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HYBE

HYBE (하이브) is a South Korean entertainment company. It was originally founded by Bang Si Hyuk as Big Hit Entertainment in 2005.

History

2005–2021: Big Hit Entertainment

Big Hit Entertainment was founded on February 1, 2005, and signed the vocal trio 8Eight in 2007.[3] In 2010, the company signed a contract with JYP Entertainment to jointly manage the boy group 2AM.[4] That year, Bang Si-hyuk signed RM as the first member of BTS and launched nationwide auditions to recruit other members for the group.[5] The group made their debut under Big Hit on June 13, 2013.[6]

In 2012, the company signed Lim Jeong Hee,[7] and formed the girl group GLAM as a collaboration with Source Music.[8] The group was active until 2014, when it was disbanded due to a controversy involving one of its members Dahee. She was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of blackmailing actor Lee Byung Hun.[9] Following the end of the joint contract with JYP Entertainment in April 2014, three members of 2AM returned to JYP. Lee Chang Min remained with Big Hit to continue with his solo career and as part of the duo Homme.[10] 8Eight disbanded later that year, after Baek Chan and Joo Hee's contracts with Big Hit ended.[11]

In May 2015, Lim parted ways with the agency, following the expiration of her three-year contract,[12] and Signal Entertainment Group, a KOSDAQ-listed company specializing in artist management and television production, acquired Big Hit through a KR₩6 billion convertible bond.[13] In early 2016, Big Hit ended their stake relationship with Signal and made a full settlement of the bonds.[14]

In February 2018, Homme disbanded after member Changmin's contract ended. He left the company to start his own agency, while Lee Hyun continued on as a solo artist.[15] In August, Big Hit and CJ ENM released information stating plans to create a joint entertainment agency, with ownership split 52% to the latter and 48% to the former.[16] Filed under the name Belift Lab, the agency debuted its first boy group ENHYPEN in November 2020.[17] In October, BTS renewed and extended their contract with the agency for seven more years.[18] Big Hit was voted Best Investment Company of the Year at the 2018 Korea VC Awards in December.[19]

Big Hit debuted its second male group, TXT, in March 2019.[20] Also that month, former CBO Lenzo Yoon was appointed co-CEO alongside Bang.[21] Yoon would focus on the business components of the company. while Bang's focus would be on creative production.[22] In July 2019, the company acquired Source Music,[23] and in August, the video game firm Superb.[24] Thanks to the Weverse and Weverse Shop apps developed by its subsidiary beNX, Big Hit was named the fourth most innovative company of 2020 worldwide by Fast Company.[25]

In May 2020, Big Hit became the majority shareholder of Pledis Entertainment. The label would retain its independence; however, its artists would now receive greater financial support and global promotions.[26] The Fair Trade Commission (hereinafter KFTC) approved the acquisition in October.[27] Big Hit acquired KOZ Entertainment, a record label founded by rapper Zico, the following month.[28]

In January 2021, news media reported that Big Hit and beNX had invested a combined ₩70 billion (US$63 million) in YG PLUS, acquiring a 17.9% stake in the company in a merchandising and distribution deal that would see the aforementioned's artists join Weverse's social media and shop platforms.[29] Naver Corporation later invested ₩354.8 billion ($321 million) in beNX, acquiring 49% of the subsidiary.[30] In return, it transferred its V Live video streaming service to the latter for the development of a new integrated fan community platform. BeNX was eventually renamed Weverse Company Inc. as a result of the deal with Naver.[31] The merger was approved by the KFTC in May.[32]

On February 17, Big Hit and Universal Music Group (UMG) announced a strategic partnership between the two companies to collaborate on various music and technology-related endeavors.[33] At the forefront of the partnership was a joint venture between Big Hit and Geffen Records, a UMG flagship label, that will debut a global boy group through a new, Los Angeles-based label following a global audition program set to air in 2022. Big Hit would be responsible for selecting and training the artists, while UMG would be in charge of music production, global distribution, and marketing.[34] On February 25, Big Hit announced a ₩4 billion ($3.6 million) investment in a Korea-based AI company, Supertone, that specializes in creating hyper-realistic voices using technology.[35]

2021: Rebranding

On March 10, 2021, it was announced that they would be renaming from Big Hit Entertainment to HYBE to better reflect themselves as a comprehensive content company. The name change will be covered at their regular shareholder meeting on March 30.[36] On March 19, Big Hit released a brand presentation video which covered the name change, mission, company structure and their new office building. It was also revealed that the "Big Hit Entertainment" identity would continue on as a label called BigHit Music.[37] On April 1, 2021, HYBE announced that they would reorganize its business structure. This includes the newly established BigHit Music and absorbing HYBE IP and HYBE 360.[38]

On April 2, it was announced that HYBE had acquired Ithaca Holding, company led by Scooter Braun, through HYBE America. In the deal, HYBE America owns all the company and its properties, which includes SB Projects and its management clients Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and Tori Kelly, as well as Big Machine Label Group. Braun will be joining the board of HYBE, Scott Borchetta will remain CEO of Big Machine Label Group, and artists of both companies will participate in the capital increase of HYBE.[39]

Japanese streaming platform Showroom announced a business and capital partnership with HYBE in May 2021 to improve its domestic services and expand access to Japanese content in South Korea, the United States, and globally.[40] The company was added to the MSCI Korea index on May 12, and the index updated on May 28.[41] Following a second organizational restructuring, Bang Si Hyuk resigned as CEO on July 1, 2021. to return his focus to music production. He was replaced by Park Ji-won but retained his position as chairman of the board of directors.[42] In November, HYBE entered into an equity-based partnership with Korean fintech company Dunamu to develop a joint venture NFT business for the creation of digital assets.[43] It acquired a 2.6% stake in the company for ₩500 billion ($423.8 million), while Dunamu received a 5.6% stake in HYBE for ₩700 billion ($590 million).[44] The establishment of a new music label, ADOR, was announced on November 12.[45] The CBO Min Hee Jin was appointed as its CEO and tasked with overseeing the management of the label's first girl group, later announced as NewJeans, which debuted in July 2022.[46]

In January 2022, HYBE published a series of "original stories" featuring boy groups BTS, ENHYPEN, and TXT in collaboration with Webtoon and Wattpad as part of a planned IP expansion.[47] "7FATES: CHAKHO" by BTS alone earned over 15 million views within two days of release and was the highest-viewed title ever launched by Webtoon.[48] HYBE became the largest shareholder of SM Entertainment in February 2023, after it acquired founder Lee Soo Man's 14.8% stake in the company for approximately ₩422.8 billion.[49] The company subsequently acquired Galaxia SM's 1% stake on March 3.[50] On March 12, it was announced that they no longer planned to own the majority stakes of SM Entertainment, said that the bidding war with Kakao could "damage shareholder value".[51] On March 24, HYBE announced that it will sell its entire stake in SM Entertainment to Kakao by accepting its tender offer launched by Kakao.[52] However, on March 28, the company instead sold half of its stakes in SM to Kakao, leaving it only for 8.81%.[53]

On May 23, 2023, HYBE signed a music distribution deal with Chinese streaming platform, Tencent Music.[54] On August 10, HYBE announced its acquisition of the remaining 51.5% stake from CJ ENM in Belift Lab, making it as a wholly-owned subsidiary.[55] In November, HYBE confirmed the establishment of its Latin music division, HYBE Latin America, based in Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Miami.[56]

2024: Expanded partnership with Universal Music Group

On March 26, 2024, HYBE announced that they gave exclusive distribution rights to Universal Music Group for the next 10 years, while UMG's artists will join fan communication platform Weverse.[57]

Divisions

Listed based in HYBE website.[58]

HYBE HQ

HYBE America

HYBE Japan

  • Labels
  • Solutions
    • HYBE Solutions Japan
    • HYBE T&D Japan

HYBE Latin America

  • Labels
    • Zarpazo
    • Docemil Music
  • Solutions
    • Ajá Podcasts

Joint ventures

Former

  • Solutions
    • HYBE Edu (2021–2022)[66]
  • Labels
    • Pledis Japan (Japan) (2020–2024)

Artists

List of artists based in HYBE website.[67]

Groups

  • BTS (BigHit Music) (2013–present)
  • SEVENTEEN (Pledis Entertainment) (2015–present)[n 6]
  • GFRIEND (Source Music) (2015–2021; 2024–present)[n 7]
  • TXT (BigHit Music) (2019–present)
  • ENHYPEN (Belift Lab) (2020–present)
  • LE SSERAFIM (Source Music) (2022–present)
  • &TEAM (YX Labels) (2022–present)
  • BOYNEXTDOOR (KOZ Entertainment) (2023–present)
  • TWS (Pledis Entertainment) (2024–present)
  • ILLIT (Belift Lab) (2024–present)
  • KATSEYE (HYBE x Geffen Records) (2024–present)
  • SYNDI8 (Supertone) (2024–present)

Soloist

  • Lee Hyun/MIDNATT (BigHit Music) (2009–present)[n 8]
  • Bumzu (Pledis Entertainment) (2011–present)[n 6]
  • Zico (KOZ Entertainment) (2014–present)[n 6]
  • RM (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2015–present)
  • Agust D (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2016–present)
  • j-hope (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2018–present)
  • Jin (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2022–present)
  • Hwang Min Hyun (Pledis Entertainment) (2023–present)[n 9][n 6]
  • Jimin (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
  • Jung Kook (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
  • V (BTS) (BigHit Music) (2023–present)
  • Yeonjun (TXT) (BigHit Music) (2024–present)
  • Beomgyu (TXT) (BigHit Music) (2025–present)

Actors

Trainees

  • aoen (YX Labels) (2025–present)
  • Upcoming girl group (Source Music) (2025–present)[72]
  • Upcoming girl group (Pledis Entertainment) (2025–present)[72]
  • Upcoming boy group (BigHit Music) (2025–present)[73]

Former artists

Since the rebranding as HYBE, for more see each subsidiary page.

Trainees

Concerts

Filmography

Reality shows

Notes

  1. ↑ Formerly known as Big Hit Three Sixty.
  2. ↑ Formerly known as Big Hit IP.
  3. ↑ Formerly known as Superb.
  4. ↑ Formerly known as beNX.
  5. ↑ Formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment Japan (2017-2021) and HYBE Labels Japan (2021-2025).
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 Part of HYBE since 2020.
  7. ↑ Part of HYBE since 2019.
  8. ↑ Part of BigHit Music since 2007 as member of 8eight.
  9. ↑ Part of Pledis Entertainment since 2012 as member of NU'EST.
  10. ↑ CDL Entertainment is the sub-label of LDH Japan, HYBE's co-producer of iCON Z ~Dreams For Children~.
  11. ↑ Disputed

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Soompi: Update: HYBE CEO Park Ji Won Resigns From Position + HYBE Announces Plans To Appoint CSO Lee Jae Sang As New CEO
  2. ↑ Soompi: Bang Si Hyuk Resigns From HYBE’s CEO Position To Focus On Chairman Role And Production
  3. ↑ (KR) Naver: '방탄소년단' 만든 이 남자의 헉소리 나는 히트곡들
  4. ↑ Newsen: 2AM's Jo Kwon, Im Seulong, and Jung Jin Woon Return to JYP Entertainment
  5. ↑ (KR) Cuvism Magazine: 세상의 총알을 막아내는 소년들 그룹 방탄소년단.
  6. ↑ Mwave: (Video) BTS Asks about Your Dreams in 'No More Dream' MV
  7. ↑ Newsen: Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee′s Contract Ended in May
  8. ↑ (KR) Yonhap News: 이병헌 협박한 가수 소속된 걸그룹 글램 해체
  9. ↑ (KR) Sports Chosun: 글램 다희, 모델 친구와 음담패설 영상 유포 협박 "세계적 스타라 거액 요구" 이병헌 공식입장은?
  10. ↑ Newsen: 2AM's Jo Kwon, Im Seulong, and Jung Jin Woon Return to JYP Entertainment
  11. ↑ (KR) Naver: [단독] 에이트, 7년만에 잠정적 해체.."각자 음악 활동"
  12. ↑ Newsen: Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee′s Contract Ended in May
  13. ↑ (KR) Edaily News: 씨그널엔터테인먼트그룹 "빅히트엔터 CB 60억 인수"
  14. ↑ (KR) The Bell News: 빅히트엔터, 영업이익 100억 돌파…VC '흐뭇'
  15. ↑ (KR) Xsports News: [공식입장] 이창민, 빅히트와 전속계약 만료 "1인 기획사 설립"
  16. ↑ The Chosun Ilbo: Entertainment Giants Team up to Manufacture 'Next BTS'
  17. ↑ Korea JoongAng Daily: 'Global fan-made band' Enhypen debuts with album 'Border: Day One'
  18. ↑ Forbes: BTS Extend Contracts With Big Hit Entertainment Until 2026
  19. ↑ (KR) Money Today: 한국벤처투자, 'Korea VC Awards 2018' 개최
  20. ↑ Forbes: BTS's Label Reveals Tomorrow X Together Will Debut March 4
  21. ↑ Forbes: Big Hit Entertainment Appoints New Co-CEO Following Rise Of BTS, Launch Of TXT
  22. ↑ (KR) Star News: 빅히트 '방탄 성장 주역' 윤석준 공동 대표이사 선임
  23. ↑ Forbes: Big Hit Entertainment, BTS's Label, Acquires Source Music
  24. ↑ (KR) Osen: 빅히트, 음악게임 회사 수퍼브 인수..방시혁 "긍정적 가치 가져다줄 것" [공식]
  25. ↑ Fast Company: Millions of BTS fans use these 2 apps to connect and shop. No tech startups needed
  26. ↑ Forbes: BTS's Agency Big Hit Becomes Majority Shareholder Of K-Pop Company Pledis, Home To Seventeen & NU'EST
  27. ↑ (KR) News1: 이제 진짜 한솥밥 식구…공정위, BTS·세븐틴 소속사 결합 승인
  28. ↑ Forbes: Big Hit Entertainment To Acquire Label Founded By Korean Super Producer-Rapper Zico
  29. ↑ Variety: BTS Agency Big Hit Entertainment to Invest $63 Million in Rival YG
  30. ↑ The Korea Herald: Big Hit partnership with Naver, YG Plus a win-win for entertainment industry
  31. ↑ Korea JoongAng Daily: Big Hit, Naver and YG join forces in a big K-pop stock swap
  32. ↑ Korea JoongAng Daily: FTC gives go ahead for merger deal between V Live and Weverse
  33. ↑ Forbes: Big Hit Entertainment & Universal Music Group Detail Partnership For Boy Band, Technology Offerings
  34. ↑ Variety: Big Hit Entertainment, Home of BTS, and Universal Music Unveil Expanded Partnership, Including New Label
  35. ↑ Music Business Worldwide: Big Hit invests $3.6m in AI fake voice startup. Could it clone BTS's vocals?
  36. ↑ Koreaboo: Big Hit Entertainment Will Officially Change Their Company Name To HYBE Corporation
  37. ↑ (KR) Naver: 빅히트→하이브… 엔터테인먼트 라이프스타일 플랫폼 기업 행보 시동
  38. ↑ (KR) Naver: 하이브, 사업구조 개편..'빅히트 뮤직' 물적분할
  39. ↑ Variety: BTS Label Owner HYBE Merges With Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings for $1 Billion (EXCLUSIVE)
  40. ↑ (JP) Kstyle: SHOWROOM、BTS（防弾少年団）ら所属するHYBEと資本業務を提携…今後に注目
  41. ↑ (KR) Financial News: MSCI 지수 정기변경.. HMM·하이브·SKC·녹십자 등 4종목 편입
  42. ↑ Variety: Bang Si-hyuk Steps Down as CEO of BTS Powerhouse HYBE
  43. ↑ Pulse News: HYBE and Dunamu enter equity-based partnership for NFT business
  44. ↑ Music Business Worldwide: Get Ready For BTS NFTS: HYBE To Acquire $421M Stake In Crypto Firm And Launch Collectables JV
  45. ↑ (KR) The Bell: 하이브, '자체 레이블' 어도어 설립…'재무·글로벌' 지원
  46. ↑ Soompi: Watch: HYBE & ADOR's New Girl Group NewJeans Makes Surprise Debut With "Attention" + Drops Schedule For 1st EP
  47. ↑ The Korea Herald: HYBE to premiere webtoon series featuring BTS this week
  48. ↑ Variety: BTS Online Comic '7Fates: CHAKHO' Hits 15 Million Views
  49. ↑ The Korea Herald: SM founder Lee Soo-man joins hands with HYBE to counter SM's Kakao partnership
  50. ↑ Pulse News: Galaxia SM sells its entire SM Entertainment stake to HYBE
  51. ↑ Variety: K-Pop: HYBE and Kakao End Hostilities in Takeover Battle for SM Entertainment
  52. ↑ Reuters: K-pop takeover battle loser HYBE to sell $437 mln stake in SM
  53. ↑ Reuters: Kakao's stake in K-pop agency SM climbs to 40%, HYBE retains 8.8%
  54. ↑ Reuters: outh Korea's HYBE signs deal with China's Tencent Music"
  55. ↑ Korea JoongAng Daily: HYBE fully acquires K-pop agency Belift Lab from CJ ENM
  56. ↑ Billboard: Inside HYBE’s Latin Expansion With HYBE Latin America CEO Jonghyun ‘JH’ Kah
  57. ↑ Soompi: HYBE Expands Partnership With Universal Music Group
  58. ↑ HYBE Website - Business
  59. ↑ Soompi: Big Hit Entertainment And CJ ENM Officially Launch Joint Company + Announce Global Audition
  60. ↑ Soompi: Big Hit Confirmed To Have Acquired Source Music; Bang Shi Hyuk Expresses His Excitement
  61. ↑ Soompi: Fair Trade Commission Officially Approves Big Hit Entertainment’s Acquisition Of Pledis Entertainment
  62. ↑ (KR) Naver News: 하이브, 신규 레이블 ‘ADOR’ 설립
  63. ↑ Soompi: Big Hit Entertainment Acquires Music Game Company Superb
  64. ↑ Allkpop: HYBE Labels Japan launches new sub-label NAECO, recruits idol/actress Yurina Hirate as its first artist
  65. ↑ Krafton establishing metaverse joint venture with Naver Z
  66. ↑ Naver Corp: English Learning App CAKE to Merge with HYBE EDU, Expands Global Language Education Business
  67. ↑ HYBE Website - Artists
  68. ↑ Soompi: NU’EST’s 2015 Japanese Film To Hit Korean Theaters In September
  69. ↑ Soompi: BTS’s V Debuting as an Actor Using His Real Name
  70. ↑ Soompi: SEVENTEEN’s DK To Make Musical Debut In Show Starring Kim Junsu And More
  71. ↑ Toky Tunes: K (&TEAM) to appear in new drama "Get Me" ~Reminiscence~ as "Death"
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 Allkpop: These are the K-pop Groups Slated to Debut in 2025
  73. ↑ News18: BigHit's New Group Creates Buzz With Latest Photos: ‘They Look Like 90s Rock Band’
  74. ↑ @KOZ_Entofficial on Twitter (February 11, 2024)
  75. ↑ Tokyohive: Yurina Hirate’s Contract with HYBE Japan Label Terminated Amid Issues
  76. ↑ HYBE Website - Artists (March 2021) (archived)
    HYBE Website - Artists (April 2021) (archived)
  77. ↑ Soompi: Baekho Parts Ways With PLEDIS Entertainment After 13 Years
  78. ↑ Pledis Entertainment: [NOTICE] fromis_9 Transfer of Management
  79. ↑ Soompi: fromis_9 To Part Ways With PLEDIS Entertainment
  80. ↑ @realfromis_9 on Twitter (July 28, 2022)
  81. ↑ Soompi: Nana Signs With New Agency After 15 Years At PLEDIS
  82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 82.2 82.3 82.4 82.5 82.6 82.7 82.8 Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE: Episode 1
  83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE: Episode 2
  84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE: Episode 3
  85. ↑ TikTok post (October 23, 2023)

Official links

HYBE
HYBE Labels

v • e
HYBE
BigHit Music  •  Belift Lab  •  Source Music  •  Pledis Entertainment  •  KOZ Entertainment  •  ADOR  •  Supertone  •  YX LABELS  •  NAECO  •  HYBE X Geffen
 
HYBE Labels
BigHit Music
Current
Groups
BTS  •  TXT
Soloists
Lee Hyun  •  Agust D  •  RM  •  J-Hope
Former
Groups
2AM (with JYP Entertainment)  •  GLAM (with Source Music)  •  Homme  •  8eight (with Source Music)
Soloists
K.Will  •  Lim Jeong Hee  •  David Oh (with GON Entertainment)  •  Changmin
Belift Lab
Current
Groups
ENHYPEN  •  ILLIT
Source Music
Current
Groups
Former
Groups
8eight (with Big Hit Entertainment)  •  GLAM (with Big Hit Entertainment)  •  GFRIEND
Soloists
Kan Miyoun  •  Lee Hyun (with Big Hit Entertainment)  •  EDEN
Pledis Entertainment
Current
Groups
Soloists
Former
Groups
Soloists
Son Dam Bi  •  Kahi  •  Raina  •  Han Dong Geun
KOZ Entertainment
Current
Groups
Project groups
Soloists
Former
Soloists
Penomeco  •  Dvwn
ADOR
Former
Groups
YX LABELS
Current
Groups
&TEAM  •  aoen
Former
Groups
MOONCHILD (with CDL Entertainment and Sony Music Japan)  •  24kumi
NAECO
Current
Soloists
HYBE X Geffen
Current
Groups
 
Official links
Website  •  Facebook  •  Instagram  •  Twitter (Merch)  •  YouTube