Jennie Kim, a singer, actress, and a key member of the global sensation Blackpink, has officially signed a solo contract with Columbia Records. The deal, announced on Sunday, is a partnership with her personal label, Oddatelier, and marks a significant milestone in her independent music career. Her first solo release under Columbia Records is set to drop in October.
Jennie rose to prominence in 2016 as part of Blackpink, a group that has broken numerous records on the Billboard charts and made history as the first Korean act to headline Coachella. While excelling in the group, she has also explored solo ventures. Last year, she collaborated with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp on the track “One of the Girls” and made her acting debut alongside them in the controversial HBO series The Idol.
Born in South Korea, Jennie moved to Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of 10, where she spent five years studying before returning to Korea to train under YG Entertainment. Blackpink’s meteoric rise since their debut in 2016 has established them as one of the biggest musical acts worldwide. They hold the distinction of being the first Korean girl group to have five music videos surpass a billion views on YouTube and are the most-followed girl group on Spotify.
Jennie has often spoken about her desire to branch out into acting and other creative pursuits. In an interview with Dua Lipa on the Dua Lipa: At Your Service podcast last year, she reflected on her approach to new opportunities. “Acting was something I always wanted to explore, but I knew I had to do it the right way. I didn’t want to take just any role that came my way—I wanted my first acting project to feel authentic,” she said. Jennie also shared that she spent time in Los Angeles meeting with director Sam Levinson, who guided her through the role he had envisioned for her in The Idol, a process she described as deeply moving.
With her new solo deal and upcoming music release, Jennie is poised to carve out an independent path while continuing to be one of the most influential figures in global entertainment.