EXO doesn't need SM, SM needs EXO

Only reason I can think of for groups that stay with them: they don't want to leave their staff team behind. They've worked with them for YEARS and developed good bonds, routines, connections with their stylists, hair/makeup team, manager, body guards, etc. It's not as easy as just leaving all that behind, and I doubt another company that wants to sign a group or single individual wants to go through the trouble of hiring an entire staff team. So they can feel stuck there. It's sad.

They dug their own grave. As an exol, I want nothing but the worst of the worst for that shitty company.

This is what happens when you get money hungry. It will never end well and you will be exposed for treating people like shit. If companies like SM prioritized artistry, promotion, and keeping their idols healthy in fair contracts, they could be thriving right now with idols happily renewing their contracts and making them more money. But instead they go the greedy route and end up with all their idols trying to run away for their own well being 🤦 truly pathetic.

A few years ago, SM was the most powerful entertainment company in Korea. It was home to powerful groups that led the entire second generation, such as Girls' Generation, SHINee, Super Junior, and FX. Even with the third generation, groups like EXO, Red Velvet, and NCT continued to achieve huge profits, but The fourth generation is completely different and it's all over. Especially with the development of Hype, groups such as leserafim new jeans enhypen txt are taking the lead and little by little SM is disappearing from the limelight... actually ...it is not just SM, but even YG and JYP, the same thing happens to them... at The third generation (2014 -2019) K-Pop has known fierce competition from the four major companies, but now the competition has become less

One thing I've noticed is that these companies don't want their artists to be _too_ successful. It's the ones who have success who start getting ideas that they may be better off without their companies taking all their money and restricting their freedom. Regardless of my feelings on the JYJ case, it was not right of SM to basically blackmail other media companies by threatening to pull their artists from tv lineups and such if they ever promoted the members of JYJ. I don't think they could pull the same thing today because their influence is much less than it used to be and right now they're going through an internal power struggle.

For EXO it’s slave contract,heavy under promotion and mistreatment all in one. I’m so happy they’re leaving one by one from that shitty company. I’ll support any EXO member leaving SM.

GOOD START! Keep refusing or terminate these big agency contracts until they learn to treat their idols better. Independent is the way to go. Own your own music rights, KNOW your financial status and actually GET paid, control your schedule and image, pick your own sound. Like to me the only reason why an idol is even apart of the company isn’t to make music but is to be an “idol”. Get famous and maybe sing some songs. But with the restrictions in placed in these big agencies contracts there no way majority are actual artists but instead puppets used to make money.

Hold up, you're telling me SM could've had a song with H.E.R? Just imagine Beakhyun having an R&B song with her

It's a shame how SM went down to this. They were a powerful company in the 2.000's and early 2.010's, and most (if not all) of their artists were titans in the industry. Now, I barely hear about SM artist anymore. Aespa's management is HORRIBLE, Taeyeon's management is poor and she has to do most of the work herself, EXO members are having hard issues with SM lately, Red Velvet is basically forgotten and locked in SM's basement... Is a shame tbh. I used to stan SM as a whole, but now I can't just for the lack of comebacks and promotions, and I only stan artists I truly like (Taeyeon, aespa and Red Velvet mainly). Nowadays I stan JYP artist much more (Stray Kids and Twice mainly) since they have lots of comebacks and things going on.

So Tao and Luhan were never wrong? How the tables have turned huh 😏🥴

Sm loves exploiting there talents and neglecting there stars fair paycut in every activities gigs etc

No offense but other fandoms (newer) don't understand what EXO has gone through for a decade. Shitty treatment for members and fans for a decade, can you imagine? We even lost 3 members by lawsuit. I really really wish your faves wouldn't experience this, I really do. So please stop hating them, just understand and support them. D.O. is my ult bias, and I think this is not a sudden decision, and he's not going to leave EXO. Members still call him "Uri Kyungsoo" to this day. LSM teacher is no longer in charge of SM, and D.O.'s mentor Yoo Young Jin left SM this year too. So there's nothing to do with SM except EXO promotions. PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE MEMBERS, WE ARE ONE, SARANGHAJA🥰

I honestly believe as a fan of neither that if SM had promoted EXO properly they would have stood at BTS's place as a worldwide group. That is completely on SM.

goddamn that thumbnail! EXO visuals really are unbeatable.

Most recent example, WayV didn’t have live subs today during their Comeback live. Taemin did yesterday

People need to realize something. If an artist leaves it could be for various reasons, some don't want to be idols for the rest of their lives, some don't like the managment, some want to open their own company. It's just like any regular corporation worker. Newer generations are very unlikely to stay with a company for more than 5 years. Their are so many opportunties nowadays. Most of these artists have no hard feelings toward SME, both parties got what they wanted. Also SME had the lowest turnover rate out of any company so they must be doing something right.

For EXO, its mistreatment. Everyone got 2024 Season Greetings except EXO. Thats just one example. Now when their shares went down, they released a dumb excuse and said that it was because their greetings would be filmed in November due to solo schdeules. As if.

Justice for f(x)😢😢

The biggest strength of SM is Lee Soo Man but their biggest weakness is also Lee Soo Man. We all can hate him for his money greed but ngl he is a really good producer. He is a genius in making and choosing the music for his idols, so that's probably one of the reasons why a lot of SM idols decided to stay despite how badly they were being treated by the company. They respect him a lot for this. That's why the rumour about SM artists leaving has been around since that whole power fight going on in the company. People already saw this coming when Lee Soo Man left the company. That's why I'm not surprised when there is news about SM artists leaving the company.

I'll tell you whats happening. Kpop artists are finding out they're getting better deals and more freedom going solo and/or signing with western labels. Sony is about to corner the market!

Kyungsoo's case is different frome the other Exo members tho. It was clearly mentioned that he was the ONLY one who did not renew his contract. Which means all of his activities will be handled by his new established company. While the remaining members are required to Establish their own company if they wish to have somehow freedom to do what they want as a Soloists. But this condition is under the new Exclusive Contract that they signed. Which means they have no choice but to make their own company. The only member who has the freedom to do what he wants as a Soloists is kyungsoo Aka D.O...Everyone else is still under The NEW EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT.

Any fan from a SM group or soloist knows all the frustations and stress we have to go because SM's mismanagement and incompetence. BUT exols...oh boy I swear we are trauma bonded with EXO after going through the most hardships ever, it's so unfair istg.

I’m sure leaving SM on bad terms (which is probably any time they leave) has more ramifications on the artists like being blacklisted from things, or losing ability to work with certain producers, songwriters, directors, etc. Unless they have huge connections and money/investments to start over from scratch, it might be simply too much for them to do it on their own without SMs backing. (Though, Key, I’m rooting for you to create your own empire one day! One day! 😂)

Also, the last NCT 127 album had a lot of problems, the smini of Doyoung was wrong printed again. The Albums was in sold Out before the album was came out, a lot of preorders were cancelled and SM didn't distribut the in the stores till the 5th day after the album came out.

I can't help but think about Onew from Shinee. The fact that he is not there for the latest promotions for the group has me wondering. I feel that they ran him into the ground with his promotions for his last solo album. And also key made a very interesting comment not long ago when asked about renewing their contracts with SM, saying that if they left they would all leave together . So I guess we shall see.

I'm surprised SHINee renewed their contracts with SM this year. Sometimes I wonder if the true reason Onew has been on indefinite hiatus is because of contract reasons. I know he has health conditions but he isn't having any activities in 2024 either and the company hasn't updated about him. Maybe SHINee doesn't wanna break fans' hearts with any news of Onew leaving.

I also personally think it has a lot to do with Lee Soomin himself like love him or hate him. He was a real backbone for this company and people forget just how invested he was with these artist as people too. They have been numerous articles in interviews over the years for members of these groups have talked about how when they’ve had a hard time are they felt some type away just like with Jay YP they would go to him and talk to him about certain things and he’d help them through it or he try to do what he can to help them with whatever idea or Vision that he might have like this man to a certain degree definitely cared about the artistry in the artist, but like he was also a businessman at the end of the day. . So late getting rid of him was probably one of the stupidest things that the people at that company ever thought of doing. I genuinely believe there’s probably a handful idols who’s not going to leave because of the staff and the relationships that they’ve created with some of the people who work there, but there’s also quite a lot of them who have talked about. It have stated for years that he only reason why they stayed in. The company was because of Lee Soomin was because of the way that he did things and interacted with him, even after his step down as CEO, and he was just there is a producer and a creative mind and now that he’s gone I feel like we’re probably going to see quite a few of the OG idols, and probably even a couple of the newer ones leaving SM entertainment because there’s no reason for them to stay anymore. I remember seeing couple of people talking about this, but also Val why other companies don’t have idols leaving for this reason and I think we’re people tend to forget that music JYPE or HYBE while the original founders and creators of those companies have some down as CEO they’re still working and a part of those companies they did not get kicked out of the company by the people working for them. They just no longer have that CEO role they’re still the biggest shareholders in their company they still are considered producers in their company. They still are considered creative mines in their company so even though their companies might have changed in terms of who the CEO is and how it might be ran to a certain degree they still have those integrated people who, for a lot of those idols is a big factor on why they would want to stay with that company in the first place.

EXOLs had to buy ads for a comeback MV coz SM won't, the music videos are so minimalist, collab offers declined, big opportunities wasted. I don't know about your faves but if they had to sign an exclusive contract that means they might've been threatened coz that's what they did to Baekhyun. EXOLs put so much money in that company they could've treated the artists better, not as a. cash cow because soon it's gonna bite them in the ass.

Not surprised YG and SM they both something wrong in they company

SM did the same thing to NCT with their newest album "Fact Check". They didn't print enough copies and falsified the numbers to be very low. Also the misprints of the album - SM doesn't give a f

They are like rats leaving a sinking ship. SM will only have themselves to blame for their downfall

17-18 years is just BIZARRE

I entered kpop fandom thru JYJ and DBSK/TVXQ before they split. I'm glad it isn't forgotten, because JYJ went through such bs for decades, being kept off all the popular music shows. Jaejoong and Junsu have their own companies now, and i hope are the gateways toa new era of fair treatment of artists.

SM had the best artists among the big agencies yet they manage to mistreat them all. amazing.

The only one that I remember that’s LEFT LEFT was Sunny. But she’s LSM’s niece, so that seemed like a given. And the EXO members are techniquely still under them, except for solo stuff. They basically pulled a SJ, there but not there. I think you’re making this more sensational than it is.

all of my favourite artists are from SM entertainment....and now Riize ...I don't want my boys to suffer because their company is bad

I enjoy your videos so much! thank u for helping us to keep up with all those News 💗

SM contracts are fvcked up, especially with the military gap that they take advantage of. NCT is halfway there but I hope RIIZE members are free from this slave treatment.

Holy Spitballs. K-pop needs to Unionise. That is the only way to get true transparency & more equality in the industry.

Just saw 1.RedVelvet Yeri uploading hd pics of their teasers in her bubble, coz Sm uploaded low quality img🙄🙄 2. Wtf did they do to Nct 127 Fact check🤐🤐 it was a mess . No stock for albums, no pre order details, mv delayed at last min 3. Wayv's remix being delayed coz they were still editing after putting out date for release(kun seemed very angry) 4. RIIZE just debuted & after a month they had 1st cb with teasers being released 1 week before release THAT COMPANY IS A FRKN MESS, BOTH UNCLE & NEPHEW ruined it. I think RV too will leave after their new cb

Out of all mistreated groups under that company Exo still somehow the most mistreated one even though they brought the most money.🤷‍(not including f(x) because they are just gone)

Not long ago SM, JYP and YG were the agency to sign with. Now its HYBE.

I been saying this since the JYJ lawsuit. A lot of us knew SM would be their own demise.

I also heard that out of the three main agencies that SM pays the lowest amount percentage to their artists which in my opinion is absurd I mean they make a lot of money but they only give I think it's like 5% to the artist and that's ridiculous And then on top of that how they treat their artists 🤷😕

I don't know if you know... but 16 of 26 members of NCT have pas 7 years since their debut... but SM just says that their contracts won't end this year or the next one, their contract is for around 9-10 years contract...

AND HOW SM DID LUCAS! AND HOW SM SHUNNED YUTA!! BEING A RACIST COMPANY IN 2023 IS PLAYED OUT!

I miss sm’s golden era i remember i got into kpop in 2011 when snsd suju f(x) and shinee were consistently promotin. When red velvet came out sm started to ghost f(x) not promoting them as they did it before, i’m not blaming anyone but Sm. That’s the first toxic/ghosting behavior i remember from sm. I remember f(x) hd to fight to get a tour but when they finally got it they disbanded. -- Look at Jessica’s case: after the departure sm started to give their idols the chance to end negotiations with the company but maintaining a place in the groups, that’s the way Sooyoung Seohyun Tiffany Donghae Kyu and Eunhyuk are not part of sm but are still allowed to promote with their groups. If this compatibility had been given to Jessica thing would have been so different.

Junsu and Jaejoong are the ultimate idols. But they have to go through the blacklist from entire industry after leaving SM. That's the big reason they aren't popular among new fans In future it won't happen because JYJ law is there to protect every artist from blacklisted by entertainment companies

Kyungsoo / D.O. on the thumbnail but you barely talked about what mistreatments that company did to him.

That’s why it was a shock when BTS was nominated from a smaller company when SM is like the big brother. There were problems with Exo-L too

If they want to leave SM Entertainment, VERY GOOD, because they truly deserve much better. I recently learned that three Super Junior members are leaving, which are Kyuhyun, Donghae, and Eunhyuk. I'm glad they're still a part of Super Junior, but this shows that SM Entertainment is just terrible with their artists. I'm actually surprised only 3 Super Junior members left, and the remaining 6 resigned.

That clause that says if you don’t release enough albums, you have to extend your contract does not incentivize the company to actually promote the artist so that they can keep holding them for longer.

I personally think some of these has got to do with Lee Sooman leaving. A lot has changed since he left. SM has not been the same ever since.

Lee Soo Man removed, SM fell. SM always treated artists poorly and had bad contracts but I feel if Lee Soo Man was there, he would agree to settle things with his artists more peacefully than the current CEO and try to make changes in the contracts if that meant retaining EXO, the breadwinner of the company.

I am still waiting for an update on Lucas. It’s like he vanished from earth. Sm treated him wrong.

I feel so bad for the SM artists :( they sign these contracts thinking it’ll be an amazing company to work with due to SNSD etc…but the beast behind the curtains is far worse than anyone can imagine. #TEAMHYBE #TEAMJYP

Sm’s biggest mistake was the nct system. They made so many mistakes and failed those guys.

Everyone? Seems like more high profile people are leaving YG.

Me personally can’t really decided which BIG company is better than other. I see this one and then they have the record on mistreatment. I look at another one, still the same issues. I just hope my fave artist can decided what the best for them and always be together.

SM is ruined now bcz of their poor management and not caring about artist I really hope artist should leave sm and join company that can treat them better sm is runing artist career

I just don't understand why SM would do that, what do they gain from not promoting their idols well enough like other companies? geniune question actually

As a fan,It feels like a dream to see your favourite artists stay active in the group and company for eternal. I did like it when i saw that sm is the type of entertainment agency to maintain their longevity. Sm is diverse when it comes to music or stage. They didn't even let exo's talent be judged by featuring them with western artists. But the thing is true that sm don't get much in views or streams despite trying their best with every project. Actually,Sm is the best entertainment agency we r failing to protect. Sm deserves better.

JYJ really suffered a lot after that lawsuit. They really tried to make a difference but almost nobody supported them. Now other members are quitting for the same reason.

If only companies knew that the secret to making incredible profits and having loyal employees/idols and customers/fans is to treat everyone with actual love and respect. Too many go for the quick buck and exploit both employees/idols and customers/fans. But if you want something that will last a long time and only grow respect and admiration, begin with the basic premise that you do right by everyone.

I'm pretty sure it's just them looking for better opportunities they believe they deserve. SM can no longer offer these idols much besides a better contract and if they can't offer one that's good enough for them then the idol is going to leave. Exo's (and the member's names) are so marketable it would silly for them to agree to a contract that doesn't benefit them.

Let’s not forget that SM has the worst profit distribution in the whole industry. One would think that they have more than enough budget to promote their artists properly. Sadly their tactic is to make them famous enough to make money, but not too much that the artists will have more power over them. I’m just basing this on their 3rd gen groups cause that’s when kpop went huge globally, but if they did their job correctly, EXO and Red Velvet would be at the same playing field as bts blackpink and twice. By that I mean performing at these huge stadiums all over the world, promoting officially in the western market, pushing thru with the collabs, performing at non kpop festivals. I don’t know about rv but EXO wasn’t even given a world tour! They mostly perform in Asia yet they’re still up there in the ranks. Could you just imagine if they both got that western debut.

Typical corporate behavior.

I've been an SM stan since 2009 and I stan every single group in that company (From Super Junior to RIIZE). I've seen it all. The only thing SM is good at is selecting and training their artist. Their system is awful from the start. They are always pushing their artist to their limit. They don't care abt loyalty at all. The first cracks that I saw was in 2014 when Luhan and Kris left Exo due to SM disregarding their health issues just to keep up with their schedule. It was solidify when Jessica was kicked out of the group. That's when I realized that the company is really awful. Sure, being an SM Group will garantee a success since every single artist that they put out gets instant recognition, but the way they treat their artist is really really bad. The only reason why other artist stay in the company was because of either their sense of loyalty (since almost every trainee in SM was there since they were children) or they don't feel confident enough to break away since being in the bad side of SM is never good.

What’s crazy is that law about the 7 year contract cause it’s been 7 years since half of nct debuted but sm stated that none of thier contracts were ending this year wich makes it so much more suspicious

For me SM become NCT and other group now… I miss old SM, feels sad but life goes on

Artists fear to leave SM since they have seen what happened to the former three members of tvxq (jaejoong,junsu,yc) who sued SM.Despite winning the lawsuit,they have been blacklisted in the industry due to SM influence for 14 years now (since 2009).They couldn't promote on musics and variety shows, their songs are not played in radio or else.Nothing.They have been releasing great musics for more than 14 years but you will never find a single performance of them on musics shows,variety shows or end of the year awards.

I remember hangeng the former member of super junior he did a lawsuit against sm entertainment and he won

still hoping and wishing for Suho to take over SM. I'm manifesting this.

Even Lee Soo Man left his own company, so..

Vids on vids and media exposing the industry is not surprising but I'm rather shocked. I'm gonna be honest training and debuting young people is 1 of the easiest ways any company can manipulate their idols just think about it, I would leave too

NCT DREAM’s last album shows it all. How can a company us an opened cd box as an album image? How can they tease a video for Poison and never release it? You spent the money for production and marketing so why not use it? If you are going to hang on to these kids for years wouldn’t you want the revenue to keep them making you money for your company? I really don’t understand. It’s so sad for these kids who have given them their lives and talents only to be gaslighted.

They're really good at finding talented artists but awful at managing them properly.

Since Lee Sooman stepdown as a CEO, SM became BORING. His nephews doesn't know what they're doing lol

Sm doesn't care what happens to the idols، it's important that their idols are famous، so it doesn't matter،it just get more money for the company.

With people criticising YG for the lack of releases and Hybe for their poor training of vocalists, I’d pick either of those rather than a slave contract, with poor managing skills and inside wars. SM is a joke. I feel bad for the artists stuck there

They never looked like they were allowed to have fun at award shows

They successfully build a lot of group and also earned money from them , they became more greedy and like to tied up their artists to much . ..

When BangPD of BigHit and HYBE wanted a share of SM because he wanted to promote in the west all Kpop artists after BTS basically open the door for Kpop artist. BangPD believe in the talented artists of SM but their stopped BangPD from doing so all because they thought he only wants money. BigHit is now the biggest music company in South Korea and the 4th biggest in the west alongside Universalcand Sony Music etc. But the SM management or top honchos only wanted money and look what's happening to them now. BangPD really wanted to promote KPop artists in the West not just HYBE. BTS is considered the world's biggest band whether you like it or not. They have positioned themselves at the top and BangPD that other Kpop artists to join BTS and make it big too. But SM honchos did everything to stop him. So BangPD is just promoting the BigHit and HYBE artists in the West. So TXT le sserafim Seventeen ENHYPEN is now making noise at gets all the attention. And ofcourse BTS members are doing their solo projects before enlisting in the ARMY. JKook is really making waves in the west now and even Suga after his successful world tour has his own TV talk show. BangPD gave his artists freedom to grow as artists and support. His artists go to him for guidance unlike SM management didn't really support their artists that's they are leaving.

Kcompanies are so incompetent my head hurts

This has been going on forever! Like seriously so many idols were just dumped somewhere by SM and you wouldn’t even know what the heck happened. It just really hurts fans and they just brush it off.

Can I just be the CEO of SM ?! My groups would be shining

at this point i hope that my favs move to a better company or set up ther own like d.o and baekhyun

Alot of ppl didnt acc leave tho .only kyungsoo and like 3 members of suju and sunny.they still have contracts for their group activities.i dont think everyone would leave sm they have such a strong brand image .if sm fixes up and acc follw sm 3.0 i think more would stay .this kakao and sm situation needs to hurry and fix up

I was hoping Onew would leave SM as well, but no.. he prolonged his contract

Jessica from GG already said this but people are sooo bias…………..

These poor guys and gals are indentured.

Minho and Key just renew their contracts with SM Entertainment. I hope both of them get treated right.

SM totally destroyed Aespa. Aespa was doing so well but literally sabotaged by their own company. At one point, EXO was equally popular as BTS. SM sabotaged them too. Now they are doing the same to the insanely talented NCT 127. So sad to see all these groups that has amazing potential to breakthroughs to Western market, just wasted. These stupid SM stans sabotaged themselves by gatekeeping HYBe from buying over SM. You killed your own artists future by doing that. Your hatred of Hybe clouded your judgement from saving them from SM.

Our kids deserve more than this SM!!!!!!!! if you still continue doing such things and not taking any action, YOU ARE DONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, SM is petty af. The idols who ever crossed with them all being blocked from their career especially in Korea Mainstream. Let alone that, don't even dream that they will give the copyrights to the artist if ever they left due to dispute.

I don’t get why these big Kpop Companies still doing stuff like this

Artists always want to leave it’s just sm contract always reason they can’t and other reason sm still connection with big media house they make hard to work with tv shows and get other opportunities for artists who left

Leaving Members: Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin, D.O and Kai Potentially Leaving Members: Sehun and Chanyeol Remaining Members: Suho and Lay 7 out of 9 Wow! EXO is soooooo doomed!

SM? Reputable company? They have a reputation alright. Why aren’t all of them leaving EARLIER is more of a question. SM is the father of slave contract, and LSM is the godfather of kpop.