YG CEO named as Billboard`s first Korean int`l power player

YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun-suk has been selected as one of the International Power Players by Billboard Magazine.

The head of YG Entertainment, one of the most influential entertainment companies in Korea, put his name on the list of International Power Players in the upcoming issue (Jan. 25) of Billboard Magazine. He is the only Korean in the list. Billboard Magazine selects people who have a significant influence on the global music industry in collaboration with Midem, international music industry trade show held in Cannes, France. The list, which was made for the first time this year, includes Yang along with John Reid, the president of European Live Nation who produced the world tour concerts of Big Bang and 2NE1, K-pop groups from YG Entertainment, Nick Gatfield, the president of Sony Music, etc.

The U.S. magazine described Yang as a K-pop star who made a debut in "Seo Taiji and Boys," the iconic group that laid the foundation for the modern K-pop music. It also said that Psy, a singer from the stable, made his name in the global music scene with “Gangnam Style” and Big Bang attracted some 800,000 people in 12 countries for its global tour.

Yang said in an interview with the magazine, “Entertainment business is not limited to one country or one community,” adding, “The success of Psy has contributed to drawing attention for Taeyang, Big Bang, CL and 2NE1, thus (I) expect some tangible results will be made in 2014.”