Jeon Somi opened up about her move from JYP Entertainment to THE BLACK LABEL.
Somi first gained popularity when she participated in SIXTEEN, the show that formed TWICE. She later climbed to first place in Produce 101 Season 1, debuting as the center of I.O.I in 2016.
After I.O.I’s contract ended, she was expected to join the girl group with MIXNINE‘s Ryujin and fellow SIXTEEN member Chaeryeong: ITZY. She was even spotted with the members prior to their debut.
To everyone’s surprise, Somi suddenly announced in 2018 that she decided to leave JYP Entertainment, joining YG Entertainment‘s subsidiary label, THE BLACK LABEL instead.
She later opened up about why exactly she left the company in an interview with Turkids on the Block. Between I.O.I’s disbandment in 2017 and her departure from the company in 2018, she had few schedules lined up.
After I.O.I, I wasn’t active for a long time. That somehow landed me in YG.
— Somi
She chose to make her debut as a solo artist instead of joining another group. Due to the lack of trainees in THE BLACK LABEL, she automatically became a soloist.
When I left my old agency for my new one, I was the only one there. So I naturally chose to go solo.
— Somi
When host Lee Young Jin asked if she ever regretted leaving JYP Entertainment, her answer was a resounding, “Never.”
He pushed harder, asking, “But maybe there are some things that you don’t like about your agency now? Are you one hundred percent satisfied?” Somi stood firm and confirmed her previous answer.
Somi: I really like my agency now.
Lee Young Jin: One hundred percent?
Somi: Yes
Lee Young Jin: Really?
Somi: Yes, really.
Lee Young Jin brought up the topic of her earnings and treatment in THE BLACK LABEL: “What about your income or how they treat you?” As a solo artist and songwriter, she’s also happy with her percentage of profits and the people she works with.
No issues.
— Somi
Catch her full interview below.
