Blackpink Industry

• YG Entertainment


  South Korean record label and talent agency, also a music production company and event management company
• YG Entertainment


  • Diversified across several areas, not just a record label
  • Vertically and horizontally integrated
  • Has a range of other subsidiaries (clothing, merchandise, cosmetics, golf)
• YG Entertainment worked with Psy on Gangnam Style, which was a big global hit
• YG Entertainment has been invested in by several large tech companies
• YG Entertainment has had scandals in the past, such as the Burning Sun scandal and rumors of corruption and drugs
• Complaints from audiences about potential cultural appropriation in the "How You Like That" music video


  YG Entertainment edited out the image of the Hindu statue
• Trainees


  Young aspiring artists who join a company to be trained in music, dance, styling, media, PR, etc. to become as famous and marketable as possible
• Trainee development process


  1. Trainees featured on reality shows

  2. Audiences encouraged to watch and vote for favorites

  3. Voted trainees become pop stars and release music
• Promotion of "How You Like That" music video and band


  • Countdowns on online platforms
  • Teaser videos on social media
  • Individual posters for each band member
  • Blackpink reality show "Blackpink House"
• Globalization of the music industry has affected how music is produced, marketed, and distributed
• Strategies to appeal to a global audience


  • Inclusion of exotic global locations in the video
  • Diverse and varied band members
  • Albums released in Japanese
  • Use of English lyrics
• Blackpink has broken multiple records on YouTube
• Regulation of music videos


  • Optional age ratings by record labels in the UK
  • Required age ratings displayed at the start of videos in South Korea
• Interscope and UMG deal with YG Entertainment


  • Interscope helps market and distribute Blackpink outside of Asia
  • UMG gave Blackpink a prime spot at the Grammy showcase to help break the US market
• Blackpink members have started their own solo careers, also promoted by YG Entertainment