Amidst the growing trend of major agency artists establishing their independent labels, EXO's sub-unit ChenBaekXi (Baekhyun, Xiumin, Chen) announced the formation of their own label, 'i&b100,' marking their entry into more focused individual endeavors. Having debuted with EXO in 2012 and engaged in unit group activities for over a decade, ChenBaekXi's move signifies their desire for broader and bolder challenges beyond the collective identity of EXO.
Particularly noted for their vocal talents within EXO, Baekhyun and Chen as main vocalists, and Xiumin as a sub-vocalist and sub-rapper, have played critical roles in the group's success. However, being confined to just the group's activities might have felt limiting for them to fully explore and showcase their individual capabilities.
An industry insider from an agency housing multiple idol groups revealed, "Especially vocalists within groups tend to wish for independence as time goes by. With their increased individual brand value and public recognition, they prefer solo activities to demonstrate a broader range of skills and potentially earn more."
Indeed, Baekhyun and EXO's D.O. (Do Kyungsoo) have already established their one-person agencies, actively pursuing both singing and acting careers. Recently, not just ChenBaekXi but also Blackpink and Big Bang's G-Dragon have found new abodes for their artistic expression. Despite their affiliation with major agencies like YG Entertainment, they've left to seek more musical freedom, often finding the agencies' distinct musical styles too restrictive for personal artistic pursuit. Many artists, even if they are involved in writing and composing, often find their works tailored to fit the agency's overarching style, leading to a sense of artistic confinement.
Blackpink, EXO's ChenBaekXi, and G-Dragon: Why They're Launching Independent Labels
Another compelling reason for these shifts is the emergence of new groups within the agencies, drawing management focus away from the senior groups. SM Entertainment now boasts of newer groups like aespa and Raiden, while YG is preparing for the debut of a new girl group, Baby Monster. This dispersal of attention means that senior groups like Blackpink and EXO receive less concentrated management, resulting in slower-paced group album releases. For instance, EXO's latest album was released after a 3.5-year hiatus, and Blackpink hasn't released a new album since 'Born Pink' in September 2022.
Therefore, for artists like Blackpink, ChenBaekXi, and G-Dragon, establishing an independent label seems an inevitable path to undertake more varied and unrestricted musical journeys and showcase their full potential. Though they will continue their group activities under their original agency's management, this shift towards more individual-focused careers from the stalwarts of major K-pop agencies is anticipated to bring a fresh wave of innovation and diversity to the music industry.
