Park Taehyun, CEO of SM C&C: "Our Ballad 2" Diversifies Music Streaming Business

*This content was translated by AI.

• SM C&C Continues Joint Venture with SBS's "Our Ballad 2," Expanding the Scope of Music IP Business

SBS's hit variety program "Our Ballad Season 2," which received strategic investment from SM Culture & Content (hereinafter SM C&C), has officially launched.

Marking the launch of this season of "Our Ballad Season 2," SM C&C plans to further upgrade its established "music IP-centric business model." By participating as a joint venture partner for the second consecutive year following Season 1, the company aims to build a foundation for sustainable growth by linking artist management with derivative IPs such as music streaming and live performances.

Park Taehyun, CEO of SM C&C, stated, "Expanding verified music IPs into secondary value-added businesses such as distribution, copyright, live performances, and commerce is the core of diversifying our music business. Through this 'Our Ballad 2,' we aim to drive a generational shift in ballads that resonates with younger audiences." He added, "Furthermore, SM C&C will take the lead in ensuring that ballads become another strong pillar in the idol-centric K-POP market, expanding their reach into the global market."

◆ Second Consecutive Year of Joint Venture with SBS's "Our Ballad"… Building a Virtuous Cycle of an "Integrated IP Value Chain"

In the recent entertainment and content industries, "IP business," which creates sustained value through securing proprietary IPs, has become a key competitive advantage. Based on its robust original content production capabilities, SM C&C is building an "integrated IP value chain model" that moves beyond one-off revenue structures, spanning from investment and production to IP acquisition, music distribution, live performances, and commerce based on its own platforms.

Continuing participation in SBS's "Our Ballad 2" holds significant meaning as it aims to solidify a more systematic IP business model based on the experience from Season 1. The public interest formed through broadcasting is not meant to be a one-time buzz, but rather part of a virtuous cycle that supports sustainable musical activities for rookie artists and long-term stable foundations in copyright and distribution, fostering a healthy music ecosystem.

Strengthening Lineup and Producer Synergy to Scale Up Music IP

SM C&C is accelerating the "scale-up" of its music IP business. The company has signed artists across various spectrums, including trot singer Hong Ji-yoon and Park Hyun-gyu from "Sing Again 2."

Internal synergy with the hit-making composer group "Algo Boni Honsumtae" (Hidden State) is also expected to add momentum. Algo Boni Honsumtae not only maintains active external activities, such as SBS Love FM's "Life is an Audition" and KBS's "National Song Contest," but also strengthens collaboration in album production, lyric writing, composition, and arrangement for its affiliated artists as a top-tier producer, establishing a system to create high-quality music.

Music Releases Continue from the First Half… Momentum Building for "Our Ballad 2"

The music IP business is showing gradual results through music releases that began in the first half of this year. New songs and remakes by Lee Ye-ji, Lee Ji-hoon, and Song Ji-woo from "Our Ballad Season 1," as well as Park Hyun-gyu's new song project, were successfully released in the first half.

In fact, music derivative content from "Our Ballad Season 1" artists has recorded a cumulative streaming total* of approximately 10.3 million views (as of late September 2026). This includes Lee Ji-hoon's music video for "A Good Person," which reached 1.12 million views, music broadcast direct camera content including Lee Ye-ji's new song "I Hate It" with about 940,000 views, and SK Telecom Membership AI Song with 4.31 million views.

In the second half as well, work on new songs by the Top 6 artists from "Our Ballad" Season 1 is actively underway. Led by Choi Eun-bin's "Now That I'm You," released on the 29th, SM C&C's music portfolio is expected to become more substantial through sequential music releases. "Our Ballad Season 2" will air starting from the 5th.

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*This content was translated by AI.