The co-CEOs of SM ENTERTAINMENT, JANG CHEOL HYUK and TAK YOUNG JUN, have been named together in the “2026 INDIE POWER PLAYERS” list selected by the American music media outlet BILLBOARD.
BILLBOARD announced the “2026 INDIE POWER PLAYERS” on May 8 (local time) via its official website, including the co-CEOs of SM in this year’s list. Thus, TAK YOUNG JUN appears on this list for the fifth consecutive year since 2022, and JANG CHEOL HYUK for the third consecutive year since 2024, proving once again their influence and leadership within the global music industry.
The “INDIE POWER PLAYERS” is a list published annually by BILLBOARD since 2017. It selects leaders of labels and distributors who have achieved independent performances in the global music market, outside of the three American majors (UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP, SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, WARNER MUSIC GROUP).
Regarding this selection, co-CEO JANG CHEOL HYUK stated:
“By announcing the ‘SM NEXT 3.0’ strategy at the beginning of the year, we are leading various attempts and changes to further elevate creative capabilities within the organization. If SM continues to create and develop new trends in the future, we will be able to resonate with an even broader global fan base.”
Co-CEO TAK YOUNG JUN highlighted the trend of experience consumption spreading around fan communities, stating:
“Recently, the experience conveyed to fans through artist content has become more important. That is why we are putting a lot of effort into expanding content beyond music, toward spaces where fans consume and stay, in order to convey a consistent story and experience to them.”
Previously, JANG CHEOL HYUK and TAK YOUNG JUN had also been selected last March for BILLBOARD‘s “2026 GLOBAL POWER PLAYERS” list.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS SM Entertainment
