These entertainment agencies have moulded, trained, and introduced the biggest names and groups in South Korea's music industry. Read on to know more about them
There are no signs of K-pop fever slowing down with new groups and music releases year after year. It would be no surprise to know that K-pop entertainment companies are reporting all-time high profits as more groups gain popularity worldwide.
This global exposure is strengthened by groups like BTS who in 2019, became the first Korean musical performer on SNL. In 2020, the boy group also released their disco-style single Dynamite and went number one on both Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global US charts. Today, hits like Butter, Permission to Dance, and their Coldplay collab, My Universe, continue to dominate the airwaves.
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Girl group Blackpink is also gaining fans worldwide as the girls endorse high-end clothing brands like Dior (Jisoo), Prada (Lisa), Saint Laurent (Rosé), and Chanel (Jennie). These accomplishments show that South Korea's main assets continue to thrive, inspiring more agencies to be on the prowl for new talents.
But who are the agencies in question? In this article, Tatler lists four of the biggest companies in South Korea's music industry.
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1. HYBE (Formerly Big Hit Entertainment)
Founder: Bang Si-Hyuk
Year Founded: February 1, 2005
Who are they: Formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, HYBE was a very small company and was even on the brink of bankruptcy in 2007. However, everything changed when it created the BTS, one of the biggest boy groups of all time.
BTS is a seven-member boy band composed of Jungkook (main vocals), V (vocals), Park Ji-min (lead vocalist), Suga (rapper), Jin (vocals), RM (rapper and group leader), and J-Hope (rapper and lead dancer). The group worked tirelessly to produce albums that would later on sell millions. The group's videos are also among the most-watched clips on YouTube.
Most Popular Artists: BTS, Tomorrow x Together, NU'EST, Seventeen, and more.
Related: HYBE Corporation: Why Is Big Hit Entertainment Changing Its Name?