Big Hit Music

**Big Hit Music** (Hangul: 빅히트 엔터테인먼트; formerly **Big Hit Entertainment**), or **Big Hit**, is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2005 by Hybe Corporation. It currently manages soloist Lee Hyun and idol groups BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

## History

Big Hit Entertainment was founded on February 1, 2005, 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. 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.  BTS made their debut under Big Hit in 2013.

In 2012, the company signed Lim Jeong-hee, 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.

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.

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. 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. In October of the same year Big Hit Entertainment announced BTS renewed and extended their contract for seven years.

On March 19, 2021, Big Hit announced that it had been renamed to Hybe Corporation to emphasize its wider array of business units and ventures. With the change, the Big Hit record label was renamed Big Hit Music and is now a subsidiary of HYBE.

## Company value and investments

In 2007, Big Hit Entertainment was near bankruptcy. 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). 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%. The CEO of Netmarble, Bang Joon-Hyuk, and Bang Si-hyuk are cousins.

In March 2018, Big Hit publicized its earnings for the first time, reporting revenue at 92.4B KRW (~82M USD).  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).

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.  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).  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.

Big Hit was voted best investment company of the year for 2018 at the Korea VC Awards.

## Partnerships

In the past Big Hit Entertainment collaborated with JYP Entertainment and Source Music to manage groups, but the relationships ended upon disbandment.

## Artists

### Groups

* BTS (방탄소년단) (2013–present)
	+ RM
	+ Jin (진)
	+ SUGA (슈가)
	+ j-hope (제이홉)
	+ Jimin (지민)
	+ V (뷔)
	+ Jung Kook (정국)
* TXT (투모로우바이투게더) (2019–present)
	+ Soobin (수빈)
	+ Yeonjun (연준)
	+ Beomgyu (범규)
	+ Taehyun (태현)
	+ Hueningkai (휴닝카이)

### Soloists

* Lee Hyun (이현) (2011–present)
* j-hope (제이홉) (2022–present)
* Jin (진) (2022–present)
* RM (2022–present)
* Agust D

### Actors

* Kim Tae-hyung (김태형) (2016–present)
* Choi Yeon-jun (최연준) (2020-present)

## Producers and Directors

### Producers

* "Hitman" Bang
* Pdogg
* Slow Rabbit (2013–present)
* Supreme Boi (수프림 보이) (2013–present)
* EL CAPITXN (2018–present)
* Hiss Noise
* FRANTS (2020–present)
* SUGA (슈가)
* RM
* j-hope (제이홉)

### Performance Directors

* Son Sungdeu (손성득)
* Kim Subin (김수빈)
* Kwon Youjeong (권유정)
* Lee Byungeun (이병은)
* Park Hyewon (박혜원)
* Yun Seongeun (윤성은)

### Creative Directors

* Kim Seonghyeon (김성현)
* Lee Hajung (이하정)

### Artists

* K.Will (케이윌) (2006–2007)
* Banana Girl (바나나걸) (2003–2008)
* 2AM (투에이엠) (2010–2014; along with JYP Entertainment)
* GLAM (글램) (2012–2015; along with Source Music)
* Lim Jeong-hee (임정희) (2012–2015)
* Homme (옴므) (2010–2018)
	+ Changmin (창민) (2010–2014; 2015–2018)
* 8eight (에이트) (2007–2014, 2020; along with Source Music)
	+ Joo Hee (주희) (2007–2014)
	+ Baek Chan (백찬) (2007–2014)

### Trainees

* Iron (아이언) (2010–2011)
* i11evn (일레븐) (2010–2011)
* Park Yeong-man (박용만) (2010)
* Léa (레아) (2011–2012)
* Jihoon (지훈) (2011–2012)
* Kidoh (키도)
* Bitoon (빛훈)
* Park Seo Ham (박서함)
* Jeong In Seong (정인성)
* Suwoong (수웅)
* Laun (라운)
* Sanggyun (상균)
* Kim Joo Mi (김주미)
* Lee Seung Hyeon (이승현)
* Eunha (은하) (2012–2013)
* SinB (신비) (2012–2013)
* Jo Ga Bin (조가빈) (2012–2013)
* Kang In Oh (강인오) (2013–)
* Hae Yoon (해윤)
* Chae Rin (채린)
* Hyungseop (형섭)
* June (준)
* Yeosang (여상) (–2017)
* Wooyoung (우영) (–2017)
* Kyung Jun (경준)
* TAG (태그)
* Jaeha (재하)
* Steve (스티브)
* Eunho (은호)
* Jae Chan (재찬)
* Hyunyeop (현엽)
* Wonjin (원진) (2015–2019)
* Heeseung (희승) (2017–2020)
* Jay (제이) (2017–2020)
* Sunghoon (성훈) (2018–2020)
* Kyungmin (경민) (2018–2020)
* K (케이) (2019–2020)
* EJ (의주) (2019–2020)
* TAKI (타키) (2019–2020)
* Nicholas (니콜라스) (2019–2020)
* Jungwon (정원) (2019–2020)
* Trainee A
	+ Junil (준일) (2021)
	+ Inhyuk (인혁) (2021–2022)
	+ Leo (리오) (2021–2022)
	+ Yorch (요치) (2022)
	+ Sangwon (상원) (2021–2022)
	+ Woochan (우찬) (2022)
	+ James (제임스) (2021–2022)
	+ JJ (제이제이) (2021–2022)
	+ Jihoon (지훈) (2021–2022)
* Minhyung (민형) (2019–2022)
* Junwon (준원)
* Yejun (예준)

## Official links

* Facebook
* Naver Post
* Twitter
	+ Official
	+ Audition
	+ Shop
* Website

## References

1. ↑ BigHit Entertainment, July 24, 2015
2. ↑ KPOP NEWS - 2AM’s Jo Kwon, Im Seulong, and Jung Jin Woon Return to JYP Entertainment | mwave.interest.me June 30, 2016
3. ↑ Cuvism Magazine, July 18, 2015
4. ↑ Cuvism Magazine, June 6, 2015
5. ↑ KPOP NEWS - Video BTS Asks about Your Dreams in ‘No More Dream’ MV | MWAVE, June 30, 2016]
6. ↑ KPOP NEWS - Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee′s Contract Ended in May | Mwave, June 30, 2016
7. ↑ 글램, 결국 3년 만에 해체…'이병헌 협박女' 다희-이지연 실형 선고 : 스포츠조선, June 30, 2016
8. ↑ 글램 다희, 모델 친구와 음담패설 영상 유포 협박 "세계적 스타라 거액 요구" 이병헌 공식입장은? : 스포츠조선 June 30, 2016
9. ↑ Lee Byung-hun repeats apology upon returning home, November 15, 2015
10. ↑ 씨그널엔터테인먼트그룹 "빅히트엔터 CB 60억 인수" (Signal Entertainment Group acquires Big Hit Ent for 60 billion "through CB"), February 4, 2016
11. ↑ Signal Entertainment Group to sell entire shares of entertainment firm for 6.2 bln won
12. ↑ Lee Changmin's contract with Bighit Entertainment expires, "will start his own agency", February 1, 2018
13. ↑ BTS Extend Contracts With Big Hit Entertainment Until 2026, 17 October 2018
14. ↑ Korea Times
15. ↑ Korea Herald
16. ↑ Chosun
17. ↑ Mogul Behind K-Pop Boy Band BTS Considers IPO
18. ↑ STIC Investments invests W104b in Big Hit
19. ↑ Game maker becomes second largest shareholder of BTS' agency
20. ↑ Cousins unite as Netmarble buys stake in Bit Hit
21. ↑ Expectations high for BTS-backed Big Hit Entertainment’s IPO, 2018-11-07
22. ↑ Reporter predicts Bang Si Hyuk can become the richest person in Korean Entertainment history with IPO, 2018-11-07
23. ↑ BTS' management agency teams up with CJ affiliate to launch entertainment firm, 2018-07-31, Yonhap News Agency
24. ↑ Big Hit Entertainment takes a financial leap as private investment firm purchases large share, reaches a valuation rivaling the 'Big 3',2018-10-16
25. ↑ STIC Investments invests W104b in Big Hit, 2018-10-16
26. ↑ 한국벤처투자, ‘Korea VC Awards 2018’ 개최, December 7, 2018
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 13 K-Pop Idols You Never Knew Were Once Big Hit Entertainment Trainees
28. ↑ [YouTube: 내가 방탄 연습생일때 l When I was a trainee at BTS]
29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 KNK’s Seungjoon And Inseong Talk About Relationship With BTS
30. ↑ Boys Republic’s Suwoong Talks About Almost Debuting With BTS & Performing “Fire” On “The Unit”
31. ↑ Idols who used to be trainees under Big Hit Entertainment
32. ↑ Singer June talks about his Big Hit Entertainment trainee days + friendship with BTS members
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 ATEEZ's Yeosang and Wooyoung talk about their Big Hit trainee days
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 ENHYPEN’s Sunghoon Reunites With Former BigHit Trainees Who Recently Debuted

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