SM Executives Named by Billboard as Indie Power Players

Jang Chul-hyuk and Tak Young-joon, co-CEOs of SM Entertainment, were included in Billboard’s “2026 Indie Power Players” list. Since 2017, Billboard has annually selected key labels and individuals who have achieved independent and creative success in the music industry.

The list focuses on leaders of labels and distribution companies that have made impacts in the global music market, excluding the three major U.S. record labels: Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group. Billboard also emphasized that it is advantageous to operate as an independent entity amid ongoing shifts in the business environment.

Jang Chul-hyuk, co-CEO of SM, stated, “At the beginning of this year, we announced the ‘SM Next 3.0’ strategy, pushing for various attempts and changes to enhance creative capabilities within the organization.” He added, “If SM continues to create and develop new trends, it will be able to connect with a broader global fanbase.”

Tak Young-joon, co-CEO, said, “Recently, it has become more important for artist content to deliver specific experiences to fans.” He explained, “We are making great efforts to expand beyond music to include the spaces where fans consume content and spend time, so as to provide consistent stories and experiences.”

This is Jang Chul-hyuk’s third consecutive year being named an Indie Power Player. Both CEOs were previously selected for Billboard’s “2026 Global Power Players” list in March of this year.

Other leaders from domestic entertainment companies also appeared on this list. Shin Sun-jeong, CEO of HYBE’s Big Hit Music (for the second consecutive year), Han Sung-soo, Master Professional at Pledis Entertainment (for the third consecutive year), and So Seong-jin, Master Professional at SOOS MUSIC (for the fourth consecutive year) were all included. Choi Jae-yoon, CEO of Hello82, which handles distribution for groups such as ATEEZ and P1Harmony in the United States, also received recognition.