The Famous Kpop Idol Who Became The 1st To Leave The KOMCA Since 2003

BLACKPINK Rosé has withdrawn from the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA).

According to the KOMCA’s “Trust Termination Copyright Works” inquiry results, Rosé applied for trust termination on October 31 last year, and her contract officially ended on January 31.

For singers based in South Korea, it is common to entrust copyright management to KOMCA. Currently, over 50,000 creators are registered with the association.

However, Rosé is an artist with a larger presence in the international music scene. She is signed with Atlantic Records, which collaborates with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), an organization with over 950,000 members. Since it is generally impossible for multiple copyright organizations to claim rights over the same song, it seems she decided that managing her copyrights through a local organization would be more efficient for her global activities.

Initially, Rosé had only five songs registered with KOMCA as a songwriter and composer: “Gone,” “On The Ground,” “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” “The Girls,” and “APT.” However, since the release of her full-length album, her participation in songwriting has significantly increased.

Cases of artists withdrawing from KOMCA do occur, with 481 names listed under the “Trust Termination Copyright Works” search. However, Rosé’s departure has drawn significant attention, as she is the most high-profile singer to leave KOMCA in 22 years since Seo Taiji.

Previously, Seo Taiji had a trust management contract with KOMCA from May 1992 to May 2002. However, four months before the contract expired, he announced his withdrawal after KOMCA approved an album by another singer that parodied his song “Come Back Home.”

Seo Taiji later filed a lawsuit against KOMCA for copyright royalties and won a partial victory. However, additional legal disputes arose over the payment process, leading to a prolonged legal battle that lasted 12 years. It was finally resolved on May 28, 2014, when the court recommended a settlement, which both parties accepted.

Source: (A)