Kakao Entertainment, a South Korean entertainment company, is ramping up its global music business with a particular focus on North America. The company has announced a partnership with Columbia Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music, through its local corporation in North America, Kakao Entertainment America. The move aims to bolster Kakao Entertainment’s global music distribution network and enhance its competitiveness in the music industry worldwide.
As the first step, Kakao Entertainment will manage the global music distribution, local marketing, and promotions of IVE, an artist from Starship Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Music, who is entering the North American market. IVE is a K-pop group known for hit singles like “ELEVEN,” “LOVE DIVE,” and “After LIKE.” The group has sold over three million copies of their three single albums and won 74 awards in their second year of debut. IVE’s upcoming first full-length album, “I’ve IVE,” will be released on April 10th, with the pre-release song “Kitsch” on March 27th.
Kakao Entertainment’s partnership with Columbia Records, which has promoted and distributed world-famous pop stars such as Beyoncé, Adele, and Harry Styles, is expected to create various synergies with IVE. Kakao Entertainment plans to continue promoting the overseas expansion of its artists and accelerating the global business expansion of its music division, with Kakao Entertainment America at the center. The company intends to leverage its global music distribution network and partnership with Sony Music’s Columbia Records to boost its business growth further.
