In today’s CMU Daily: Earlier this month NewJeans demanded that their label Ador address a list of grievances. It having failed to do so, the K-pop group says their deal with the company has been terminated. Unsurprisingly, Ador does not agree

Also today: A new law in Australia will ban under sixteens from using social media. The country’s Parliament has backed the ban despite criticisms that it will be hard to enforce and that young people themselves haven’t been properly consulted 

Plus: Live Nation continues to expand its venues business, this week announcing the launch of its first permanent venue in Africa, The Dome in Johannesburg, and the acquisition of a majority stake in Lisbon’s MEO Arena

And: Horizon Future Leaders interview with Ben Magee

NewJeans ditch deal with Ador to avoid “mental distress”, but Ador says contract “remains in full effect”

After the members of K-pop group NewJeans held an “emergency” press conference yesterday to let their fans know that they are parting ways with their label - HYBE’s Ador - the label itself has issued a statement saying that, as far as it is concerned, its exclusive contract with the group is still in effect. 

The press conference took place just hours before a deadline set by the group for Ador to address a list of grievances that were set out in a document earlier this month. 

Bosses at HYBE and Ador “are not showing any will to make reform or to listen to our requests”, the group’s members told reporters, according to Soompi. As the group's label - or ‘agency’, to use the K-pop vernacular - Ador “is obligated to protect NewJeans”, they continued, adding that that “is the most basic obligation that an agency has”. 

But under its current management team, they went on, “Ador does not have the will or ability to protect NewJeans. If we remain here, it will be a waste of our time and our mental distress will continue”. To that end, they stated, “the exclusive contracts between NewJeans and Ador will be terminated as of November 29 at 12 am KST”. 

Despite that bold statement, the question remains as to whether NewJeans are legally entitled to terminate their contract with Ador based on the grievances they set out in their document earlier this month, and the claim that Ador has failed to deal with those grievances. The HYBE label is adamant that the answer to that question is “no”. 

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Australia passes social media ban for under sixteens

Australian lawmakers have passed strict new rules that will ban children under the age of sixteen from using social media. The new law has been strongly backed by the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who says it is required to protect young people from the “harms” that social media cause. But there are plenty of critics of the ban, with one MP calling it “a 1970 solution for a 2024 problem”.

Albanese said the new law meant that parents of young teenagers would no longer feel pressured to let their children use social media, despite concerns of the impact it can have on their mental health. He said in a statement, “Parents can have a different discussion with their young ones, a different discussion that will result in better outcomes and less harm for young Australians”. 

“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them”, he added. “We’re making sure that mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days. We've got your back, is our message to Australian parents”. 

The ban won't go into effect for at least twelve months and the law itself doesn’t state which platforms will be affected, with the country’s Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, empowered to make that decision. That said, she has already stated that Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X will all be required to make sure that no one under the age of sixteen uses their platforms within the country. 

Websites where content can be consumed without setting up an account will not be covered by the ban, which means YouTube’s core platform won’t be affected. Gaming and messaging platforms are also exempt.

Live Nation expands venues business in South Africa and Portugal

Live Nation announced the launch of its first permanent venue on the continent of Africa earlier this week, with new “state-of-the-art venue” The Dome due to open in Johannesburg in South Africa in January.

The ever-growing live music behemoth says that the new venue, delivered in partnership with Stadium Management South Africa and Gearhouse South Africa, reflects its “commitment to expanding venue infrastructure, growing the touring circuit, and bringing African fans even more shows from both local and international artists”.

Within South Africa itself, says Justin Van Wyk, CEO at Live Nation’s South African division, the new venue “fills a critical gap” in the country’s live music market, “creating a unique space that will support pan-African talent”.

The Dome is situated next to Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium and aims to become a “hub for local and pan-African talent, featuring genres such as afrobeats, amapiano, dance, pop, hip hop and R&B”.

It’s not just in Africa where Live Nation is busy expanding the venues side of its business. It also announced a new deal this week in Portugal, where it is acquiring a majority stake in Lisbon’s MEO Arena. 

That announcement also revealed that “renovations are planned” at the venue to “upgrade premium seating, skyboxes, dressing rooms and concessions, improving the overall fan experience and making the arena more attractive to visiting artists”.

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Ben Magee Q&A

As part of our new Horizon Future Leaders series, we’re connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys. 

This week, we caught up with Ben Magee, founder and owner of New Champion Management.

Ben’s career journey began as a music journalist in Belfast, where he earned a reputation for candid, no-nonsense reviews and active industry involvement. After managing a thirteen country world tour, he founded New Champion Management, where he now manages five artists and curates radio shows. 

Ben underscores the importance of diving into every opportunity and learning by doing, while also emphasising the value of mentorship in shaping his career. His key advice for newcomers: embrace every opportunity, build genuine connections, and never underestimate the impact of learning from those who’ve been through it.