Blackpink’s Rose parts ways with Korea Music Copyright Association

SEOUL – Rose of K-pop girl group Blackpink has ended her membership with the Korea Music Copyright Association (Komca), sparking speculation that she is aiming for a broader market outside South Korea.

Entertainment outlet Dispatch reported on Feb 20 that Rose applied for the termination of her copyright trust on Oct 31, 2024. Her contract ended officially on Jan 31 after a three-month grace period.

The 28-year-old New Zealand-born singer is the first major artiste in South Korea to leave Komca since South Korean singer Seo Tai-ji did so in 2002.

Founded in 1964, Komca is the largest professional organisation in South Korea specialising in music copyright trust management. Most musicians in the country entrust their copyright management to the association, which oversees revenue collection and distribution.

Atlantic Records

, the American label managing Rose’s global activities, is expected to handle her copyright revenue going forward.

The decision appears to be driven by Rose’s focus on international activities after the global success of

her single, Apt.

, which dropped on Oct 18, 2024. Rose’s collaboration with American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars for Apt. was the lead single from her debut studio album, Rosie, released on Dec 6, 2024. 

“The revenue from the US market is roughly 10 times higher than that from the South Korean market,” an industry insider told The Korea Herald on Feb 20.

“In South Korea, revenue collection through Komca takes about three months, but when processing US earnings through Komca, it can take from six months to a year.”

Rose is set to embark on

a world tour with Blackpink

– which also comprise Jisoo, Jennie and Lisa. The tour will kick off with a two-night gig at Goyang Stadium in South Korea on July 5 and 6 before travelling to North America, Europe and Japan. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK