Is SM Entertainment Finding It Harder To Manage Large Groups And Artist Desires For More Career Control?

Industry experts are weighing in on the string of idol departures among SM Entertainment groups - the latest being EXO member Luhan filing a lawsuit for contract nullification - and they suggest the agency is facing an uphill battle in handling large groups and artist career demands.

"Analysts say SM is increasingly battling with the challenges of managing groups with large numbers of singers, as well as increasing desire among artists to more actively decide their own career paths," says the Wall Street Journal in a news report about Luhan's lawsuit filing.

The Wall Street Journal report explains that the reason SM and other K-Pop labels create groups with large numbers of members is to allow them to more easily deal with the absence of individuals, such as through illness or mandatory military service for men.

This observation is best exemplified by the case of Super Junior where several members of the original SM male idol group - Kangin, Heechul and Leeteuk - have gone on to complete their mandatory service but were able to rejoin the group afterwards to promote.

But with many among its ranks leaving, there is now doubt on how well SM can manage their large groups, with fans expressing their frustration, calling to give artists more respect and civil rights.

In May, the popular 12-member male idol group EXO lost Kris, the leader of Chinese subgroup EXO-M, after he filed a lawsuit citing health reasons. Now they are down to 10 promoting members with Luhan's departure.

Even SM Entertainment's longstanding groups did not seem to be immune. Girls' Generation parted ways with member Jessica, with the agency claiming that she wanted to leave to focus on her business while she insists she was forced out of the group.

Investors meanwhile have been losing confidence in SM Entertainment as well with the agency's stock reaching a more-than-a-year low following news of Luhan's lawsuit.

Tags
EXO
Luhan
Kris
Girls Generation
Jessica
SM Entertainment
EXO-M
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