SM Entertainment Leaders Recognized as Billboard's 2026 Global Power Players: What This Means for the Asian Music Industry

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] SM Entertainment (hereafter SM) co-CEOs Jang Cheol-hyeok and Tak Young-joon and Chief Global Officer Choi Jeong-min were named to Billboard's \"Global Power Players\" list.

On the 9th (local time), Billboard published its \"Billboard 2026 Global Power Players\" list on its official website, listing SM co-CEOs Jang Cheol-hyeok and Tak Young-joon along with CGO Choi Jeong-min.

Notably, Tak Young-joon has been included on the list for five consecutive years since 2022, while Jang Cheol-hyeok has been named for three straight years since 2024, reinforcing their reputations as leading figures in the global music industry. Choi Jeong-min, who oversees artist and corporate branding and business in international markets, appears on the list for the first time, further underscoring SM's global reach.

Marking its 30th anniversary in 2025, SM staged a wide array of projects worldwide — across Asia, the Americas and Europe — including concerts, album releases, orchestral live performances and pop-up stores, making it a landmark year. In January, the company unveiled \"SM NEXT 3.0,\" a strategy focused on sustainable growth; SM says it will balance new IP development with global expansion to further strengthen its competitiveness.

Billboard's \"Global Power Players\" is an annual roundup that recognizes leaders who have driven outstanding performance in music markets outside the United States. Billboard said that in an era when artists and music cross borders more actively than ever, it selected the executives who are steering success in the global music industry as its 2026 Global Power Players.

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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