LNGSHOT Named First Act in Kakao Entertainment and Atlantic Music Group's North America Push Ahead of 'S.W.I.S.H.'
Kakao Entertainment and Atlantic Music Group (AMG) have picked LNGSHOT as the first act of their joint global K-pop project, Kakao said on Nov. 9 KST, a day before the group's second EP "S.W.I.S.H." arrives on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. KST.
LNGSHOT is the first group Kakao Entertainment and Atlantic Music Group will push together in North America. Kakao announced on Nov. 9 KST that the MORE VISION quartet leads off the companies' joint effort to build K-pop acts from early in their careers, with AMG Senior Vice President Gelareh Rouzbehani heading the project.
The timing lines up with LNGSHOT's second EP, "S.W.I.S.H.," due Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. KST. The five-track set is led by "Bananas" and includes the October pre-release "Masterpiece." Kakao says the two companies will run a marketing campaign with major streaming platforms and release physical editions designed for North American fans.
The group debuted in January with "SHOT CALLERS" and, according to Kakao, has since passed 448 million cumulative Spotify streams, with "Moonwalkin'" reaching Mediabase's U.S. Top 40 radio chart. AMG's roster includes Bruno Mars, Cardi B, Coldplay and ROSÉ.
Confirmed
- Kakao Entertainment announced on Nov. 9, 2026 (KST) that LNGSHOT, the four-member boy group under MORE VISION, is the first act in its partnership with Atlantic Music Group to jointly develop K-pop artists from the earliest stages of their careers.
- Per Kakao Entertainment, the project is led by AMG Senior Vice President Gelareh Rouzbehani. Kakao will handle branding and fan-focused promotions including pop-up stores, while AMG will drive North American distribution, digital marketing and chart performance.
- LNGSHOT's second EP "S.W.I.S.H." is out Nov. 10, 2026 at 6 p.m. KST (3 a.m. CST), led by the title track "Bananas" and also featuring "Masterpiece" (pre-released Oct. 21), "Wanna Go," "Up & Away" and "Beep Beep." Physical editions made specifically for North America are planned.
- Kakao Entertainment says LNGSHOT, which debuted in January with the EP "SHOT CALLERS," has reached 448 million cumulative Spotify streams in about 10 months, and that debut lead single "Moonwalkin'" landed on Mediabase's U.S. Top 40 radio chart.
Reported by other outlets
- Aju Press and Insight report that the LNGSHOT project is the first under a strategic partnership Kakao Entertainment and AMG signed in October, and that MORE VISION is Jay Park's label.
- Insight reports that "S.W.I.S.H." stands for "Swag with integrity shapes history" and that "Masterpiece" entered the top 10 of Spotify's pre-save chart.
Unconfirmed
- Specific U.S. TV appearances, pop-up locations or dates for the North American campaign have not been announced.
Analysis
2FC NEWSROOM analysis: Having a major U.S. label group handle distribution and promotion from a second EP is an unusually early North American bet on a rookie act, so first-week U.S. sales and streaming for "S.W.I.S.H." will be the first test.