Kakao Entertainment and US Billboard Form Partnership for Global Expansion of K-pop

Mike Van Billboard, President of Billboard, Yuna Kim, Publisher of Billboard Korea, and Yoonjung Jang, Co-CEO of Kakao Entertainment, are posing for a photo.
[Photo by Kakao Entertainment]

Kakao Entertainment announced on the 18th that it has signed a strategic partnership with the US-based Billboard to expand the global influence of K-pop.

Jang Yoon-jung, Co-CEO of Kakao Entertainment, met with Mike Van, President of Billboard, and Kim Yuna, Publisher of Billboard Korea, to discuss cooperation plans as global partners. This is the first time that Billboard's US headquarters has officially signed a partnership related to K-pop.

Through this partnership, Kakao Entertainment, Billboard, and Billboard Korea will establish a multifaceted cooperation system to accelerate the global spread and expand the influence of K-pop.

First, Kakao Entertainment, Billboard, and Billboard Korea plan to introduce not only K-pop music but also various related contents, promoting comprehensive marketing and promotion for the global activities of K-pop artists.

Additionally, by combining Kakao Entertainment's capabilities in music intellectual property (IP) planning, production, and distribution with Billboard's data and global media influence, they will introduce new business models linked to K-pop. Through this, Billboard plans to successfully establish Billboard Korea, launching in June, and expand Billboard's music portfolio.

Furthermore, Kakao Entertainment intends to accelerate its global market strategy based on this partnership. It will also expand and support global activity opportunities for not only artists under its labels but also various talented domestic artists.

President Van and Publisher Kim Yuna stated, "Kakao Entertainment is a key player with solid planning, production, and distribution capabilities, collaborating with various partners in the K-pop industry. Through this partnership, we expect to showcase the diverse charms of K-pop to global music fans."

Co-CEO Jang Yoon-jung said, "This partnership with Billboard and Billboard Korea, which have strong influence in the global music industry, will be an opportunity for K-pop and K-entertainment, which are expanding their influence globally, to take a step forward. Kakao Entertainment will continue various efforts to prove K-pop's unique competitiveness in the global market and to expand the base of the K-pop industry and achieve balanced global growth."