Latest news with #A20May
Korea Herald
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
SM founder's Chinese girl group 'A20 May' enters US, China charts — marking start of global push
Group's debut single, "Under My Skin," lands at No. 39 on US Mediabase chart — a first for a Chinese girl group A20 May, a new Chinese girl group launched by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, is quickly gaining global traction, breaking into music charts in both China and the US ahead of its scheduled performance at the 102.7 KIIS FM Wango Tango festival Sunday. The multinational group will be the first Chinese act to perform at the well-known festival in Huntington Beach, California, which this year features artists such as Doja Cat, Meghan Trainor and David Guetta. A20 May's second single, 'Boss,' released April 25, recently entered the No. 8 spot on the Hot Song Chart of QQ Music, China's largest music streaming platform. It also topped the platform's New Song Chart, where it debuted at No. 1 and has remained in the upper ranks — helping it break into the platform's main Top 10 chart. 'Boss' is also gaining attention in the US, where it entered the Mediabase Top 100, a key mainstream radio chart. Following the success of debut single 'Under My Skin,' which peaked at No. 39 on the same chart, A20 May has become the first Chinese act to have two songs in the Mediabase Top 100 at the same time. The music video for 'Boss' has surpassed a combined 60 million views across Weibo and YouTube, demonstrating the group's growing global reach and the appeal of their signature "Zalpha Pop" sound. Zalpha Pop, a term introduced by Lee, is a genre that blends Gen Z and Alpha Generation sentiments. A20 May is produced under A20 Entertainment, led by Lee as key producer and visionary leader. The group's concept centers on Zalpha Pop, which aims to reflect the unique spirit of a new generation and foster a deeper cultural connection with fans worldwide. Following their successful debut in December, A20 May returned in April with 'Boss,' showcasing a refined yet powerful charisma. The track features punchy drums and siren-like synths that build tension, layered with playful sonic textures that add intrigue.
Korea Herald
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lee Soo-man's ‘Zalpha pop' and Chinese girl group
Is it a new genre by K-pop pioneer or a strategy to enter Chinese market? Lee Soo-man, the founder of SM Entertainment and often referred to as the 'father of K-pop,' is back with a bold new vision -- introducing 'Zalpha pop' through A20 Entertainment, which has offices in California, the US, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. His latest project, A20 May — a group consisting of two Chinese Americans and three Chinese members — debuted in December, signaling not only an effort to pioneer a new musical genre but also a strategic push into the Chinese market. Given Lee's long-standing ambition to penetrate China's entertainment market and contractual agreements that prohibit him from working in the Korean entertainment industry for three years, many are asking whether Zalpha pop is a new genre or simply a rebranded K-pop aimed at circumventing his domestic restrictions. What is Zalpha pop? Zalpha pop is a term Lee coined to represent a musical movement targeting Generation Z, born in the late 1990s to the early 2000s, and Generation Alpha, born in the 2010s. However, despite the ambitious branding, A20 May has yet to present a distinct musical identity that differentiates it from K-pop. A20 May's debut single 'Under My Skin (A20),' released on Dec. 20, was an English cover of TVXQ's 'Mirotic.' Similarly, a video featuring A20 Rookies' subunit LTB (Low Teen Boys), released last November, was a Chinese cover of H.O.T.'s legendary track, 'Candy.' Critics remain skeptical of the concept. 'There's no original music or content yet that defines 'Zalpha pop,'' pop critic Kim Do-heon said Tuesday. 'It feels more like a branding exercise, similar to how Lee introduced different conceptual subgenres in the past, such as during the launch of NCT.' Another music critic, Lim Hee-yun, was more critical of the term. 'This isn't a groundbreaking concept. The name itself feels lazy and outdated. If the goal is to look toward the future, why frame it around Gen Z, when even they are no longer the youngest generation? A more forward-thinking approach would be to focus solely on the Alpha generation and beyond,' Lim said. A workaround for Lee's non-compete clause? Lee's rebranding of K-pop as Zalpha pop has also raised speculation that he is navigating around a non-compete clause he signed with Hybe in 2023. In selling his 14.8 percent stake in SM Entertainment, Lee reportedly agreed to a three-year restriction on producing music in Korea that would be in place until early 2026. A20 Entertainment is headquartered in Singapore, with branches in the US, Japan and China — avoiding direct involvement in the South Korean market. All of A20 Entertainment's trainees and newly introduced groups appear to be composed of non-Korean nationals, leading to speculation that Lee is focusing on overseas markets to avoid the contractual restrictions. 'This setup allows him to continue producing idols without technically violating the non-compete clause. But if these artists debut abroad and later begin promoting in South Korea, it will blur the line of whether this violates the agreement,' a local entertainment official said on condition of anonymity. Why Chinese girl group? The K-pop mogul's decision to launch a Chinese girl group aligns with his long-standing ambition to tap into the Chinese market. For over two decades, he has worked toward building a presence in China, previously introducing Chinese-focused subunits such as Super Junior-M, EXO-M and WayV under SM Entertainment. 'A20 May is a continuation of Lee's long-term strategy to break into China, a market where K-pop has yet to fully establish itself as a dominant force,' pop critic Kim said. 'He sees China as an untapped market with vast potential and a personal goal to achieve.' Music critic Lim echoed similar sentiments, saying that China's massive consumer base and digital landscape align with Lee's interest in integrating entertainment and technology. 'Lee has always been fascinated with merging entertainment with tech, and China provides the ideal environment for both production and consumption,' Lim said. 'Establishing a foothold there makes sense (for Lee) as part of a larger global expansion strategy.'
