JYP signs deal with Republic Records to help ITZY, Stray Kids’ U.S. activities

Girl group ITZY [ILGAN SPORTS]

K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment signed an expanded partnership with Republic Records to help extend JYP’s K-pop groups ITZY and Stray Kids’ activities in the U.S.

Republic Records announced the news on Thursday.

The two companies initially signed a strategic partnership in 2020 that was focused on girl group Twice’s advance in the U.S. music industry.

“We are beyond delighted to move forward with Republic Records [...] in developing the major artist roster of the two companies’ hereafter, starting with the successful kickoff Twice has brought,” JYP’s CEO Jimmy Jeong said in a statement.

Republic Records’ founder and CEO Monte Lipman also expressed his joy at being able to collaborate with JYP.

Republic Records represents artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and Drake.

Boy band Stray Kids [ILGAN SPORTS]

ITZY debuted in 2019 with the song “Dalla Dalla.” It has hit songs “Icy” (2019), “Wannabe” (2020), “Not Shy” (2020), “Mafia in the Morning” (2021) and “Loco” (2021). The group has five members: Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong and Yuna.

Stray Kids debuted in 2017 through JYP Entertainment’s reality show of the same name that was broadcast on Mnet. The band has eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N. It debuted as a nine-member band but Woojin left the band in October 2019.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]