A GROUP. A Corporation. and the price of artist autonomy: THE NEW JEANS CONFLICT

All the girls want” is not radical—it’s human

From the beginning, the through-line has been clear in mainstream reporting: NewJeans’ conflict tied heavily to the departure/dismissal of the creative leadership the members wanted to continue working with.  

Fans can argue about tactics, timing, legal strategy—fine. But the emotional core is painfully relatable:

They wanted stability.

They wanted continuity.

They wanted to be steered by someone who understood their identity as artists, not just their value as an asset.