Four popular Korean music artists, Gray, Woo Won Jae, Lee Hi, and GooseBumps, have departed from Jay Park-founded South Korean hip-hop and R&B record label AOMG.
Gray GooseBumps Lee Hi Woo Won Jae
On March 28, AOMG released a statement via its official social media accounts. The agency announced that Gray’s, Woo Won Jae’s, Lee Hi’s, and GooseBumps’s exclusive contracts had expired and are not renewing.
안녕하세요, AOMG입니다.
소속 아티스트 그레이, 우원재, 이하이, 구스범스의 전속계약이 종료되었음을 알려드립니다.
그동안 여러분의 많은 관심과 사랑에 감사드리며, 앞으로도 변함없는 큰 사랑 부탁드립니다. AOMG는 그레이, 우원재, 이하이, 구스범스의 새로운 도전을 응원합니다.
감사합니다. pic.twitter.com/curHCqMHLO
— aomgofficial (@AOMGOFFICIAL) March 28, 2024
Hello, this is AOMG.
We would like to inform you that the exclusive contracts with our artists Gray, Woo Won Jae, Lee Hi, and GooseBumps have expired.
Thank you for the interest and love you have shown to Gray, Woo Won Jae, Lee Hi, and GooseBumps, and we ask for your continued love in the future.
AOMG will support the new challenges of Gray, Woo Won Jae, Lee Hi, and GooseBumps.
Thank you.
— AOMG
Netizens were shocked to hear the news. Not only was it four artists’ departure at once, but it included some we had come to so strongly associate with AOMG.
GRAY LEAVING AOMG I CANT BELIEVE THIS ACTUALLY pic.twitter.com/MDRf1H8eni
— ✶ (@teamwangs) March 28, 2024
I still haven’t processed that freaking GREY is leaving AOMG. The most unexpected one pic.twitter.com/Ab3kcS7mTr
— Gloria (@BamJWahgase) March 28, 2024
AOMG’s ARTIST STATUS
1. DJ Pumkin
2. DJ Wegun
3. UglyDuck
4. ELO
5. Hoody
6. Gray
7. Loco
8. Simon dominic
9. Devita
10. Punchnello
11. Woo Won Jae
12. Lee Hi
13. Code Kunst
14. Yugyeom
15. TKZ
16. Kian84
17. Coogie
18. Goosebumps
19. Jvcki Wai
— shel (@bluecaroline1) March 28, 2024
Fans couldn’t help but be alarmed. They expressed concern regarding the label, suspecting something must be deeply wrong for so many artists to leave at once.
Gray, Woo Won-jae, Lee Hi, and Goosebumps all leaving AOMG……….like I need to know the tea why are these leaving. What’s going on there and will yug be safe pic.twitter.com/Tm3GzZ7U88
— Gloria (@BamJWahgase) March 28, 2024
Many are calling it the “end of an era,” as AOMG was considered the greatest Korean hip-hop label.
The powerhouse KHIPHOP label is now ending its era. AOMG without Gray is empty. Lee Hi found a home that fits her music and respects her as an artist. Woo Wonjae, who was a rising and talented artist people didn’t know back then, found a place to put his music under AOMG. pic.twitter.com/iD9R6xZOqR
— Philippine KHIPHOP Community (@KHIPHOPMNL) March 28, 2024
I freaking hate changes so much.
I wish Gray, LeeHi, Wonjae, Pumkin were still in AOMG.
I wish Sik-k, Haon, Jayb, Gsoul were still in h1ghr.
And most importantly I wish Jay was still in both labels
I‘m really trying to accept his new path but damn it’s so hard sometimes
— dunja (@hanbinked) March 28, 2024
I will tell my children and my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, there’s once a good company called AOMG
REST IN PEACE AOMG
— shel (@bluecaroline1) March 28, 2024
In 2018, co-CEO Simon Dominic stepped down from his position. In 2021, Jay Park stepped down from his position as CEO of AOMG. In March of 2024, the remaining CEO, DJ Pumkin, resigned. It is believed that his resignation was made in the wake of rapper MEENOI‘s controversies, who had signed with the label just in November.
MEENOI
Some fans pointed out that most artists stayed with AOMG due to their relationship and loyalty to these CEOs. Now, with their departure, nothing is holding them there.
The only reason they stayed in AOMG is because of their loyalty to Jay and Pumpkin. Now that both CEO have left, its no surprise that each one is not renewing their contract. Won’t be surprise if Loco, SsamD would follow them https://t.co/1cJFKFNlWE
— . (@goatface121) March 28, 2024
Jay, you were wrong. AOMG isn’t AOMG without you, and now it’s falling apart one by one
— myfavparkisJAYPARK (@iamestarrchun) March 28, 2024
Yoo Deok Gon, who is the current CEO of H1GHR Music, will take over as AOMG CEO. Read more below.
