Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
SoftBank Shares Slide After Arm Earnings Miss Fuels Tech Stock Sell-Off 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
NCSoft is a leading game developer and publisher in South Korea, and it has expanded its business that now includes content and entertainment. In an effort to bolster these ventures, the gaming company recently signed a deal with Sony Music Korea.
According to Pulse News, NCSoft revealed on Monday, Aug. 23, that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korean unit of Sony Music Entertainment. The deal was made to allow artists from the music label to take part in Universe, a K-pop fan community platform created by the Pangyo, Seongnam-headquartered video game company.
This platform is a stage where Kpop fans around the world can join and enjoy fun activities, including interactions with their favorite Kpop bands or artists. Universe is also a place where fellow fans can interact with each other and discuss everything about their biases.
NCSoft is bringing 22 artists on its Universe platform, and it will be available in 134 countries such as the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Thailand. Under the terms of the MOU, the artists being managed by Sony Music Korea will provide content to the Universe platform such as live streaming of shows, videos, photos, and voice-based services or artificial intelligence (AI) voices for fans.
Korea Joongang Daily reported that celebrities who are on Universe would also be able to release their music via Sony Music Korea’s distribution agencies. This means that artists can bring their new song titles to the global market through the music company.
Some of the popular Kpop artists and groups that are already on NCSoft’s Universe platform are former Wanna One member Kang Daniel and boy group Monsta X. Currently, in addition to the participation of Kpop artists on Universe, NCSoft, and Sony Music Korea are also said to be engaging in numerous other global collaborations to offer a variety of content.
In any case, NCSoft first launched its Universe platform service on Jan. 28. It was created to host Kpop entertainment and offer the service to fans worldwide. It already gathered a number of sign-ups, and fans are already enjoying listening to their favorite artists’ voices that were generated through AI. This feature is included in the monthly subscription rates that grant access to exclusive content.
