Ador - CMU | the music business explained

Ador founder wins legal battle over shareholder agreement with HYBE, which now needs to pay her $17.7 million

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Hybe • 2 min read

Ador founder wins legal battle over shareholder agreement with HYBE, which now needs to pay her $17.7 million

A court in South Korea has ruled in favour of Ador founder Min Hee-jin in one of her legal battles with the label’s owner, K-pop powerhouse HYBE. It tried to terminate a shareholder agreement with Min, but a court says that deal is still in force. As a result, HYBE will have to pay Min $17.7 million…

Chris Cooke • 13 Feb 2026

Yet more K-pop legal drama as Ador founder hits back at contract tampering claims, and agency sues one of NewJeans

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Hybe • 3 min read

Yet more K-pop legal drama as Ador founder hits back at contract tampering claims, and agency sues one of NewJeans

After trying to quit HYBE’s Ador label, K-pop group NewJeans last year agreed to carry on working with the company. But then the label announced it was axing and suing one member, while also accusing Ador founder Min Hee-jin of contract tampering, something she denied at a press conference today…

Chris Cooke • 28 Jan 2026

Ador founder wants to develop alternative K-pop management model with new agency

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Min Hee-jin • 2 min read

Ador founder wants to develop alternative K-pop management model with new agency

The dispute between NewsJeans and HYBE-owned Ador put the spotlight on K-pop artist deals earlier this year. Ador founder Min Hee-jin - who was pushed out of the agency, prompting the dispute with NewJeans - is launching a new company and says she plans to develop a “new management model” through it…

Chris Cooke • 08 Dec 2025

With NewJeans v HYBE legal ruling due, Ador’s founder Min launches new agency

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NewJeans • 3 min read

With NewJeans v HYBE legal ruling due, Ador’s founder Min launches new agency

A judge is due to rule this week on the legal battle between HYBE’s Ador and NewJeans - it is trying to enforce its contract with the group, who quit the agency after CEO Min Hee-jin was pushed out. With that ruling incoming, Min has now launched another K-pop agency called Ooak…

Chris Cooke • 28 Oct 2025

HYBE’s headquarters raided twice in one week as legal issues spiral

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Hybe • 2 min read

HYBE’s headquarters raided twice in one week as legal issues spiral

The Seoul HQ of K-pop company HYBE has been raided twice in the last week, first by officials investigating fraud allegations against founder Bang Si-hyuk and then today by tax inspectors. Both raids relate to allegations of misconduct around HYBE’s 2020 initial public offering…

Chris Cooke • 29 Jul 2025

South Korean regulator refers HYBE founder to prosecutors over IPO fraud allegations

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Hybe • 2 min read

South Korean regulator refers HYBE founder to prosecutors over IPO fraud allegations

The financial regulator in South Korea has referred its investigation into fraud allegations against HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk to prosecutors. Meanwhile police have ended an investigation into complaints made by HYBE against Ador founder Min Hee-jin concluding there is no case for criminal charges…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jul 2025

Ador founder says HYBE carries “burden of proof” in dispute over terminated shareholder agreement

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Ador • 2 min read

Ador founder says HYBE carries “burden of proof” in dispute over terminated shareholder agreement

The dispute between HYBE and the founder of its Ador label, Min Hee-Jin, was in court last week. Min has since issued a statement criticising HYBE over its conduct in the dispute, insisting it has the burden of proof to show it legally terminated a shareholders agreement and dismissed her as CEO…

Chris Cooke • 22 Apr 2025

NewJeans rebrand socials to mhdhh_friends as “unique” legal battle with Ador rumbles on

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NewJeans • 3 min read

NewJeans rebrand socials to mhdhh_friends as “unique” legal battle with Ador rumbles on

The legal battle between NewJeans and HYBE’s Ador was in court in Seoul last week, with the judge observing that this is a “unique” dispute because it centres on a loss of trust rather than unpaid royalties. Shortly after the hearing NewJeans removed their new name, NJZ, from social media accounts…

Chris Cooke • 07 Apr 2025

NewJeans on enforced hiatus after court says no activity without Ador’s involvement

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NewJeans • 3 min read

NewJeans on enforced hiatus after court says no activity without Ador’s involvement

NewJeans are on hiatus after HYBE’s Ador secured an injunction from the courts last week preventing the group from pursuing any projects without its involvement. The hiatus was announced at a show in Hong Kong where the group performed under their new name NJZ, much to the annoyance of Ador…

Chris Cooke • 24 Mar 2025

NewJeans bumper PowerPoint doesn’t convince judge as court tells band to present stronger evidence for claims against Ador

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NewJeans • 3 min read

NewJeans bumper PowerPoint doesn’t convince judge as court tells band to present stronger evidence for claims against Ador

A court in Seoul last week considered a request by HYBE agency Ador for an injunction stopping NewJeans from entering into new deals while it pursues legal action to enforce its contract with the group. The judge told NewJeans to restructure their list of reasons for terminating their Ador deal…

Chris Cooke • 11 Mar 2025

K-pop relies on “mutual trust between agencies and artists” says KMCA as NewJeans v Ador bust-up heads to court

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Ador • 3 min read

K-pop relies on “mutual trust between agencies and artists” says KMCA as NewJeans v Ador bust-up heads to court

The NewJeans v Ador dispute is due to arrive in court this week, putting the spotlight on the K-pop business model. To that end, the big K-pop agencies last week held a press conference defending their artist deals, and insisting that artists must respect those deals for the industry to thrive…

Chris Cooke • 03 Mar 2025

K-pop labels and agencies want new laws against contract tampering, but no other regulation, as Ador v NewJeans dispute continues

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NewJeans • 4 min read

K-pop labels and agencies want new laws against contract tampering, but no other regulation, as Ador v NewJeans dispute continues

With the ongoing very public dispute between NewJeans and HYBE’s Ador still grabbing the headlines in South Korea, resulting in proposals for regulating the K-pop business, five trade groups for the Korean music industry have said the focus of law-makers should be so called “tampering practices”…

Chris Cooke • 21 Feb 2025