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Tamar Herman

K-pop star Lay has parted ways with his group Exo’s music label, SM Entertainment.
The Chinese pop star, also known as Lay Zhang Yixing, announced the news on social media including Instagram and Twitter in both English and Korean, and included the comment: “This decade is one of the greatest gifts I could’ve ever received.”
He revealed the split on the 10th anniversary of the group’s 2012 debut, April 8.
Music labels typically sign K-pop bands to seven-year contracts, with a three-year extension often added later on.

In a handwritten note in English, Lay thanked his fans, SM staff and his “Exo brothers”, and affirmed he would “always be the Lay when my members need me”, implying he is only leaving SM Entertainment and not formally leaving the group.
In the note, Lay declared he’s “your family member in China”, acknowledging his popularity and successful career in the country, where he is also an actor.

Lay debuted in Exo’s initially China-focused subgroup Exo-M, a counter to the Korea-oriented Exo-K subgroup. Exo rose to fame after breakout hit Grow in 2013, and have had numerous hits ever since.
Because of his work in China, Lay has worked infrequently with Exo in recent years, often appearing only for brief moments in releases. He appeared on Exo’s 2021 EP Don’t Fight the Feeling, his first release with the group since 2018.
Lay and other Exo members have pursued solo careers as singers and actors while remaining in the group. Lay, who has released albums featuring songs in Chinese and English, released his latest single, Dawn to Dusk, in February.
“It’s time to say goodbye as an employee of SM,” Lay, who turned 30 in October, wrote in his note. “It’s also my new beginning as a 30-year-old.”


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Chinese pop star Lay, a member of K-pop group Exo, has announced he is quitting the outfit’s music label, SM Entertainment. Photo: @layzhang/Instagram

Lay thanked his fans, SM staff, and his Exo brothers in the note on social media. Photo: Lay Zhang

Lay has worked infrequently with Exo in recent years. Photo: Lay Zhang

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Chinese pop star Lay, a member of Korean pop group Exo, has parted ways with their label SM Entertainment, announcing the news on Instagram and Twitter
In his social media posts, Lay says he will ‘always be the Lay when my members need me’, implying he is only leaving the label and not the pop group



Chinese pop star Lay, also known as Lay Zhang Yixing, took to Instagram and Twitter on the 10th anniversary of Exo’s debut to announce he is quitting the group’s music label.
