NewJeans Faces Legal Battle with ADOR Over Contractual Dispute
Emergency Press Conference Reveals Tensions
The K-pop group NewJeans held an emergency press conference where they expressed their deep dissatisfaction with their management label, ADOR. According to a translation by Soompi, the members stated, “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. More than anything, there is nothing that we can gain in terms of our work, so the five of us think that there is no reason at all for us to remain at ADOR.”
ADOR’s Response to Termination Claims
Following NewJeans’ announcement, ADOR promptly responded, asserting that the group did not have valid grounds to terminate their contract. The label stated, “A unilateral claim that trust has been broken does not constitute valid grounds for termination of a contract,” as noted in BBC coverage. They expressed disappointment over the press conference occurring before they could address the demand letter submitted by the group.
Court Intervention and New Branding
The situation escalated into the judicial system, with a court tasked to determine NewJeans’ rights regarding their contract with ADOR. In a surprising turn of events, in February, the group announced an upcoming performance at ComplexCon in Hong Kong under the name NJZ, officially transitioning their Instagram handle to @njz_official. ADOR claimed this name change could represent a breach of their exclusive contract, as stated in a response to CNN.
Preliminary Injunction Against NewJeans
Ahead of their scheduled performance, the South Korean court issued a preliminary injunction that forbade NewJeans/NJZ from engaging in promotional activities outside of their ADOR contract prior to April, when the primary lawsuit will commence. ADOR maintained its commitment to support the artists, on the condition they return under the NewJeans branding.
Defiance and Performance at ComplexCon
Undeterred by the court’s decision, NewJeans proceeded to perform at ComplexCon, debuting a new song titled “Pit Stop.” During the performance, group members addressed their fans, conveying their mixed emotions. Hanni and Danielle expressed, “This stage means so much to us and every single one of you who gives us strength just by being here… this might be our last performance for a little while. Out of respect for the court’s decision, we’ve decided to pause all our activities for now.”
Seeking Strength and Clarity
The group added, “We understand and know that today’s news might be disappointing or upsetting but it was not an easy decision for us to make either. But at the moment for us, it’s about protecting ourselves so that we can come back even stronger.”
Unconventional Performance and Future Outlook
The performance included a unique mix of solo acts where the members performed renditions of ‘90s R&B classics, including songs by TLC and Ghost Town DJs, leaving fans both entertained and contemplative about the group’s future.