"Standard Exclusive Contracts, Shifting All Responsibility to Agencies" (KMA)

Producers pointed out the lack of fairness in the standard exclusive contract. Five Korean music organizations held a press conference at the JW Marriott in Banpo on the 27th, stating, "Without record producers, there is no K-pop."

Attendees included the Korea Management Association (KMA), the Korea Entertainment Producers Association (KEPA), the Korean Music Label Industry Association (KMLIA), the Korean Record Industry Association (RIAK), and the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA).

Namkyung Lee, director of KMA, argued for the revision of the standard exclusive contract. He pointed out, "The biggest issue is that all obligations and responsibilities in the contract are placed solely on the agency."

Lee stated, "The relationship between entertainers and their agencies is no longer hierarchical. It's an equal partnership," while noting that the standard contract still places most of the binding responsibility on the company.

In contrast, entertainers' obligations under exclusive contracts mainly include three aspects: "demonstrating skills and talents diligently, maintaining dignity as cultural artists, and not entering into contracts with third parties."

Therefore, most disputes over exclusive contracts end up blaming the company. "The company defends, and the singer attacks, leading to inevitable unilateral aspects," he lamented, adding that producers lack adequate measures to cope.

Suspensions of exclusive contract validity through provisional dispositions often favor the singer. "After such dispositions, producers cannot conduct business, whereas entertainers do not suffer losses," he expressed regret.

He emphasized, "If a ruling results in losses for the company, the same should apply to entertainers," urging the judiciary to guide mutual cooperation to avoid losses.

He also addressed tampering. "The days when agencies controlled every aspect of an entertainer's life are over," he said, noting that the current contracts allow entertainers too many means of evasion.

Lee conveyed the reality that while companies must maintain contracts until profits are realized, entertainers have structures that allow them to leave easily at any time.

Finally, he urged the judiciary, "The cultural arts industry is not a business built alone," calling for a conservative approach in cases of suspending the validity of exclusive contracts.

<Photo courtesy of KMA, KEPA, KMLIA, RIAK, KMCA>