The debut song of AKMU (Akdong Musician) sharply differs from previous YG Entertainment songs.

YG Entertainment has typically been known for powerful, fantastical images, exemplified by its most popular artists Big Bang and 2NE1. Psy, Epik High, and Se7en have helped make a name for YG Entertainment in rap and R&B, while Lee Hi debuted as a soul artist in 2012.  But AKMU is the first time YG Entertainment has debuted a folk-inspired, indie sound that is completely new for the company.

"200%" is a song that showcases the sibling duo's talents, depicting their unique sound and style that launched them to stardom on K-Pop Star 2. But it is less the sound of the song that makes "200%" different from most YG Entertainment songs and more the meaning of the song.

The debut song sharply contrasts with the powerful ideas that YG Entertainment tends to promote, like 2NE1's latest song "Come Back Home." That song shows 2NE1 in a futuristic world, trying to bring people back from living cyber lives that are more tempting than real life.

YG artist's song often draw attention to social phenomenon, most famously Psy's "Gangnam Style," which criticized the lifestyle of people who live in the Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul.

In contrast, "200%" is an innocent style song about falling in love that is rare to find in the repertoire of YG artists. The reason for this is that Akdong Musician has been allowed to keep it's own independent style. According to YG Entertainment's founder and CEO Yang Hyun Suk, AKMU's Lee Chan Hyuk was in charge of the entire production of the album.

Indie artists have become more popular in Korea, increasingly beating out competition from idols and hip-hop artists. Busker Busker's "Cherry Blossom Ending" is continuously a hit, returning to the charts more than a year after being released. "Some" by SoYou & JunggiGo has also been extraordinarily popular, and has beaten out acts like Girls' Generation and 2NE1.

YG Entertainment's addition of AKMU to its lineup, and allowing the duo to maintain its unique style, will enable the entertainment company to compete with non-idol acts. AKMU's fame in Korea has been ensured ever since the duo's win on K-Pop Star 2, so there's no worry that the stylistic difference from YG's usual acts will affect the company's image.

Increasingly, Korean entertainment companies are incorporating new acts. While K-Pop idol trend is still popular, the industry is changing and more diverse acts are gaining attention. AKMU's debut signals that YG Entertainment recognizes this change and is planning accordingly.

AKMU performed "200%" for the first time, along with "Melted," on the April 6 episode of K-Pop Star 3.