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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/National Basketball Association/Source Music Co. Ltd.) |
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Source Music Co. Ltd., a label under industry-leading global entertainment and lifestyle company Hybe Co. Ltd. (HYBE), announced a multiyear collaboration that will see K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM headline “Friends Of The NBA", the league’s celebrity and influencer program in Asia to engage fans in new and creative ways. The collaboration between the league and the five-member girl group will be a celebration of the intersection of sports and music. LE SSERAFIM, an anagram of the words “I’M FEARLESS", will attend NBA games and events, collaborate on a variety of exclusive content that will be featured on the NBA’s and LE SSERAFIM’s social media channels, participate in league promotional activities, and more. Last month, LE SSERAFIM’s hit single “EASY” earned the group its first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and first Top 10 song on the Billboard Global 200 chart.
The group commented, “We are so excited to collaborate with the NBA through its ‘Friends Of The NBA’ program. We had a great time watching an NBA game in person last year in LA (Los Angeles)! We look forward to working together with the league to experience so much more with NBA fans around the world.” “We’re thrilled to team up with breakout K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM, a young and dynamic group of NBA fans. Through this collaboration, we look forward to bringing NBA and K-pop fans together in South Korea, across Asia, and around the world and broadening the reach of our game as we celebrate this convergence of music, culture, and sports,” said NBA Chief Marketing Officer Tammy Henault. Additionally, the five members of LE SSERAFIM — Kim Chaewon, Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae — will share their experiences of NBA fandom on social media and encourage fans to follow their journeys as NBA fan. Additional information about the collaboration will be announced at a later date. Fans can visit www.nba.com/LESSERAFIM to sign up to receive news and updates.
Last November, LE SSERAFIM visited the NBA headquarters and NBA Store in New York and attended the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers game on November 2. The group joins SUGA of BTS, who was named an NBA Ambassador last April, as the only K-pop artists with a formal affiliation with the NBA. Launched in 2022, “Friends Of The NBA” features celebrities and influencers from across the Asia-Pacific region who participate in NBA games, events and programming. The fearless quintet made its powerful debut in May 2022 with 1st EP FEARLESS which topped the iTunes Top Albums chart in 13 countries/regions including Japan, Indonesia, and more, signaling the beginning of their journey to the summit of K-pop as the new queens. The group soon after made their first entry on the Billboard 200 at No. 14 with 2nd EP ANTIFRAGILE (October 2022 release) and earned their highest position on the chart at No. 6 with 1st studio album UNFORGIVEN (May 2023 release). Fans can follow LE SSERAFIM on WeVerse.
