SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man pushes beyond K-pop

Sm Entertainment Founder Lee Soo Man Pushes Beyond K Pop

Key producer and visionary leader of A2O Entertainment Lee Soo-man / Courtesy of A2O Entertainment

Key producer and visionary chief of A2O Leisure Lee Soo-man / Courtesy of A2O Leisure

Lee Soo-man, the legendary determine behind the worldwide rise of Okay-pop, is setting his sights past the phenomenon often known as „hallyu.“

The founder and former govt producer of Okay-pop powerhouse SM Leisure envisions a future the place Korean leisure transcends nationwide labels.

„We should now transfer past hallyu,“ Lee mentioned in a written interview with Yonhap Information Company on Monday. „The following step, stage 4, is full globalization,“ he burdened.

For many years, Lee has been a driving power of innovation within the music business. Since his debut as a singer and emcee in 1971, he has pioneered transformative actions inside Korean pop music.

Within the Nineteen Nineties, he launched parts of American black music to Korea via the invention of singer Hyun Jin-young. In 1995, he based SM Leisure, ushering within the first technology of Okay-pop idols with boy group H.O.T.

His firm went on to supply world icons, comparable to BoA, TVXQ, Ladies‘ Technology, EXO and NCT, laying the inspiration for the trendy Okay-pop system.

A2O May / Courtesy of A2O Entertainment

A2O Might / Courtesy of A2O Leisure

After leaving SM Leisure in 2023, Lee entered what he calls the third chapter of his life by founding A2O Leisure. His new firm debuted its first group, A2O Might, in December 2024 with a remake of TVXQ’s 2008 hit single „Mirotic.“

The group initially targeted on Chinese language-language platforms, aligning with Lee’s broader imaginative and prescient of globalization.

Lee has lengthy advocated a three-stage method to hallyu: first, exporting Okay-pop; second, collaborating with native markets worldwide; and third, launching Okay-pop acts tailor-made to these markets. The method, extensively adopted by main Okay-pop companies, has led to the rise of teams composed completely of international members.

Now, he believes it’s time for a fourth stage — transferring past the „Okay“ label altogether.

„I designed and realized the ‚three-stage hallyu‘ idea, however now we should enter the ‚Past Okay-pop‘ stage,“ Lee defined. „The Chinese language actions of A2O artists and their preparations for growth into the USA and Japan are all a part of this globalization effort. That is why we’re introducing Zalpha Pop — music concentrating on Technology Z and Alpha — as a substitute of calling it Okay-pop.“

A2O’s emphasis on the Chinese language market has sparked a debate, notably as a result of bigger variety of Chinese language trainees throughout the firm.

Nonetheless, Lee dismissed considerations, emphasizing that his „China Dream“ is just not about exporting Okay-pop however about making use of his established producing methods throughout the Chinese language market.

„Music has no borders, and should have no,“ he mentioned. „The most important stars come from the most important markets. Whereas A2O began with Chinese language-language platforms, its music will quickly grow to be accessible on Spotify, and our artists will actively interact in Western markets. Our trainees come from various backgrounds.“

Lee stays optimistic when requested about considerations over the current potential slowdown in Okay-pop’s development.

„Okay-pop idol teams have seen super recognition lately, and now we’re in a transition interval the place new teams should rise,“ he mentioned. „It takes time for teams which have disbanded or paused for army service to return to the stage or reestablish themselves. I thus do not need to preach a skeptical view that Okay-pop has peaked.“

Nonetheless, he acknowledges the necessity for innovation.

„As a producer observing market traits, I continuously take into consideration innovation. The secret is to discover a approach to globalize additional and to supply music and celebrities which might be utterly globalized with out counting on the ‚Okay‘ label.“

Lee believes the leisure business is at a vital turning level, the place each qualitative and quantitative development have to be achieved. He envisions Asia as the long run hub of the worldwide tradition business.

„We should think about how Korea can grow to be a rustic of producers, and the way Asia can grow to be the middle of world cultural distribution,“ he mentioned. „I consider the world’s largest celebrities will emerge from Asia sooner or later, and the area will lead world popular culture.“ (Yonhap)

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