Big Hit Entertainment (Hangul: 빅히트 엔터테인먼트), or BigHit, is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It currently manages soloist Lee Hyun and idol groups BTS and TXT.
History
Big Hit Entertainment was founded on February 1, 2005,[3] and signed the vocal trio 8Eight, consisting of Lee Hyun, Baek Chan, and Joo Hee, in 2007.
In 2010, Big Hit Entertainment and JYP Entertainment signed a joint management contract over the boy group 2AM.[4] That year, Bang Si-hyuk launched nationwide auditions and signed RM (formerly known as Rap Monster), as the first member of BTS, which was then followed by the other members of the group.[5] [6] BTS made their debut under Big Hit in 2013.[7]
In 2012, the company signed Lim Jeong-hee,[8] and the girl group GLAM was formed as a collaboration between Source Music and Big Hit entertainment. The group was active until 2014, when they disbanded due to a controversy over one of the members, Kim Da-hee, who was sentenced to prison following accusations of blackmail in relation to actor Lee Byung-hun, she was later identified as a sasaeng fan, a dangerously obsessive fan. [9][10][11]
Following the end of the joint contract between Big Hit and JYP Entertainment in April 2014, three of the 2AM members returned to JYP, while Lee Chang-min stayed with Big Hit in order to continue with his solo career and as part of the duo Homme. The year also saw the disbandment of 8Eight after Baek Chan and Joo Hee's contracts with Big Hit ended.
In May 2015, Signal Entertainment Group (Signal), a KOSDAQ-listed company specializing in artist management and television production, acquired Big Hit through a KR₩6 billion (~ million) convertible bond. Signal also owns Better ENT, the agency founded by actor Song Seung-heon, as well as another record label, Jungle Entertainment.[12]
In May 2015, Lim Jeong-hee parted ways with Big Hit Entertainment, following the expiration of her three-year contract with the agency.
In early 2017, BigHit ended their stake relationship with Signal Entertainment Group. BigHit issued a 6 billion won convertible bond Signal Entertainment Group in 2015. After a year, Signal Entertainment Group made a full settlement of the bonds.[13][14]
In February 2018, Homme disbanded after member Lee Changmin's contract came to an end. He left the company to start his own agency, while Lee Hyun continued on as a solo artist.[15] In October of the same year Big Hit Entertainment announced BTS renewed and extended their contract for seven years.[16]
Former Big Hit CBO Yoon Seok-jun was appointed co-CEO of Big Hit Entertainment with Bang Si-hyuk in March 2019. Yoon will focus on the business components of the company while Bang will focus on creative production.[17]
Company value and investments
In 2007, Big Hit Entertainment was near bankruptcy.[18] Due to the success of early groups 8Eight and 2AM, Bang was able to keep the company afloat and later created sensationalist group BTS in 2013. Varying reports consider the current total value of the company at roughly 1T KRW (~891.5M USD).[19] Many consider the company's profit in both the Western and Eastern markets, Big Hit's relatively lenient policies towards their idols' creativity, and innovative music styles to be a cornerstone of the label's success.
Big Hit Entertainment currently operates as a private company. Bang Si-hyuk remains the largest shareholder of Big Hit stock. In March 2017, the Korean mobile gaming company Netmarble acquired the second largest percentage of the company, paying a reported 201.4B KRW (191.8M USD) for 25.71%.[20] The CEO of Netmarble, Bang Joon-Hyuk, and Bang Si-hyuk are cousins. [21]
In March 2018, Big Hit publicized its earnings for the first time, reporting revenue at 92.4B KRW (~82M USD). [22] If entered into an IPO, the company itself could reach a value of up to 700B KRW (~624M USD), potentially ousting the typically powerful "Big 3" companies SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, and YG Entertainment. This would make CEO Bang the richest in the South Korean entertainment business due to his large shareholding position, and leave him with personal ownership value of roughly 350B KRW (~314M USD). [23]
In August 2018, Big Hit Entertainment and CJ E&M, another Korean entertainment agency, released information stating plans to create a joint company. Filed under the name Belief, the company will reportedly be split 52% to CJ E&M, and 48% to Big Hit. [24] CJ E&M's recent foray into idol production television shows such as Produce 101 and Big Hit's growing global auditions are likely to be the venture philosophy of the new company.
In October 2018, private investment firm STIC Investments received a reported 12% share of Big Hit Entertainment, an investment of roughly 104B KRW (~93M USD).[25] According to the Investor, Big Hit's posted revenue and operating profit of 92.4B (~82M USD) and 32.5B KRW (~29M USD) is expected to return more than double at 230B (~205M USD) and 83B KRW (~74M USD) by the end of 2018.[26]
Big Hit was voted best investment company of the year for 2018 at the Korea VC Awards.[27]
Artists
Recording artists
Groups
Soloists
Actors
- Kim Tae-hyung (2016–present)
Studio artists
Producer/composer
- Adora
- Hiss Noise
- "Hitman" Bang
- Slow Rabbit
- Supreme Boi
- Pdogg
Choreographer
- Son Sung-deuk
Former
Artists
- K.Will (2006–2007)
- 8Eight (2007–2014, co-managed by Source Music)
- 2AM (2010–2014, co-managed by JYP Entertainment)
- GLAM (2012–2015, co-managed by Source Music)
- Lim Jeong-hee (2012–2015)
- Homme (2010–2018)
- Changmin (2010–2014; 2015–2018)
Trainees
This artists never debuted under Big Hit Entertainment but were part as traineers.
- Ahn Hyeong-seop[29]
- Choi Ik-je (i11evn)[29]
- Hwang Eun-bi (GFRIEND's SinB)[29]
- Jeong In-seong (KNK's Inseong)[30]
- Jin Hyo-sang (Kidoh)[29]
- Jo So-jin (9MUSES's Sojin)[29]
- Jung Hun-cheol (Iron)[29]
- Jung Eun-bi (GFRIEND's Eunha)[29]
- Jung Woo-young (ATEEZ's Wooyoung)[31]
- Kang Yeo-sang (ATEEZ's Yeosang)[31]
- Kim Joo-mi (LADIES' CODE's Zuny)[32]
- Kim Min-seok (ONF's Laun)[29]
- Kim Sang-gyun (JBJ95's Sanggyun)[29]
- Lee Jun-sang (PLT's June), he participated in writing and composition of some BTS' tracks.[33]
- Lim Sung-bin (Beenzino)[34]
- Lee Su-woong (Boys Republic's Suwoong)[35]
- Park Chae-rin (Cherry Bullet's Chae Rin)[36]
- Park Seung-jun (KNK's Seungjun)[30]
- Shin Dong-hyuk (Supreme Boi), still under Big Hit Entertainment as producer.[29]
Official links
Gallery
References
- ↑ Big Hit, BTS' agency earns 924 billion won for 2017
- ↑ Big Hit 2017 business result: revenue of 92 billion won with the net profit of 246 billion won, Korea Times, March 22, 2018
- ↑ BigHit Entertainment, July 24, 2015
- ↑ KPOP NEWS - 2AM’s Jo Kwon, Im Seulong, and Jung Jin Woon Return to JYP Entertainment | [mwave.interest.me MWAVE June 30, 2016]
- ↑ Cuvism Magazine, July 18, 2015
- ↑ Cuvism Magazine, June 6, 2015
- ↑ KPOP NEWS - [Video BTS Asks about Your Dreams in ‘No More Dream’ MV | MWAVE, June 30, 2016]
- ↑ KPOP NEWS - Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee′s Contract Ended in May | Mwave, June 30, 2016
- ↑ 글램, 결국 3년 만에 해체…'이병헌 협박女' 다희-이지연 실형 선고 : 스포츠조선, June 30, 2016
- ↑ 글램 다희, 모델 친구와 음담패설 영상 유포 협박 "세계적 스타라 거액 요구" 이병헌 공식입장은? : 스포츠조선 June 30, 2016
- ↑ Lee Byung-hun repeats apology upon returning home, November 15, 2015
- ↑ 씨그널엔터테인먼트그룹 "빅히트엔터 CB 60억 인수" (Signal Entertainment Group acquires Big Hit Ent for 60 billion "through CB"), February 4, 2016
- ↑ http://m.thebell.co.kr/m/newsview.asp?svccode=00&newskey=201702090100018900001148빅히트엔터, 영업이익 100억 돌파…VC '흐뭇', February 28, 2017}}
- ↑ Signal Entertainment Group to sell entire shares of entertainment firm for 6.2 bln won
- ↑ Lee Changmin's contract with Bighit Entertainment expires, "will start his own agency", February 1, 2018
- ↑ BTS Extend Contracts With Big Hit Entertainment Until 2026, 17 October 2018
- ↑ Big Hit 'Ballistic Growth Leader' Yoon Seok-jun appointed as co-CEO
- ↑ Mogul Behind K-Pop Boy Band BTS Considers IPO
- ↑ STIC Investments invests W104b in Big Hit
- ↑ Game maker becomes second largest shareholder of BTS' agency
- ↑ Cousins unite as Netmarble buys stake in Bit Hit
- ↑ Expectations high for BTS-backed Big Hit Entertainment’s IPO, 2018-11-07
- ↑ Reporter predicts Bang Si Hyuk can become the richest person in Korean Entertainment history with IPO, 2018-11-07
- ↑ BTS' management agency teams up with CJ affiliate to launch entertainment firm, 2018-07-31, Yonhap News Agency
- ↑ Big Hit Entertainment takes a financial leap as private investment firm purchases large share, reaches a valuation rivaling the 'Big 3',2018-10-16
- ↑ STIC Investments invests W104b in Big Hit, 2018-10-16
- ↑ 한국벤처투자, ‘Korea VC Awards 2018’ 개최, December 7, 2018
- ↑ Mnet's Tweet
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 29.8 29.9 13 K-Pop Idols You Never Knew Were Once Big Hit Entertainment Trainees
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 KNK’s Seungjoon And Inseong Talk About Relationship With BTS
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 ATEEZ Members Profile: KQ Entertainment Boy Group
- ↑ Ladies’ Code Members Profile
- ↑ Singer June talks about his Big Hit Entertainment trainee days + friendship with BTS members
- ↑ Beenzino Was Once Asked to Join BTS, Here’s Why He Didn’t
- ↑ Boys Republic’s Suwoong Talks About Almost Debuting With BTS & Performing “Fire” On “The Unit”
- ↑ Meet Chaerin: Jungkook’s Childhood Friend Who Is About To Debut