On July 10, HYBE announced the lineup for the “HYBE: We Believe In Music, A GRAMMY Museum Exhibit” at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, USA. Notably absent from the list was NewJeans, prompting public speculation and questions about their exclusion from the event.
Fans and industry observers raised concerns and speculated on reasons for NewJeans’ absence, pointing to potential tensions between HYBE and Min Hee-jin, head of ADOR, as a possible factor. HYBE responded by clarifying that participation in the exhibition was voluntary for each label, citing examples like BTS also opting out of certain events.
In contrast, ADOR offered minimal comment, labeling the decision as a “label decision” without further elaboration to TenAsia.
The exclusion of ADOR and NewJeans, amid an event involving all HYBE labels and major artists, raised eyebrows in the industry. Fans expressed disappointment and questioned whether internal conflicts were impacting the group’s opportunities and fan engagement.
Despite the controversies, the “HYBE: We Believe In Music” exhibit will feature artists from various HYBE labels, showcasing their contributions from August 2 to September 15 in Los Angeles.