Psy signs a contract with U.S. record label

Singer Psy signed a contract with a major U.S. record label, according to his local agency YG Entertainment.

The 34-year-old, who recently created a sensation with his latest hit “Gangnam Style,” will be working with Island Def Jam Recordings, the agency said.

Upon the contract, the U.S. label is given the exclusive international publishing rights and management over Psy, YG Entertainment said. The label’s artists include Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Star.

Psy, whose title track of his latest album “Gangnam Style” has received enthusiastic reviews worldwide since its release in July, flew to Los Angeles on Aug. 15. There, he reportedly had a personal get-together with Island Def Jam Recording’s Scooter Braun, who also works as Justin Beiber’s manager.

Psy returned to Seoul on Aug. 25, but did not reveal anything about his meeting with Braun at the time.

However, it appears the contract was signed during his visit to the U.S. last month. YG Entertainment on Tuesday posted video footage of Psy and Braun drinking soju together in celebration of the moment of “making new history together.”

“We’ve been hanging out in California for four days becoming friends and we’ve come to an agreement to make some history together,” says Braun in the video.

Psy is scheduled to leave for the U.S. on Thursday, to attend the MTV Awards. He is the second Korean singer to be invited to the MTV Awards, after Rain in 2005.

Psy, virtually unknown outside of Korea, rose to international stardom with his YouTube music video featuring his signature “horse-riding dance.” The video has attracted 95 million views as of Monday night and is expected to break the 100 million mark soon.

2012 MTV Video Music Awards will air live at 8 a.m. on Friday.


By Claire Lee and Lee Hyun-jae
(dyc@heraldcorp.com (lhj137@heraldcorp.com)