▲ This photo, provided by Big Hit Music, shows BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) 

 

 

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- super band BTS will part with Sony and partner with Universal Music, Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 22nd (local time).

Citing the band's agency HYBE from a Seoul article, BTS has signed a contract agreeing marketing and distribution in various regions including America with Universal Music, WSJ reported.

The specific terms have not been revealed.

Universal Music which separated from Vivendi, a media group in France, in September, is famous for being partners with world’s top artists such as The Beatles, Lady Gaga and Drake.

Until now, BTS has been working with Sony's subsidiary, Columbia Records, for marketing and promotions in the American market.

Also Orchard, Sony's subsidiary was in charge of globally distributing BTS's music.

"We are grateful of the times we spent with Sony. We are expecting a new chapter with Universal," said HYBE to WSJ.

Universal Music which will take over BTS's global marketing and distribution has already worked with HYPE multiple times, WSJ said.

When BTS released a Japanese version album, Universal Japan was the distributor, and Universal and Big Hit Music established a collaborated investment firm for a new boy band’s debut in February.

Universal Music has co-invested in streaming platforms for online K-pop concerts with Big Hit and YG Entertainment.

As BTS is gearing up to actively resume to offline performances, the recent contract will support the band’s global activities

BTS, who ranked topped on Billboard with “Butter,” “Permission To Dance” and “My Universe,” their recent collaboration with rock band Cold Play, is planning to open an offline large-scale concert which is in 2 years in LA America next month.

In 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, BTS recorded the largest performance profit, 170 million dollars (about 199.9 billion Korean won) than any other American musician except for 메탈리카 with world tour, according to Forbes.

In the first half of 2021, not only BTS who topped for album sales in America, other K-pop groups such as Stray Kids and BLACKPINK marked over 10 million sales during the pandemic wave, WSJ reported.

(END)

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]