Korean rapper Psy signs contract with major US music label

Korean rapper Psy (photo) has signed a contract with a major U.S. music label.

A source from the artist said Tuesday, “We signed a contract with Universal Republic Records under Universal Music Group for music licensing and management outside Korea.” The specific terms and conditions were not disclosed.

The New York-based label has many African-American singers such as Drake, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj and helps British acts such as the Rolling Stones and Jessie J in their activities in the U.S.

Psy gained a foothold in the U.S. with the help of the company that has a distribution network across America and a strong promotion network in U.S. mainstream music.

The deal came as a result of Psy making a good impression after going to the U.S. at the invitation of Scooter Braun, the manager of teen superstar Justin Bieber, at the end of last month. In addition, the Korean showed his potential as his song topped the iTunes music video chart and was 30th on the iTunes music chart Tuesday.

Psy will attend the MTV Video Music Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles Thursday night. He is the second Korean singer to be invited to the event following Rain in 2005.

Psy`s music video “Gangnam Style” had more than 100 million hits on YouTube as of Tuesday afternoon. YG Entertainment, his management agency, unveiled an 84-second video clip in which Braun and Psy have drinks in the U.S on his official YouTube channel. Braun said in the clip, “We’ve come to an agreement to make history together and have the first Korean artist to break a big record in the United States.”

imi@donga.com