SM, YG, JYP – Who would you rather work for?
Imagine your whole life has led up to this point. All the late night voice lessons, choreography and training have brought you finally, to this very moment. The biggest names in Korean entertainment are scouting you. You’ve got the looks, the voice, the skills, and they all want a piece. The problem is – who do you entrust with the future of your career? The hopes and dreams of your chances at stardom will lie in one person’s hands, but are you willing to accept the contracts, handle the micromanagement, and effectively sign your life away to one person? And who will it be?
Most budding kpop singers are not fortunate enough to be faced with so privileged a decision. But when entering the world of idoldom, I’m sure there’s much thought given as to whom will cultivate and craft your career. SM, YG or JYP? Will it be the best decision of your life? Or the worst? Let’s take an evaluation of each.
SM
Or the aptly named “star factory”, run by the legendary Lee Soo Man with an iron fist. Like each of our entrepreneurs, Lee attempted a career in the music trenches that was less than successful. After the failed venture, he naturally gravitated to an occupation guaranteed to bring in the big bucks – business management.
SM is certainly a company that lives up to its idol-making moniker. You think of the best of the best coming out of that company – Dong Bang Shin Ki, So Nyeo Shi Dae, Super Junior, Shinee and countless others that make the fangirls squeal and make Lee’s piggy bank go BOOM!
SM’s trainee process is all about intensive training, stressing a constant strive for perfection in all areas of performance. Idols such as SNSD members Jessica, Soo Young and Hyo Yeon have been known to have trained for seven years before they were able to debut.
And that’s the feeling you ultimately associate from SM; that it’s all about the bottom line. Even before the DBSK lawsuit, no one could argue that Lee was top dog, ruling his performances and finances with a precision that, at the time, was to be admired. Much like American pop svengalis Lou Pearlman (Backstreet Boys, N’SYNC), and Maurice Starr (of New Kids on the Block fame), Lee noted the winning idol formula and used it over and over again to great success. SM’s Blue Ocean strategy has been a stab at cross-cultural domination that has been successful for the most part, shipping its stars all across Asia and the U.S. (where they haven’t made significant inroads as of yet). But what about the weary performers, particularly the ones who are not ok with being treated as a commodity? H.O.T and Shinwha left the company under a bit of controversy, and none of the members have officially spoken out about their time there; but comments from disgruntled employees crop up from time to time, tales accusing the company of harsh treatment and tyrannical rule. And now with the dark cloud of the Gods Rising from the East hanging over the company, with fans demanding explanations and answers, who knows what unsavory revelations may come to light. But you know what they say, if you’re really hungry for something, you’ll do anything to achieve it. SNSD may appear on Music Bank a little worse for the wear, but you can’t dispute their popularity or their album sales. You could however, dispute Yoona’s 13 year contract.
SM is all business, but his business is successful.
YG
Korea’s most prominent hip-hop/R&B label, has gained some unprecedented success in recent years with Se7en, Big Bang and 2NE1, but in many ways, Yang Hung Suk may still be learning the ropes of the business. Yang was a member of legendary Korean group Seo Taiji & Boys until the group disbanded in 1996. After that he tried his hand at business – and the rest is history.
YG’s trainee motto is “before becoming a singer you must first become a person,” seemingly valuing the notion of good character in his employees over productivity.
This isn’t to mean that it is not a priority. Training can go from morning to night, and while the YG stable of artists is sometimes referred to as the YG Family, that may be because from training on, they are essentially each others only family.
So, YG’s training regimen leans more toward the method of nurturing the performer as an individual. But, as he is not as established as SM in the music scene, there have some questions concerning Yang’s management methods. Prolonging debuts and albums of talented artists such as Gummy, and the slightly strange debut method for rookie group 2NE1, an almost reverse psychology of under-saturation which did not ultimately hinder their success – despite his highly criticized one performance/once a week debut plan. That’s not even to mention Se7en’s failed entry into the U.S. market, which has the markings of being clumsily handled from all sides.
But you can’t deny the dynamic triumph of Big Bang, and with Yang employing some of the best writers, producers and international choreographers on to his team, the family atmosphere may be nuturing a whole new generation of accomplished artists.
JYP
JYP is often seen in the spotlight more often than his own artists. Park Jin-young’s personal business motto is that of enacting a “brand” for all performers, of which Rain was arguably his greatest achievement. But you also see that with the Wonder Girls – they are given distinctive roles from within the group, and for their overall concept, they are the quintessential girls next door. Their images are carefully managed, but their personalities are not. Boy groups 2PM and 2AM are separate groups with separate styles, but merge into the super group, One Day. Rain is the textbook jack-of-all-trades; JYP took a conventially unattractive (by Korean standards) young man with exceptional dance skills, and utilized his talent and charisma to make him a global superstar. And coming off that anecdote, is to highlight where JYP has succeeded where others have failed. JYP has successfully integrated both Rain and the Wonder Girls into the Western entertainment business. Not at any high level certainly, but enough to open doors for those who would dare to follow.
Still as with any idol aspirations, it is no easy road to get there – JYP’s academy has as many undebuted stars as debuted ones, but he does appear to take an active role in their personal growth as artists. And as odd or off-putting as he may seem, JYP appears to be one of the most amicable men in the business. He and YG have a healthy rivalry, having done collaborations in the past, including the famous “Wonderbang”, a series of special stages combining the top guy group (Big Bang) and top girl group (Wonder Girls), a move that proved profitable for both. Park is seemingly close with his golden Wonder Girls, and when Rain started his own agency, the two split amicably, as if enacting a passing of the torch. JYP may be best at merging the business with the personal; his talent is his livelihood, but the performers should also be allowed to live their own lives.
If I was fortunate to choose from one of Korea’s three biggest music moguls, ignoring the thesis I just wrote, I would go with YG, on a purely superficial level. I enjoy his company’s music more and Big Bang – um, the family atmosphere. There are some talented people there; YG just needs to effectively groom them for success.
With SM facing a red cloud of fury from the fans all three companies may have to take a long hard look at their business practices before long. And if a resolution can not be reached, Dong Bang Shin Ki could be contemplating the very points in this article before long.
“YG i think is totally different.”
Groups have left YG also.
JYP and then go to the baby company JTune, Rain.
I don’t think there’s exactly like a “which company is the best..” etc. All 3 entertainment groups are good in their own way and bad in their own way.
“A lot of people bring up the SM resume of successful groups, but look at how many of those bands leave at the first chance they get?
FTTS, HOT, SHINHWA, SES…i can go on.”
You’re making it sound like as if they just left. They didn’t. Their contract expired, which obvoiusly means they still stayed until the end. Of course it might have been hard for them, but at least they stayed. It’s not like the disbanded or anything.
FFTS, SES, SHINHWA, all of them went to a different company because their contract expired. Of course they didn’t stay in SM but it still shows that they didn’t disband during their contract.
Also, you don’t see EVERY SM artists being sad and not happy. Of course I’m not saying they’re ALL happy and lala but I’m pretty sure they aren’t sad or miserable every day -_-
The Milk Club? That’s not a real/serious club. It’s like Heechul’s Choco Club. It’s not official or anything.
I’m not trying to make SM sound good and all but at the same time SM isn’t like the WORST place.
ALL 3 entertainment groups can be like hell -_- Not only SM.
We DO know other artist’s contract time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get freedom or anything.
Just because 2PM gets 7 years and DBSK gets 13 doesn’t make 2PM have freedom or anything.
yg cuz of the family feel
then jyp cuz i think hes cool LOL
then sm if i was desperate
@ashley: Personally, I didn’t choose SM because of that. It’s because I stopped liking (well obsessing really) DBSK and plus, I’ve never seen SM have a close relationship unlike JYP with Wonder Girls and OneDay or YG with Big Bang and 2NE1.
Wow…lots of responses to this question. I like it, but I’ve already lost track! So forgive me all if I bring up topics others may have covered, etc.
@Xenia – hey thanks for the info – my assumptions on how it all works inside these companies is really kinda iffy.
Okay. Thinking it about it a little more, a couple I realized a couple of things.
First — the question assumed certain things. Assume you are talented, good-looking, and essentially are ready for a debut. So issues of training seem to be out of place.
If you’ve been training for ballads – well, I think you’d be SOL to try for YG.
If you’ve been training for solo hip-hop (or what passes for it in the land of the Morning Calm), SM is unlikely going to take you.
See where I’m going? The question is which essentially asking which of these 3 companies would you pick to be your management agency, now that you are ready for your debut. It all depends on what style of music you’ve been trained in. It’d be nice to have a choice, but there may not be any if you’ve already been trained and are ready for your debut.
Even if somehow YG took you in as a soft pop ballad singer…hec let’s go all out and make you a trot singer; would TG even know what the hec to do with you?? I highly doubt it.
Reverse it to SM taking you in as a hiphop artist — what the hec would they do with you? They only really know how to promote pop groups!
JYP? Well, no matter what your style is, I just get the feeling JYP manages his artists as an extension of his own career — just a feeling. Good luck with that.
sm WILL MAKE YOU FAMOUS. FOR SURE.
but their ways scare me :/
i’d go with any really.
Are you kidding man?
JYP all the way! Why?
Honestly… No one can pull off the sombrero like he can.
He’s got to be the most chillest CEO out of all the three.
all joking aside…
I think he’s the most hands on/ involved CEO though. The writes and produces the songs HIMSELF. Also he choreographs the dances HIMSELF.
While the Wonder Girls are in the US, he’s by their side providing a lot of support and yet even when he’s busy with the Wonder Girls, he still writes and choreographs 2pm’s songs and dances working all night.
SM and YG hire song writers and dancers but JYP however, actually does the work himself. He can create music hits like magic. He doesn’t have to hire some people like E-Tribe or the Brave Brothers to do it for him.
There is a reason why he’s on Korea’s top songwriters and SM and YG are not.
JYP is a CEO, a manager, a singer, a songwriter, a dancer, a choreographer, and a whole lot more.
Plus he supposedly sits around in trees while the WG have their fan meetings. AND THE SOMBRERO!
You are hilarious with the sombrero and JYP in trees! I would totally go with JYP also. I adore JYP. I want to work for him in the HR/Marketing/programming department… I know he has a graphics and Marketing department in NYC but not so sure about the programming and HR. awww… one day I will… hehe
duh…freakin jyp
2pm’s in it end of story
I took the trouble to tally up the ‘votes’ (coz I don’t have a life or a wife = not a slave). The results is; YG > JYP >>> SM .
. . . . . I did not consider those who chose to go indie and those who chose other smaller companies. Good suggestion, though.
. . . . . For those who are interested to read my earlier comments, pls scroll up to; 16 August at 10:25 am ; 16 Aug at 9:35 pm and 17 Aug at 8:34 am. I’m so full of myself. lol.
. . . . . I think those who are like me, ie have no life and post multiple comments on an interesting article like this, should do like I do, ie advertize our ‘penetrative’ comments to others. Hopefully, Seoulbeats will pay us money for commenting. lol.
. . . . . Peace and pay up, please.
1. JYP
2. YG Family
3. SM
YG.. obv. hee
JYP Entertainment.
SM – I like how they train their trainers as a close-to-perfection performer but I don’t like how many of them get plastic surgery and those cold treatments from the company.
YG – I really like the music they produce and how awsome their artists are but I don’t like the one show per week policy.
JYP – I like how JYP seems like a brother to his singers/trainees but I don’t like the music he gave to them that much and how he let some trainees who absolutely got no talent to get debut.
For me, if I got everything, I would probably choose either YG or JYP. YG – because I think they will let me show my full potential and be myself. JYP – I like his amicable quality and his artists’ personality but I need to make sure he would let me do what I really wanted to do.
After reading everyone elses comments, i better give a good reason.. xD
YG, because they have a family feel. I also like the music, A LOT.. and also my very shallow reason, Teddy . xD yeah.. but mostly because they look at your talent than your apearance. Even though you practice most days of the week, its because you want to show people your best.
Then JYP, because i can see that he also treats his artists very well. And the songs that are produced by JYP are always getting lots of attention
SM.. well after the DBSK thing? but before that happened i would have said SM second. because they have very sucessful artists. if you look at tvxq.. well you know..
YG FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY!
I’ll choose YG. Their artists have more freedom than the other’s.
SM 13 year contract? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Seeing JYP’s face?? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I guess there’s no choice…
YGYGYGFAMILY!!!
Lol.
I don’t think this article is all that fair two the companies as it obviously favors YG and JYP with only so-so facts about SM.
While SM is very big on a well-rounded entertainer it DOES place a large responsibility on the trainee as well.
SM offers you everything to become one of the elite, but it’s your choice to take it. SM won’t force to go to singing lessons if you don’t want to. Heechul said himself that he didn’t feel the need to go to vocal lessons during U promotions and his live performances were bad and he knew why, so he knew he had to try harder.
I would trust JYP and SM a lot more than YG to handle my chance at fame. Their music has larger ranges and they make sure you’re prepared to be an idol.
Personally, I would really want to become a part of YG FAMILY. From watching 2NE1 & Big Bang TV, you could see how close the people are in the company and it’s just fun to work in an environment like that. But like you said, “If you’re really hungry for something, you’ll do anything to achieve it…” so I don’t really care…I just wannna debut! With that in mind, please watch JOURNEY TO SM in youtube…
SM- Never would choose them. The stars from there are successful, but they also seemed so stressed and pressured. And if the tyrannical rule of SM is really true, I wouldn’t be able to handle it because I have a temper of my own.
YG- Would be my first choice! Not because they have many artists that love (BIG BANG!!!!!! And 2NE1 and Teddy and SE7EN, and heck, everyone else. :D) but because out of all of them, they seem the most family-like. YG artists appear very close as you can see by many artists collaborating together and the whole “YG Family”. I especially like how when you watch the shows of the artists training and going about their daily routines you see them joking and sharing stories with each other. That’s what family is all about. Also, look at the success of how long some of their artists stay on the scene and how their bands haven’t had any major “news of break up” scandals. It’s great to see how all of them are friends with each other. :) I’d like to be a part of it.
JYP- Would be my second choice. JYP seems to have a very good grasp of what’s hot and what’s not which he uses to help his artists (So far he’s the only one that has actually succeeded in getting his artists known in America–and not just by the Kpop fans already here–thus far). He also appears to be a very friendly man and close with his artists, which is good. There’s no point of working for a company where you never see the guy who’s training you. You just feel like you’re not really representing the name.
I found your article really interesting.
Personally, I started liking K-Pop because of Wheesung and Big Mama. They weren’t the usual celebs with pretty looks, but their voices were incredible. It really made me respect Korean singers.
So far, I think YG is the only company that actually gives its artists the freedom to do the music they want and to truly understand what the phrase ‘Enjoying the stage’ is.
YG’s artists are always very much involved in the production of their albums. I remember Micky Yoochun saying he handed out several of his own compositions to SM, but only a few were praised and included in their albums; but on the contrary, YG encourages its artists to write and compose and lets them give it a shoot. Ex. Wheesung, Teddy, Kush, G-Dragon.
You can also tell he focuses more on trying to showcase his artists as so by seeing his promotion strategies. Most of YG’s artists don’t get much screen time, so people tend to focus more on their singing and dancing. I have confirmed this by talking to some Korean friends about their perceptions on 2NE1 who only come out on music shows.
I have to admit that SM produces great music because it really does. Also, most of its singers can sing pretty well; but when I see them perform they look more like robots without any sparkle of excitement in their eyes. On the other side, YG tells his kids that it doesn’t matter if they make a mistake on a routine because the most important thing is that they have fun onstage. But, at the same time, he tells them to do their best when they practice and to improve by watching their mistakes. You can see he is strict with trainees, but you can also see he’s very human.
All in all I would choose YG, and if I got in, I would take the chance to tell Yang Goon that he needs to hire someone who can actually help him deal with multitasking and to try new styles and not just focus on R&B and Hip-Hop. I think YG is still a baby compared to SM and JYP, but if Yang Goon tries to broaden its area of expertise, it could become even more noticeable.
PS. Sorry for the bad English. -_-”
I would definitely go with YG he knows more about the entertainment industry because he’s a singer himself. He understand what a singer has to go through before achieving their dreams and from watching the YG shows you can tell he is a real person with a good heart and the BIG PAPA who cares about his children. He also knows real talent.
YG! I really like the family atmosphere and it seems like they have tons of fun in the dance room. :)
Call me crazy. But I truthfully will join SM. I don’t care about the money. I just want to put a smile on people’s faces and make music. And SM’s groups usually are succesful, cept TRAX. Either SM or JYP. I’m gonna audition for SM soon. I’m 14. Gah. Hopefully make it. (Have the looks, height, skills)!!!
YG better to go. they give them a change to sing their on music. I here Sara Park sing tagalog or philippines music. She song that when she stay in the Philippines. That a good company. Ku Hye Sun they use her drawing to gummy cover music. SM company they if they gave contract long term that not good one. they one hold the kids for long time. This kids if they have a good offer they can not do it bec. of the long contract. Hope parent should watch out read the contract before to sign.
i’ll definetely work for YG
I’d rather pick YG because of their family feel and they really focus on the music, but I wish they’d broaden their music choices. RnB/Hip hop and techno (kinda)? Umm… What about other genres? I’m okay with RnB though, that’s one of the genres I’m KINDA good at (other than ballads).
Then I’d pick JYP b/c they’re also serious about music too, but personally I find JYP kinda overrated. He’s still cool… Well he thinks he is. Plus there’s 2PM, 2AM, Wonder Girls, and 4minute! They also broaden their choices too!!!
SM? Uhh…. Even though I love DBSK, SHINee, Super Junior, f(x), and SNSD, I don’t like how they treat them. Slave contracts? No thank you. Only getting little profit from our songs? Uhh…. NO! Having to go under the knife? NO EFFING WAY. I mean I’m not saying that all the artists from SM are plastic but JYP and YG don’t always necessarily focus on looks that much as music. And plus, they need to broaden their music choices too. I mean they’re only good with Pop. Look at Girls’ Generation. They do have an occasional rock, look at Super Junior. Pop and Rock? Need something new……
I’ll chose YG.. I love the family atmosphere they have because I can’t really work under pressure. So, if there’s a “family atmosphere”, it will easily remind me of my family and there will be less tension and of course because I love Rnb and Hip Hop.. I love to write my own songs and my dream is to have my own songs released.. It will be such an honor if I get the chance to do that.. IF I’m lucky enough and need to choose between those 3, I’ll go for YG.. I don’t care about making LOTS of money in a short time. The only thing I want is to become a respected singer-songwriter. And I know YG can give the chance.. ^^,
GOD BLESS!
got in this article because i’m curious about working in yg too…
YG seems the most balanced. they fused work and play as you can see in his talents and they really look happy. he maybe not as be as good in making talents big and famous asap and risky in penetrating markets compared to the other 2, but the freedom he gives makes their music more inspirational and fun….plus, being treated as a part of a family is better than just being someone who works there…
JYP is a good alternative. they also makes great songs and kinda familliar in penetrating markets in the right time. the treatment seems ok too. what i just don’t like is he’s selling himself together with his talents like a package deal. it makes him kinda overrated and over confident with himslef that he’s that good…
SM is…errr….the least i have knowledge of. but based on things that i read here and the other sites, training is harsh and will push you really hard hone your talent to perfection. but all work and no play? i don’t think i will enjoy staying there as just a worker being paid for my services and not a part of the group that makes the success…money seems matter more than relationship for him…
I choose DSP Entertainment! xD
Seriously though, I actually prefer DSP because the family feel, the musical style (yes, I like pop) an the trust it shows in its artists. They held onto Kara, even though they weren’t a big success and look at Kara now.
I just really like the fact that DSP artists have a life, have social skills, go to school, train with work and play and are known for their perseverance.
From what I know so far…
JYP seems to have a friendly relationship with his artistes, while they might not be as well-known. He has more connections in the West than in Korea. But yeah, he seems to like putting himself into the spotlight with his artistes.
YG is more “inexperienced” and not as good as developing talents, but has the family feel and the artistes work hard for their own development, not to earn money for YG.
SM is good if you’re attractive, willing to work hard and have almost-near perfection, the artistes work to death under scary contracts, but they enjoy greater success with the company. Guess you can call it: those who succeed will be super popular, but those who are not will suffer.
i want 2 join YG Family.
Love the way he treats all the talents/artists…
YG family
just becuz I want to.
JYP Entertainment!!
what company would be better if u wanted to act and model?
Groups aside, talking about companies and the people behind it. In my opinion the people at JYP seem like pretty professional people. By this im talking they focus on one thing after another, YG is just a mess. They’ll work on a project half way and start on another, promote one person and and then ditch them for the other. YG people are extremely freelance – they have no rules around their company and this is BAD, they are developing their artists to be ruthless and arrogant, as i have heard. Whats good about JYP is that he does everything, and will only throw out whats good out to the market and what people like, YG hires people to do everything, again BAD – producers gives songs to artists whether they like it or not, record it and put it out to people no choice available. Another thing is JYP actually “promotes’ their artists, they’ll promote them overseas in America and tour around Asia etc. YG is like “keeping” their people inside Korea which is truly a shame!
Look im not bias, i love Big Bang and 2NE1 but i dont like the people behind it all.
Oh yeah and i forgot to mention SM, but really they dont deserve to be mentioned cause they’ll promote anyone with good looks but no talent or singing capabilites *cough*, SNSD *cough*.
Anyway JYP all the way, not to mention JYP himself is a funny guy.
uhh are you frikkin kidding me? SNSD got alot of talent. Have you heard Taeyeon, Tiffany, Jessica, Seohyun and sunny sing?? THEY ARE AWSOME and taeyeon is even famous in asia for one of the best female singer. Hyoyeon, Yuri, sooyoung are awsome at dancing and decent at singing. Yoona, shes very good at acting and also good at dancing. And they all have great looks and GREAT personality with awsome talents.
You probbably dont know this cause you dont want to. Like other haters out here. Many of them KNOW that they do have talent and look good, but jealousy takes over and there comes hate. Other antis doesnt know how SNSD really is, they only go after what people tell them and make up. Some of them dont want to listen to them cause they are afraid that they will start liking them XD, and ALOOOOT of them has turned from being an anti to a crazy fan lol.
anyways, SM FOR ME!!
YG baba~baby~!!!^^
I love JYP, but I wouldn’t audition for it….
I feels like if I go to sm (Plan not to anyways) I don’t think I’m going to go no where….
Hard question but id deffinetly pick SM.
why? Because SNSD is there LOL. Im a fangirl and i really wish i could be as succesful as them and make good music.
i wish i was in snsd T.T …
YG!!!! cuz they’re the most ‘real’ out of the 3 n u can reallie feel the family vibe.
yg, coz i wanna write and perform my own songs….
jyp, cos he seems like a great teacher..
sm,last- look at half of snsd, long periods of training and can’t sing decently,(based on you tube, only taeyon and seohyun can pass as singers, and well, hyoyeon can dance)..