LNGSHOT Becomes Kakao and Atlantic's First Bet As the Next Global K-POP Star

Just ten months after debuting, LNGSHOT has been selected as the first artist for Kakao Entertainment and Atlantic Music Group's new global K-POP partnership, marking a significant step in the rookie boy group's international expansion. With the two companies preparing a coordinated North American campaign around the group's upcoming EP "S.W.I.S.H."

On Nov. 9, Kakao Entertainment announced that LNGSHOT, a four-member group under Jay Park's label MORE VISION, would become the first act supported through its "Global K-Pop Super IP" initiative with Atlantic Music Group (AMG), a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The project follows a strategic partnership established in October, under which the two companies agreed to jointly oversee global artist development, music production, distribution, marketing and promotion.

Combining Kakao Entertainment's K-POP expertise with Atlantic's established presence in the American music industry. Its aim is to signal a broader shift toward developing K-POP artists for international markets from the early stages of their careers rather than waiting until they have established themselves domestically.

For LNGSHOT, the partnership will introduce a coordinated promotional campaign across North America, including local media appearances, digital marketing, streaming platform promotion and physical album distribution.

Atlantic will contribute its distribution infrastructure and experience in hip-hop and R&B marketing, while Kakao Entertainment will oversee artist-specific branding, fan engagement initiatives and promotional activities such as pop-up events.

The campaign will be led by Atlantic Music Group senior vice president Gelareh Rouzbehani, whose involvement reflects the companies' intention to position LNGSHOT within the broader American music market rather than relying exclusively on existing K-POP audiences.

Atlantic Music Group's roster includes internationally recognized artists such as Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Coldplay, Don Toliver, Miley Cyrus and BLACKPINK's ROSÉ. By joining the company's global network, LNGSHOT gains access to an established music industry infrastructure that has supported some of the world's biggest recording artists, potentially strengthening its ability to reach audiences beyond the traditional K-POP market.

The decision to select LNGSHOT is particularly notable given the group's relatively short career.

Debuting in January 2026 with "SHOT CALLERS," the quartet has developed a musical identity rooted in hip-hop and R&B, with members participating directly in songwriting and production.

According to Kakao Entertainment, LNGSHOT has already surpassed 400 million cumulative streams on Spotify, while its debut title track "Moonwalkin'" entered Mediabase's U.S. Top 40 radio airplay chart.

The group has also gained international performance experience through its participation as a special guest on Jay Park's "SERENADES & BODY ROLLS" world tour, which began in September and covered 22 cities. These achievements offer a possible explanation for why Kakao and Atlantic chose LNGSHOT as the partnership's first project.

Rather than introducing an entirely unfamiliar act to international audiences, the companies are investing in a rookie group that has already demonstrated measurable streaming interest, early U.S. radio exposure and experience performing for audiences outside South Korea.

Furthermore, the group's hip-hop and R&B-oriented sound also provides a natural connection to Atlantic's established expertise in those genres.

Although global strategies have increasingly become part of artists' debut plans, Kakao and Atlantic's agreement formalizes a model in which a Korean entertainment company and a major American music group jointly develop international growth strategies from an early stage.

This approach could provide emerging artists with access to overseas infrastructure that might otherwise take years to establish independently. However, the partnership's effectiveness will ultimately depend on whether its resources translate into sustained audience growth rather than short-term promotional visibility.

LNGSHOT's upcoming EP "S.W.I.S.H." will provide the first opportunity to assess that strategy in practice. Scheduled for release on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. KST, the five-track project includes the title song "Bananas" alongside "Masterpiece," "Wanna Go," "Up & Away" and "Beep Beep."

As the first artist selected for their global K-POP initiative, LNGSHOT will serve as an early test of whether combining Korean artist development with American industry infrastructure can create a more effective pathway for emerging acts entering the international market.

The group's progress could offer an indication of how future artists are selected, developed and promoted under the partnership, making LNGSHOT's next chapter significant not only for its own career but also for the broader evolution of K-POP’s global business model.