SM Entertainment Accused of Blocking EXO Xiumin’s ‘Music Bank’ Appearance: KBS Reacts

EXO-Ls were shocked when it was reported that Xiumin had been blocked from appearing on KBS’s popular music show ‘Music Bank’. The allegations made by the EXO member’s current agency suggest that SM Entertainment was behind the supposed ban.

Xiumin is set to drop his solo album ‘Interview X‘ on March 10, his first release in over 2.5 years. As part of his promotional plans, he was expected to perform on music shows.

On March 4, ONE HUNDRED, the parent company of INB100, released an official statement, stating, “Recently, KBS unofficially informed us that it would be impossible for Xiumin to appear on programs featuring SM Entertainment artists, such as KBS 2TV’s ‘Music Bank’. We found this position difficult to accept, and until today, we have been continuously contacting KBS to convey the message ‘Please prioritize the artist and fans’. However, our efforts have been ignored.”

The agency added, “A public broadcasting station like KBS has blocked an artist from meeting fans through broadcasts due to its relationship with a specific agency, rather than for musical or other reasons. We believe it is highly unfair for KBS, as a public broadcasting station, to make such a decision reflecting only the interests of a particular company. We have done our best to resolve this situation until the end, but we are deeply sorry to have to share this unfortunate news with fans.”

In response, KBS denied the allegations, stating, “The claim that KBS informed Xiumin he was not allowed to appear on ‘Music Bank’ is not true. We have been in ongoing communication with his agency.”

The debate over SM Entertainment’s control of TV appearances for former artists is heating up again. This issue has been a point of contention for years, and even led to the creation of the ‘JYJ Law’. This amendment to the Broadcasting Act seeks to prevent broadcasting companies from unfairly banning certain entertainers from their programs. However, despite the legislation, little changed. 

Meanwhile, Xiumin, a member of EXO, departed from SM Entertainment in 2023, along with fellow EXO members Chen and Baekhyun. The three artists joined INB100, which later became a subsidiary of ONE HUNDRED. Shortly after moving to the new agency, EXO-CBX was embroiled in a dispute with SM over issues such as settlement payments.