K-Pop Label JYP Expands Partnership With Republic Records & Imperial to Cover Its Full Roster

Three years after initially teaming up, JYP Entertainment, Imperial and Republic Records are going all in on their strategic global partnership, with the three companies now set to collaborate across the entire JYP Entertainment roster, Billboard can reveal.

According to a press statement, the enhanced label partnership will include worldwide distribution of artists and catalogs, A&R, marketing and business development.

While the Republic/Imperial push already powers JYP groups TWICE, Stray Kids and ITZY, the expanded deal includes newer acts like girl group to watch NMIXX and rock band Xdinary Heroes. JYP Entertainment currently houses nearly a dozen acts, with many members of its groups also active as soloists under the label.

Billboard first broke the news in early 2020 of JYPE and Republic linking to grow TWICE’s presence in the United States. Since then, the K-pop girl group has not only seen massive growth, most recently earning their highest chart position and biggest sales week ever in the United States when Ready to Be debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Last year’s expansion, which brought boy band Stray Kids and female quintet ITZY into the fold, has resulted in two No. 1s on the Billboard 200 for the former and a top 10 album on the chart for the latter. And in July, TWICE member Nayeon became the first-ever K-pop soloist to enter the top 10 of the Billboard 200 with her debut solo album, IM NAYEON: The 1st Mini Album.

Prior to its Imperial/Republic partnership, JYP had a global digital and physical distribution deal with The Orchard that was struck in 2019.

“It has been a continuous journey of astonishing achievements through the strengthening of mutual trust as loyal partners,” said JYP Entertainment CEO Jimmy Jeong. “The expansion of this partnership between these leading music companies will sculpt the next vision of K-pop, opening up a new chapter together.”

Republic Records founder/CEO Monte Lipman added, “This partnership was born out of mutual respect and admiration. We recognize the incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of the next K-pop explosion. The potential is limitless.”

Next up for JYP, Republic and Imperial is the Friday (June 2) release of Stray Kids’ new full-length album, 5-Star, which could become the boy band’s third consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200. A teaser video of the group’s upcoming single, “S-Class,” has amassed about two million views on YouTube since its May 29 release.