Lee Soo Man: expanding SM Entertainment into foreign markets

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

On June 10th, the company that Lee Soo Man founded back in 1989, SM Entertainment, will have a big performance in Paris, France. Through a phone interview, he spoke about how confident he felt about expanding into Europe and beyond.

Once he is back in Paris, Lee Soo Man is scheduled to meet with 70 various composers and producers at a conference. The composers and producers are part of the SM Network, which was created in order to enter the world market. In Paris, they intend to discuss in detail on securing the European market. They will also hold discussions on how to make Korean music more relatable to both Europeans and Americans. He believes that this network played an important role in attracting the French youth and it makes him feel certain that their music will continue to make a big impact. Lee Soo Man also revealed that SM Entertainment has relationships with over 300 composers all over the world.

When asked if songs composed by foreign composers could really be considered Korean songs, Lee Soo Man said that it’s pointless in thinking about that. He compares music to food in that it all changes based on personal preference. Whoever is making or eating the food might change the ingredients a bit and add salt or make it spicier. To appeal to the tastes of European listeners, Korean music would generally have to slightly alter as well to fit their tastes. This wouldn’t necessarily make it any less Korean and he believes it’s better to live without being too strong-headed about such thoughts and labels.

He continued by saying he wants more recognition in the American market and strongly believes that he should work hard to also make SM Entertainment the best in China. He said, “We’re currently succeeding in Japan and making moves in America and Europe, but but my primary goal is to make the Hollywood in China ours. In five years, we will surely become number one in Asia.”

When asked if he was going to hold performances in other European countries, Lee Soo Man said that they also had many fans in England, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. After the show in Paris, he intends to eventually take initiative in those countries, as well.

The ‘SM Town Live’ in Paris will feature DBSK, SNSD, Super Junior, SHINee, and f(x).


Source: AllKpop, Chosun

If they expect to secure China within 5 years, then they should correct the schedule for their only all-Chinese artist, Zhang Liyin, so she's not releasing new shit once every 3 years - because yeah, you can secure a market that all Asian entertainment companies wants in on by half-assing an artist's promotion.

Comments

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

that's wonderful. But could you debut jino sometime this year please?

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

When asked if he was going to hold performances in other European countries, Lee Soo Man said that they also had many fans in England, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. After the show in Paris, he intends to eventually take initiative in those countries, as well.

SM town concert - yes
debut of SHINee, SNSD, idk who - no

[monceri.livejournal.com]

GERMANY!

[askbask.livejournal.com]

No, you should not "slightly alter [the music] as well to fit their tastes". If Euro kids are loving k-pop it's cause it's k-pop. Don't put f(x) on a Guetta track.

[kkuldanji.livejournal.com]

this

[baboboy.livejournal.com]

snsd concert in L.A please

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

screw LA, NY please. better yet SMtown in NY so I can see homin, snsd, and shinee. And fap to donghae as well.

[samunin.livejournal.com]

great
make all your artists speak english and you MIGHT make it in the US market

[canttakeabreath.livejournal.com]

no way. the accent would kill them. it's the accent that's such a huge barrier.

[chraka.livejournal.com]

If they promote in europe, I'll put reality on hold Q_Q
Sad but true

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

I already lost my life to kpop. Of course I'd jump on that

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

Also if you could get SM town to come to NY/NJ, somewhere around there, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[vizallati.livejournal.com]

Omg yes preze NY/NJ

[jooniee.livejournal.com]

Your comment on Liyin = win. I don't know what SM is thinking when it comes to her.

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥

[xoxorichi.livejournal.com]

smtown ny please and thank you
.___.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

this.

[vegasol.livejournal.com]

NEVER HAVE I EVER BEEN SO THANKFUL FOR SHARING BORDERS WITH SÖTA BROR *_________*

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

most sm town are produced in sweden, sweden loves pop, ...
tbh the chances of kpop being successful in sweden are higher than in other countries

[alecsa-chan.livejournal.com]

More SMTOWN in Europe would be great. Missed the Paris chance 'coz of exams.

[hyunaepark.livejournal.com]

NEW YORK PLEASE.

[xoxorichi.livejournal.com]

yes.

[kerynr.livejournal.com]

I don't think that this kind of music can be really popular throughout Europe. Ofc, there are European fans, but it doesn't mean that Europe like k-pop. So many ppl think things like 'wtf? asian music? who cares?" Maybe it could work if they sing all of their songs in English. Korean songs can't be a big hit here.

[nissy-angel.livejournal.com]

i don't care how, debut TVXQ into England :)

[alecsa-chan.livejournal.com]

TSM. I'd travel to anywhere in Europe for a DBSK/JYJ concert.

[sana-txi.livejournal.com]

Spain! <3

[x-doctess.livejournal.com]

What about the Latin American tour, LSM?

[czarny.livejournal.com]

Too poor, smaller markets etc.

[canttakeabreath.livejournal.com]

dear lsm,

if you actually think that taking korean songs (which were usually produced by europeans), translating them into (horrific) english, and having bands like SHINee go off, singing and dancing, isn't totally removing the korean element from k-pop, you totally are deluding yourself.

there's a point (and jay park recently said this) at which kpop is no longer kpop. when it becomes exactly like what EU/US boybands did in the 90s/do on BGT or XFactor every so often.

also most of sj-m can still barely speak chinese. you might want to work on that before trying to fix heechul's YOU ARE SO GORGEOUS and donghae's BREAD JACK, yeah?

love,
ctab

[hopeandmemory.livejournal.com]

also most of sj-m can still barely speak chinese. you might want to work on that before trying to fix heechul's YOU ARE SO GORGEOUS and donghae's BREAD JACK, yeah?

yeaaaaaah. same goes for the japanese promotions, too. and like, i know a lot of them probably studied english in school, but you cannot break an english speaking market with a foreign language artist. most english speakers are not in the habit of listening to music they cannot understand.

[cruel-disorder.livejournal.com]

;O; Torontooooooooooo

[soldierheart.livejournal.com]

so effing excited just from sweden being mentioned but they better be sending homin if that happens.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Unless SM has some awesome Korean American trainee who's gonna debut as a solo artist I think SM should just forget US and concentrate on rest of the world as US is such a tough market. Anyhow, I hope this means that SHINee will have a concert in Sweden on one day as it isn't that expensive to travel there from Finland.

[yolleh.livejournal.com]

I adore kpop and will jump on the chance for any concert but I don't think they should debut.
There's too much of a gap to the point that the masses wouldn't really be able to relate to the music and I also wouldn't be able to deal with all the ridicule...
I personally like kpop as it is, sort of underground but not. Call me elitist but, it's nice to have a collective group of people all stanning something that is exclusive in a way.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___sasuka/]

One thing k-pop companies need to realise is that in other markets, artists don't "debut", they emerge. Rare is the singer who gets a hit song in their first try, first album/EP, etc. God knows it took people like Lady Gaga YEARS of small clubs and little festivals before she got her big break. If they're willing to stick out in the long haul and do some hardcore research, time, effort, and love, then hell yeah I am all for it.

But umm... please let those poor kids learn a new language properly, and not just three phrases. SJM's been around for three years now, and they still need a translator + have shows revolving about their "improving" Chinese (although some are kicking ass omg go Wookie go!). And please no promoting only 2 months out of the year; that shit is lame. If any k-pop group makes it big in the US/Europe, they will NEVER have a reason to come back to Korea anymore.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___sasuka/]

Seriously though, that CL Lewis/SNSD? English remix of Genie was awesome as fuck. Now those are remakes I can adore.

[kanghodong.livejournal.com]

Does Canada count as America?

[czarny.livejournal.com]

This is why they go shit in Nihon. Dey speak shitty Jipponese.

[kimiko1387.livejournal.com]

Where do I send my application? I work cheap...no seriously...

[kyuhyunss.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't suggest you applying for SM if I were you... y'know, the 13-year SLAVE contracts they bring! :P