HYBE MUSIC GROUP's label Pledis Entertainment's Han Sung-soo, Master Professional (MP), Source Music's So Sung-jin, Master Professional, and Big Hit Music's Shin Seon-jeong CEO have been named 'Billboard's 2025 Indie Power Players.'

On the 10th (local time), Billboard highlighted key indie labels, distributors, and associations that support artists' creativity and lead them into the future. Han Sung-soo MP has made the 'Billboard Indie Power Players' list for the second consecutive year, So Sung-jin MP for the third consecutive year, and Shin Seon-jeong CEO, who has been in charge of Big Hit Music since September 2024, has made the list for the first time.

Han Sung-soo MP, the founder of Pledis Entertainment, oversees the album production of artists under the label, including SEVENTEEN and TWS. He contributes to expanding the global influence of artists with leadership based on business insight and has positioned the label at the center of the global music industry.

In particular, SEVENTEEN's status stood out last year. Their '17 IS RIGHT HERE' and 'SPILL THE FEELS', released in April and October respectively, each claimed the 5th spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Additionally, SEVENTEEN performed at 'Lollapalooza Berlin' and 'Glastonbury' and set a milestone by being the first K-pop artists to participate in 'Tecate Pa’l Norte 2025,' one of the largest music festivals in Latin America.

Han Sung-soo MP also focused on creating an environment where positive messages can be delivered through music. As a result, SEVENTEEN was appointed as UNESCO 'Goodwill Ambassador for Youth' in June 2024. He noted, "The key to an artist's success lies in authentic connections with fans," adding that "the influence of super fans is rapidly expanding not only in K-pop but also in the global music industry, and its importance is growing even further."

So Sung-jin MP played a pivotal role in LE SSERAFIM's global rise during 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 MP's leadership, LE SSERAFIM achieved remarkable success on major global charts in 2024. LE SSERAFIM's mini album 'CRAZY' reached 7th on the Billboard 200, and the title track of the same name, 'CRAZY,' ranked 76th on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking the group's highest position yet. 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 showing the group's continuously expanding global influence."

As the founder and planner of Source Music, So Sung-jin MP values autonomy and has redefined the global standards for girl groups beyond traditional frameworks. The success that LE SSERAFIM has achieved three years after its debut is a result of the strategic planning he established, which continues to drive the group's growth and brand expansion.

Shin Seon-jeong CEO joined Big Hit Entertainment, the predecessor of HYBE, in 2010 and contributed to the birth and early growth of the world-renowned artist BTS. Having served as the head of HYBE's Training & Development (T&D) Center, he has accumulated extensive experience in artist-centered leadership, relationship building, and talent cultivation.

Possessing these strengths, he has been leading the label's strategy across all departments, including marketing, administration, and production, since his appointment as CEO. He is working hard not only with existing artists centered around BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER but also to discover and nurture the next generation of talent.

Shin noted, "J-Hope filled the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as the first solo artist from Korea, and Jin is also ahead of his solo fan concert tour." He added, "TOMORROW X TOGETHER recently successfully completed their world tour and hit with this year's single 'Love Language' and the drama OST 'When That Day Comes.' Big Hit Music's new boy group is also set to debut soon."

[Photo] Pledis Entertainment, Source Music, Big Hit Music

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