SM and Universal Japan chiefs to speak at music forum

The chief officers of two of the largest music powerhouses in South Korea and Japan -- SM Entertainment and Universal Music Japan -- will speak at an annual Asian music forum in Korea aimed at discussing on jointly bringing developments to the music industry of the two countries.

Kim Young-min, CEO of SM Entertainment and Kei Ishizaka, Chairman and CEO of music mogul Universal Music Japan will speak at the 2009 Asia Music Industry Leaders Forum on September 19, host for the forum Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange (KOFICE) said in a press release on Friday.

Kim, whose company discovered many of Korea's top pop group including TVXQ, Girls' Generation and Super Junior, will speak about the management business in Korea.

Universal Music Japan is top Korean boy band Big Bang's record label and Ishizaka will explain how it integrated its marketing plans in Japan and Korea to successfully start the group's music career in Japan.

The forum will take place concurrently with the 2009 Asia Song Festival (ASF), an annual song fest hosted by KOFICE and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which brings together Asia's top stars from nine countries.

Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr