LEIGH MARIE Officially Terminates Contract with Studio IB Japan, Citing Mismanagement, Breach of Trust, and Financial Disputes

On March 2, popular solo artist Leigh Marie announced her official departure from Studio IB Japan, the agency that had been responsible for managing her Japanese promotions. The termination of her contract came after months of internal struggles, with the singer citing mismanagement, unfair treatment, and financial disputes as the key reasons for her decision.

Leigh Marie, who remains signed under BBM Entertainment for her Korean activities, has long been balancing a dual career in both South Korea and Japan. However, recent revelations suggest that her experience with Studio IB Japan was far from smooth, with the breaking point being the unauthorized sale of her second Japanese album to another artist without her consent.

In an official statement, Leigh Marie opened up about the difficult circumstances that led to her departure and assured fans that she is already looking for a new Japanese agency to support her future activities in Japan.

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THE LONG STRUGGLE: A TIMELINE OF ISSUES BETWEEN LEIGH MARIE AND STUDIO IB JAPAN

Leigh Marie debuted in Japan under Studio IB Japan with strong ambitions to build her career in the country, and her fans warmly welcomed her Japanese releases. However, behind the scenes, the relationship between Leigh Marie and Studio IB Japan was deteriorating.

According to sources close to the singer, Leigh Marie had repeatedly voiced her concerns about the way her career was being managed in Japan. Among the primary issues were:

1. Lack of Proper Promotion:

– Fans noticed that compared to her Korean activities, her Japanese releases received minimal marketing and support.

– Her schedules were frequently changed or canceled, leading to frustration.

– Concerts and fan meetings were either delayed or not properly promoted, affecting her connection with her Japanese fanbase.

2. Mismanagement of Resources and Unfair Treatment:

– Despite her growing popularity in Japan, Studio IB Japan reportedly failed to provide adequate support, making it difficult for her to fully expand her presence.

– Compared to other artists under the same agency, her projects were given less priority, leaving fans wondering why her talents weren’t being fully utilized.

3. Financial Disputes:

– Leigh Marie was not compensated properly for her Japanese promotions.

– Payment delays and disputes regarding her earnings were ongoing issues.

– The lack of transparency in financial matters made her lose trust in the agency.

4. Breach of Trust: The Final Breaking Point

– The most shocking and unacceptable incident was the sale of her second Japanese album to another artist without her consent.

– The album, which was supposed to be a significant milestone in her Japanese career, was suddenly reassigned.

– This betrayal of trust ultimately convinced Leigh Marie that she could no longer work with the company.

Despite enduring these challenges, Leigh Marie initially tried to resolve the issues internally. However, after numerous failed attempts to receive proper support and fair treatment, she ultimately decided to terminate her contract with Studio IB Japan.

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LEIGH MARIE’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT: ADDRESSING FANS AND HER FUTURE PLANS

Shortly after her departure was confirmed, Leigh Marie took to social media to address her fans directly. She posted a heartfelt message detailing her experience and reaffirming her commitment to her Japanese fans.

> "Hello, this is Leigh Marie. First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you who have supported me through my journey. Your love and encouragement mean everything to me, and I am always grateful to have you by my side.

Today, I want to share something very important with you all. After much thought and careful consideration, I have officially terminated my contract with Studio IB Japan. This was not an easy decision, but it was necessary for me to continue growing as an artist.

Over the past months, I have experienced many difficulties in my Japanese promotions due to mismanagement, unfair treatment, and financial disputes. Despite my passion for performing in Japan, I often found myself in situations where my hard work was not recognized or properly supported. I tried to resolve these issues internally, but unfortunately, the situation did not improve.

The most painful part of this experience was the situation regarding my second Japanese album. I had worked so hard on this project, only to discover that it had been sold to another artist without my consent. This was a deep betrayal of my trust and something I could not accept.

In addition to this, I was not compensated properly for my work, which made it even clearer that this was not an environment where I could continue to grow as an artist. I refuse to let my efforts be undervalued, and I believe that I deserve to work with a team that truly respects and supports me.

I know this may come as a shock, and I sincerely apologize to my fans who were looking forward to my future activities in Japan. Please know that my love for you has not changed, and I am currently looking for a new Japanese agency that will allow me to continue my journey in Japan properly. I promise to return with better opportunities and new music soon.

Thank you for always believing in me. I will keep working hard and will not let this setback stop me. Please continue to support me, and I promise to come back stronger than ever."

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STUDIO IB JAPAN ISSUE APOLOGY AMID BACKLASH

As news of Leigh Marie’s departure spread, fans and industry insiders strongly criticized Studio IB Japan for their treatment of the singer. In response, the company released an official statement apologizing for the situation.

> "This is Studio IB Japan. We sincerely apologize to Leigh Marie, her fans, and BBM Entertainment for the issues that led to her departure. We acknowledge that there were failures in our management, and we take full responsibility for the distress this has caused.

Regarding the concerns about her second Japanese album, we deeply regret the decision-making process that resulted in the project being assigned to another artist. We understand that this was a serious breach of trust, and we sincerely apologize to Leigh Marie for the pain and frustration this has caused.

We are also reviewing all financial matters to ensure that any unresolved payments are properly addressed as soon as possible. We recognize our shortcomings and will take immediate steps to improve our management practices moving forward.

Studio IB Japan deeply respects all of our artists, and we regret that Leigh Marie’s experience did not reflect our intended standards. We wish her the best in her future endeavors and apologize once again to her and her fans."

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FAN OUTRAGE AND INDUSTRY REACTIONS

Leigh Marie’s departure has sparked outrage among her fans, with many demanding better treatment for K-pop artists promoting in Japan. Fans took to social media to express their disappointment:

"This is absolutely unacceptable. Leigh Marie worked so hard, and they just sold her album to someone else??" – @lmfanbase

"How do you mismanage such a talented artist like this? I’m so angry!" – @starlight_jpn

"Leigh Marie deserves a company that actually values her. I hope she finds a better agency soon!" – @kpopwatcher

Meanwhile, industry insiders have noted that Leigh Marie’s experience is part of a larger issue regarding the treatment of K-pop idols in foreign markets. Many are now calling for greater protections for artists to prevent similar cases in the future.

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WHAT’S NEXT FOR LEIGH MARIE?

Despite this setback, Leigh Marie is already in talks with several Japanese agencies and is determined to continue her career in Japan. Fans are hopeful that she will soon return with new music and promotions under a company that truly values her talent.

As Leigh Marie moves forward, one thing is certain—she refuses to be silenced, and her journey in Japan is far from over. Fans eagerly await her next steps, knowing that she will only come back stronger.