NewJeans/NJZ Injunction Fallout: ADOR Acts, 'Pit Stop' Premieres and Hiatus Announced

Whether you recognize the quintet as NewJeans or NJZ (more on that in a moment), K-pop’s most prominent legal battle in years took a shift when the Seoul Central District Court granted ADOR’s application for a preliminary injunction in its quest to confirm itself as NewJeans’ exclusive management agency. The court’s decision came on March 21 in the afternoon local time in Seoul, ultimately preventing the group and its members from entering into contracts without the HYBE label’s approval. It came hours before the group headlined the final day of ComplexCon Hong Kong on Sunday, March 23, under their new moniker NJZ.

In an official statement sent by HYBE’s global press on behalf of ADOR that afternoon, the label said they would “fully present at ComplexCon this week” (which the New York Times described as “ominous”) and “eagerly anticipate meeting with the artists for a heartfelt conversation at the earliest opportunity.”

The statement did not recognize the difference between an injunction and the actual court hearing that begins April 3 to determine the contract’s validity. However, the group still responded via its independently made @NJZ_PR Instagram account to “respect the court’s ruling” and continue with their commitment to ComplexCon.

NYT’s Jon Caramanica and Melinda Sheckells for Billboard were both international reporters on the scene at the AsiaWorld-Expo venue. Both noted the enthusiasm for NJZ’s merch booth inside the convention and the 10,000-11,000 attendees roaring for the group.

Sheckells wrote, “NJZ had a merch booth inside the ComplexCon marketplace, which commanded a line of more than 2,000 people on Sunday alone.” At the same time, Caramanica added a note about how “hundreds of admirers wrote messages of support in marker on the wall of the booth.”

The group performed cover songs individually before coming together to premiere the new song “Pit Stop” for a performance that “pulsed with intense drum’ n’ bass fervor, and which its members accompanied with the sort of easefully precise choreography they’ve become known for,” as described by the NYT. Indeed, the song feels like a natural next step into something more intense and pronounced for the girl group but it also keeps a sense of minimalism and nostalgia.

This Twitter/X post probably has the best “Pit Stop” audio of the live performance I’ve seen if you’re curious to listen. However, the performance feels like classic NewJeans in that each member can add her own flair to the choreography while still moving as one cohesive whole. The song also feels somewhat like a war cry in their legal battle, as they declare, “I’m cut from a different fabric” in the pre-chorus before adding, “Now I keep it moving, now I keep the static.”

The “visibly nervous” (Billboard) quintet spoke to the crowd to announce they’d be going on a hiatus due to the recent court decision.

“It feels too hard to keep going at this pace, and as strong as we are trying to stay, it is honestly taking a bit of a mental and emotional toll on us,” Danielle said (via NYT) with some members crying. “However, this doesn’t mean that we are going to give up.”

As expected with any Jon Caramanica article, he had invaluable insight comparing the NewJeans saga to the intensely cruel pressure felt by fellow teen idols like Britney Spears or Justin Bieber.

As also expected from Jon, a moment that would be unremarkable to most is captured as a moment of intimacy to speak to the larger topic at play.

“Just a handful of people were around when Hanni, Minji, Hyein, Haerin and Danielle emerged from a side door surrounded by security guards. They looked downcast, drained. They walked over to survey their booth and see up close what their fans had left them. For around five minutes, they took in the messages, signed the wall in a couple of places, and then posed for photos in which they mustered some long-practiced defiantly joyful faces.”

I thought it was interesting that despite ADOR sharing that they would be on-site to “guarantee the performance is presented under the NewJeans name,” there was still full NJZ branding across the performance including the introduction that utilized the same graphics and artwork across the independently made NJZ TikTok account.

After the performance, ADOR reportedly told Korean media that it was a one-sided decision for the group to perform, sell merchandise, and announce a hiatus under the NJZ name. However, they maintain hope to meet with the group soon. This has not been confirmed or sent out by HYBE’s Global PR, but I will share any updates.

As some report this legal battle possibly being drawn out for three years, the takeaway seems that NewJeans members would rather not work at all than reunite with ADOR/HYBE, even temporarily. Yet ADOR’s side maintains that they are committed to the artists’ career and want to hash it out in person. No matter how things go, anyone can agree that it’s a shame to have the NewJeans brand indefinitely stalled like this.

A version of this story originally appeared in The Crossover’s March 24 Newsletter. Subscribe now to get the latest updates in your inbox.