K-POP MUSIC WIPEOUT BREAKS HEARTS
The loss of some K-Pop discographies without warning on music platform Spotify troubled its longtime listeners. According to Spotify, this was due to the expiration of its licensing agreement with Korean Music distributor Kakao M.
Spotify and Kakao M were unable to reach an agreement about the renewal by 1 March, so all music distributed by the label will no longer be available worldwide. Among the Korean artists whose songs were removed on the global music streaming platform were IU, The Boyz, ONEUS, CRAVITY, Golden Child, PENTAGON, BTOB, MONSTA X.
However, the discographies of those in the Big Three Labels SM, JYP and YG Entertainment, as well as BigHit Entertainment (excluding those under the BigHit Labels umbrella), were spared from the K-Pop music wipeout.
The streaming giant hopes that the lapse in their agreement will be resolved soon and the songs will be available on Spotify again. In an article from NME, Spotify said: “The fact that we have not yet reached agreement on a new global deal is unfortunate for their artists, as well as for fans and listeners worldwide.”
“We remain committed to working with local rights holders including Kakao M, to help grow the Korean music market and overall streaming ecosystem together.” Tablo of Epik High, one of the groups that suffered the brunt of the disagreement between Spotify and Kakao M, spoke up about the issue. “Apparently a disagreement between our distributor Kakao M & Spotify has made our new album Epik High
Is Here unavailable globally against our will,” he tweeted.
He added, “Regardless of who is at fault, why is it always the artists and the fans that suffer when businesses place greed over art?”
Epik High was successful in restoring their music to the platform, but still “heartbroken at the loss of streaming numbers and playlisting.”
“What matters is that you can hear our music again,” Tablo said.