“It seems they are forming a new team of staff”- Industry insider reportedly hints at NewJeans’ next moves as it wraps up final activity under ADOR

NewJeans have consistently been in the headlines throughout 2024 owing to its feud with ADOR, but the dynamics shifted after the former unilaterally announced the termination of their contract with the latter on November 28, 2024.

After the girl group severed ties with ADOR, they commenced work on their standalone project, having completed their final activities with ADOR, as recently indicated by an insider.

As per a January 6 report by Tenasia, an industry insider recently commented on the forthcoming actions of NewJeans as independent artists. The source disclosed that some managers from ADOR allegedly departed the company to lend their support to the girl group. He also stated that the girl group is preparing a new team independent of ADOR.

"It is understood that some former managers who resigned from ADOR are supporting NewJeans' independent activities. While they don’t yet have a company, it seems they are forming a new team of staff independent from ADOR,” the insider claimed.

The five girls of the K-pop band—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein—have fulfilled the majority of their planned engagements with their agency ADOR. Following the notification to the agency regarding the cancellation of their exclusive contracts, no new schedules have been established.

As reported by Tenasia, the girl group is mainly left with the filming of advertisements with ADOR, other than that their commitments under the contracts are completed as of January 6.

As the five members have concluded most of their contractual obligations with ADOR, there is increasing focus on their forthcoming endeavors.

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Industry insider suggested that NewJeans future activities without ADOR would be against their contract

The members of the five-member girl group are currently facing a period of uncertainty. If they continue with activities, they are prohibited from utilizing the moniker "NewJeans." If they fail to do so, the duration of the hiatus remains undetermined.

If they proceed with operations, the range of penalties they may incur would expand, as their conduct would constitute breaches of contract. This circumstance entails considerable legal obligations on the five members. As stated by an industry insider to Tenasia:

"Any future activities by NewJeans would constitute a breach of their exclusive contract. While NewJeans asserts the termination of their exclusive contract, their stance is vastly different from ADOR's, and since this matter has not yet been legally resolved, the group's future actions are at a critical juncture."

The insider further emphasized that the girl group might have to pay heavy penalties in case of independent projects.

"In this case, instances of contract violations will continue to accumulate, which will increase the penalties NewJeans may have to pay."

In related news, the girl group member Danielle Marsh became the newest ambassador for the high-end brand Omega on December 17, 2024. This announcement was made after the girl group unilaterally ended their contract with ADOR.

Further, on December 18, 2024, the girl group released the Vogue Korea New Year cover shoot on their new 'Jeanzforfree' IG account. Fans noticed that they used their own names, Hyein, Hanni, Haerin, Danielle, and Minji, instead of the group's name. Online curiosity also grew around Min Hee Jin's direction of the shoot.