Former SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man is back in the global spotlight, this time with Chinese girl group A2O MAY, who just made history on U.S. radio charts.
After parting ways with SM Entertainment in 2023 amid management disputes, many wondered what Lee Soo-man’s next act would be. At the time, he made a bold comment, stating that as he always did, he is moving towards a future where K-pop must evolve into global music, which must be a fusion of technology and music and contribute to a sustainable world.
Now, Lee Soo-man is launching a new era of global pop. As the head of A2O Entertainment, Lee has masterminded the debut of A2O MAY, a five-member Chinese girl group he describes as “a strong candidate for the world’s No.1 girl group.” And their recent achievements suggest that vision isn’t far off.
Composed of Kat, Miche, Shijie, Quchang, and Chenyu, A2O MAY blends Lee’s legendary production skills with a bold new genre he coined: Zalpha Pop (a hybrid of Gen Z and Alpha sensibilities). Their music captures youthful energy with a futuristic edge, developed in collaboration with hitmaker Yoo Young Jin.
After debuting with “Under My Skin (A2O)”, the group released their second single “BOSS”, which exploded on China’s QQ Music, topping the new releases chart and entering the Hot Song TOP 10. But their biggest feat yet? Breaking into Mediabase’s Top 40 U.S. radio chart for three consecutive weeks, on which they currently ranked No. 32, after placing 34th in the previous week.
In May, A2O MAY became the first Chinese girl group ever invited to the iHeartRadio Wango Tango Festival, a major U.S. music event hosted by 102.7 KIIS FM. This marked a major cultural milestone, putting them on the same stage as artists like Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, and Charli XCX, with whom they now share “chart real estate”.
Notably, they’re only the second Chinese artist after Jackson Wang to enter the Mediabase Top 40, and the first all-female Chinese group to do so. Their entry into the CCTV ‘China Music TOP Chart’ further cements their dual-market success.
Following his SM departure, Lee laid the groundwork for a new era in music, founding A2O Entertainment through his company Blooming Grace. His focus? ESG (environment, society, and governance) -conscious content and music that transcends borders. And he’s not stopping at A2O MAY.
Last month, he spoke at the France Music Week Summit in Paris, joining global leaders of Warner Music, YouTube, and Universal France, alongside France’s president and minister. He also had a personal meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who reportedly invited him to establish a local office in France to boost Korean-French creative collaboration.
As Lee stated, “I believe true global superstars will soon emerge from Asia. Please continue to watch over and support A2O MAY’s growth.”
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