NewJeans Could Leave Their Record Label, but Their AI Voices and Chatbots May Stay Behind

NewJeans' recording contracts reportedly allow their label, ADOR, to continue using and licensing AI-generated versions of the members' voices even after their agreements expire in 2029.

The New York Times reported on 5 November 2026 that the provisions could allow the company to commercialise voice replicas and chatbots beyond the group's contractual relationship with the label, although ADOR has disputed the interpretation.

The revelations have exposed another contentious aspect of the group's long-running dispute with its agency.

While the reported provisions raise questions about who controls an artist's identity after a recording contract ends, ADOR insists that individual consent is required before members' identities can be used in AI-generated content.

NewJeans Contracts Raise Questions Over AI Voice Rights

South Korea's standard K-pop contracts generally end a label's rights to an artist's name, image and voice when the agreement expires. However, NewJeans' contracts reportedly allow ADOR to retain certain commercial rights beyond 2029.

The New York Times reported that the agreements allow ADOR to continue licensing AI-generated voice replicas indefinitely, including voice clones and chatbots, potentially extending the label's commercial rights beyond the members' contracts.

The members would reportedly receive payments from these uses, although their control over deployment remains unclear.

ADOR disputed the interpretation on 6 November, saying AI-generated content requires individual consent and that it would not use former artists' intellectual property without authorisation. The enforceability of the reported provisions remains uncertain.

Underage Members' Contracts Face Further Scrutiny

The agreements reportedly allow ADOR to continue selling and repackaging NewJeans' music after 2029, potentially with reduced payments to the members.

They also impose early termination penalties based on average monthly sales over the previous two years, with the label able to seek additional damages.

The agreements attracted further scrutiny because Danielle Marsh, Minji Kim, Hanni Pham, Haerin Kang and Hyein Lee signed them when they were between 14 and 17 years old.

The New York Times reported that the main contracts omitted certain protections for minors found in South Korea's standard agreement, including provisions concerning health, education, sleep and rest.

Other clauses reportedly covered broadly defined conduct, including an 'insincere attitude', 'inappropriate romantic relationships' and public statements that could damage the company's reputation.

ADOR said separate agreements protected underage trainees' rights, including education, sleep and rest. It also maintained that NewJeans' contracts included human-rights safeguards and were negotiated over three months with input from the members' legal representatives..

NewJeans Dispute Continues After Danielle's Departure

The dispute escalated in November 2024, when the members announced plans to terminate their ADOR contracts.

The company challenged the move, triggering court proceedings. In March 2025, a court restricted their independent activities before the Seoul Central District Court ruled on 30 October that the contracts remained valid through 2029.

Haerin, Hyein and Hanni later confirmed their return to ADOR, while discussions concerning Minji's future remained ongoing.

Danielle's situation took a different direction. ADOR terminated her contract and pursued a separate multi-million-dollar damages claim involving the singer, a family member and former ADOR Chief Executive Min Hee-jin.

NewJeans debuted in 2022 with 'Attention' and scored global hits with 'Hype Boy', 'OMG' and 'Super Shy'. Their dispute has raised wider questions about entertainment companies' control over artists' identities as AI makes voice replication possible beyond contractual relationships.