YG Entertainment Is Set To Rule April

Through an announcement in YG Life, Yang Hyun Suk illustrated details regarding the upcoming debut of K-Popstar season two winners Akdong Musician and eluded to the impending comebacks of PSY, Epik High, WINNER, and the solo album release for Big Bang's Taeyang. In April, YG Entertainment will further establish its as an acting agency, with actor Cha Seung Won leading the cast of the SBS police drama You're All Surrounded.

YG will also have a strong presence in the upcoming weekend drama Angel Eyes which will star actress Gu Hye Sun, with Big Bang's Seungri in a supporting role. While it has become unusual for YG artists to participate in variety programs such as We Got Married, 2NE1's Park Bom is a member of the star studded show Roommate.

Is it helpful to release numerous comebacks simultaneously?

One of the most unique aspects of YG Entertainment in its current state is the fact that the agency currently houses a diverse array of artists. Through their first teaser for their April 7 debut release, it becomes apparent that Akdong Musician have been conceptualized to have an indie pop aesthetic.

Acoustic pop and singer/songwriter acts have performed incredibly well in Korea as part of original K-Drama soundtracks. This concept has led to the rise of artists like IU and provided the potential for Jung Yong Hwa of CNBLUE to establish a solo career. In this sense, Akdong Musician will not necessarily be competing for the same demographic of listeners as WINNER or Taeyang.

Taeyang released the single Ringa Linga in November to great fanfare, with audiences anticipating the release of additional material. If the sound of his solo album is consistent with Ringa Linga, YG Entertainment will further establish their current foothold into the increasingly lucrative Korean electronic dance music market.

For WINNER, debuting prior to Big Bang's summer comeback will be helpful.  However, the biggest obstacle to their debut success could be the April 15 comeback of EXO.  While the group received notoriety through the program Who Is Next?, the true testimony of WINNER's success will be the sales performance of their debut album. As veterans in Korean hip hop, PSY and Epik High are essentially competitors on the same label. Releasing their comeback albums too close to one another could prove to be detrimental to their success.

The presence of YG on television will further establish their fan base.

SM and FNC Entertainment have made significant strides through their acting idol's participation in Korean drama, as well as variety programs. By contrast, YG Entertainment has placed an emphasis on using television as a promotional tool for the Japanese market. While Seungri has actively participated in Japanese drama, he will make his Korean drama debut with Angel Eyes. Promotional activities for Angel Eyes have included morning programming and in-depth interviews that have extended past the appearance of the cast on Running Man. Angel Eyes will provide Seungri with an excellent opportunity to solidify his acting career, which will undoubtedly extend past the longevity of Big Bang.

Inevitably, the promotions of YG Entertainment's artists will culminate with the 2014 YG Family Tour which was announced earlier in the year. While dates have not been established for the tour and no further details have been released, the success of YG's artists will undoubtedly have an impact on the scheduled cities. Chart performance and music sales for YG Entertainment are not the only determining factors currently fueling its success. The recent comeback of 2NE1 and the collaboration of CL, G-Dragon with electronic dance musician Skrillex have garnered worldwide media attention. With the eyes of the world beginning to look towards YG Entertainment, the future of the agency looks incredibly bright.

Tags
YG Entertainment
akdong musician
winner
Epik High
YG Family
Taeyang
Big Bang
Seungri
2NE1
park bom
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics