BTS Leaving Sony Music For UMG
• K-Pop supergroup BTS is exiting its deal with Sony Music’s Columbia Records and Orchard distribution to partner with Universal Music Group. The news was first reported by Billboard and confirmed by Variety. At press time no official announcement had been made. The licensing deal will be with UMG’s Geffen Records division, with distribution by INgrooves.
Although surprising, the move was preceded by the announcement last February of a strategic partnership between UMG and HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), which includes a newly created label that will operate from Los Angeles and work closely alongside teams from Big Hit America, Geffen Records and UMG to launch the project. It also clearly was a precursor for the BTS deal. UMG also distributes BTS in certain other territories, including Japan.
The group had signed with Sony for domestic distribution in 2018. But both HYBE’s Bang Si-hyuk and Scooter Braun, whose Ithaca Holdings was purchased by HYBE this past spring, are known to be close with UMG CEO Sir Lucian Grainge.
BTS is scheduled to perform four shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Nov. 27-28 and Dec. 1-2. The group was also just added as the opening act at KIIS-FM‘s Jingle Ball at The Forum on Friday, Dec. 3. [Photo: HYBE]
