HYBE Hosts Landmark Networking Event in LA, Discussing K-Pop's Global Influence
HYBE has successfully hosted a large-scale networking event in Los Angeles, USA, in collaboration with prominent local cultural industry organizations. The event aimed to share K-pop's current influence and future vision within the global music market.
Held on the 9th (local time) at The West Hollywood EDITION, the special dialogue and networking event, themed ‘Reshaping Global Music Industry: K-pop’s Entertainment Blueprint,’ brought together over 100 leaders and experts from the global music industry. Participants included key executives and members from Gold House and the Gold Music Alliance, an affiliate of the Recording Academy.
This initiative was designed to deeply illuminate K-pop's value as a global cultural phenomenon and foster discourse on its market impact and future trajectory. Gold House, a US-based non-profit supporting Asian Pacific entrepreneurs and cultural figures, seeks to strengthen Asian networks and cultural contributions. The Gold Music Alliance, established as part of the Recording Academy's D.R.E.A.M. initiative, aims to empower Asian members in the global music industry and highlight their cultural heritage and contributions.
The event commenced with opening remarks from Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE America; Bing Chen, Co-founder and Chairman of Gold House; and Qiana Conley Akinro, Senior Executive of the Recording Academy's Los Angeles Chapter. Bing Chen highlighted K-pop's unifying power and its rapid growth in the US, citing successes like BTS and KATSEYE.
A panel session featured notable figures such as Choi Joon-won, CEO of Weverse Company; Mitra Darab, President of HYBE X Geffen Records; Grammy-winning producer Jonathan Yip; and Rick Choi, Live Nation Global Tour Promoter. They emphasized K-pop's unique success strategies, including fandom culture and platform utilization, noting their increasing influence on Western music markets. Choi Joon-won described K-pop fans as "key partners who want to directly participate in the artist's journey, not just listeners," attributing K-pop's innovation to this dynamic.
Mitra Darab further elaborated on how K-pop's fan-centric approach and direct communication through platforms like Weverse are valuable lessons for US labels, with many Western artists seeking to join such platforms. She also pointed to the strategic use of Korean music shows, exemplified by KATSEYE's debut with their single ‘Gnarly,’ as a testament to the high production standards and fandom understanding crucial for success in performance-driven tracks.
Isaac Lee, as the Chairman and CEO of HYBE America, plays a pivotal role in expanding K-pop's influence across the North American market. He contributes to building global fandom by integrating K-pop's successful strategies with local culture. Under his leadership, HYBE collaborates with artists from various regions, forging new paths in the music industry.