bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

knowledgeQuestion

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Tamar Herman

K-pop star Lay has parted ways with his group Exo’s music label, SM Entertainment.
The Chinese pop star, also known as Lay Zhang Yixing, announced the news on social media including Instagram and Twitter in both English and Korean, and included the comment: “This decade is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received.”
He revealed the split on the 10th anniversary of the group’s 2012 debut, April 8.
Music labels typically sign K-pop bands to seven-year contracts, with a three-year extension often added later on.

In a handwritten note in English, Lay thanked his fans, SM staff and his “Exo brothers”, and affirmed he would “always be the Lay when my members need me”, implying he is only leaving SM Entertainment and not formally leaving the group.
In the note, Lay declared he’s “your family member in China”, acknowledging his popularity and successful career in the country, where he is also an actor.

Lay debuted in Exo’s initially China-focused subgroup Exo-M, a counter to the Korea-oriented Exo-K subgroup. Exo rose to fame after breakout hit Grow in 2013, and have had numerous hits ever since.
Because of his work in China, Lay has worked infrequently with Exo in recent years, often appearing only for brief moments in releases. He appeared on Exo’s 2021 EP Don’t Fight the Feeling, his first release with the group since 2018.
Lay and other Exo members have pursued solo careers as singers and actors while remaining in the group. Lay, who has released albums featuring songs in Chinese and English, released his latest single, Dawn to Dusk, in February.
“It’s time to say goodbye as an employee of SM,” Lay, who turned 30 in October, wrote in his note. “It’s also my new beginning as a 30-year-old.”


He’s made hits for Exo, NCT, Twice and Aespa: meet K-pop songwriter Kyler Niko, who nearly made it as a singer himself

How big is too big when it comes to K-pop groups like NCT? With three more singers possibly joining, how far can boy band go?

Why K-pop stars like Twice’s Nayeon, Exo’s D.O. and GFriend’s Yerin must wait so long for solo careers - but not Blackpink’s Jennie

Will Lay still be in Exo? He quits their label on K-pop group’s 10th anniversary

Chinese pop star Lay, a member of K-pop group Exo, has announced he is quitting the outfit’s music label, SM Entertainment. Photo: @layzhang/Instagram

Lay thanked his fans, SM staff, and his Exo brothers in the note on social media. Photo: Lay Zhang

Lay has worked infrequently with Exo in recent years. Photo: Lay Zhang

BTS may perform at South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration

BTS are rumoured to perform at South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration. Photo: GC Images

South Korea’s president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s team has, according to local media, met executives of K-pop companies to discuss revitalising the highly lucrative entertainment industry. Photo: Reuters

Current president Moon Jae-in has had prominent working relationships with many K-pop acts, including Red Velvet. Photo: Getty Images

BigBang’s Still Life single marks K-pop group’s comeback after four-year hiatus, and is accompanied by reflective music video

K-pop’s BigBang have released Still Life, their first new single in four years. Photo: YG Entertainment

A “Still Life” promo featuring the members of BigBang. Photo: YG Entertainment

Who will be the next Blackpink? Lesserafim are BTS label’s contender for the new queens of K-pop

Hybe chairman Bang Si-hyuk, centre, with Kim Chae-won, left, and Sakura, two of the members of soon-to-launch girl group Lesserafim. Photo: Instagram

Kep1er at Seoul Fashion Week on March 10, 2022. Photo: Getty Images

Aespa have swept several rookie-of-the-year awards. Photo: @aespa_official/Twitter

IVE ranked first on Show Champion with their track Eleven – seven days after their debut. Photo: Getty Images

Nmixx have sold more than 220,000 copies of their debut album Ad Mare. Photo: JYP Entertainment

Stray Kids, BTS and Red Velvet all dropping new music in 2022 – the 5 K-pop releases to keep an eye on

BTS are reportedly working on a new album. Photo: YouTube

This year’s upcoming single by BigBang (pictured) will be the K-pop group’s first since 2018’s Flower Road. Photo: YG Entertainment

NCT Dream will release their second full-length album, Glitch Mode, on March 28. Photo: SM Entertainment

Stray Kids’ sixth EP arrived on March 18. Photo: JYP Entertainment

Red Velvet’s Feel My Rhythm blends modern pop sensibilities with classic music. Photo: SM Entertainment

There are reports that groups including Aespa (above) plan to release new songs in the first half of 2022. Photo: @aespa_official/Instagram

A place in Paris to celebrate bands like BTS, Blackpink, NCT and StayC, Kick Cafe has given K-pop fans somewhere for meet-ups at last

K-pop themed Kick Cafe in Paris. Photo; Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

The founder of Kick Cafe in Paris wants to spread joy and happiness through K-pop to the world, and has held events for fans of groups like BTS and Blackpink.

K-culture books at Kick Cafe in Paris. Photo: Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

The cafe was established in 2021. Photo: Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

A drink from the cafe. About 200 people visit the place every day. Photo: Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

A drink from Kick Cafe. Photo: Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

Kick Cafe offers drinks that are inspired by different groups, including Blackpink. Photo: Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

A K-pop flash mob in Paris. Photo: Instagram/@Kpopisforcoolkids

Lifestyle

K-Pop

News

Artists & celebrities

Entertainment


Chinese pop star Lay, a member of Korean pop group Exo, has parted ways with their label SM Entertainment, announcing the news on Instagram and Twitter
In his social media posts, Lay says he will ‘always be the Lay when my members need me’, implying he is only leaving the label and not the pop group



Chinese pop star Lay, also known as Lay Zhang Yixing, took to Instagram and Twitter on the 10th anniversary of Exo’s debut to announce he is quitting the group’s music label.
