion – widened the hole with its opponents even additional. It was not till 2024 that income development slowed to three.6 per cent, although this nonetheless represented greater than double the income of its nearest competitor, SM Leisure, which stood at KRW 990 billion.

Determine 5.8: Hybe Company’s income, price and revenue tendencies, 2020-2024

Supply: After https://hybecorp.com/eng/ir/finance/revenue (Accessed 27 Feb 2026)

As price of gross sales rose at roughly the identical price as income between 2020 and 2023, Hybe was capable of double its working revenue throughout this era. The truth that the consequence was not higher was primarily as a consequence of advertising and overhead prices, which greater than tripled. As this development continued into 2024, working revenue fell by virtually 40 per cent to KRW 184 billion that yr. That is additionally mirrored within the web revenue, which grew by 111 per cent to KRW 183 billion between 2020 and 2023, however turned unfavorable in 2024 as a consequence of a closely unfavorable extraordinary results of KRW 3 billion. General, Hybe has additionally felt the results of the downturn within the Okay-pop market, however due to BTS‘s comeback in 2026, it could actually hope to return to a path of development and revenue. Nevertheless, the authorized troubles dealing with Hybe’s founder, Bang Si-hyuk, may show to be a significant drawback. Since July 2025, investigations have been underway towards him and three different staff relating to unauthorised insider buying and selling earlier than Hybe’s IPO. The bombshell got here in April 2026, when an arrest warrant was issued and Bang was barred from leaving South Korea, stopping him from attending BTS‘s opening live performance within the US. This monetary scandal may nonetheless forged a protracted shadow over Hybe’s success story.

Endnotes

[1] Kang, Haeryun. 2020. ‘Hitman’ Bang Si-hyuk, The Model-New Billionaire Behind BTS. NPR, 18 November. https://www.npr.org/2020/11/18/935848354/hitman-bang-si-hyuk-the-brand-new-billionaire-behind-bts. Accessed 26 Feb 2026

[2] Kang, Haeryun. 2020. ‘Hitman’ Bang Si-hyuk

[3] Han, Eun-hwa. 2016. Independence is vital to Okay-pop success

[4] Bruner, Raisa. 2019. The Mastermind Behind BTS

[5] Yoon, Sung-yeol. 2014. 8Eight to briefly disband after seven years… ‘Pursuing particular person music actions’. Star Information, 21. Dezember. https://m.entertain.naver.com/house/article/108/0002369958. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 26 Feb 2026

[6] Kang, Haeryun. 2020. ‘Hitman’ Bang Si-hyuk

[7] KoreAm. 2010. Cowl Story: 2PM

[8] Lee Min-ji. 2014. 2AM’s Jo Kwon, Im Seulong, and Jung Jin Woon Return to JYP Leisure. Newsen, 9 April. https://net.archive.org/net/20160312112024/http://mwave.curiosity.me/enewsworld/en/article/63193/2am-changes-agencies. Accessed 26 Feb 2026

[9] Wikipedia. 2026. Love Your self: Her

[10] Ha, Solar-young. 2018. Cousins unite as Netmarble buys stake in Huge Hit. Korea JoongAng Day by day, 6 April. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2018/04/06/business/Cousins-unite-as-Netmarble-buys-stake-in-Huge-Hit/3046607.html. Accessed 26 Feb 2026

[11] Kelley, Caitlin. 2019. BTS’s Label Reveals TOMORROW X TOGETHER Will Debut March 4. Forbes, 6 February. https://www.forbes.com/websites/caitlinkelley/2019/02/06/bts-bighit-tomorrow-x-together-txt-debut/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[12] Kelley, Caitlin. 2019. Huge Hit Leisure, BTS’s Label, Acquires Supply Music. Forbes, 28 July. https://www.forbes.com/websites/caitlinkelley/2019/07/28/btss-label-big-hit-entertainment-acquired-source-music/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[13] Kim, Eun-ae. 2019. Huge Hit acquires music recreation firm Excellent. Bang Si-hyuk: ‘It can deliver optimistic worth’. Osen, 19. August. https://m.entertain.naver.com/now/article/109/0004070079. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[14] Herman, Tamar. 2020. BTS’s Company Huge Hit Turns into Majority Shareholder Of Okay-Pop Firm Pledis, House To Seventeen & NU’EST. Forbes, 24 Could. https://www.forbes.com/websites/tamarherman/2020/05/24/btss-agency-big-hit-becomes-majority-shareholder-of-k-pop-company-pledis-home-to-seventeen–nuest/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[15] Kim, Jung-wook. 2007. “Do you need to hear my title, my title is Son Dam-bi, and also you need to hear my story about ‘Rattling’?” Edaily, 25 June. https://www.edaily.co.kr/information/learn?newsId=02086086583165328&mediaCodeNo=257. Translated with DeepL. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[16] Stassen, Murray. 2020. Huge Hit CEO Bang Si-hyuk now price comfortably greater than $2bn as BTS agency’s IPO takes flight in Korea. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 15 October. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/big-hit-ceo-bang-si-hyuk-now-worth-comfortably-more-than-2bn-as-bts-firms-ipo-takes-flight-in-korea/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[17] Ibid.

[18] Yoon, So-yeon. 2021. Huge Hit, Naver and YG be a part of forces in a giant Okay-pop inventory swap. Korea JoongAng Day by day, 27 January. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/01/27/enterprise/business/Huge-Hit-Leisure-beNX-YG-Plus/20210127192300544.html. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[19] Stassen, Murray. 2021. BTS label Huge Hit Leisure formally rebrands as HYBE. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 19 March. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bts-label-big-hit-entertainment-officially-rebrands-as-hybe/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[20] Halperin, Shirley und Patrick Frater. 2021. BTS Label Proprietor HYBE Merges With Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings for $1 Billion. Selection, 2 April. https://selection.com/2021/digital/information/hybe-merges-ithaca-holdings-scooter-braun-bts-1234943092/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[21] Halperin, Shirley. 2020. Scooter Braun Sells Taylor Swift’s Huge Machine Masters for Huge Payday. Selection, 16 November. https://selection.com/2020/music/information/scooter-braun-sells-taylor-swift-big-machine-masters-1234832080/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[22] Ingham, Tim. 2021. Scooter Braun sells Ithaca Holdings to HYBE, previously often called Huge Hit Leisure, for $1 billion. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 2 April. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/scooter-braun-sells-ithaca-holdings-to-hybe-formerly-big-hit-entertainment/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[23] Stassen, Murray. 2026. Scott Borchetta exits HYBE AMERICA. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 12 February. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/scott-borchetta-exits-hybe-america/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[24] Stassen, Murray. 2026. HYBE to inject $100M into US subsidiary, HYBE America. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 1 April. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybe-the-home-of-bts-injects-100m-into-us-subsidiary-hybe-america12/. Accessed 02 Apr 2026

[25] Stassen, Murray. 2021. Bang Si-hyuk steps down as CEO of HYBE, previously often called Huge Hit Leisure. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 1 July. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bang-si-hyuk-steps-down-as-ceo-of-hybe/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[26] Hong, Yoo. 2023. SM founder Lee Soo-man joins palms with Hybe to counter SM’s Kakao partnership. The Korea Herald, 10 February. https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3059457. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[27] Yim, Hyunsu. 2023. Okay-pop takeover battle loser HYBE to promote $437 mln stake in SM. Reuters, 24 March. https://www.reuters.com/markets/offers/south-koreas-hybe-sell-its-stake-sm-entertainment-2023-03-24/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[28] Stassen, Murray. 2025. HYBE is promoting its total stake in Okay-Pop rival SM Leisure to Tencent Music for practically $180m. Music Enterprise Worldwide, 27 Could. https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybe-to-sell-entire-stake-in-k-pop-rival-sm-entertainment-to-tencent-music-for-nearly-180m/. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[29] The Straits Instances. 2023. Okay-pop large Hybe buys its first Latin music firm. 13 November. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/leisure/k-pop-giant-hybe-buys-its-first-latin-music-company. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[30] Yoon, So-yeon. 2025. HYBE China opens in Beijing as Okay-pop powerhouse goals to spice up presence in native scene. Korea JoongAng Day by day, 29 Could. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/information/2025-05-29/enterprise/business/HYBE-China-opens-in-Beijing-as-Kpop-powerhouse-aims-to-boost-presence-in-local-scene/2318504. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

[31] Agarwal, Bhavna. 2025. BTS’ firm HYBE formally launches Indian subsidiary HYBE India. India In the present day, 23 September. https://www.indiatoday.in/leisure/music/story/bts-company-hybe-officially-launches-indian-subsidiary-hybe-india-2791696-2025-09-23. Accessed 27 Feb 2026

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 5: SM Leisure – Music Enterprise Analysis

The Economics of Okay-pop – Half 5: SM Leisure – Music Enterprise Analysis

by | Apr 26, 2026 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


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

[30] See quarterly stories of SM Leisure for 2024

The music streaming market in South Korea – Music Enterprise Analysis

The music streaming market in South Korea – Music Enterprise Analysis

by | Apr 5, 2026 | Entertainment Law, Music Business, Podcast News


On this a part of the weblog collection, we are going to analyse the music streaming market in South Korea, which has grown so quickly in recent times – primarily due to Ok-pop – and has introduced file revenues to home music streaming providers. Nevertheless, within the 2020s, worldwide opponents entered the market and have been in a position to achieve market share on the expense of South Korean streaming suppliers. The explanations for this might be additional analysed.

The Economics of Ok-pop – Half 2: The music streaming market in South Korea

Lately, competitors within the South Korean music streaming market has intensified. For years, native music streaming providers had divided the market amongst themselves. That modified on 22 Could 2018, when Google launched each, the subscription-based YouTube Premium service – providing ad-free movies – and the ad-supported YouTube Music streaming service in South Korea.[1]

YouTube was already highly regarded in South Korea at the moment, as evidenced by the rising income from ad-supported music video streaming, which had surged to US $59 million by 2021, whereas income from ad-supported audio streaming stagnated at round US $6 million between 2016 and 2021 (see fig. 1).

Determine 1: Income from ad-supported audio and video streaming in South Korea, 2016–2021

ource: IFPI World Music Studies 2016-2021

The sport-changer was that Google bundled its two providers and built-in YouTube Music into YouTube Premium. Because the Ok-pop aesthetic is extremely performative and centred on dance, efficiency and outfits, music movies have been of nice relevance to followers, which made the YouTube providing very engaging. Many customers who had beforehand used home paid music providers now switched to YouTube Music. While YouTube Music had simply 4.03 million month-to-month energetic customers (MAUs) in 2021, inserting it effectively behind the market chief MelOn with 6.89 million,[2] it had closed the hole on MelOn with 6.27 million MAUs, which had 6.61 million MAUs a yr later (see fig. 2). In 2022, the Korean suppliers Genie Music (3.32 million MAUs) and FLO (2.13 million MAUs) adopted within the rankings, forward of Spotify with 0.79 million MAUs. By 2025, the image had modified utterly. YouTube Music was clearly in first place with 10.12 million MAUs, adopted by MelOn with 6.23 million MAUs. Nevertheless, the rising star of the yr was Spotify, which shot as much as third place with a development soar of 168 per cent to 4.24 million MAUs. In distinction, consumer numbers for the Korean providers Genie Music (2.57 million MAUs) and FLO (1.76 million MAUs) declined in 2025 (see fig. 2).

Determine 2: The music streaming market in South Korea by market share, 2022–2025

Supply: After Lee Kyung-tak. 2025. Spotify climbs to 3rd place in South Korea music streaming market. Chosun Biz, 23 September. https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-it/2025/09/23/KLQLRSGEXVEZHPRQVREMVYCX2E/. Accessed 16 Dec 2025

Korean music streaming providers noticed Google’s bundling technique as unfair competitors and criticized the US web big for it. In 2024, they acquired help from the Korean Honest Commerce Fee (FTC), which launched the “Platform Competitors Promotion Act” to allow simpler motion towards monopolistic market practices and the abuse of a dominant market place. The brand new regulation was aimed not solely on the Korean tech giants Naver, Kakao and Coupang, however primarily focused main US web firms reminiscent of Google, Meta and Apple. The function of music streaming providers was additionally to be scrutinised extra carefully, as FTC Chairman Han Ki-jeong introduced in a speech earlier than the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul.[3]

The FTC’s subsequent investigations revealed that Google had breached competitors guidelines by bundling YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. The FTC argued {that a} month-to-month subscription to YouTube Premium in Korea would price KRW 14,900 (US$10.78) and that customers must pay KRW 11,990 (US$8.67) per 30 days for the ad-supported streaming service YouTube Music, with out the choice to change to a premium-only plan. The FTC concluded that this distorted competitors and deprived different music streaming providers, as shoppers may then change on to YouTube Premium, and initiated authorized proceedings towards Google Korea.[4]

To keep away from the hefty penalties offered for within the regulation, Google Korea entered into negotiations with the FTC, which, after an extended and difficult battle, resulted in an final result passable to each side. Google agreed to launch YouTube Premium Lite, which might price KRW 8,500 for customers of Android units and KRW 10,900 for Apple units. Within the Lite model, adverts are faraway from most movies, although not from YouTube Shorts. Moreover, options reminiscent of offline downloads and background playback aren’t accessible.[5]

The FTC expressed satisfaction with this compromise, as shoppers with little curiosity in YouTube Music may now change to the Lite model and subscribe to different music streaming providers. In return, Google agreed to maintain the subscription value for YouTube Premium Lite unchanged for a minimum of one yr and, within the occasion of future value adjustments, to take care of the value distinction between the complete model of YouTube and the Lite providing. Moreover, Google dedicated to paying KRW 30 billion to the general public broadcaster Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) in order that it may well higher help the Korean music business and home artists.[6] It stays to be seen whether or not this compromise will enhance the scenario for Korean music streaming providers, and there has already been criticism from Korean YouTube opponents.[7] Nevertheless, after years of development, they’ve come beneath large financial strain from overseas opponents.

Endnotes

[1] Snapes, Laura and Mark Sweney. 2018. YouTube to launch new music streaming service. The Guardian, 17 Could. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/might/17/youtube-music-new-streaming-service-launch. Accessed 16 Dec 2025

[2] Lee, Gyu-lee. 2025. Will home music streaming providers regain market share after YouTube’s new subscription program? The Korea Instances, 23 Could. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/enterprise/tech-science/20250523/will-korean-music-streaming-services-regain-market-share-after-youtubes-new-subscription-program. Accessed 16 Dec 2025

[3] Lee, Jae-lim. 2024. Antitrust watchdog mulling inclusion of music streaming websites beneath platform regulation. Korea Joong-Ang Day by day, 7 March. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/information/2024-03-07/enterprise/business/Antitrust-watchdog-mulling-inclusion-of-music-streaming-sites-under-platform-regulation/1997097. Accessed 19 Dec 2025

[4] Lee, Jae-lim. 2024. FTC opens penalty overview towards Google for bundling subscriptions. Korea Joong-Ang Day by day, 8 July 2025. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/information/2024-07-08/enterprise/business/FTC-opens-penalty-review-against-Google-for-bundling-subscriptions/2085507. Accessed 19 Dec 2025

[5] Lim, Jeong-won. 2025. Google to launch YouTube Premium Lite plan in Korea after FTC approval. Korea Joong-Ang Day by day, 27 November 2025. https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/information/2025-11-27/enterprise/business/Google-to-launch-YouTube-Premium-Lite-plan-in-Korea-after-FTC-approval/2464732. Accessed 19 Dec 2025

[6] Ibid.

[7] Lee, Gyu-lee. 2025. Will home music streaming providers regain market share after YouTube’s new subscription program? The Korea Instances, 23 Could. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/enterprise/tech-science/20250523/will-korean-music-streaming-services-regain-market-share-after-youtubes-new-subscription-program. Accessed 19 Dec 2025