Label teams with SM Entertainment for rising K-pop group
Rising K-Pop girl group Aespa and SM Entertainment have announced a global partnership with Warner Records. “Life’s Too Short,” the lead single from the group’s highly-anticipated EP, Girls – The 2nd Mini Album, drops June 24th. The EP will be available on July 8th.
“We are thrilled to be welcomed into the Warner Records’ family and so grateful to have them on board as we embark on our next chapter,” Aespa shares. “We are excited for what’s in store, including the release of our new project, Girls – The 2nd Mini Album this summer and being named Apple Music’s Up Next artist!”
“Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning of Aespa have already made an impact around the world under the leadership of SM Entertainment founder and chairman Soo-Man Lee and his incredible team,” state Warner Records Chairmen Tom Corson and Aaron Bay-Schuck. “We’re honored to welcome them to the Warner Records’ family as our first-ever K-Pop group and look forward to achieving unprecedented success together.”
Apple Music has announced Aespa as the newest global Up Next artist, Apple Music’s monthly artist initiative geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent. Elements of the worldwide campaign include the release of an Up Next short film, a sit down interview with Apple Music’s Brooke Reese on Apple Music 1 radio, a US late night TV appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and more.
Earlier this year, Aespa made their debut US live performance during a surprise show-stopping set on the main stage at Coachella.
Last fall, the group unveiled their EP, Savage – The 1st Mini Album. It bowed in the Top 20 of the Billboard Top 200, becoming the highest entry on the Top 200 and Artist 100 for a K-Pop girl group’s debut. Additionally, Savage – The 1st Mini Album claimed a spot on ten Billboard charts, including Top Independent Albums, Top Album Sales, Top World Albums, and more.
Aespa is a fierce female foursome, who in an unprecedented move secured the fastest climb to 100 million views on their debut video for any K-Pop group in YouTube history with their 2020 release, “Black Mamba.” Aespa’s name is derived from a combination of “ae” (avatar and experience) + “aspect.” Each of the four members has a correlating avatar in the virtual world created from their personal data.
