Latest news with #A2OEntertainment
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Macron invites ‘K-pop pioneer' Lee Soo-man to open French office, seeks stronger Korea-France creative ties
Lee delivers keynote at France Music Week as sole Asian speaker, calls for stronger protection of creators' rights in AI era President Emmanuel Macron invited Lee Soo-man — founder of SM Entertainment, who is often credited as the K-pop pioneer — to open an office in France. During a Friday meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, the French leader expressed his desire to strengthen collaboration between South Korean and French creators, signaling high-level recognition of K-pop's cultural power. Lee, who now leads A2O Entertainment in Los Angeles, was in Paris as the only Asian speaker at the 'France Music Week Summit,' held at Place de l'Opera on the same day. Macron, attending the event, extended his invitation to Lee directly and instructed French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati to follow up on practical steps for implementation. Macron greeted Lee warmly, stating he was well aware of Lee's dual identity as both a creative visionary and a successful entrepreneur. Lee was introduced as 'the man who created K-pop,' a title that resonated with the event's focus on innovation in the global music industry. The meeting went beyond symbolic cultural diplomacy. It underscored France's growing interest in fostering creative exchanges with Korea, especially at a time when intellectual property rights and AI-driven content creation are reshaping the industry. Macron's invitation is being seen as a significant gesture that may lead to a long-term cultural and economic partnership. Meanwhile, Lee delivered a speech at the summit, where over 100 top executives from the global music business gathered to discuss pressing challenges in the industry. His remarks focused on the evolving role of fans, who he described as no longer 'consumers,' but 'prosumers' — fans who reinterpret, remake and even co-create content. 'I imagine a world where fans are part of the creative process, where they are rewarded economically for their participation,' Lee said. 'In the age of generative AI, we must protect the rights of not only original creators but also the emerging roles of re-creators and prosumers.' He also drew attention from industry insiders by explaining 'Culture Technology' — the system he pioneered to build K-pop into a global cultural force. Throughout the summit, panelists cited K-pop's structure and success as a case study in innovation. Lee emphasized that in the AI era, protecting creators' rights has become more urgent than ever. His stance on safeguarding creative ownership resonated strongly with the summit's broader themes. Other participants at the summit included Robert Kyncl, CEO of Warner Music Group; Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music at YouTube; and Olivier Nusse, CEO of Universal Music France.
Korea Herald
10-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Girls' Generation's Sunny joins Lee Soo-man's A2O
Sunny of Girls' Generation has signed with A2O Entertainment, a new agency founded by her uncle and SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, the company confirmed Thursday. "(We) recently signed an exclusive contract with Sunny," A2O Entertainment said in a statement. "She is currently receiving production training under the guidance of producer Yoo Young-jin." 'Sunny is also helping design training programs for our trainees, providing psychological care, and participating in content production, styling and choreography direction,' the agency said. On Monday, Sunny appeared in a YouTube video posted by A2O Entertainment titled '2024 Summer Training Camp,' where she appears directing a recording session by members of a new girl group in a US studio. Her unexpected appearance fueled speculation about her involvement with Lee's new venture, as she has been a free agent since parting ways with SM Entertainment in August 2023. Sunny has since occasionally participated in Girls' Generation group activities but had not been affiliated with a new agency until now. Lee established A2O Entertainment after stepping down from SM Entertainment in 2023 following a high-profile dispute over management control. The conflict erupted when SM Entertainment's management, led by co-CEOs Lee Sung-soo and Tak Young-jun, introduced the 'SM 3.0' initiative aimed at severing ties with Lee Soo-man's production system, accusing him of holding back the company's growth. Lee opposed the move and attempted to regain control by selling his shares to Hybe, sparking a high-stakes takeover battle with Kakao. He ultimately sold his shares to Hybe and agreed to a three-year non-compete clause restricting him from producing music domestically. The dispute concluded with Kakao emerging as the largest shareholder — effectively pushing Lee out of the company he had founded. A2O stands for Alpha to Omega, symbolizing a platform where celebrities and fans engage in every part of the entertainment process. Lee, who has been revealing A2O trainees through YouTube, debuted the agency's first group, A2O May, in December with a remake of TVXQ's hit 'Mirotic.' The rookie girl group is scheduled to perform at the upcoming 'iHeartRadio Wango Tango' music festival in California on May 10. Lee has previously said he hopes to create a platform where people can collaborate and create content regardless of socioeconomic status, race or region. 'Fans will soon be able to meet new A2O artists through our app-based platform,' he said.
