Since 2008, Seoul and Los Angeles-headquartered K-Pop touring and marketing company Powerhouse has worked with some of the biggest names in K-Pop, including BTS, BLACKPINK, MONSTA X, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.
In 2018, Powerhouse, founded by journalist turned concert promoter C.S. Hah, produced 15 shows for BTS’ 2018 Love Yourself US Tour, claimed to be the most arena concerts played in a single tour of the United States by a K-pop group.
Now the company has struck a strategic partnership with US music promoter AEG Presents to collaborate on all aspects of live K-pop business including touring, production, marketing and media.
With this new partnership, AEG Presents and Powerhouse, who have already been working closely together for 13 years, say that they “look forward to building upon what has already been a fruitful alignment in the thriving and diverse K-pop market”.
The press release announcing the partnership notes that the “alliance brings new growth opportunities for both companies across North America, Europe and Asia”.
AEG Presents and Powerhouse started working together in 2010, producing the SM Town Concert at Staples Center, which sold out 12,500 tickets in “a matter of minutes” according to the companies.
Since then, the two companies have collaborated on K-pop tours including BTS’ 2017 The Wings Tour North American arena shows and 2018 Love Yourself arena world tour, and MONSTA X’s massive 2018 The Connect World Tour.
Over the last five months, Powerhouse and AEG Presents have produced and promoted four tours for prominent K-pop groups BLACKPINK, Tomorrow X Together, ENHYPEN, & ATEEZ.
This year, BLACKPINK have sold out 14 North American arenas, plus an additional 10 in the UK and Europe.
Tomorrow X Together performed eight sold-out shows in two months. ENHYPEN sold out seven arenas in October of 2022, and ATEEZ sold out 11 arenas on their North American tour which ended earlier this month. AEG Presents said that all four artists expect to tour the rest of the world in 2023.
Since 2012, Powerhouse, founded by journalist turned concert promoter C.S. Hah, has been a partner of CJENM’s KCON, which is claimed to be “the biggest K-pop festival in the world”.
“The K-pop market has proven its depth and width to be more matured than ever, and I hope our launch of this formal partnership with AEG Presents can help K-pop grow to reach new horizons across the regions.”
C.S. Hah, Powerhouse
Said C.S. Hah, Powerhouse CEO and President: “In the course of last two decades, K-pop has grown to be one of the most popular genres in the global music industry.
“The K-pop market has proven its depth and width to be more matured than ever, and I hope our launch of this formal partnership with AEG Presents can help K-pop grow to reach new horizons across the regions.”
C.S. Hah and Powerhouse have a track record that speaks for itself.”
Gary Gersh, AEG Presents
Gary Gersh, AEG Presents President of Global Touring and Talent, said: “C.S. Hah and Powerhouse have a track record that speaks for itself.
“Powerhouse has tapped into what’s becoming an ever-expanding international market for K-Pop, and we are thrilled to build upon an already strong foundation between the two companies.”
Added Adam Wilkes, President and CEO, AEG Asia Pacific: “Powerhouse and AEG Presents have a great history together, and our collaboration has only become more extensive as the barriers continue to evaporate between global music markets. This feels like a logical progression in our ongoing partnership.”Music Business Worldwide
