‘Music Business Weekly’ Documents Confusing Communications With HYBE & TAG PR

The London-based industry publication explained why one of their reports required two updates including a “correction that wasn’t a correction”

Music Business Worldwide made a rare move of transparency that details the oftentimes exhausting work that goes into reporting on the K-pop industry — a field whose kitchen increasingly has more and more cooks coming from different countries with widely varying degrees of media values and ethics.

On July 28, MBW published their piece “A letter to HYBE shareholders from Music Business Worldwide RE: BTS ‘hiatus’ insider trading convictions.” In their article, the London-based pub explained their story “covering three individuals being sentenced for insider trading in South Korea” involving “people affiliated with HYBE — reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily as two ex-employees plus one employee of a subsidiary — had been convicted of insider trading in Korea.” All their reporting was cited and credited to a story from the JoongAng Daily.

The outlet goes into lengthy details sharing how The Agency Group PR (a.k.a. TAG PR) reached out following its July 24 publishing with an urgent correction request. MBW wrote:

MBW then shares how “HYBE’s Seoul-based global head of communications, Rachel Um, contacted us via email to issue a correction… to the correction MBW received from Tag PR the previous day.” The email chalked up the confusion to “human error,” sharing, “Regarding [MBW’s] piece from yesterday, it’s confirmed that the three individuals addressed were all former HYBE employees as they were charged with insider trading. They had all left HYBE by then. While they did work at HYBE, they had no personal connections with Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk.”

MBW notes that the original piece in question, “Three former HYBE employees receive sentences for insider trading on BTS’ military enlistment (report),” has now been updated twice.

The annoyance is evident in several parts of MBW’s reporting. No doubt in the headline “A letter to HYBE shareholders from Music Business Worldwide…” as well as lines like “HYBE says, officially, none of them were acquaintances of Chairman Bang (which MBW never suggested in the first place)” and “The relevance of accuracy in this matter, especially in terms of the individuals’ connection (or lack of) to HYBE founder Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, will be of significant importance to HYBE shareholders.” I don’t entirely agree with the snarky tone. However, I do value highlighting how confusing these conversations can become when dealing with so many different parties who seemingly don’t have a full grasp of a rather cultural issue.

Indeed, I can say I’ve personally been in the middle of such back-and-forth communications when doing my job as a reporter — and to this day, I still receive harassment and abuse over trying to make sense of each side’s perspective.

—I spoke with the Associated Press’ Maria Sherman for further insight into how KPop Demon Hunters became a surprise hit of the summer. Co-written by The Crossover friend and longtime AP writer Juwon Park, the piece also features another Crossover friend, Tamar Herman. Don’t miss it:

—PBS spotlights: “K-pop band 1VERSE, featuring two North Korean defectors, makes global debut” writing, “The world of K-pop has fresh new faces: the band 1VERSE with a debut album and lead single, ‘Shattered.’ The boy band has an improbable origin story that includes two North Korean defectors.”

—A director at the K-pop agency Spire Entertainment was fined a few hundred dollars after hitting one of the company’s artists. “The Seoul Central District Court sentenced the former director, who is also the wife of Spire Entertainment’s CEO, to a fine of 500,000 won ($375) today for assaulting Jaehan of Omega X in October 2022. The incident occurred after a performance in Los Angeles when she allegedly yanked Jaehan’s hoodie, causing him to fall in front of a hotel elevator. She denied the charges, claiming her actions were meant to ‘scold’ Jaehan, and has since appealed the verdict. In addition to the assault charge, the former director faces allegations of molesting six other Omega X members. The police have referred the case to prosecutors.” (MyMusicTaste)

—A preview of Yves’ Pinkpantheress-featuring song “Soap” has been released. The former LOONA member’s Soft Error EP drops on August 7.

—REVOLT chose 17 unforgettable times American rappers made magic with J-pop and K-pop stars. “While K-pop and J-pop have always drawn from Black music — from New Jack Swing to trap drums — a new chapter eventually unfolded. Now, direct collaborations with U.S. rappers spark fan frenzies, Billboard milestones, and viral moments that crossed cultural boundaries. Some pairings came with star power and polish, like BTS linking up with Megan Thee Stallion or G-Dragon sparring lyrically with Missy Elliott. Others arrived more unexpectedly, like a random video game linkup involving De La Soul, or Big Sean popping up on a remix from a Kawasaki-based crew.

—3RACHA, the producing trio of Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han, worked across every song on the group’s upcoming KARMA album.

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—ICYMI: VIVIZ added 17 new concert dates across the U.S. and Canada in their NEW LEGACY World Tour. I got to break the news at Forbes last night:

—SEVENTEEN announced a nine-date, five-city U.S. tour that curiously doesn’t include the NYC area: “We’re almost at the edge of SEVENTEEN. The K-pop giants just announced they’re returning to the United States this October for their [NEW_] World Tour. Their brief nine-concert outing is slated to send the 13-member group to venues all over the U.S. but not New York or New Jersey.” (Page Six)

I wonder if maybe SVT is booked for the Global Citizens Fest or MTV VMAs, both of which should take place in September/October, and that’s why they’re forgoing an NYC concert

—U.S. consumers are apparently “panic buying” K-pop merch and Korean cosmetics as Trump’s tariff deadline looms for South Korea with no progress made yet. “Fans are now urging sellers to ship items before the Aug. 1 deadline. One fan posted a receipt on X, formerly Twitter, showing a $187 haul of albums and goods. There’s growing concern that falling U.S. sales could lead to scaled-back album production or canceled tours. Korea exported $292 million worth of K-pop albums last year, much of it to the United States, according to Korea Customs Service. Online outlet Quartz noted that ‘Trump’s tariffs could inject volatility into an ecosystem that has so far been relatively insulated from global trade fights’ as ‘physical albums remain a core revenue driver and branding pillar.’” (Korea JooAng Daily)

—Stray Kids grossed an additional $58 million from 10 shows, according Billboard’s Boxscore report of the Top Tours for June 2025. The report notes SKZ’s double header at Citi Field alone grossed $10.3M, while the two show at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas shows grossed another $10.3M. From April-June 2025 alone, Stray Kids grossed have $111.2M from 19 concerts that reached 808,000 fans. (Billboard)

—It’s their moment: KPop Demon Hunters is Netflix’s most-watched original animated film of all time. (@Netflix)

—Singer-actors Rowoon (a former member of boy band SF9) and Nana (formerly of girl groups After School and Orange Caramel) star in Calvin Klein’s new underwear campaigns across Asia. “The three stars were selected for Calvin Klein’s new campaigns in Asia for their ‘magnetic confidence,’ which translates as synonymous with the unmistakable underwear.” (Teen Vogue)

—Parents Magazine says: Parents Are Into ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ Just As Much as Their Kids, and for Good Reason: “This latest cultural touchstone is a fun example of how engaging with something that we assume is supposed to be for our kids can take on an endearing life of its own. Yes, K-pop (and pop music in general) is meant to be catchy. Still, it's nice to have something that hits us all in a similar way. There's no doubt some kids will cringe at the idea of their parents blasting songs from one of their movies or dancing along with them in the living room. But engagement is important. It not only shows that we care about what our kids care about, but it also shows that we know how to have fun and enjoy things alongside them. That bridge can work as a conversation-starter and as a way to make memories. Our engagement with media can also act as a protective barrier for some things that aren't so safe for kids to consume. It goes without saying that not all animated shows and movies are meant to be ‘for kids.’ And even if we think something looks harmless on the surface, we should still tap in to it from time to time to make sure it actually is.”

—Chicago Magnolia Bakery is preparing special versions of their signature banana pudding and other sweets ahead of TWICE’s upcoming headlining slot at Lollapalooza 2025 this weekend. (Can someone ship me some “TWICE Pudding” please?)

—Is a new JYP Entertainment girl group on the way? K-pop fans saw that the agency behind TWICE, Stray Kids, ITZY and more registered a copyright for the name “GRLSET” and now there’s an “official” social media account — though, not verified or associated with JYP (yet).

—Lisa went out drinking in NYC after BLACKPINK’s two concerts at Citi Field. “The 28-year-old ‘Rockstar’ solo superstar and BLACKPINK member enjoyed a night with friends right after her Deadline World Tour concert with her bandmates concluded on Sunday night (July 27) at Citi Field in Queens, New York City…Lisa’s bandmate Rosé was also seen stepping out for the night a few days before in the city.” (JustJared)

—aespa’s Giselle watches a fan get her wig snatched