DSP Media

DSP Media (Hangul: DSP 미디어) is a South Korean entertainment company established in 1991 by Lee Ho-yeon. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production company, and music publishing house. In January 2022, the company was acquired by RBW.

Current artists include: Heo Young-ji, KARD, Mirae, Baby Blue, Lee Jin-jae and Ahn Ye-eun as well as actors and actresses including: Kim Min, Lee Joong-ok, Lee Ji-hyun, Lee Hyung-hoon, Oh Hye-won, Lee Seo-young, Chung Ye-jin, Yoon Jung-hoon, Kim Chae-won, Ahn Seo-hyun, Seong Tae, Ju Hyun, Han Jei, Hwang Kyung-ha and Kang Dae-hyun.

History

1991–2009: Formation and early success
Daesung Enterprise was founded in September 1991 by Lee Ho Yeon to provide entertainment to the public. One of their first Korean music groups was SoBangCha (소방차). The group was a hit and is still loved by the older Koreans.

In the late 1990s, Daesung Enterprise saw significant success, and with the success of groups like Sechs Kies, formed in 1997, and Fin.K.L., formed in 1998, it was considered one of the top entertainment labels in South Korea, alongside SM Entertainment. Click-B was formed in August 1999.

In February 1999, the company was renamed DSP Entertainment. After merging with Hoshin Textile Company (호신섬유) in March 2006, DSP Entertainment was renamed DSP Enti.

In 2002, Ha Hyun-gon, Yoo Ho-suk and No Min-hyuk of Click-B left DSP.

In 2006, Fin.K.L members departed DSP Media.

In September 2008, DSP Enti was renamed DSP Media.

2010–present: Change in leadership, acquisition and business expansion
In March 2010, Lee Ho-yeon suffered a stroke, after which his wife, Choi Mi-kyung began running the company. Lee Ho-yeon was considered a major component of the group's success, which began to see a decline following his retirement from the company due to his stroke. Following Choi becoming president of DSP, several members of the girl group Kara filed a lawsuit to end their contract with DSP.

In 2012, the group Puretty debuted through the anime series Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future. In January 2014, Puretty officially disbanded with members Jeon Somin, Yoon Chae-kyung and Cho Shiyoon remaining under DSP Media.

In August 2015, DSP debuted girl group April, with former member of Puretty, Jeon Somin joined in the line-up and then left the group in November 2015. In October 2016, another former member of Puretty, Yoon Chae-kyung were added as a new member of the group.

On January 15, 2016 KARA officially disbanded following the expiration of Park Gyuri, Han Seungyeon and Goo Hara's contracts, while Heo Youngji remained with DSP as a soloist.

In July 2017, DSP debuted four-member co-ed group Kard, with former member of DSP girl group Puretty and April, Jeon So-min joined in the line-up.

In the early morning of February 14, 2018, Lee Ho Yeon died at the age of 64, after a long battle with an illness.

On January 26, 2022, it was announced that DSP Media had 39.1% of its shares bought by RBW, which houses idol groups such as Mamamoo, Oneus, Vromance, Onewe and Purple Kiss. DSP Media will be merged into RBW as a subsidiary.

On December 14, 2022, DSP Media announced the acquisition of Goodfellas Entertainment, with their producer Lee Seok-joo, composer Lee Yul-i, singer Lee Jin-jae and duo Baby Blue joining DSP, whereas their CEO Min Myeong-gi also appointment as Lead Producer of DSP.

On May 13, 2023, Soloist Ahn Ye-eun signed with DSP.

On June 1, 2023, DSP was announced to expansions actor management business with acquisitions of actor agency Jikim Entertainment and Urban Works Media, the latter was acquired by RBW in December 2022. Jikim’s former CEO Kim Jin-il would be leading the actors' department under DSP.

In August 2023, actors Kim Min signed with DSP Media.

Affiliated artists

Recording artists

Groups
 Gavy NJ
 Kard
 Mirae
 Young Posse

Duos
 Baby Blue

Soloists
 Heo Young-ji
 BM
 Ahn Ye-eun 
 Lee Jin-jae

Producers & songwriters
 Min Myeong-gi (Lead Producer)
 Lee Seok-joo
 Lee Yul-i

Actors
 Lee Ji-hyun
 Lee Joong-ok
 Lee Hyung-hoon
 Oh Hye-won
 Chung Ye-jin
 Yoon Jung-hoon
 Ahn Seo-hyun

 Lee Seo-young
 Ju Hyeon
 Seong Tae
 Hwang Kyung-ha
 Han Jei
 Kim Chae-won

 Kim Min (2023–present)

Former artists

Recording artists
 SoBangCha (1987–1996)
 ZAM (1992–1995)
 CO CO (1994–1995)
 MUE (1994–1999)
 IDOL (1995–1997)
 Mountain (1996–?)
 Sechs Kies (1997–2000)
 Fin.K.L (1998–2005)
 Leeds (1999–2000)
 Click-B (1999–2006)
 Oh Jong-hyuk (1999–2020)
 Lee Hyori (2003-2006)
 Shyne (2004–2007)
 SS501 (2005–2010)
 Sunha (2007–2009)
 A'st1 (2008–2009)
 KARA (2007–2016)
 Kim Sung-hee (2007–2008)
 Nicole Jung (2007–2014)
 Kang Ji-young (2008–2014)
 Park Gyu-ri (2007–2016)
 Han Seung-yeon (2007–2016)
 Goo Ha-ra (2008–2016)
 Rainbow (2009–2016, 2019)
 Puretty (2012–2014)
Yoo Hye-in (2012–2014)
Jeon Jae-eun (2012–2014)
Cho Shi-yoon
 Ahn So-jin (2012–2015)
 A-Jax (2012–2019)
 Sungmin (2012–2016)
 Jaehyung (2012–2016)
 Jihu (2012–2016)
 Kasper (2016–2018)
 April (2015–2022)
 Chaewon (2015–2022)
 Naeun (2015–2022)
 Yena (2015–2022)
 Jinsol (2015–2022)
 Chaekyung (2012–2022)
 Rachel (2016–2023)

Actors
 Park So-hyun
 Oh Hyun-kyung
 Kim Hyu Soo (1997–?)
 Jung Hye Won (2010–?)
 Park Jong-chan (2013–?)
 Choi Bae-young
 Baek Seungdo
 Song Chan-ik
 Lee Hyun-joo (2015–2021)
 Kang Dae-hyun (2022–2023)

Filmography
Emergency Act 19 (Film, 2002)
Drama Three Leaf Clover (SBS, 2005)
My girl (SBS, 2005)
She (SBS, 2006)
Yeon Gae So Mun (SBS, 2006)
Surgeon Bong Dal-hee (SBS, 2007)
Bad couple (SBS, 2007)
Heartbreak Library (Film, 2008)
Making the Star (MBC, 2012)
Kara Project (MBC, 2014)

Notes

References

External links
  
  DSP Media official homepage – Japan
 
 

 
Companies based in Seoul
Electronic dance music record labels
Film production companies of South Korea
Labels distributed by Kakao M
Music companies of South Korea
K-pop record labels
Publishing companies established in 1991
Record labels established in 1991
South Korean record labels
Synth-pop record labels
Talent agencies of South Korea
Television production companies of South Korea
South Korean companies established in 1991