The group TWICE has entered its second contract renewal season since the full-group renewal in 2022. As reports have emerged recently about some members meeting with other agencies and screen debuts outlining individual activities, attention in the music industry is focusing on whether they will open a new chapter with a "together yet apart" strategy that balances group and solo activities.
Since their dazzling debut in October 2015, TWICE has, starting with their debut song, placed every title track they released into the ranks of hit songs and established themselves as a top girl group. Having produced numerous firsts and bests, TWICE surpassed the cursed seven years and in 2022 signed full-group renewals with JYP amid strong mutual trust.
Even after the renewals, TWICE's ascent continued. In particular, TWICE set another record with their largest-ever world tour THIS IS FOR, which ran about a year from July last year starting in Incheon to the encore concert in Seoul this July, totaling 81 performances across 44 regions. They drew about 550,000 people from the North American leg alone, which was staged in 20 cities over 35 shows, setting a record for the largest audience ever attracted by a K-pop girl group; they also became the first foreign artist to perform solo at the Tokyo National Stadium, drawing 240,000 attendees over three shows, demonstrating overwhelming global influence.
Having reached their peak and proven strong teamwork as a group, TWICE hinted at change as they entered their second contract renewal season by announcing successive individual moves. First, Jeongyeon attracted attention when it was revealed that she held meetings related to an exclusive contract with Baro Entertainment, which represents her sister Gong Seung-yeon and actor Byeon Woo-seok.
Reports followed that Tzuyu agreed not to sign an individual exclusive contract with JYP while continuing full-group activities with TWICE, and Chaeyoung was also reported to have met with other entertainment agencies for individual activities.
Regarding ongoing rumors of members transferring and news of individual activities, JYP said, "TWICE is currently in a contract renewal discussion period, and we will inform you once matters are confirmed," showing a cautious stance.
Accordingly, it is highly likely that TWICE will follow a model like senior label mate 2PM, in which members may belong to different agencies but successfully carry out full-group schedules with JYP's support. Fans worldwide are eagerly watching to see if TWICE, which has maintained its top position, will open a glamorous second act as an ideal "together yet apart" model—receiving strong support for individual activities such as acting from specialized agencies that match each member's vision while simultaneously continuing group activities.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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