Kakao Entertainment’s Jang Yoon-joong Recognized as Global Music Leader by Billboard

Kakao Entertainment co-CEO Jang Yoon-joong has been selected as one of ‘Billboard’s 2026 Global Power Players,’ recognizing his significant contributions to the expansion of K-pop’s global reach. The recognition highlights Jang’s expertise in the international music market.

From Sony Music to Kakao Entertainment: A Global Music Executive

Jang Yoon-joong’s appointment as co-CEO of Kakao Entertainment marked a significant step for the company, bringing in a leader with extensive experience in the global music industry. Prior to joining Kakao Entertainment in 2021, Jang served as CEO of Sony Music Korea and co-CEO of Sony Music Asia Hub [Sony Corporation]. He initially held roles as Global Strategy Officer (GSO) and Head of North American Corporation within Kakao Entertainment before being named CEO in March 2024.

Billboard’s Recognition of Jang’s Impact

Billboard, a leading American music media outlet, annually identifies influential leaders outside of the U.S. Who are shaping the global music landscape. Jang Yoon-joong was recognized by Billboard five times between 2021 and 2026 while leading Sony Music Entertainment Korea [Korea Portal].

Kakao Entertainment stated that Jang was lauded for his achievements in diversifying artists’ global activities, expanding music intellectual property (IP) rights, and fostering collaborations with global partners to advance the K-pop industry [Sedaily].

Strategic Focus on Global Expansion and IP Acquisition

Looking ahead, co-CEO Jang plans to prioritize securing global mega IP and driving further international expansion for Kakao Entertainment. The company is developing a comprehensive global roadmap across its music, story, and media divisions, and actively exploring new business opportunities to fuel future growth [MK Korea].

Industry Peers Recognized Alongside Jang

Alongside Jang Yoon-joong, twelve other key executives from the Korean music industry were also named ‘2026 Billboard Global Power Players.’ These include Bang Si-hyuk (HYBE), Jang Cheol-hyuk and Tak Young-jun (SM Entertainment), Jin-young Park (JYP Entertainment), and Jeong Wook (JYP Entertainment).

Kakao Entertainment and Sony’s Partnership

Kakao Entertainment and Sony Corporation announced a partnership in December 2025 to collaborate on projects utilizing Sony’s 360 Reality Audio immersive audio experience. The initial project involved a special stage at the 17th Melon Music Awards (MMA 2025) [Sony Corporation]. This collaboration aims to provide K-pop fans worldwide with a three-dimensional audio experience.