Han Sung-soo, Master Professional (MP) of Pledis Entertainment under Hive, So Sung-jin, Master Professional of Source Music, and Shin Seon-jung, CEO of Big Hit Music, have been named '2025 Billboard Indie Power Players.'
On the 10th (local time), Billboard highlighted key indie labels, distributors, and associations that support artists' creativity and propel them into the future through this list. Han Sung-soo has been included in the 'Billboard Indie Power Players' list for two consecutive years, while So Sung-jin has been included for three consecutive years. Shin Seon-jung, who has been in charge of Big Hit Music since September 2024, made his debut on the list this time.
Han Sung-soo, the founder of Pledis Entertainment, oversees the production of albums for artists under the label, including Seventeen and Tours. He has contributed to expanding the global influence of artists with his leadership based on business insights, placing the label at the center of the global music industry.
In particular, Seventeen's status was remarkable last year. Their albums 'Seventeen Is Light Here' and 'Spill the Pills,' released in April and October respectively, reached 5th place on Billboard's main album chart, the 'Billboard 200.' Additionally, Seventeen performed at 'Lollapalooza Berlin' and 'Glastonbury,' marking a milestone as the first K-pop artist to participate in 'Tecate Pa'l Norte 2025,' one of the largest music festivals in Latin America.
Han Sung-soo has also focused on creating an environment where positive messages can be conveyed through music. As a result, Seventeen was appointed as UNESCO's 'Youth Goodwill Ambassador' in June 2024. He stated, "The key to an artist's success lies in authentic connections with fans," adding, "As the influence of super fans is rapidly expanding not only in K-pop but also in the global music industry, its importance is growing even more."
So Sung-jin played a crucial role in LE SSERAFIM's global leap throughout 2024. He has been recognized for organically combining album planning, performance strategy, and global promotion to present a new vision for K-pop girl groups.
Under So's leadership, LE SSERAFIM achieved remarkable results on major global charts in 2024. Their mini album 'Crazy' reached 7th place on the 'Billboard 200,' and the title track 'Crazy' ranked 76th on Billboard's main song chart, the 'Hot 100,' marking the group's highest ranking to date. He explained, "LE SSERAFIM is the only 4th generation K-pop girl group to have four albums consecutively enter the top 10 of the 'Billboard 200,' which is an important indicator of the group's continuously expanding global influence."
As the founder and planner of Source Music, So Sung-jin values autonomy and has redefined the global standards for girl groups beyond traditional frameworks. The success LE SSERAFIM has achieved in just three years since their debut is a result of the strategic planning he has established, which continues to drive the group's growth and brand expansion.
Shin Seon-jung joined Big Hit Entertainment, the predecessor of Hive, in 2010 and contributed to the birth and early growth of the global artist BTS. He has accumulated extensive experience in artist-centered leadership, relationship building, and talent development while serving as the head of Hive's Training & Development (T&D) center.
With these strengths, he has been leading the label's strategy across all departments, including marketing, administration, and production, since taking office as CEO. He is also working hard to discover and nurture the next generation of talent, in addition to existing artists centered around BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
CEO Shin mentioned, "J-Hope filled the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as the first Korean solo artist, and Jin is also preparing for his solo fan concert tour." He added, "TOMORROW X TOGETHER recently successfully completed their world tour and has hit singles 'Love Language' and the drama OST 'When That Day Comes' this year. Big Hit Music's new boy group is also set to debut soon."
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
