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This year witnessed more pivotal developments in music copyright than any other in recent memory. Many of these issues were brought too light and debated through ongoing “copyright stories.”
The most notable change was the rapid evolution of the content landscape. The proliferation of short-form content on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, coupled with the rise of Artificial intelligence, has transformed music copyright from a niche concern for experts into a “real-world issue” impacting creators, platforms, and users alike.
As 2025 draws to a close, let’s summarize the key music copyright issues into three major categories.
Rosé’s Departure from the Korea music Copyright Association
One of the most widely discussed music copyright stories of the year was Blackpink member Rosé’s decision to leave the Korea Music Copyright Association. Rosé gained global recognition with the success of “Apartment,” a collaboration with Bruno Mars in 2024.
This event sparked a broader conversation beyond simple curiosity about Rosé’s motivations. It prompted fundamental questions about the korean music industry’s copyright management structure – specifically, its focus on protecting domestic creators versus managing the rights of artists who actively engage in the global market as their stage expands internationally.
The Success of ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ and the complexities of Copyright
2025 could easily be called the year of ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ (Kedeheon), with the series captivating audiences worldwide and achieving explosive success. The K-pop music featured throughout the show was a key driver of its popularity, showcasing a trendy aesthetic and high production quality thanks to the involvement of many domestic producers.
Though, behind this success lies a less publicized reality: a significant portion of the copyrights for the music, created by Korean producers, actually belong to foreign entities. This isn’t an isolated incident. As content production increasingly shifts to global platforms, the creator and rights holder are often not the same. This case highlighted the current state and limitations of music copyright management and attribution, raising questions about how to improve and redesign the system for the future.
AI-Generated Music: Copyright Registration and the Burden of Proof
Looking back at the copyright landscape in 2025, it was a year defined by intense debate surrounding Artificial Intelligence.
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