HYBE (하이브, stylized as HYBE Corporation) is a South Korean entertainment company. It was originally founded by Bang Si-Hyuk as Big Hit Entertainment in 2005.
It has multiple subsidiaries, including Big Hit Music, Source Music, Pledis Entertainment, KOZ Entertainment, ADOR, HYBE Labels Japan, NAECO, Big Machine Label Group and QC Music, collectively known as HYBE Labels.
History[]
2005–2020: Big Hit Entertainment[]
HYBE Corporation was founded on February 1, 2005 as Big Hit Entertainment,[1] and signed the vocal trio 8Eight, consisting of Lee Hyun, Baek Chan, and Joo Hee, in 2007.
In 2010, then-Big Hit Entertainment and JYP Entertainment signed a joint management contract over the boy group 2AM.[2] 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.[3] [4] BTS made their debut under Big Hit in 2013.[5]
In 2012, the company signed Lim Jeong-hee,[6] 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. [7][8][9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12] In October of the same year Big Hit Entertainment announced BTS renewed and extended their contract for seven years.[13]
Former BigHit 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.[14]
In 2020, BigHit and CJ ENM created a joint venture, Belift+. The new joint venture company held a reality survival show I-LAND, and formed a new boy group: ENHYPEN.
2021–present: HYBE[]
In 2021, Big Hit announced that they would be officially changing their name from Big Hit Labels to HYBE Corporation, to "mark it's start as a comprehensive music company". Bang Si-hyuk had mentioned earlier that the current company label of “Entertainment” was no longer inclusive of everything the agency would be offering. In addition, real estate has also been added to the business purpose. HYBE will rent out practice rooms and auxiliary spaces to their subsidiary companies as well as other affiliates. HYBE already lists music production, performance, management, and internet business as its purposes. [15] On Friday, March 19, they released multiple videos on HYBE, titled "HYBE: NEW BRAND PRESENTATION", "HYBE: WE BELIEVE IN MUSIC", "HYBE: RESTART", "HYBE: HYPER NOMAD", and "HYBE: ABOVE AND BEYOND".
In April of 2021, HYBE officially merged with Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings, home to American stars such as Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. Ithaca Holdings is now a subsidary of Big Hit America.
It was also announced that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc was investing almost $450 million USD into HYBE.
Company value and investments[]
In 2007, Big Hit Entertainment was near bankruptcy.[16] 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).[17] 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%.[18] The CEO of Netmarble, Bang Joon-Hyuk, and Bang Si-hyuk are cousins. [19]
In March 2018, Big Hit publicized its earnings for the first time, reporting revenue at 92.4B KRW (~82M USD). [20] 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). [21]
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. [22] 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).[23] 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.[24] Big Hit was voted best investment company of the year for 2018 at the Korea VC Awards.[25]
In March 2019 the company announced their 2018 audit report. They experienced a 132% increase in sales compared to 2017 making approximately 214.2B KRW, or about US$189.38 million. They had a 97% percent increase in operating profit for the year making 64.1B KRW (US$56.72 million) and a 105% percent increase in net profit making 50.2B KRW (US$44.41 million).[26]
Divisions[]
Listed based in HYBE website.[27]
HYBE HQ[]
- Labels
- Big Hit Music
- Belift Lab (2018–present)
- Source Music (2019–present)
- Pledis Entertainment (2020–present)
- Pledis Japan (Japan) (2020–present)
- Xing Can Sheng Shi Entertainment (China) (2020–present)
- KOZ Entertainment (2020–present)
- ADOR (2021–present)
- Solutions
- Platforms
- Weverse Company[n 4]
- HYBE Japan
- HYBE Labels Japan
- NAECO (2022–present)
HYBE America[]
- Labels
- Big Machine Label Group (2021–present)
- QC Music (2023–present)
- Solutions
- Scooter Braun Projects (2021–present)
- Solid Foundation Management
- Big Machine Music
HYBE Japan[]
- Labels
- HYBE Labels Japan (2017–present)[n 5]
- NAECO (2022–present)[29]
- Solutions
- HYBE Solutions Japan
- HYBE T&D Japan
HYBE Latin America[]
- Labels
- Solutions
Joint ventures[]
- Naver Z (4.5% with Naver, JYP Entertainment & YG Entertainment)[30]
Former[]
- Solutions
- HYBE Edu (2021–2022)[31]
Artists[]
List of artists based in HYBE website.[32]
Groups[]
Current groups under HYBE.
- BTS (BigHit Music) (2013–present)
- SEVENTEEN (Pledis Entertainment) (2015–present)[n 6]
- fromis_9 (Pledis Entertainment) (2017–present)[n 7]
- TXT (BigHit Music) (2019–present)
- ENHYPEN (Belift Lab) (2020–present)
- LE SSERAFIM (Source Music) (2022–present)
- NewJeans (ADOR) (2022–present)
- &TEAM (HYBE Labels Japan) (2022–present)
- BOYNEXTDOOR (KOZ Entertainment) (2023–present)
- TWS (Pledis Entertainment) (2024–present)
- ILLIT (Belift Lab) (2024–present)
Soloists[]
Current soloists under HYBE.
- Lee Hyun/MIDNATT (BigHit Music) (2009–present)[n 8]
- Bumzu (Pledis Entertainment) (2017–present)[n 6]
- Zico (KOZ Entertainment) (2019–present)[n 6]
- j-hope (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2022–present)
- Baekho (Pledis Entertainment) (2022–present)[n 9][n 6]
- Jin (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2022–present)
- RM (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2022–present)
- Hwang Min Hyun (Pledis Entertainment) (2023–present)[n 9][n 6]
- Jimin (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
- Agust D (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
- Jung Kook (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
- V (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
Actors and actresses[]
Current actors under HYBE.
- Nana (Pledis Entertainment) (2015–present)[n 10][n 6]
- Wen Jun Hui (SEVENTEEN) (Pledis Entertainment) (2015–present)[n 6]
- Kim Tae Hyung (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2016–present)[33]
- DK (SEVENTEEN) (Pledis Entertainment) (2019–present)[34][n 6]
- Yurina Hirate (NAECO) (2022–present)
Trainees[]
Former artists[]
Since the rebranding as HYBE, for more see each subsidiary page.
Trainees[]
|
|
Staff[]
Chairman[]
CEOs[]
- Jiwon Park (HYBE)
- Scooter Braun (HYBE America)
- Hyunrock Han (HYBE Japan)
- Min Hee-jin (ADOR)
Executive Creator[]
- Son Sung-deuk (HYBE America)[37]
Produces[]
Performance Director[]
Managers[]
- Jung-min (정민)[46]
- Shin Gwang-jae (신광재) (LE SSERAFIM)[47]
- Park Han-wool (박한울) (LE SSERAFIM)[47]
- Kim Hyun-ho (김현호) (LE SSERAFIM)[47]
- Ahn Eun-bi (안은비) (LE SSERAFIM)[47]
Training & Development[]
- Shin Seon-jeong (신선정) (Head)[48]
Headquarters[]
HYBE headquarters are currently in in 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The interior of HYBE is made up of three different sections --entertainment production, office space, and welfare space.[49]
- Underground Parking Lots (-7F – -1F)[50]
- Lobby (1F)[49]
- Guest Lounge (1F)[51]
- Entertainment Production Section (2F – 6F)[49]
- Dance Studio (2F (B1-3, 2-4 (LE SSERAFIM)); 3F (3-1, 3-2); 5F (5-4))[52][50][53][47]
- Waiting Room (2F (2-1); 5F (5-3))[46][50]
- Styling Room (4F (4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7))[51]
- Production Studio (4F; 5F (5A, 5B-1, 5B-2, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F-1, 5F-2 (Lee Hyun), 5G-1, 5G-2 5G-3, 5G-4 (ENHYPEN), 5H))[52][50][53]
- Vocal Training Studio (5F (5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 5-8, 5-9))[51][54]
- Film Studio[49]
- Lounge (4F)[49]
- Wardrobe[49]
- Office Section (7F – 16F)[49][53]
- Server Room (7F (7D))[52]
- Health Care Center (7F (7G))[54]
- Projection Room (7F (7H))[54]
- Distribution Business Team[52]
- Storage[49]
- Library (8F – 10F; 14F – 16F)[49]
- Fitness Zone (11F – 13F)[49]
- Meeting Room (12F (12E-1, 12E-2, 12E-3, 12E-4, 12K-1, 12K-2, 12L))[53]
- Cell (12F (12I, 12J, 12H, 12O))[53]
- Massage Chairs (12F)[53]
- Brushing Room (12F)[53]
- Employee's Welfare Section (17F – 19F)[49]
- Nap Room (?F)[54]
HYBE INSIGHT[]
- Bang & Baker's
Concerts[]
- 2021 New Year's Eve Live presented by Weverse (2020)
- 2022 Weverse Con [New Era] (2021)
- 2023 Weverse Con Festival (2023)
- 2024 Weverse Con Festival (2024)
Filmography[]
Reality shows[]
- I-LAND (with CJ ENM) (Mnet, YouTube, 2020)
- &AUDITION - The Howling - (Hulu, YouTube, 2022)
- R U Next? (JTBC, YouTube, 2023)
- The Debut: Dream Academy (with Geffen Records) (YouTube, 2023)
Official links[]
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Formerly known as Big Hit Three Sixty.
- ↑ Formerly known as Big Hit IP.
- ↑ Formerly known as Superb.
- ↑ Formerly known as beNX.
- ↑ Formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment Japan.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 Part of HYBE since 2020.
- ↑ Part of Pledis Entertainment and HYBE since 2021.
- ↑ Part of BigHit Music since 2007 as member of 8eight.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Part of Pledis Entertainment since 2012 as member of NU'EST.
- ↑ Part of Pledis Entertainment since 2009 as member of After School.
References[]
- ↑ BigHit Entertainment, July 24, 2015
- ↑ 2AM’s Contract with Big Hit Entertainment Ends
- ↑ Cuvism Magazine, July 18, 2015
- ↑ Cuvism Magazine, June 6, 2015
- ↑ BTS Blasts Onto Music Scene with “No More Dream” Debut MV
- ↑ Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee′s Contract Ended in May
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Big Hit Entertainment Will Officially Change Their Company Name to HYBE Corporation
- ↑ 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
- ↑ BTS Helps Label Big Hit Entertainment to Record Result In 2018
- ↑ HYBE Website - Business
- ↑ Soompi: Big Hit Entertainment Acquires Music Game Company Superb
- ↑ Allkpop: HYBE Labels Japan launches new sub-label NAECO, recruits idol/actress Yurina Hirate as its first artist
- ↑ Krafton establishing metaverse joint venture with Naver Z
- ↑ Naver Corp: English Learning App CAKE to Merge with HYBE EDU, Expands Global Language Education Business
- ↑ HYBE Website - Artists
- ↑ Soompi: BTS’s V Debuting as an Actor Using His Real Name
- ↑ Soompi: SEVENTEEN’s DK To Make Musical Debut In Show Starring Kim Junsu And More
- ↑ @KOZ_Entofficial on Twitter (February 11, 2024)
- ↑ TikTok post (October 23, 2023)
- ↑ Sungdeuk Son (@sonsungdeuk) on Instagram
- ↑ pdogg (@pdogg428) on Instagram
- ↑ Slow Rabbit / 권도형 (@slowrabbit_no1) on Instagram
- ↑ SUPREME BOI (@supremeboi_kor) on Instagram
- ↑ @hissnoise on Instagram
- ↑ GHSTLOOP (@ghstlxxp) on Instagram
- ↑ SUBINKIM | 김수빈 (@subinnnkim) on Instagram
- ↑ KIMEUNJU (@im_jeikim) on Instagram
- ↑ BLACK.Q (@blackqworld) on Instagram
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 YouTube: (ENG) 드디어 그들이 왔다! 방탄소년단 의전팀이 된다면?!
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 [https://youtu.be/Dny2xD5QD04?si=gkRlSRe8ZaMAM4WT YouTube: [C.C.] LE SSERAFIM grew up to look just like they did when they were kids #LESSERAFIM
- ↑ YouTube: HYBE T&D Stories | Part 01 Farewell after debut
- ↑ 49.00 49.01 49.02 49.03 49.04 49.05 49.06 49.07 49.08 49.09 49.10 49.11 49.12 49.13 YouTube: HYBE: NEW BRAND PRESENTATION
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 YouTube: ENHYPEN's First Day at the New HYBE Headquarters - ENHYPEN (엔하이픈) (ENG/JPN)
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 YouTube: (EN/JP/IN) 하이브가 JYP, SM 제치고 1위한 이것은? 입구컷 당했던 ⭐빅히트⭐ 진짜 다녀왔습니다🔥ㅣ와썹맨 ep.44ㅣ박준형
- ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 52.4 52.5 52.6 YouTube: (ENG) 빅히트 정도전 이현! 빅히트 신사옥 투어하다
- ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 53.4 53.5 53.6 53.7 YouTube: [C.C.] HYBE building shown around by the producer & artist ZICO #ZICO #HYBE
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 YouTube: What's Life Like For HYBE Employees? Check It Out Here! | The Manager EP287 | KOCOWA+
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