The Black Label denies rumors of signing contract with ex-Nmixx member Jinni

Photo from Jinni's personal Instagram account [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Black Label denied reports of having signed an exclusive contract with Jinni, former member of girl group Nmixx, on Monday.

“The Black Label did not sign any contracts with Jinni,” the agency told the Korea JoongAng Daily on Tuesday.

“There were no meetings [with Jinni] for discussions,” the agency added.

Jinni, whose real name is Choi Yoon-jin, opened her personal Instagram account last Saturday, 100 days after JYP Entertainment announced the termination of her exclusive contract with the agency, alongside her departure from girl group Nmixx due to “personal reasons.”

Her Instagram account garnered a million followers in just one day, almost a third of the follower count of Nmixx.

Since Jinni made her Instagram account on Saturday, rumors have been circulating of her signing with another agency or making a comeback. Fans speculated that Jinni had signed with The Black Label after the marketing and promotion director of the agency, Peter Chun, started following Jinni.

The Black Label was founded in 2016 as a subsidiary label of YG Entertainment by the Korean-American rapper and producer Teddy, known for setting the musical direction for YG Entertainment. The agency became independent in 2020 after YG Entertainment sold its shares.

Nmixx debuted in February last year as a seven-member girl group with members Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Bae, Jinni Jiwoo and Kyujin and has been active as a six-member girl group since the departure of Jinni. The group released its first EP, “expérgo” on Monday, two days after Jinni opened her Instagram account.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]