ADOR has provided clarification regarding the phrase “discard New and start fresh,” which was mentioned in HYBE’s music industry report.
According to ADOR, HYBE explained, “The phrase criticized by the artist was included in the LE SSERAFIM section of the report around May 2023. It reflects the personal idea of the writer based on community opinions regarding LE SSERAFIM.”
ADOR further elaborated, “At the time, some media outlets and online communities grouped NewJeans, IVE, and LE SSERAFIM as representatives of 4th-generation girl groups under the term ‘NIL.’ During comparisons of digital chart rankings, LE SSERAFIM received significant negative feedback. The writer suggested that LE SSERAFIM could establish their unique position by being categorized alongside other girl groups achieving million-selling debuts, like BLACKPINK, aespa, and IVE, instead of being compared to NewJeans and IVE under the ‘NIL’ label.”
They clarified, “The term ‘discard New’ implies abandoning the categorization that constantly compares LE SSERAFIM to NewJeans, not HYBE or ADOR discarding an artist. HYBE also conveyed that, logically, as ADOR’s majority shareholder, they have no reason to abandon ADOR’s sole artist, NewJeans.”
Before providing these details, ADOR stated, “The report was written by a HYBE employee. ADOR cannot directly conduct audits or take disciplinary action against HYBE employees. Furthermore, the content of the report does not appear to include any illegal or wrongful acts toward ADOR or the artist. However, to resolve misunderstandings and maintain a smooth working relationship, we requested HYBE on November 18, 2024, to provide a detailed explanation regarding the purpose and context of the report.”
On November 28th KST, NewJeans held a press conference in Gangnam, Seoul, to announce the termination of their exclusive contract with ADOR. This followed their legal notice sent on November 13th, which included demands for clarification on the “discard New and start fresh” statement and appropriate legal measures.
NewJeans’ legal notice also included demands for:
• An official apology from the manager who reportedly told Hanni to “ignore her,”
• Deletion of videos and photos published without consent,
• An investigation and resolution of damages caused by unfair album distribution,
• The reinstatement of former CEO Min Hee Jin.
ADOR, after receiving the notice on November 14th, stated, “We will work wisely to resolve this and continue collaborating with the artist.” They subsequently sent a 26-page response to NewJeans.
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