Girls’ Generation’s Sunny signs with SM Entertainment founder’s new label, A20

Girls’ Generation member Sunny has signed with A20 Entertainment, a new label established by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man.

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South Korean news outlet Nocut News reported on April 9 that the Girls’ Generation’s Sunny has signed an exclusive contract with A20 Entertainment. The new agency was founded by SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man after his departure from the K-pop company.

A20 Entertainment told the news outlet that Sunny will be in charge of “designing the training programme for A20 trainees, which will also include the planning and filming of video content, styling, choreography guidance and psychological care”.

Sunny’s new contract with A20 Entertainment marks her first since her previous contract with longtime label SM Entertainment expired in August 2023. She had been with the company for 16 years prior to her departure.

A20 Entertainment was established by Lee Soo-man in 2024. Lee’s relationship with SM Entertainment started to sour in late-2022, when the K-pop agency terminated its contract with Like Planning, a music production company run by Lee.

In 2023, K-pop giant HYBE struck a deal to acquire a controlling stake in SM Entertainment by purchasing 3.5million shares from Lee. HYBE was later accused by SM Entertainment’s then-management of attempting a “hostile takeover” of the K-pop agency.

In other K-pop news, K-pop music show Music Bank is set to be held in Lisbon, Portugal for the first time this September, as announced earlier this week. Scheduled for September 27 at the MEO Arena, Music Bank in Lisbon has yet to announce other details such as ticketing and performing line-up information.

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