LEE SOO MAN, who left SM Entertainment, is returning with a different path called “Zalpha Pop“.
A2O Entertainment, led by LEE SOO MAN, released a video called “A2O Rookies ‘Zal-Dance Compilation V1‘” on its official YouTube channel on October 25. The video shows trainees from Chinese boybands and girlbands under A2O Entertainment showing off their dancing skills.
At the end of the video, the phrase “Produced by S.M. Lee” is displayed, declaring his return as a producer. This is the first time in a year and seven months that the SM Entertainment executive producer who left the company in March last year due to a battle to acquire the company has been in the news. At that time, the “non-compete” agreement he signed when he gave his shares to Hybe was a condition that he would not produce the album for three years in Korea, and he has about a year and four months to release it.
In response, LEE SOO MAN created Blooming Grace, which he represents, and has been conducting ESG (environmental, social, and governance) activities overseas. Then, in May, he applied for the A2O entertainment trademark through Blooming Grace, and rumors of his return to the entertainment industry were confirmed through a public video.
Perhaps due to the competition ban, the entertainment industry also seems to have turned its eyes overseas. The revealed A2O Rookies do not include Korean trainees, and a new name, “Zalpha Pop,” is also proposed, instead of K-pop. Zalpha is a newly coined word combining Generation Z and Alpha, showing the desire to open a new path different from the existing K-pop by adding pop to it.
A total of 15 trainees were revealed, and based on their age and gender, they were divided into three groups: “HTG Rookies (High Teen Girls, girls aged 16 and above), LTG Rookies (Low Teen Girls, girls aged 15 and below), and LTB Rookies (Low Teen Boys, boys aged 15 and below).” A2O Entertainment stated, “The trainees change groups as they grow. During the training period, they will perform fascinating performances on A20 Channel as solo or as a unit.”
LEE SOO MAN has led K-pop as the founder of SM Entertainment. Not only has he changed the domestic music industry by introducing many idol groups over the past 30 years, but he has also opened up a new market by combining various concepts and technologies with idol groups like NCT and AESPA. After LEE SOO MAN left SM Entertainment, NCT ended its infinite expansion system stage, and AESPA also left the wilderness and headed to the multiverse, making changes to existing settings, but NCT’s signature “Neo” charm and AESPA’s now popular “쇠맛 (Soe-Taste)” were all born from LEE SOO MAN‘s unconventional attempts.
LEE SOO MAN‘s story has become the cornerstone of K-pop, which is now dominating the global market, drawing attention to its new moves. Given that he is coming back with a unique attempt at Zalpha Pop and creating an idol group in China, it is expected that he will write another myth by opening a new era.
On the other hand, there are fears that a group trapped under the name of “Lee Soo-man” will emerge. Since he has been in charge of general production for a long time and has created SM Entertainment‘s own color, many voices are wondering whether he can show colors that go beyond that.
In addition, the image has been hit by various noises, including revelations related to LEE SOO MAN during a fierce takeover battle last year, which raises a question mark as to whether the groups born below will be able to shed their negative image and be fully evaluated as music and artists. The future will show us all of this.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS A2O Entertainment
