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They officially started the renewal talks in January 2025. With only one comeback and a tour left before the end of their current contract. They had to plan accordingly and decide what they wanted to do. The members knew that they need to sign one before September ends for their current contract ends on 24 October 2025, the day of their debut.
Other than the final Golden Hour album in June and July, and one Japanese album in September, they hadn’t planned much. It was too risky to make plans on the off chance that the contract talks fall through. No one wanted that risk.
Throughout the years, all of the members learned and knew what they want in their new contracts. Hongjoong had kept a list of all the demands they wanted. It will always be eight makes one team. Either all eight members sign the same contract, or they walk away. They had the upper hand here.
They gave KQ their list of demands and criteria that must be met for the members to agree on signing the contract. This caused a lot of back and forth between them and the company. And other companies had reached out when they heard that contract negotiations were taking a bit longer between Ateez and KQ. Yet, one look at the demands and these companies turned away.
Hongjoong knew that they were asking a lot in these new contract demands, and that if they do get them, it will cause a ripple effect that will change things in the industry.
The longer these negotiations took, the more tense things were happening behind the scenes. Some members were getting frustrated and occasionally lashing out. And Hongjoong was trying his best to be the leader they need and was trying to step up, but sometimes he is reminded of how powerless he is in such situations.
The making of Golden Hour Part 3 was hell. The entire promotional cycle for the album was contradictory. They would look at the camera and smile, spouting lies about how this was their best comeback to date. The way it was split into two different editions because KQ weren’t being straight forward with them.
Hongjoong had fought hard for them to be able to showcase their individual colors and have their solo songs on an album. And KQ used this opportunity to show Ateez that they were willing to take the risk as a gesture of good faith. Ateez had demanded equality and KQ gave them each their own solo track on an album. That they did this, and the negotiations can go forward.
For the members, these solo tracks were a step in the right direction. That KQ were finally listening to their demands and giving in to them. However, there are times when they are reminded that one step forward is always three steps back.
Some days after these negotiation meetings, Hongjoong wanted to throttle the higher ups. Thinking that sitting in an office in their suits makes them more knowledgeable about music and art when it’s obvious that they are clueless.
Their contract lawyer was someone who is well known in the industry and had worked alongside other lawyers with a history of winning contract lawsuits. And the man was able to hammer down more details as the weeks went by.
By July, Seonghwa and Jongho were satisfied by the contract. Yunho and San had a few more requests before they agreed to sign. Wooyoung was on the fence about some things and felt like the only resolution would be to make a compromise.
Hongjoong and Mingi felt like they were close in getting what they want. They were fighting to have a bigger role in the producing Ateez’s music. They also wanted to include the other members more in the writing process, after having to prove themselves capable of writing songs. Yet KQ thought that it was too much of a risk, gambling with the unknown.
Of all the members, Yeosang was the one with the biggest worries. He had been researching and reading about music contract laws, as well as copyright and IP laws. For the first time he was loudly vocal about it to the members, wanting them to be well prepared. He wanted to be well prepared going into these negotiations. Of all the members, it was mainly him and Mingi that were doing the reading and looking into things deeply.
Hongjoong knew that he could count on Yeosang to do the research for him. Asking for the credibility of a potential line in a contract and Yeosang would provide him with a mini essay within a few days’ time. Of course he had a lawyer with them, but Yeosang always offered him other alternatives that would align with their vision.
In these negotiations, Ateez were well armed. They had the upper hand. Even if these conversations dragged well into the middle of a grueling tour. They had their goals and visions.
At the end of August, as September rolled around, KQ had agreed to their demands, and the members agreed to work around and compromise with their other demands. The final clauses that they demanded included:
- Ateez will have major creative control over their music in relation to lyrics, production and music direction with members Kim Hongjoong and Song Mingi serving as main producers. Other members will be included in the writing process.
- All Ateez members will have equal opportunity for external activities such as photoshoots, variety content and collaborations, unless a specific member is requested for these activities.
- Ateez members will receive a higher percentage share from profits of product sales, including albums, MD and tour revenue.
- Any Ateez member will have their own online content which will be released during period of no promotional or tour activities
- All collaborations with Ateez will require due diligence from KQ Entertainment, and Ateez members can veto any collaboration. This is to protect the members and to maintain artist integrity and transparency.
Of these demands, they had to compromise on Eden remaining as the executive producer. As well as certain key staff will remain as executive creative directors and such. They could still work with that. They reached to a point where asking for more would backfire on them. As long as the members were happy and agreeing on signing the contract, these final terms were good.
It took almost two weeks for the finalized version to be written and sent to them. Ateez were excited for this new chapter in their lives and couldn’t wait to start writing and recording the song they have in mind. Incomplete melodies and lyrics recorded on their phones from the time they worked on their solo songs ready to be explored.
By mid-September before they went to Japan, they all received individual emails at the same time with the following subject line: Exclusive music contract between KQ entertainment and Artist [Name]. Details of the scheduled time for them to sign the contracts in person. With each member having their own time slot to avoid mixing documents.
The company was going with the sequential signing route, having the members sign their contract in front of several witnesses, including their lawyer and KQ’s lawyer. Then the document will be taken to KQ board of director’s representative to be signed.
The waiting room was buzzing with energy as they all waited to be called in. They went in order of age. First was Seonghwa, then was Hongjoong, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho respectively.
In the end, they all jumped and hugged each other in giddiness as their future was about to be set in stone. All they had to do was wait for the contract to be signed by KQ and finalized by the lawyers.
In a way it was a relief that their future is clear.