Dropped K-pop tunes return to Spotify as new deal pushes through
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The positive development puts an end to a standoff between Spotify and South Korea-based entertainment company, Kakao Entertainment.
All's well that ends well.
K-pop fans from around the world can heave a sigh of relief after Spotify and Kakao Entertainment (formerly KakaoM) have reached an agreement, reinstating the hundreds of K-pop tunes that were removed from Spotify's platform.
The two companies were previously at odds after both parties failed to strike a new deal that would allow Spotify to carry the songs that are under the stable of Kakao Entertainment.
Spotify has just launched in South Korea in February of this year, putting itself at the center of the country's dynamic and lucrative music scene that has grown massive and global.
The music streaming platform's entry into the country, however, was marred with frustration after it was forced to drop a substantial number of K-pop songs to avoid licensing problems with Kakao Entertainment.
Many surmised that Kakao Entertainment's link with the South Korean streaming platform MelOn played a significant part in the resulting standoff.
Affected K-pop artists also voiced out their displeasure with the setup, lamenting how artists are the ones who suffer in these kinds of business decisions.
The collective uproar, according to Variety and its source, has pushed Kakao Entertainment to settle the matter with terms that are not much different from the previous agreement
“We are pleased that Kakao Entertainment's content and artists are back on Spotify, allowing our 345M+ global listeners across 170 countries to once again enjoy the music they love,” Spotify said in a statement to announce the new deal.
“Spotify's mission has always been to connect artists to their fans all over the world and to give listeners access to all of the world's music.
“We are delighted that our Korean listeners will now also be able to enjoy this local music alongside our 70 million+ songs and 4 billion+ playlists.
“We remain committed to making a positive impact on Korea's music streaming ecosystem through our partnerships with artists, labels, and local rights holders.”
Meanwhile, Kakao Entertainment has confirmed the good news and reaffirmed its commitment to help promote Korean music while protecting the rights of those working in the local music scene.
“Through its diverse partnerships around the world including Spotify, Kakao Entertainment hopes that music lovers around the world can easily access its artists' and music content to enjoy K-pop,” said Kakao Entertainment in a statement.
Meanwhile, and while you're thinking of what to listen next on Spotify, take a look first at this gallery featuring Jackson Wang from the K-pop group GOT7:
