SM New Girl Group Launching and more! 1Q25 PLAN
SM Entertainment (hereinafter, SM, CEO Jang Chul-hyuk and Tak Young-joon) will launch a new girl group five years after aespa.
SM said on Nov. 5, “We recorded management performance of KRW 242 billion in sales and KRW 13.3 billion in operating profit in the third quarter of this year on a consolidated basis.”
Compared to the same period last year, sales fell 9% and operating profit fell 73.6%. In terms of sales, sales decreased due to a decrease in album sales and a decrease in sales of major affiliates, and operating profit decreased due to a decrease in sales of affiliates and the cost of producing SM’s first British boy group DEAR ALICE broadcasting program.
On a separate basis, it recorded sales of 172.1 billion won and operating profit of 27.1 billion won in the third quarter, down 8.8% and 43.6% year-on-year, respectively. Although sales of albums and songs decreased year-on-year due to the high base of sales of new albums, it led to an increase in MD sales by expanding concerts and expanding concert-linked MD (planned products) through performance expansion and internalization of performance businesses. Net profit fell 56.8% year-on-year to 16 billion won.
SM predicted the active activities of its artist lineup in the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year. In particular, in the first quarter of next year, a new female group, which will be introduced in five years since aespa, is set to debut. Based on SM 3.0’s IP expansion roadmap, it will introduce the new IP, which will continue the successful launch of RIIZE, NCT WISH, a global IP expansion project, British boy group “Dear Alice,” and nævis, the first virtual artist, and will hold a full-fledged promotion with the single release in the first quarter of next year.
In addition, aespa’s mini album “Whiplash,” released on Oct. 21 following the release of a single solo song by each member at the concert, has been loved so much that it has continued its unrivaled No. 1 streak with a relay hit led by aespa’s “Supernova” this year. In November, SHINee Minho’s first full-length album, released on the 4th, as well as NCT Dream’s 4th full-length album, will be released to meet global music fans.
In addition, following the release of TVXQ’s Japanese studio album and the concert tour marking the 20th anniversary of their Japanese debut, NCT Wish’s Japanese studio album and NCT Yuta’s Japanese mini album will also be released. Red Velvet’s Irene’s first solo debut album, Taeyeon and WayV’s mini album, and NICE’s single will also be released.
In the first quarter of next year, which marks the 30th anniversary of SM’s founding, the agency is preparing a variety of 30th anniversary projects, including the SMTOWN LIVE Concert and SMTOWN album, which are joint performances by SM artists. NCT Mark’s first full-length album, EXO Kai’s mini album, Red Velvet Seulgi and NCT Wish, and NCT Ten’s mini album were also announced.
“SM is building an artist IP across all generations of K-Pop through debuting new artists that have been loved for a long time, as well as existing artist teams, and will build a more solid lineup of artists through debuting new girl groups next year,” said co-CEO Jang Chul-hyuk.
The official added, “We plan to present various projects such as performances, albums, and MDs for many fans who loved SM on the 30th anniversary of its foundation next year, so please look forward to it.”
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