Up until now, SM Entertainment artists' albums have been distributed by Dream US, a company for which SM Entertainment is a major shareholder. Kakao, on the other hand, has managed the distribution of music by its subsidiary artists like IU, MONSTA X, IVE, and more. SM Entertainment has also agreed to distribute ticket sales for domestic events including fan meetings and concerts to Kakao affiliated companies. Earlier this month, SM Entertainment announced intentions to "break free" from its exclusive contract with Dream US as to increase the number of concerts held by artists around the world. Next, insiders say that SM Entertainment and Kakao have left talks open for the possibility of establishing a jointly managed label for the discovery and launch of a co-produced, global K-Pop team.