Hello 82, CEO of New K-pop, Choi Jae-yoon, who Billboard also recognized, is the first Billboard Indie Power Players to be selected

Jun 11, 2025

Hello82 CEO Choi Jae-yoon. Photo courtesy =Hello82

Choi Jae-yoon, CEO of Hello82, was named in the U.S. Billboard '2025 Indie Power Players' (2025 Indie Power Players) for the first time.

According to Billboard in the United States on the 10th (local time), CEO Choi recently stood shoulder to shoulder with leaders in the U.S. music industry in recognition of his rapid achievements as a K-pop label in the United States.

Choi Jae-yoon said on Billboard that he has released eight albums in the past 12 months, two of which topped the Billboard 200. It has expanded its operations to regions including Europe and Mexico"Hello82 has become a platform for artists to discover new fans and communicate with enthusiastic fans at the same time" he said.

Billboard selects the most influential people in the industry except for the three major companies (Universal, Sony, and Warner) in the global music market and announces them as a list every year. Hello82 has been distributing and promoting albums by new leading artists such as ATEEZ and P1 Harmony in the U.S. and Europe, rather than large agencies that distribute in partnership with existing major labels in the U.S. music market. In the past year, he has produced four Top 20 albums, including two No. 1 albums on Billboard 200, and has been recognized for his achievements this time.

Billboard introduced Hello82, "'We are conducting local activities such as the release of local K-pop albums by ATEEZ and P1 Harmony, merchandise, marketing, and events, and the company that has recently added a tour division to it.'"

Meanwhile, SM Entertainment co-CEO Jang Chul-hyuk and Tak Young-joon, as well as Han Sung-soo Master Professional of Pledis Entertainment under Hive, So Sung-jin Master Professional of Source Music, and Shin Sun-jung, CEO of Big Hit Music.