The K-pop community has been abuzz with speculation regarding the ongoing negotiations between BLACKPINK and YG Entertainment. In a recent development, YG Entertainment issued a statement that left BLINKs worried. According to Sports Chosun, the agency said, “We are negotiating with the artists regarding their exclusive contracts. The final outcome will be revealed through the document regarding major management issues related to investments.”
This update comes amidst changes within YG Entertainment. Fans noticed that Lisa‘s manager Alice Kang updated her LinkedIn profile to indicate her departure from the agency in October. This move sparked speculation about Lisa leaving the agency too, especially after the suspension of her Weibo account due to regulatory violations.
Similarly, Jennie‘s manager Alison Chang,has also left YG Entertainment. Adding to the intrigue, she recently attended the pre-opening of TAMBURINS’ pop-up store in Korea, accompanied by her former managers from YG Entertainment, Hosup and Jaemin. This occurrence led netizens to speculate about Jennie‘s status with the agency. Amidst these discussions, Jennie has taken steps to trademark her name “Jennie Ruby Jane” with the Korea Intellectual Property Rights in different categories earlier this year.
As can be seen, this is how YG shared the contract news. Blackpink is identified under contracted artists but with the footnote which states the language in the first tweet pic.twitter.com/EuhUn13JfL
— TMIKpop (@tmikpop) November 14, 2023
BLACKPINK announces VR concert
Meanwhile, BLACKPINK has announced their first virtual concert titled BLACKPINK: A VR Encore in collaboration with Meta and The Diamond Bros. This concert will present the final show of their Born Pink World Tour at Gocheok Sky Dome in a new, immersive virtual reality format. The group expressed their excitement about using VR to connect with a broader global audience and extend their tour experience. However, the announcement of the virtual concert has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some expressed frustration over the delay in renewal announcements.
As of this writing, YG Entertainment has yet to disclose the specifics of what’s happening with the BLACKPINK members. The ambiguity of their latest statement has left fans everywhere anxiously waiting for more concrete information.
Rose, Lisa, Jisoo, and Jennie debuted as BLACKPINK in 2016, and their seven-year contract with YG Entertainment expired in August. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: BLACKPINK’s future at YG remains unclear. Source: X/@PopBase.