January 31, 2025, SEOUL, KOREA – Joseph Chang, co-CEO of Kakao Entertainment, has achieved a spot on Billboard’s 2025 Power 100 List, earning his second recognition on the list following his first honor last year. This is a testament to his strong presence in the global entertainment market and music industry, as well as to noteworthy accomplishments that have contributed to K-pop’s global expansion.

Chang grabbed the No. 15 position on the multi-sector category of the Billboard 2025 Power 100 List released by Billboard on Jan. 27 (PST). The list annually selects the figures who have significant influence in the global music industry by each category including labels, publishing and multi-sectors. Chang is one of the two Korean honorees this year.

Chang, who has planned and executed diverse projects facilitating K-content’s international exchange, has been especially noted for his role in broadening K-pop’s horizons. Billboard highlighted his endeavors to expand K-pop’s presence in North America through SM & Kakao Entertainment America, formed between Kakao Entertainment and its partner SM Entertainment.

Billboard also highlighted his work with U.K. production company Moon&Back Media in creating “Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience,” describing it as a six-part TV series that aired on the BBC in August and September and “follows five boys from the United Kingdom as they undergo a rigorous K-pop training process in South Korea.” Explaining the project as a move “to focus on America and European audiences,” Billboard also mentioned that the resulting boy band, dearALICE, released a six-track soundtrack to the series in September, adding that in November, Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment announced their partnership with the U.S. label gamma. to release dearALICE’s music.

Major accomplishments

Chang has been leveraging Kakao Entertainment’s core competencies in the music business to provide systematic support to its labels in beefing up their competitiveness while developing internationally influential intellectual properties (IPs). Some of his notable feats include the establishment of a stable global management system, the diversification of artists’ international activities and the creation of a distinctive local IP. He has also expanded Kakao Entertainment’s music distribution networks through partnerships with various entertainment companies worldwide, further strengthening the company’s music business. Moreover, Chang has been working to achieve synergies across Kakao Entertainment’s music, media and story businesses by capitalizing on the company’s strong IP value chain. 

Under Chang’s leadership, numerous artists represented by Kakao Entertainment’s labels have rapidly raised their international profiles. For instance, IU made headlines last year for holding a seven-month world tour across 18 countries in North America and Europe, among others. IVE also marked a turning point in its career with its first-ever world tour, staging 37 performances in 19 countries and attracting an impressive 420,000 spectators. The group captivated audiences with its performance skills at major music festivals including “Lollapalooza Chicago,” and is set to create more buzz at the upcoming “Lollapalooza Paris” in July. Other artists have further boosted their global footprint by putting out English-language albums, collaborating with internationally acclaimed artists and singing soundtracks for global content.

Synergies

Furthermore, the synergies between Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment, built through their diverse business collaborations, are becoming increasingly visible. Last year, they launched the five-member British boy band, dearALICE, in cooperation with Moon&Back Media, which has become the talk of the town even before its debut.

Its BBC TV series, “Made In Korea: The K-Pop Experience” aired on BBC One during prime time on Saturday nights from August to September, generating a huge buzz in the U.K. for offering a glimpse into the band’s musical journey. Its original soundtracks for the series captured significant attention as well, debuting at No. 1 on the UK 50 Soundtrack Albums chart. Based on Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment’s partnership with gamma., which promotes dearALICE’s global activities, the band is scheduled to debut in February with the single, “Ariana,” and embark on its journey toward the international stage.