SM Entertainment Settles Issue With Indie Band Red Velvet Over Use of Same Name

SM Entertainment and indie band Red Velvet (not to be confused with SM's rookie girl group) have come to an agreement regarding the use of the same name for the agency's upcoming four-member group.

Jul 31, 2014 10:22 AM BST

TAGㆍRed Velvet

(Photo : SM Entertainment)

SM Entertainment and indie band Red Velvet (not to be confused with SM's rookie girl group) have come to an agreement regarding the use of the same name for the agency's upcoming four-member group.

The issue stemmed from indie band Red Velvet's protest on the use of the same name. The indie band, who started out in 2013, claimed that if ever SM Entertainment pushes through with debuting Red Velvet, the indie band's activities "will become difficult to carry out" since they are a "powerless indie band" who've just started taking their first steps into the industry.

Shortly after their message, SM Entertainment responded to the issue and now the two parties have now come out with an official statement saying both will continue to promote with the same name.

Ha Hwi Soo spoke in behalf of Red Velvet to Star News, saying, "[After meeting personally with a head at SM], we've concluded that we'll promote with the same name. From now onward, neither will interfere with the use of the name Red Velvet."

A representative of SM Entertainment also said, "After holding an amicable meeting with the two-member band Red Velvet, we've decided that both parties will use the name. Our company's Red Velvet won't have any setbacks for their debut, and we thank the two-member band Red Velvet for their consideration."

However, this isn't the first time artists have argued over the use of same names. For instance, renowned girl group 2NE1 was originally introduced as 21. However, by that time there was already a soloist going by the name 21 ("To Anyone"). Following the complaint by the soloist, YG Entertainment ultimately changed the group's name to 2NE1 and apologized to the said artist.

Lately, SM Entertainment also received fiery protest from Winning Insight and its boy group Mr. Mr. for SM Entertainment's use of "Mr. Mr." as the title for Girls' Generation's latest hit track.

As for this case with Red Velvet, it has been said that SM Entertainment will resort to amicable solutions to sort out the controversy.

TagㆍRed Velvet