November 27, 2024, SEOUL, KOREA – Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment announce today that they have formed a strategic global alliance with US label gamma. to launch the British boy band dearALICE and support its future endeavors. Through this partnership, the three companies will cooperate in all spheres to establish the band as a leading global artist with a solid fandom. 

Kakao Entertainment, SM Entertainment and gamma.’s alliance encompasses the production of its debut single album, global distribution networks across the US, UK, and Korea/APAC, with global label services ranging across marketing and brand partnerships. Beginning with dearALICE’s debut single that will come out later this year, they will join forces in various areas to support its growth to the fullest. 

Joseph Chang (co-CEO, Kakao Entertainment; CEO, SM & Kakao Entertainment), Jung Min Choi (CGO, SM Entertainment), Kevin Nishimura (COO, SM & Kakao Entertainment), Larry Jackson (Co-Founder & CEO, gamma.), Ben Cook (President UK & Europe, gamma.) and Russ Lindsay (Co-Founder, Moon&Back Media) recently gathered in Los Angeles to finalize and celebrate the agreement over their alliance. The five members of dearALICE ― Blaise Noon, Dexter Greenwood, James Sharp, Oliver Quinn, and Reese Carter ― also joined the meeting that signaled the beginning of their ambitious journey to become a global powerhouse.

gamma., the artist-first multimedia platform providing creative and business services across all artistic and commercial formats launched in 2023, co-founded by CEO Larry Jackson and President Ike Youssef. It is a modern media and technology enterprise created to revolutionize the way artist-entrepreneurs create, distribute, and monetize their content and brands across a multitude of consumer touchpoints. To date gamma. has partnered with global superstars including USHER, Snoop Dogg & Death Row Records, Rick Ross, Sexyy Red among others. 

dearALICE, launched in collaboration with Kakao Entertainment, SM Entertainment and British entertainment company, Moon&Back Media, has become talk of the town even before making its official debut. Its six-part BBC One series, “Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience,” which portrayed the journey of the members as they spent 100 days in Seoul receiving K-pop training to grow as musicians, created buzz among viewers for offering a glimpse into their musical adventure. The series was internationally distributed by ITV Studios.

The group’s original soundtracks for the series also captured significant attention, debuting at No. 1 on the UK 50 Soundtrack Albums chart. Several high-profile producers including Steve Mac and Tom Grennan participated in their creative process.

Cheol Hyuk Jang, co-CEO of SM Entertainment said, “dearALICE is one of SM’s projects to expand our global IP. We are happy that we have launched the team successfully in cooperation with Kakao Entertainment and British Entertainment company Moon&Back Media, and that we have formed a strategic partnership with gamma. With the partnership with gamma., a company with outstanding business capabilities in the field of global music, we will work closely together to establish dearALICE as an influential artist in North America, Europe and the global music market.”

Joseph Chang, co-CEO of Kakao Entertainment and CEO of SM & Kakao Entertainment, shared, “Our partnership with gamma. represents an exciting step in our ongoing strategy for the successful launch of dearALICE. Collaborating with a label of gamma.’s stature, known for its deep industry expertise and innovative approach, allows us to accelerate our efforts in bringing forward dearALICE to audiences worldwide. dearALICE stands out as a truly distinctive project for our company, blending British roots with the global reach and creative influences of Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment. We believe this collaboration will unlock new opportunities for the group to thrive internationally, while also showcasing their groundbreaking artistry to music fans across the globe.”

Larry Jackson, Co-Founder & CEO of gamma. states, “I have found that it is a superpower in life to embrace the truth of ‘I know what I don’t know.’ I have always been intrigued by the music and culture coming out of South Korea, and to now partner with Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment on dearALICE affords gamma. an opportunity to learn from THE BEST in that culture. We are already finding a special creative kinship with Joseph, Kevin and their teams. Our ideations are very much aligned albeit informed by different life experiences, from disparate corners of the globe. The cleverness of creating this show, it premiering on the BBC in the U.K., and bringing this extremely talented group to the world by way of it, was their idea, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Kakao Entertainment and SM have always been purveyors of true, patient artist development in Korea, and I have deeply respected their approach from afar. Expect to hear a lot from dearALICE in 2025.” 

Russ Lindsay, Co-Founder of Moon&Back Media, said, “What an amazing twelve months it’s been for the boys! From being cast in December last year, to experiencing a unique and unforgettable 100 days of K-pop training with SM Entertainment in Korea, then premiering a 6-part Saturday night BBC One TV series in the summer, followed by the Made in Korea: The K-Pop Experience Original TV Soundtrack EP release and a superb live performance on the UK’s highest-rated entertainment show, BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing! It’s a testament to their incredible hard work and passion that sees them sign a major global recording and distribution deal with gamma., joining a stable with some of the world’s most talented artists and music executives.”

Meanwhile, dearALICE is slated to roll out its official debut single by the end of the year.