South Korean entertainment company HYBE has expanded its presence in the Latin American music market with the launch of a new label.<\/p>\n
The new label, DOCEMIL Music<\/b>, signed Mexican music veteran Emmanuel “Meme” del Real<\/b> as its first artist. Del Real, known for his work with multiple Latin Grammy Award-winning rock band Caf\u00e9 Tacvba<\/b>, has already released his first single, Princesa, <\/i>under the new label.<\/p>\n
The track features a collaboration with Argentine producer Gustavo Santaolalla<\/b> and serves as a preview of del Real’s upcoming solo debut album, scheduled for release later this year, Korea Times <\/i>reported<\/a> Wednesday (February 5).<\/p>\n “Meme del Real joining Docemil Music demonstrates that HYBE can support Latin American artists and back their unlimited creativity,” Jonghyun ‘JH’ Kah<\/b>, CEO of HYBE Latin America<\/strong>, said in a statement cited by Korea Times. <\/i>\u201cWe are very excited about the future we will create together with the artists.”<\/p>\n The development comes over a year after HYBE expanded into the Latin Music market with the acquisition<\/a> of Latin Music company Exile Music<\/b>, an affiliate label of Spanish language entertainment studio Exile Content<\/b>.<\/p>\n With this acquisition, HYBE launched a Mexico-based Latin Music arm called HYBE Latin America in November 2023. Four months later, HYBE Latin America appointed<\/a> Fernando Grediaga<\/b> as General Manager.<\/p>\n Speaking to Billboard Espa\u00f1ol<\/i>, Grediaga\u00a0said<\/a> that “while HYBE may be new to the Latin market, we bring substantial experience and success from our operations in Korea, Japan, and the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n “While HYBE may be new to the Latin market, we bring substantial experience and success from our operations in Korea, Japan, and the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernando Grediaga, HYBE Latin America<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In August 2024, HYBE said<\/a> it would continue to implement its \u201cmulti-home, multi-genre\u201d strategy in the US, Japan, and Latin America. At the time, the company said HYBE LatAm \u201cis preparing to hit [its] stride starting in 2025\u201d and that it is currently focusing on building infrastructure and scouting producers and artists.<\/p>\n HYBE also hinted at plans to debut HYBE LatAm\u2019s first artist developed through the K-pop system in 2025. HYBE CEO Jason Jaesang Lee<\/b> reiterated<\/a> this plan in November 2024, saying HYBE LatAm is \u201cpreparing to debut a localized band, which can mark a starting point of [the] fandom business in Latin America, where consumption of Latin genre music can be developed into a more complex culture.\u201d<\/p>\n HYBE\u2019s Latin Music strategy comes as the K-pop company seeks to capitalize on the growing genre. In the first half of 2024, Latin Music revenues in the US jumped<\/a> 7.3% YoY <\/b><\/span>to $685.5 million<\/b>, setting an all-time first-half record, according to the RIAA<\/b>\u2018s Mid-Year 2024 Latin Music Revenue Report.<\/p>\n The global expansion could help HYBE shift its focus outside its home market as it faces challenges involving its label ADOR<\/strong>. The dispute between HYBE and K-pop group NewJeans<\/strong> escalated recently, with the group appointing<\/a> law firm Shin & Kim LLC<\/strong> to represent them in their legal battle against ADOR and HYBE.<\/p>\n The five-member group announced in January that they have no plans to return to ADOR amid the ongoing contract dispute. That followed\u00a0 ADOR\u2019s December 2024 lawsuit<\/a> seeking to confirm the validity of their exclusive contract with the group.<\/p>\n\n
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