Under the Queen's Umbrella

CJ ENM and Hakuhodo’s Chapter-I, Amoeba Culture and Warner Music Group Establish Global Management for Seven-member Global Hip-Hop Rookie Group H//PE Princess, Formed Through Korea-Japan Co-Production Survival Show <Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess>  
 

 H//PE Princess, a seven-member hip-hop group under ‘Chapter-I’ –a joint venture established by CJ ENM and Hakuhodo, global top ten integrated marketing and innovation company – has signed a global deal with Warner Music Group ahead of their highly anticipated debut in the first half of 2026.

H//PE Princess will be co-managed by Chapter-I and Amoeba Culture in Korea, while Warner Music Group will oversee the group’s activities in Japan and their broader expansion across Asia. H//PE Princess is the first K-pop group to receive Warner Music Group’s full-scale promotional support, reflecting  Warner Music Group’s early recognition of the group’s potential.

H//PE Princess was formed in December 2025 through Chapter-I’s first joint project, Korea-Japan co-production survival show Unpretty Rapstar: HIP POP Princess, and  is the first artist managed under Chapter I.

Consisting of COCO, YSY, YUJU, DOI, RINO, NIKO and SUJIN, H//PE Princess is a global hip-hop group. The group’s name reflects their ambition to forge their own path, transcending genre and regional boundaries while telling the stories of their generation in their own authentic voice. Korean hip-hop veteran Gaeko of Dynamicduo, will produce the title track for the group’s debut album. 

CJ ENM said in a statement, “With H//PE Princess preparing to debut in the first half of this year, we have built a strong foundation for the group. Through this partnership with the leading global music company, we look forward to introducing H//PE Princess to a broader global fanbase as they embark on their journey beyond Asia.”

Massahiko Yamada, President and CEO of Chapter-I, said “We are delighted to have signed this global agreement with Warner Music Group, a company with a proven track record of delivering success for numerous global artists. We believe this partnership will generate remarkable synergy and accelerate H//PE Princess’s global activities”

Lofai Lo, President of Warner Music APAC said “I’m super excited to work closely with H//PE Princess and help this newly minted group turn audiences around the world into passionate fans. By harnessing our global network and cutting-edge marketing capabilities, while opening the door to international collaborations, as we develop their long-term careers worldwide.” 

- World’s No.1 K-POP Awards To be Held at KYOCERA DOME OSAKA Over Two Days

- To Stream Live Worldwide via Mnet Plus, Connecting Global Fans Across Borders

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM announced today that 2026 MAMA AWARDS, presented by title sponsor Visa, will be held at KYOCERA DOME OSAKA in Osaka, Japan from November 20 to 21. The world’s No.1 K-POP Awards will also stream live worldwide via Mnet Plus.

This year, the world’s No.1 K-POP Awards plans to present a range of new on-site and online events, reflecting its commitment to delivering a truly borderless experience and uniting fans around the world beyond the stage.  

For 27 years, MAMA AWARDS has elevated K-pop’s value and vision, honoring not just excellence in music, but also those who broaden K-pop’s reach and redefine its possibilities on the world stage.

First launched in 1999 as Korea’s first music video ceremony by CJ ENM’s music channel Mnet, the awards rebranded as MAMA AWARDS in 2009 from the Mnet Asian Music Awards, underscoring its commitment to go global. Since then, MAMA AWARDS has been at the forefront of K-pop’s global expansion by hosting the ceremony across the world, including Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan and the United States. In 2024, the awards marked a historic milestone by hosting the awards for the first time in the United States before continuing in Japan. In recognition of its global impact, the 2024 MAMA AWARDS won the Best General Entertainment Programme at the Asian Academy Creative Awards in 2025.

2026 MAMA AWARDS will continue to bring global fans together through stellar performances and groundbreaking moments, carrying the core message of “Music Makes ONE.” More details will be unveiled in the coming months.   

- Competing against content from 21 countries at the Banff Rockie Awards

- The nominations highlight the growing global potential of K-content and CJ ENM’s commitment to strengthening its position as a global IP powerhouse

Leading entertainment company CJ ENM has once again demonstrated its global content competitiveness with two nominations at the prestigious Banff Rockie Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the global television industry.

Established in 1979, the Banff Rockie Awards recognize the most outstanding and innovative television and digital content from around the world each year. The awards are often considered among the top three global television honors alongside the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. This year’s ceremony will take place on June 16 in Banff, Canada.

According to the 2026 nominees announced on March 23, productions from 21 countries have been shortlisted. Among them, “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” has been nominated in the Drama Series: Non-English Language category, where it will compete with major productions from Canada, Taiwan, France and other countries. Meanwhile, “Study Group” has been nominated in the Comedy Series: Non-English Language category, competing with titles from Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and other markets. “Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” and “Study Group” were produced by Studio Dragon, a subsidiary of CJ ENM.

“Bon Appétit, Your Majesty” became one of the most talked-about K-content titles of 2025, captivating audiences both domestically and internationally with its distinctive narrative that blends Korean traditional cuisine with historical storytelling. The drama surpassed a 20% viewership rating during its broadcast on tvN and later ranked third in total viewing hours among all series available on Netflix in the second half of 2025, following blockbuster titles such as Wednesday Season 2 and Stranger Things Season 5. The series also received praise from major international media outlets. Forbes praised K-food's feast in the show, saying, "The real protagonist of this drama is finely prepared food," and The New York Times also said, "There are many genres mixed, but the core is a romantic comedy that conveys love in the language of food."

TVING original series “Study Group” has also gained international recognition. The series won Best Original Production by a Streamer (Fiction) at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards, emerging as a representative example of how the K-school drama genre has expanded globally. Forbes praised the show, noting that “This 10-episode drama is well written, well cast and has some great graffiti art sets.” With Season 2 currently in production, the title continues to represent the sustainability and expansion potential of CJ ENM’s IP portfolio.

CJ ENM also made a strong showing at last year’s Banff Rockie Awards, earning three nominations for “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born,” “LTNS,” and “Europe Outside Your Tent: France,” the highest number among Asia-based content companies.

A CJ ENM representative said, “The global recognition of Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, which incorporates Korean cuisine and history, and Study Group, which showcases the essence of the K-school genre, clearly demonstrates the growing global potential of K-content. We are deeply honored to receive continued recognition at such a prestigious awards ceremony and will continue striving to deliver compelling stories that resonate with audiences worldwide as we further strengthen our position as a global IP powerhouse.”

■ Official 2026 Rockie Awards nominees from CJ ENM

- Drama Series: Non-English Language

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, Netflix)

- Comedy Series: Non-English Language

Study Group (CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, TVING)