Blackpink's 10th anniversary complicated by members' solo careers and multiple agencies

The 10th anniversary of K-pop sensation Blackpink arrived with significant operational hurdles, underscoring the complexities of managing a global group whose members have launched independent careers.

While the group marked the milestone, the celebration itself was marred by uncertainty. A fan event, announced just two days before the anniversary, fueled fan anxiety as it stated members would attend "according to their individual schedules." This ambiguity was amplified by an unrelated incident at YG Entertainment's headquarters the same day, though police found no link.

YG Entertainment later confirmed all four members would attend, but the episode highlighted a structural shift. Since their contracts with YG expired in December 2023, Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rosé have founded their own agencies: Odd Atelier, Lloud, Blissoo, and The Black Label, respectively. YG still manages Blackpink's group activities, but coordinating schedules now requires input from four separate companies.

"Getting sign-off between the members' individual agencies simply takes too long," an official at one member's agency told The Korea Herald. This coordination challenge has also impacted music releases, with the EP "Deadline" facing significant delays. The members, meanwhile, have been actively pursuing solo projects, including festival performances and solo EPs, further stretching their availability for group activities.

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Getting sign-off between the members’ individual agencies simply takes too long.