Bang Sihyuk, also known as "Hitman Bang," and the Chief Executive Officer of Big Hit Entertainment, has been listed on Billboard's "2020 Billboard Power List." The U.S. Billboard announced on its official website on the 27th of January that he is selected as one of the most influential figures in the global music industry by category. CEO Bang Sihyuk topped in the 'Management' category.
Regarding Bang Sihyuk, Billboard said he "diversified the business in Korea in such explosive manner." As they have also mentioned, BTS has continued their global growth as a group of musicians spreading their message in 2019, and becoming the first group to win three top spots on Billboard 200 in a year since the Beatles.
"Big Hit made the rookie group Tomorrow By Together debut to the top of Billboard's World Albums chart after BTS, and acquired the girl group GFRIEND from Source Music Entertainment, which has high chart performance," the official website said.
"The first half of 2019 alone recorded total sales of $172 million." As of July last year, the company, Big Hit Entertainment, has confirmed that they have officially acquired Source Music, as they have stated that they ended up merging because of the shared similar philosophies about their development and management of their artists.
The Billboard Power List is an annual list of global music leaders by Billboard themselves, the influential figures were selected by music industry sectors in categories such as management, performance planning, streaming, and distribution companies, with Bang listed in the management sector. CEO Bang Si-hyuk has continued his influence as a global leader in the music industry, including the 25 members of the U.S. Billboard's "New Power Generation" last year, the second consecutive year of Billboard's "International Power Players" and the second successive year of the U.S. variety "International Music Reader."
They have also launched the mobile game "BTS World" worldwide, recording a total of $172 million in sales for the first half of 2019 alone, it added. Billboard chose Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grange as its most prominent executive of the decade. Sony Music Chairman Rob Stringer and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also made it on the list.
In the most recent news, Bang Sihyuk is currently working on the album of the group GFRIEND for their upcoming comeback. The group will return with the title track "Crossroads," which was co-composed by Noh Joo Hwan and Lee Won Jong, the composers behind their record "Time for the Moon Night." Bang was in charge of the lyrics for the first track, "Labyrinth," and the last track "From Me," plus the album will also include five more songs.
Big Hit Entertainment founder Bang Shi Hyuk took part in writing lyrics for two of the songs, following Source Music's acquisition by Big Hit last year. The new album is the first result made by the collaboration of Big Hit Entertainment and Source Music Entertainment, warning that it will bring all-time-class synergy in music, performances, and visual content. And so, GFRIEND confirmed that they would be coming back to promote and perform on the 3rd of February.
