BTS Reportedly Leaves Columbia Records For Universal Music Group

 

According to reports Billboard, the boyband, will no longer be working with Columbia Records and The Orchard. BTS were apparently on a month-to-month contract with the latter company, and only needed to notify Sony Music of their intent to end their partnership.

This marks the end of the group’s three-year partnership with Sony Music, which had been signed in 2018. The boyband’s move to UMG is expected to come into effect from December 1 onwards.

Billboard claims that Columbia chairman and CEO Ron Perry had never met HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk throughout their entire partnership despite the former having flown to South Korea on numerous occasions to work on BTS’ music. Notably, Perry had co- written and produced the act’s English language hit ‘Butter’ which was released earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Bang and his team have allegedly formed a close relationship with UMG CEO Lucian Grainge over the years. Record executive Scooter Braun — who had merged his company Ithaca Holdings with HYBE in April — reportedly played a role in the deal with Universal due to his close relationship with both Grainge and HYBE America co-CEO Lenzo Yoon.

Earlier in February, HYBE and UMG had announced their new strategic partnership, which also includes an upcoming joint-venture label to debut a global K-pop boyband. “I strongly believe that UMG and Big Hit, two companies that endlessly pursued innovation, will create a synergy that will rewrite global music history,” said Bang at the time.