Lee Hyun re-signs with 19-year 'steadfast partner' BigHit Music

BigHit Music, a HYBE label, is renewing its contract with ballad singer Lee Hyun, it announced Wednesday. 

Lee is part of the first batch of artists who signed with BigHit, in 2007. The label today also houses the mega K-pop band BTS, as well as Cortis and Tomorrow X Together. 

“It carries great meaning to continue our relationship with an artist who has been with the company since its early days,” BigHit Music said in a statement. “Based on the trust we have built over 19 years, we plan to actively support Lee Hyun's activities going forward.”

Lee also gave his own statement, calling BigHit his “musical home and most steadfast partner.”

“As has always been the case, this is built on deep trust and respect for each other. I hope to create more opportunities to communicate through music and become a singer who never stops singing. I am truly grateful to BigHit Music, which has always stood by me, and to the fans who have shown me unwavering love.”

Lee signed his contract with BigHit Music, then known as Big Hit Entertainment, in 2007 and debuted under the vocal trio 8eight the same year. The group was produced by HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk and is known for hits including “Without a Heart” (2009, translated) and “I Sing After Losing Love” (2007, translated), which remain regarded as classics.

The trio announced an indefinite hiatus in 2014 and has not released new music since. But Lee in 2010 formed a project ballad duo, dubbed Home, with K-pop boy band 2AM member Lee Chang-min and scored the hit “Still Eating Well,” a vocally explosive ballad produced by Bang. 

More recently, Lee released a high-energy synthwave single “Masquerade” (2023) under an alter ego called Midnatt. It was the first K-pop song to be produced in six different languages — English, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean.

BY LEE JIAN [[email protected]]