On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the Blue Vinyl label announced the termination of its exclusive contract with Baek Ye Rin. They also disclosed the closure of the agency’s management operations.
Blue Vinyl, established by Baek Ye Rin in 2019, was set up to oversee his endeavors in the music industry, including his band, The Volunteers. Here’s a detailed overview:
1. Blue Vinyl declared the mutual termination of its contracts with Baek Ye Rin and The Volunteers.
After over four years of collaboration, Blue Vinyl and Baek Ye Rin reached a mutual agreement to end their contracts. Baek Ye Rin founded Blue Vinyl as an independent label following his departure from JYP Entertainment, introducing it in November 2019.
Alongside Baek Ye Rin, the contract with Blue Vinyl for his band, The Volunteers, also concluded. With the conclusion of these artist contracts, Blue Vinyl officially ceased its operations as an artist management firm. Below is Blue Vinyl’s announcement via platform X (Twitter) on Tuesday, April 9, 2024:
Hello, this is Blue Vinyl. After careful discussions, we mutually agreed to end contracts with artists Baek Ye Rin, Kwak Min Hyeok, Kim Chi Heon, and Koh Hyung Seok, as their terms expired. Additionally, Koh Hyung Seok, a member of The Volunteers, will part ways with the band. As our artists embark on new journeys, we too bid farewell to our role as their management company. Since our inception in 2019, Blue Vinyl has diligently supported our artists. We extend our sincere gratitude to them and our dedicated fans. Over the past four years, we’ve been honored to nurture these artists’ musical careers. As we move forward, we kindly ask for our fans’ continued support and interest in the artists’ future endeavors. Sincerely, Blue Vinyl.
2. Koh Hyung Seok confirms departure from The Volunteers.
Simultaneously with The Volunteers’ contract termination with Blue Vinyl, it was confirmed that Koh Hyung Seok had left the band. Koh Hyung Seok, also known as Cloud, announced his departure from The Volunteers on his personal Instagram on March 22, 2024.
The Volunteers, debuting in 2018, comprised Baek Ye Rin, Kwak Min Hyeok, Kim Chi Heon, and Koh Hyung Seok. They made their official debut with the digital single “Violet.” In May 2021, The Volunteers joined Blue Vinyl and subsequently released their first album, “The Volunteers.”
3. The Volunteers to embark on a concert tour in North America.
Despite Koh Hyung Seok’s departure, The Volunteers will continue their musical journey with the remaining three members. They are scheduled to conduct a concert tour across North America from July to August 2024. The tour will cover 26 cities, commencing from Seattle, Portland, Berkeley, New York, Chicago, and more. Ticket sales commenced on Friday, April 12, 2024, and can be accessed through Ticket Master, Ticket Web, Live Nation, Etix, and Axs websites.
Baek Ye Rin remains active in the music scene post her departure from Blue Vinyl, focusing on her commitments with The Volunteers. The question arises: Will Baek Ye Rin seek representation from a new agency?