CL Leaves Longtime K-Pop Label: Report
CL has parted ways with the hit-making South Korean record label YG Entertainment, according to a YG statement issued to South Korean media on Friday. She has been with YG for more than a decade as…
CL has parted ways with the hit-making South Korean record label YG Entertainment, according to a YG statement issued to South Korean media on Friday (Nov. 8). She has been with YG for more than a decade as both a soloist and member of girl group 2NE1.
“Respecting each other’s opinions, we came to an agreement with CL to end her exclusive contract,” read the statement, as per Soompi’s translation. We express deep gratitude to the fans who have shown for CL, who shined with her activities as an artist of YG.”
At YG, CL debuted with 2NE1 in 2009, and while promoting as a leader and rapper, she led trends in various areas including music and fashion. She also left a major mark in the history of K-pop when she became the first Korean solo female artist to chart in the Billboard Hot 100 on October 12, 2016.
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The statement continued, “We ask for lots of interest and support for CL’s new activities, and YG will also cheer her on with unchanging trust and affection. Thank you.”
CL spent her career under YG pushing the boundaries of K-pop’s global presence through both her work as a solo artist and 2NE1. Her last solo release, 2016’s “Lifted” peaked on the Hot 100 at No. 94, making it the only song by a female K-pop soloist to rank on that chart. She performed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic closing cermony and collaborated with The Black Eyed Peas last year.
She parts ways with the company in a year that has seen major change to what is considered one of K-pop’s historic “Big 3” agencies. Earlier this year, BIGBANG’s Seungri and founder Yang Hyun-suk left the agency after each investigated on a series of criminal allegations.
YG did not respond to Billboard’s request for a statement.
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