SM Entertainment is expanding its influence in music publishing by looking for global talent through its subsidiary, Kreation Music Rights (KMR). As of late January, KMR has successfully signed 86 creators over the last five months. This highlights SM Entertainment’s commitment to nurturing a diverse range of musical talents.
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Among the notable signings are Dsign Music, the Norwegian songwriting and music production company behind iconic K-pop tracks like Girls’ Generation’s “Genie,” NCT Dream’s “ISTJ,” and Taemin’s “Want.” The Swedish songwriting Sunshine, known for their work on Red Velvet’s “Psycho” and aespa’s “Spicy,” are also on KMR’s roster. These creators are affiliated with KMR’s European body, established in Stockholm, Sweden, in December last year to recruit talent from Europe.
KMR isn’t stopping there. Plans are underway to establish a body in the USnd form partnerships with companies to attract creators in North America. SM Entertainment’s goal is to position KMR as the top music publishing company in Asia within the next five years.
SM Entertainment’s strategy
The company is also focusing on domestic talent, with three production teams—Monotree, SmashHit, and The Hub—operating under KMR as separate business entities. Monotree, with 603 songs licensed under the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), is led by its Chief Producer Hwang Hyun, known for his work on IVE’s “Kitsch” and SEVENTEEN’s “I Wish.”
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The Hub has an all-foreign team of producers and songwriters, excluding its Chief Producer Yoo Byung-hyun, who most recently worked on NMIXX’s “Soñar (Breaker)” and “Break The Wall.” Finally, SmashHit’s team is led by their Chief Producer Kangta, formerly of the legendary boy band H.O.T.
SM Entertainment’s strategy for the rest of the year includes recruiting top songwriters from Europe, Korea, and the US. The company plans to leverage KMR’s resources to venture into artist management, aligning with SM 3.0’s “multi-label” strategy. This initiative underscores SM Entertainment’s dedication to broadening its musical horizons and fostering creative talent across the globe. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: KMR has over 80 creators in its stable as of this writing. Source: X/@makkulion.