Cho Soo-mi signs exclusive recording artist contract with SM [Official]

*This content was translated by AI.

• EXO's Suho joins debut 40th-anniversary album Continuum, set for release in May

World-renowned soprano Cho Soo-mi has signed an exclusive recording contract (Exclusive Recording Contract) with SM Entertainment (hereinafter SM) for the production of albums and digital music.

According to SM Entertainment, this contract marks the first recording exclusive artist signed by SM's classical and jazz label, 'SM Classics'.

SM Entertainment stated, "Cho Soo-mi's diverse musical journey will expand globally through SM Classics, and as a signal of this, her debut 40th-anniversary special album, Continuum (컨티뉴엄), will be released this May."

Through SM Entertainment, Cho Soo-mi said, "This album represents both the culmination of my long journey and the beginning of a new chapter. My music does not remain in any single moment but continues to evolve, moving toward new possibilities. This album includes high-difficulty coloratura arias that have not been previously released on record, alongside new compositions by contemporary composers. It is my sincere commitment to music to challenge the boundaries between the legacy of traditional classical music and modern sensibilities, and to keep striving toward new music rather than staying within familiar paths."

The new album Continuum, set for release in May, features a vast repertoire of 11 tracks that span Cho Soo-mi's past, present, and future. It includes collaborations with top composers from Korea and abroad, including Im Ee-ma, Park Jong-hoon, Kim Jin-hwan, Choi Jin, Go Young-hwan, Yoon Ja-eun, and Takatsugu Muramatsu. The album's quality was enhanced by the conducting of Choi Young-sun and performances by the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra. Additionally, SM Entertainment noted that the album achieves a refined harmony by incorporating popular sensibilities into traditional classical music through a duet with EXO's Suho and a feature by violinist Danny Koo.

To expand and globalize K-classical music, SM Classics has appointed Jo Hee-kyung, a professional classical and jazz album producer who has worked with global labels such as Universal Music and Warner Music, as its representative, launching SM Classics' second phase.

Jo Hui-gyeong (CEO) stated, "Under the motto 'Classical Heritage, Modern Soul,' we plan to dedicate ourselves to the globalization of classical, crossover, and jazz music by Korean artists, with this album by Cho Soo-mi serving as the starting point."

The 'Exclusive Recording Artist' contract between SM Classics and Cho Soo-mi follows the format of agreements signed by major global labels, focusing on the planning, recording, and distribution of albums and digital music. Through this contract, Cho Soo-mi will receive comprehensive support from SM Classics for album and digital music production.

Meanwhile, to mark her 40th anniversary, Cho Soo-mi is continuing a large-scale project connecting global stages. Following successful performances at London's Cadogan Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall in March, she will meet domestic fans through a nationwide tour in May, including Seoul, Changwon, Bucheon, and Yongin. Cho Soo-mi is also accelerating efforts to nurture future talent. She plans to host the '2nd Cho Soo-mi International Vocal Competition' at the Château de la Ferté-en-Gâtinais in France in July, directly participating in the discovery of next-generation artists and the expansion of classical music's reach.

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*This content was translated by AI.