As BLACKPINK members depart from YG Entertainment, their solo careers are flourishing, causing fans to suspect that YG tried to limit BLACKPINK’s potential before.
Below are some evidence brought up by fans regarding this accusation:
Lisa, the youngest member of BLACKPINK, marked a significant turning point in 2024 when she concluded her exclusive contract with YG Entertainment after more than five years. She promptly established her own company, LLOUD, and formed a strategic partnership with international powerhouse RCA Records, laying the groundwork for an impressive series of musical releases.
In July, Lisa released “ROCKSTAR”, showcasing her work with an international production team. While the entirely English single sparked some debate about its artistic direction, it successfully launched Lisa’s independent career. Shortly after, she unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration with Grammy-winning Latin pop sensation Rosalía titled “New Woman.” This partnership demonstrated Lisa’s versatility, as she effortlessly transitioned from American hip-hop-influenced rap to a fusion of K-pop and Latin genres.
Building on the momentum of these releases, Lisa has been making waves across major international stages, from the 2024 VMAs to the Global Citizen Festival, with an upcoming appearance on the Victoria’s Secret runway. On October 3rd, she’s set to release “Moonlit Floor,” a track she previously previewed at the Global Citizen Festival.
These opportunities and creative freedoms have flourished since Lisa partnered with RCA Records, suggesting that such ventures might have been constrained under YG Entertainment’s management.
Jennie’s Creative Renaissance
Like Lisa, Jennie has experienced an extraordinary year of professional growth through her company, ODDATELIER. Despite facing initial challenges in management, Jennie and her team have established a solid foundation for her independent career beyond YG’s influence.
Jennie recently announced her comeback with “Mantra,” the lead single from her solo album, scheduled for release on October 11th. She’s launched a personal website and embraced bold, experimental looks for this promotion.
The artist has undergone dramatic transformations, sporting pink hair for the “Mantra” music video and platinum blonde hair at Paris Fashion Week. While some of these artistic choices have sparked debate among fans, they represent Jennie’s newfound creative freedom.
This creative liberation stands in stark contrast to a poignant revelation from four years ago during BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That” era. Despite creating a sensation with her fringed, dyed hair and Hanbok outfit, Jennie had reportedly asked stylists to tone down her appearance to avoid overshadowing her bandmates—a decision that stemmed from unwritten group dynamics and YG’s carefully crafted image guidelines for each member.
Rosé’s Musical Evolution
On October 1st, Rosé surprised the industry by announcing her self-titled solo album “Rosie,” set for release on December 6th through Atlanta Records. The project represents years of creative development, finally coming to fruition after joining THE BLACK LABEL.
The album features twelve tracks, all co-written by Rosé herself, promising an authentic portrayal of her musical journey. Fellow members Jennie and Jisoo quickly showed their support, with Jennie sharing particularly heartfelt congratulations on Instagram: “So proud and happy for you, rosieposie. It’s time to wake everyone up with your beautiful voice🤍. Can’t wait!!! Love you🌹”
This represents a significant shift from Rosé’s YG era, where despite her known passion for songwriting, her released works were limited to just two singles (“On the Ground” and “Gone”) and one album track (“Hard to Love”).
A Year of Independence Versus Seven Years Under YG
The contrast between BLACKPINK’s current individual output and their group activities under YG is striking. Despite their global success, the group’s discography under YG consisted of fewer than 50 songs and only two full albums—each containing just eight tracks, an unusually small catalog for the group with many years of experience.
While YG’s “less is more” strategy undeniably helped establish BLACKPINK as an industry phenomenon, the extended hiatuses and limited releases may have constrained the members’ creative potential. All four members have demonstrated their abilities, yet these talents were rarely showcased in their group releases.
Now, with their exclusive contracts concluded, three of the four members—Lisa, Jennie, and Rosé—are experiencing unprecedented creative freedom. Their combined musical output in recent months already exceeds what might have been possible during a typical year under YG’s management. Meanwhile, Jisoo has chosen to focus on advancing her acting career.
This suggests that YG’s management style, while successful in building BLACKPINK’s brand, may have inadvertently limited the full artistic expression of its members.
Source: K14
