K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG Entertainment
By Dong Sun-hwa
Nothing has been confirmed about K-pop girl group BLACKPINK’s contract renewal, according to the quartet’s management company, YG Entertainment, Thursday.
Denying a local report that Rose is the only member to maintain partnership with YG, the company said it is still in negotiations with the members.
On Thursday, Korean media outlet the Daily Sports Seoul reported that the three BLACKPINK members ― Jennie, Jisoo and Lisa ― would join new agencies without extending their contracts with YG. It added that Jisoo and Lisa will receive tens of billions of won as a down payment, and that the members are discussing whether they would be able to perform as BLACKPINK six months per year even after leaving YG.
This year marks the seventh anniversary of BLACKPINK’s debut, arriving on the K-pop scene in August, 2016. Given that it is one of the marquee names in the K-pop world, all eyes of the industry insiders are currently on the future of the group.
The uncertainties surrounding BLACKPINK have dealt a crushing blow to YG, with its stock price slipping to 66,100 won ($49.5) on Friday morning ― a 4.48 percent fall from the previous day.
BLACKPINK, best known for its hits like “How You Like That” (2020), recently wrapped up its second world tour, which is the largest-ever world tour for a K-pop girl group. It drew 1.8 million concertgoers worldwide.
