Korean Music Association Criticizes NewJeans for ‘Lacking Business Understanding’ and Impacting Youth Negatively

Korea Music Copyright Association Critiques NewJeans Over Contract Dispute

The Korea Music Copyright Association (KMCA) has recently criticized the popular girl group NewJeans for what it describes as a “lack of business understanding, ”amidst an ongoing contract dispute with their entertainment agency, HYBE, and its subsidiary label, ADOR.

Concerns Raised by KMCA

In December, KMCA, a prominent non-profit organization that governs musical work copyrights, voiced concerns regarding the former ADOR CEO, Min Hee Jin. The association accused her of “tampering, ”or poaching, talent from NewJeans.

In a bold move, the KMCA threatened to remove NewJeans’ music from leading national charts, including the Circle Chart, citing the potential harm to the artists’ reputation and the K-pop industry.

Negative Influences on Youth

Recently, a KMCA representative condemned the girl group for publicly discussing their conflicts with ADOR during a press conference. They argued that such actions could adversely affect the youth and the overall image of K-pop.

“Conflicts are bound to arise when conducting business. They can resolve the issue through lawsuits, but making it public and holding a press conference has no positive effect on the artists’ images or the K-pop market, ”said the representative.

Additionally, the KMCA expressed concerns that public sentiment could negatively impact investment in the Korean music industry. They warned,

“If contracts are terminated by notice, who will invest in the K-pop market? In the long term, there are no investors who will healthily invest in an industry with such great instability, ”

emphasizing the need for industry self-reflection to prevent similar crises in the future.

Allegations Against Min Hee Jin

The tensions escalated as former ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin faced further allegations of trying to poach talent. In remarks made by Davolink CEO Park Jung Kyu, Min had reportedly discussed potential investments involving NewJeans, raising eyebrows within the industry.

“We talked for three hours about investment and strategies to secure NewJeans, ”Park stated.

The Broader Implications for K-Pop

In April 2024, HYBE dismissed Min Hee Jin, claiming her actions involved a third-party investor that jeopardized the company. This situation reflects a broader concern within the K-pop industry, as the KMCA perceives the rising number of tampering allegations as a troubling trend likely influenced by substantial capital inflows.

“The ‘NewJeans incident’ is ultimately a money issue, ”the KMCA representative remarked.

Furthermore, they observed that NewJeans appears more inclined to safeguard personal relationships rather than approach the situation from a business perspective.

“Currently, New Jeans seems to have a strong desire to protect those who have emotional intimacy with them rather than business logic, ”the representative noted.

They anticipate that as the members mature and develop a more sophisticated understanding of business, their perspective on the issue may evolve, recognizing the complexity of their choices.

Future Outlook

In conclusion, the KMCA representative cautioned that if these instances of alleged tampering continue to rise, it could lead to a decrease in investment within the K-pop sector, which is essential for the industry’s growth and stability.

With the dynamics of the K-pop industry continually evolving, it remains to be seen how NewJeans will navigate this challenging situation and what it will mean for their future in the competitive landscape of Korean music.

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