TXT Members Reveal Details Behind Record Breaking Contract Renewal Discussion with BIGHIT MUSIC
The South Korean music industry, particularly the global phenomenon of K-pop, is often characterized by the "seven-year curse," a term referring to the standard length of exclusive artist contracts that frequently leads to group disbandment or member departures. However, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), the quintet under BIGHIT MUSIC, has recently made headlines by not only bypassing this industry hurdle but doing so with unprecedented efficiency. During a recent appearance on the popular YouTube variety series ZIP Daesung, hosted by BIGBANG member Daesung, the members of TXT revealed that their contract renewal discussions with BIGHIT MUSIC were completed in a mere fifteen minutes, signaling a profound level of internal cohesion and satisfaction with their management.
The announcement of the group’s contract renewal originally took place in 2025 during the opening night of their ACT: TOMORROW world tour in Seoul. While the news of the renewal was met with massive celebration from their global fanbase, known as MOA, the specifics of the negotiation process remained private until the group’s recent media appearance. The speed of the agreement has since become a focal point for industry analysts and fans alike, highlighting a shift in how established fourth-generation groups approach their long-term career trajectories.
The 15-Minute Negotiation: A Case Study in Artist-Label Synergy
During the episode of ZIP Daesung released in April 2026, members Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and HueningKai provided a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes operations of HYBE, the parent company of BIGHIT MUSIC. While touring the HYBE headquarters with Daesung, the members engaged in lighthearted banter regarding the company’s facilities and corporate culture. The conversation eventually turned toward the serious topic of contract renewals, a milestone that often involves months of legal scrutiny, financial negotiation, and strategic planning.
When Daesung inquired about the group’s experience with the negotiation process, Taehyun noted that the transition was remarkably seamless. He attributed this to the fact that all five members entered the discussion with a unified vision. Soobin further elaborated on the timeline, stating that the actual meeting where the members decided to stay together under BIGHIT MUSIC lasted only fifteen minutes. According to the members, the conversation was straightforward: they asked one another if they were committed to continuing as a five-member unit, and the consensus was instantaneous.
This disclosure is significant within the context of the K-pop industry, where contract negotiations are notoriously complex. Often, individual members may seek different career paths, such as solo music careers, acting, or variety show hosting, which can lead to protracted negotiations or the eventual fracturing of the group. The fact that TXT reached a unanimous decision in a quarter of an hour suggests a rare level of interpersonal trust and a shared belief in the group’s future potential.
Historical Context: TXT’s Journey and the "Seven-Year Curse"
To understand the weight of this renewal, one must look at the historical trajectory of Tomorrow X Together. Debuting in March 2019 with the EP The Dream Chapter: Star, the group faced immense pressure as the first boy group to debut under BIGHIT MUSIC following the global success of BTS. They quickly established their own identity, characterized by a genre-bending discography and a narrative-driven conceptual universe that resonated with Gen Z audiences.
The "seven-year curse" typically stems from the Fair Trade Commission’s standard contract regulations in South Korea, which limit exclusive artist contracts to a maximum of seven years to prevent "slave contracts." As groups approach the end of this period, the power dynamic often shifts, giving artists more leverage to negotiate higher profit splits, creative control, or individual activities. Many groups in the past, such as 2NE1, 4Minute, and SISTAR, disbanded at this juncture, while others, like GOT7, chose to leave their founding agencies entirely while maintaining the group’s brand.
TXT’s decision to renew early and with such speed places them in an elite category of groups—including their seniors BTS and SEVENTEEN—who opted for early, collective renewal to ensure brand continuity and long-term stability. This move effectively secured the group’s future through the late 2020s and possibly beyond, providing BIGHIT MUSIC with a stable pillar of revenue and creative output.
Strategic Implications for BIGHIT MUSIC and HYBE
The 15-minute renewal is not just a testament to the group’s friendship; it is a significant business win for HYBE. As one of the company’s most consistent performers on global charts, including the Billboard 200, TXT represents a vital asset in HYBE’s multi-label strategy. A protracted negotiation or a "split" renewal (where some members sign and others do not) would have likely caused volatility in HYBE’s stock price and created uncertainty for tour promoters and brand partners.
Industry analysts suggest that the speed of the renewal indicates that BIGHIT MUSIC likely offered terms that were already aligned with the artists’ expectations regarding financial compensation and creative autonomy. By maintaining a positive relationship with the members, the agency has avoided the high costs of "re-debuting" members as soloists or the loss of intellectual property value that occurs when a group enters a hiatus.
Furthermore, the transparency with which the members discussed their renewal on a public platform like ZIP Daesung serves as a powerful marketing tool. It reinforces the narrative of TXT as a "found family," a concept that is central to their branding and highly appealing to a fanbase that values authenticity and emotional connection.
Chronology of the 2025-2026 Renewal Cycle
The timeline of TXT’s renewal serves as a blueprint for successful artist retention:
- Early 2025: Internal discussions begin among the members. Rather than negotiating individually, the members align their goals privately before meeting with agency executives.
- Mid-2025: The "15-minute meeting" takes place at the HYBE headquarters. The agency presents the terms, and the members, having already agreed to stay together, sign the extension.
- Late 2025: The official announcement is made during the ACT: TOMORROW World Tour in Seoul. The timing is designed to maximize emotional impact and reward the fans for their loyalty.
- April 2026: The members appear on ZIP Daesung, revealing the ease of the process and solidifying their public image as a unified front.
Fan Reactions and the Concept of "Fate"
The revelation has triggered a massive wave of support across social media platforms. Clips from the YouTube episode have gone viral, with fans highlighting the members’ comments as proof of their genuine bond. On X (formerly Twitter), fans utilized hashtags to celebrate the news, with many pointing out that the members viewed each other as "family" rather than "business partners."
One viral post noted, "Every time TXT mentions their decisions to extend the contract with each other without hesitation, I feel like they really embody the concepts of ‘fate’ and ‘family’." Another fan commented that the speed of the negotiation "shows how much closer they have gotten throughout the years."
This emotional investment from the fanbase is a key driver of TXT’s commercial success. In an industry where artist-fan relationships are paramount, the assurance that the group is staying together by choice—and with enthusiasm—strengthens the "MOA" community and ensures high engagement for future projects.
Broader Impact on the K-pop Industry
TXT’s record-setting discussion may influence how other fourth-generation groups approach their own renewals. By demonstrating that a unified front can lead to a quick and favorable outcome, they have set a new standard for artist-agency relations. This "all-in" approach reduces the leverage of agencies to play members against each other during negotiations and emphasizes the value of group integrity.
Additionally, the involvement of a senior figure like Daesung in this revelation is noteworthy. As a member of BIGBANG, a group that has navigated numerous contract cycles and industry shifts, Daesung’s visible amazement at the 15-minute timeline underscored just how rare such an occurrence is. His reaction validated the group’s achievement, bridging the gap between second-generation experience and fourth-generation innovation.
Conclusion: A Future Secured
As Tomorrow X Together continues their ACT: TOMORROW world tour and prepares for future releases, the cloud of contract uncertainty that often hangs over groups in their sixth and seventh years has been entirely dissipated. The quintet has demonstrated that with clear communication, shared goals, and a supportive management structure, the "seven-year curse" is not an inevitability but a hurdle that can be cleared with ease.
The 15-minute negotiation will likely be remembered as a landmark moment in the group’s history—a moment where Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and HueningKai chose to prioritize their collective identity above all else. For BIGHIT MUSIC and the global music industry, it serves as a reminder that the strongest asset a group can possess is not just talent or marketing, but an unbreakable internal bond. With their contracts secured and their vision aligned, TXT is poised to remain a dominant force in the global music landscape for years to come.
