New music from NCT, Aespa and other K-pop acts coming in 2021, says SM Entertainment as label teases multimedia SMCU concept

NCT and its subgroups will release LPs and other material, and members will serve as mentors for a televised US contest to form an NCT Hollywood group

SM also gives more details of its ‘creative universe’ inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as cartoons, apps and games featuring multiple groups

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Aespa, the girl group launched by SM Entertainment in 2020. Their recent single, Next Level, was described at June 29’s “SM Congress” as the latest episode in a sci-fi storyline that anchor’s the label’s SM “creative universe” concept. Photo: @aespa_official/Instagram

Published: 1:52pm, 29 Jun 2021Updated: 3:41pm, 29 Jun 2021

NCT, the 23-strong K-pop mega group with shifting line-ups, have a big six months ahead, their label SM Entertainment has revealed.

A day after the launch of an album by one of its subgroups, NCT Dream, SM said on June 29 that two others, NCT 127 and WayV, will also release LPs; the whole group will produce material together as NCT 2021; and the NCT concept will spread to the US with a survival television series, the winners of which will form a group called NCT Hollywood. Current NCT members will serve as mentors for those competing in the US show.

There are also plans for new combinations of NCT U, the rotational project arm of NCT that brings together different members in temporary units for one-off songs. In the past, different NCT U teams have released popular NCT songs including 2016’s The 7th Sense, 2018’s Boss and l2020’s Make a Wish (Birthday Song).

The label also used June 29’s “SM Congress” to announce further details of its plans for an SM “creative universe” or SMCU – inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe of films that brought together characters from different comic-book series.

The SM version has a science fiction storyline and will involve all its K-pop acts, including Aespa, Shinee, Exo, Red Velvet, BoA and Super Junior, and media including cartoons, animation, webtoons, motion graphics, avatars and novels (promoted using the acronym Cawman). SM also revealed potential plans for SMCU films. Apps and games would allow for fan interaction, said SM CEO Lee Sung-soo (also known as Chris Lee).