The ambitions of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment Co. in the lucrative Chinese market have hit an unexpected challenge: a legal move by one of the Chinese members of its hugely popular boy band EXO to bail out.
EXO, known for songs like “Growl,” in which the twelve-member group mimics a pack of wolves, consists of two subgroups: six Korean and six Chinese or Chinese-speaking Korean singers. The latter was created specifically to target China, with the sextet releasing songs in Mandarin and labeled EXO-M accordingly (the Korea-focused group are EXO-K).
In a development that has become the buzz of the K-Pop world, one of the Chinese members of EXO-M known as Kris filed a lawsuit earlier this month in a bid to nullify his contract with SM. A spokesman for the Korean law firm representing the singer declined to comment on the details of the case, while a spokeswoman for SM said the company is “taken aback” and currently in the midst of verifying the facts.
A day after Kris filed the suit, he wrote a short memo on his Weibo microblog account starting with a Chinese saying that refers to a situation where someone weak puts up a fight against someone much more powerful, according to local media reports. “I’m fine. I wish everyone a blessing and for you to be well. I thank everyone that supports me and such opinions. (I) will always be here,” the singer wrote, according Korean daily Hankook Ilbo.
SM said the group will perform with all the other members in concerts scheduled for later this month in South Korea.
“Currently, eleven members are doing their best for a high quality performance and we promise you a great show that will live up to expectations,” a statement uploaded on the group’s website said.
While top labels occasionally face legal disputes over contractual terms or moves to break contracts with their stars, it’s rare for trouble to break out at such an early stage. EXO’s first full album was released last year.
The highest profile legal dispute by a K-Pop group—also formerly with SM Entertainment—involved the group TVXQ. They started out as a five person boyband but are now down to just two after three of the members left the label to form a new group.
Some industry observers say K-pop labels prefer groups with large numbers of singers to reduce the risk of a break-up if one or two members leave. SM is well-known in Asia as the label for girl band Girls’ Generation, which has nine members.
The ambitions of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment Co. in the lucrative Chinese market have hit an unexpected challenge: a legal move by one of the Chinese members of its hugely popular boy band EXO to bail out.
EXO, known for songs like “Growl,” in which the twelve-member group mimics a pack of wolves, consists of two subgroups: six Korean and six Chinese or Chinese-speaking Korean singers. The latter was created specifically to target China, with the sextet releasing songs in Mandarin and labeled EXO-M accordingly (the Korea-focused group are EXO-K).
In a development that has become the buzz of the K-Pop world, one of the Chinese members of EXO-M known as Kris filed a lawsuit earlier this month in a bid to nullify his contract with SM. A spokesman for the Korean law firm representing the singer declined to comment on the details of the case, while a spokeswoman for SM said the company is “taken aback” and currently in the midst of verifying the facts.
A day after Kris filed the suit, he wrote a short memo on his Weibo microblog account starting with a Chinese saying that refers to a situation where someone weak puts up a fight against someone much more powerful, according to local media reports. “I’m fine. I wish everyone a blessing and for you to be well. I thank everyone that supports me and such opinions. (I) will always be here,” the singer wrote, according Korean daily Hankook Ilbo.
SM said the group will perform with all the other members in concerts scheduled for later this month in South Korea.
“Currently, eleven members are doing their best for a high quality performance and we promise you a great show that will live up to expectations,” a statement uploaded on the group’s website said.
While top labels occasionally face legal disputes over contractual terms or moves to break contracts with their stars, it’s rare for trouble to break out at such an early stage. EXO’s first full album was released last year.
The highest profile legal dispute by a K-Pop group—also formerly with SM Entertainment—involved the group TVXQ. They started out as a five person boyband but are now down to just two after three of the members left the label to form a new group.
Some industry observers say K-pop labels prefer groups with large numbers of singers to reduce the risk of a break-up if one or two members leave. SM is well-known in Asia as the label for girl band Girls’ Generation, which has nine members.
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..