The Company Behind K-Pop Phenom BTS Is Launching a Blockchain Biz in LA. Fans Are Skeptical.

Kristin Snyder

Kristin Snyder is dot.LA's 2022/23 Editorial Fellow. She previously interned with Tiger Oak Media and led the arts section for UCLA's Daily Bruin.

The Company Behind K-Pop Phenom BTS Is Launching a Blockchain Biz in LA. Fans Are Skeptical.

Entertainment company HYBE—the corporation behind international phenomenon BTS—partnered with blockchain technology company Dunamu to launch Levvels Inc. Based out of Los Angeles, the company intends to connect fans with artists through Web3 and NFTs. Its upcoming project is Momentica, an online blockchain platform that will offer collectible assets related to K-pop groups Seventeen, fromis_9, Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen and Le Sserafim. Its first collection, TAKE, will feature photos, videos, voice recordings and autographs.


HYBE’s latest launch, however, comes at a time when K-pop fans have turned against NFTs. In 2021, the notoriously passionate fanbase criticized HYBE’s partnership with Dunamu's last NFT-based business venture over environmental concerns, propelling #ARMYsAgainstNFT to trend on Twitter.

Despite claiming to have a fan-first ethos, HYBE has seemingly ignored fans’ criticisms with the launch of Levvels. Their latest announcement has fosteredsimilarconcerns, though not to the same degree. Perhaps because Momentica, Levvels’ first project, uses a cloud-based blockchain service platform that claims to use 30 million times less electricity than Ethereum.

Still, the introduction of a new NFT platform joins a crowdedLos AngelesNFTspace even as the crypto markets remain rocky. As such, appealing to a specific fanbase may help give Levvels an edge. But K-pop fans' previous disdain toward NFTs could squash those dreams.

More generally, the continued push for Web3 content reflects K-pop’s general turn towards an increasing number of tech investments: HYBE, considered one of the big four South Korean entertainment agencies, recently acquired Supertone, an AI company that can clone voices. Last year, Supertone’s tech was featured on the Korean reality show, “Competition of the Century: AI vs Human.” The company used AI to recreate the voice of deceased singer Kim Kwang-seok. In addition to Supertone, HYBE has also invested in a number of international, entertainment-based tech companies.

To that end, South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM recently invested in Los Angeles-based AmazeVR, which will produce virtual concerts for its talent roster. CJ ENM’s other investments include HYPERREAL, a metaverse studio, and AFUN Interactive, the 3D graphics company behind virtual musician Apoki.

The metaverse has also been bolstered by K-pop companies. SM Entertainment formed Aespa, a group combining both virtual and physical singers, and its founder views the metaverse as “the future of K-pop.”

Of course, K-pop corporations have long run their musical acts like businesses: BTS—HYBE’s most successful boy band—was formed through auditions, and the group has gone on to make millions through merchandise and sponsorships. But that success comes as K-pop corporations face pushback for heavily controlling their talent to bring in more money. After going public two years ago, HYBE’s interest in tech is more than likely just another way to support its music groups. And NFTs offer an easy method to engage fervent fans through content that would otherwise go unmonetized.

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LA-Based Apex Is Tapping Into the Small Satellite Market by Making Buses for Spacecraft

Spencer Rascoff

Spencer Rascoff serves as executive chairman of dot.LA. He is an entrepreneur and company leader who co-founded Zillow, Hotwire, dot.LA, Pacaso and Supernova, and who served as Zillow's CEO for a decade. During Spencer's time as CEO, Zillow won dozens of "best places to work" awards as it grew to over 4,500 employees, $3 billion in revenue, and $10 billion in market capitalization. Prior to Zillow, Spencer co-founded and was VP Corporate Development of Hotwire, which was sold to Expedia for $685 million in 2003. Through his startup studio and venture capital firm, 75 & Sunny, Spencer is an active angel investor in over 100 companies and is incubating several more.

​Ian Cinnamon
Ian Cinnamon

On this episode of Office Hours, Apex founder and CEO Ian Cinnamon discusses the importance of investing in space exploration and shares his thoughts on the evolving space ecosystem in Los Angeles.


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This Week in ‘Raises’: Measurabl Snags $93M, Selva Ventures Grabs $34M

Decerry Donato

Decerry Donato is a reporter at dot.LA. Prior to that, she was an editorial fellow at the company. Decerry received her bachelor's degree in literary journalism from the University of California, Irvine. She continues to write stories to inform the community about issues or events that take place in the L.A. area. On the weekends, she can be found hiking in the Angeles National forest or sifting through racks at your local thrift store.

Raises
Image by Joshua Letona

A local data management platform company lands fresh funding to help commercial real estate owners reduce carbon footprint, while one Los Angeles-based venture firm closes its second fund to accelerate the growth of emerging companies across health, wellness, beauty and personal care.

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McKinsey & Company Launches InLA Accelerator To Help Underrepresented Founders Tackle Startup Challenges

Decerry Donato

Decerry Donato is a reporter at dot.LA. Prior to that, she was an editorial fellow at the company. Decerry received her bachelor's degree in literary journalism from the University of California, Irvine. She continues to write stories to inform the community about issues or events that take place in the L.A. area. On the weekends, she can be found hiking in the Angeles National forest or sifting through racks at your local thrift store.

McKinsey & Company Launches InLA Accelerator To Help Underrepresented Founders Tackle Startup Challenges
InLA

In 2022, female founders saw a 28% decline in overall U.S. funding, while Black-led startups saw a 38% decline in total capital received. In an effort to increase funding for minority-led startups, global venture firm McKinsey & Company is launching InLA, an accelerator program for underrepresented founders.

“This effort is something that the firm has been really excited about for a long time,” Engagement Manager Elkhyn Rivas Rodriguez said. “There's obviously a meaningful and growing startup community out here and just from a diversity standpoint, LA is incredibly diverse and multi-ethnic and multicultural. So we think that there will be a really great pool of potential companies to partner with.”

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