As the 'seven-year curse' looms over the globally renowned girl group BLACKPINK (comprising Jisoo, Rosé, Jennie, and Lisa), there's still no word on their contract renewal. While it remains uncertain whether their journey with YG Entertainment will continue, the lack of an official stance on the renewal is not surprising. However, this topic remains a hot issue, not only among fans and the public but also within the entertainment industry, as it could significantly impact stock prices.
Since their meteoric rise in the K-pop scene on August 8, 2016, BLACKPINK celebrated their 7th debut anniversary this past August. Following in the footsteps of 2NE1, YG's top hip-hop girl group of the second generation, BLACKPINK's debut was highly anticipated. Their seven years in the industry have flown by, with their initial debut buzz now seeming like a distant memory.
BLACKPINK held a grand showcase in Seoul's Gangnam district on August 8, 2016, under the direct supervision of YG's head, Yang Hyun-suk. Since then, they've proven their popularity and talent with hits like "Whistle," "Boombayah," "As If It's Your Last," "STAY," "DDU-DU DDU-DU," "Forever Young," "Kill This Love," "How You Like That," and "Lovesick Girls," establishing themselves as global artists. Despite their relatively few releases, BLACKPINK's concerts have been successful, and individual members have also showcased their unique charms, as evidenced by their massive YouTube and Instagram followings and ambassador roles for luxury brands.
This year, with their second full album 'THE ALBUM,' BLACKPINK achieved unprecedented success, becoming the first K-pop girl group to top the Billboard 200 and the UK's Official Album Chart. Additionally, members have been in the spotlight for their personal lives, with Jennie rumored to be dating top K-pop stars like EXO's Kai, BIGBANG's G-Dragon, and BTS's V. Lisa has been linked to LVMH heir Frédéric Arnault, Rosé with actor Kang Dong-won, and Jisoo recently confirmed her relationship with actor Ahn Bo-hyun.
The question of BLACKPINK's contract renewal with YG remains unanswered. Currently on a world tour with an audience of 1.5 million, BLACKPINK will conclude their tour with performances at the Gocheok Dome on the 16th and 17th. Some speculate that these might be the group's final performances as a complete unit. Some securities firms even suggest that BLACKPINK will take a hiatus after the tour.
A month after their 7th anniversary on August 8, there's still no conclusive decision on BLACKPINK's contract renewal with YG. Technically, even if the contract expiration date has passed, any commitments made before the expiration are still valid.
Rumors are rife, especially concerning Lisa's contract renewal. There were claims from a Chinese agency that Lisa found it challenging to fulfill her schedule due to uncertainties with her YG contract renewal. However, YG responded, stating that Lisa's schedule was affected by the tour and personal commitments, not the contract. They briefly added that contract renewal discussions are ongoing. There are also whispers that Lisa has received overseas offers exceeding tens of millions of dollars, with some even suggesting she declined YG's second contract offer, rumored to be around $45 million.
Other members have also dropped hints, albeit unintentionally, that have garnered attention. Rosé, during a concert in Singapore, assured fans, "BLACKPINK isn't going anywhere," eliciting cheers. Meanwhile, Jennie mentioned the word "last" in reference to their finale concert at Gocheok Dome.
