Big Hit Entertainment

Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Korean: 빅히트 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It currently manages soloist Lee Hyun, and idol groups BTS and TXT—it is also formerly home to acts such as soloist Lim Jeong-hee, and groups 8Eight, 2AM, and GLAM. The company has multiple subsidiaries, including Source Music, Pledis Entertainment,[5] Belift Lab and KOZ Entertainment,[6] collectively known as Big Hit Labels.

Big Hit Entertainment
Native name
빅히트 엔터테인먼트
Big hiteu enteoteinmeonteu
TypePublic
KRX: 352820
IndustryEntertainment
Genre
FoundedFebruary 1, 2005 (2005-02-01)
FounderBang Si-hyuk
Headquarters
Seoul Gangnam-gu, 5 30-gil, Hakdong-ro, Floor Yangjin Plaza 5F
,
Key people
  • Bang Si-hyuk (Chairman, CEO)
  • Lenzo Yoon (CEO, Global & Business)
  • Jiwon Park (CEO, HQ & Management)
Services
  • Music Production, Publishing, New Artist Development, Artist Management
  • 360° Business, IP, Platform & Education Business
Revenue
  • KRW 587.2 billion (2019)
[1]
  • US $82.4 million (2019)
[2]
Owner [3]
Number of employees
Approx. 950 (As of October 2020)[4]
Subsidiariessee #Subsidiaries
Websitewww.bighitcorp.com

History

Big Hit Entertainment was founded on February 1, 2005,[7] and signed the vocal trio 8Eight in 2007.[8] In 2010, the company signed a joint management contract with JYP Entertainment over the boy group 2AM.[9] That year, Bang Si-hyuk signed RM as the first member of BTS and launched nationwide auditions to recruit the other members of the group.[10] BTS made their debut under Big Hit on June 13, 2013.[11]

In 2012, the company signed Lim Jeong-hee,[12] and formed the girl group GLAM as a collaboration with Source Music.[13] The group was active until 2014 when it was disbanded due to a controversy involving one its members Kim Da-hee—Kim was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of blackmailing actor Lee Byung-hun.[14][15][16]

Following the end of the joint contract between Big Hit and JYP in April 2014, three members of 2AM returned to JYP, while Lee Chang-min remained with Big Hit in order to continue with his solo career and as part of the duo Homme.[9] The year also saw the disbandment of 8Eight after Baek Chan and Joo Hee's contracts with Big Hit ended.[8]

In May 2015, Lim Jeong-hee 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.[17] In early 2016, Big Hit ended their stake relationship with Signal and made a full settlement of the bonds.[18][19]

In February 2018, Homme disbanded after member 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.[20] In August, Big Hit and CJ E&M released information stating plans to create a joint company. Filed under the name Belift, the company would reportedly be split 52% to the latter and 48% to the former,[21] and debut a boy group in 2020.[22] In October, BTS renewed and extended their contract with the agency for seven more years.[23] Big Hit was voted best investment company of the year at the 2018 Korea VC Awards in December.[24]

In March 2019, Big Hit debuted its second male group, Tomorrow X Together (TXT).[25] Former CBO Lenzo Yoon was also appointed co-CEO with Bang Si-hyuk that month,[26] Yoon would focus on the business components of the company while Bang's focus would be on creative production.[27] In July 2019, the agency acquired Source Music,[28] and in August, the video game firm Superb.[29] Thanks to the apps Weverse and Weverse Shop (formerly known as Weply prior to March 9, 2020) developed by its subsidiary benX,[30] Big Hit was chosen as the fourth most innovative company of 2020 worldwide by Fast Company.[31]

In May 2020, Big Hit became the majority shareholder of Pledis Entertainment. The company announced that the record label would retain its independence, but its artists (which include boy bands NU'EST and Seventeen) would be more widely promoted outside of South Korea.[32] The Fair Trade Commission (hereafter KFTC) officially approved Big Hit's acquisition of Pledis in October.[33] The following month, Big Hit announced that it had acquired KOZ Entertainment, a record label founded by rapper Zico.[34]

On January 27, 2021, Naver Corporation invested 354.8B KRW (~321M USD) to Big Hit's subsidiary, beNX Inc. The corporation will be transferring its video streaming service, V Live to beNX Inc., which also manages the social media platform, Weverse. The subsidiary will be renamed into the Weverse Company Inc.[35]

Company value and investments

Big Hit Entertainment initially operated as a private company with Bang Si-hyuk as the largest shareholder of its stock.[4] 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%.[36] The CEO of Netmarble, Bang Joon-hyuk, and Bang Si-hyuk are cousins.[37] In October 2018, private investment firm STIC Investments received an undisclosed share of Big Hit Entertainment for an investment of roughly 104B KRW (~93M USD).[38]

In 2007, Big Hit had four employees and was near bankruptcy, but Bang was able to keep the company afloat after the local success of 8Eight's Without a Heart in 2009.[39] The company's value rose over the years thanks to the global popularity of its first boy group BTS.[40] In March 2018, Big Hit publicized its earnings for the first time, reporting revenue at 92.4B KRW (~82M USD)[41] and operating profit of 32.5B KRW (~29M USD) in 2017.[42] Sales in 2018 experienced a 132% increase compared to 2017, with the company making approximately 214.2B KRW (~189.38M USD). They had a 97% percent increase in operating profit for the year making 64.1B KRW (~56.72M USD) and a 105% percent increase in net profit making 50.2B KRW (~44.41M USD).[43]

Big Hit's success has been attributed to its innovative management style, more like an IT company than an entertainment company, which has become the new standard in the K-pop industry; it includes a wide usage of social media to capture people's interest and transform it into sales, the creation of artist-related multimedia contents, and the full use of fandom energy.[44][45]

The company was initially estimated to reach a value of up to 700B KRW (~624M USD) if entered into an IPO in March 2018, making CEO Bang the richest in the South Korean entertainment business due to his large shareholding position, and leaving him with personal ownership value of roughly 350B KRW (~314M USD).[46] In October 2018, Big Hit was valued at more than 1T KRW,[42] and in 2019 between 1.28 and 2.22T KRW.[47] As of March 2020, the total value of the company was roughly 6T KRW (~5B USD).[48]

Big Hit commenced plans to go public on May 21, 2020, and applied for a pre-IPO consultation with the Korea Exchange. This is required under South Korean law before a company can file paperwork for an IPO.[49] One week later, the company filed for a preliminary review of their planned IPO.[50] On October 15, 2020, Big Hit was listed in the KOSPI index and began trading stocks.[51][52]

On January 27, 2021, Big Hit Entertainment and beNX invested 70B KRW (~63M USD) in YG Plus, the media and advertisement company under YG Entertainment.[53]

Subsidiaries

  • Big Hit Entertainment Japan Inc.
  • Big Hit Entertainment America Inc.
  • beNX Japan Inc.
  • beNX America Inc.
  • Bnx Co., Ltd.
  • Superb Co., Ltd.
  • Big Hit Three Sixty Co., Ltd.
  • Big Hit IP Co., Ltd.
  • TNDJ Inc.
  • Borijin Co., Ltd.
  • Big Hit Labels[lower-alpha 1]

Philanthropy

In 2017, it was revealed that Big Hit Entertainment donated ₩30 million (roughly US$25,000) to the 4/16 Sewol Families for Truth and A Safer Society, an organization connected to the families of the 2014 Sewol Ferry Disaster.[55]

In 2020, Big Hit, together with BTS, donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter, during the George Floyd protests,[56] and another $1 million to Live Nation's Crew Nation campaign to help support live music personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.[57]

Artists

Former artists

Discography

Concerts

Date Title Venue Attendance Ref.
December 31, 2020 2021 NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE presented by Weverse Weverse (online) TBA [64][65]

Notes

  1. Entertainment companies, music production companies or labels owned by Big Hit Entertainment partially or largely that still operate independently.

References

  1. Kyung, Ji-Min (March 31, 2020). 빅히트, 2019년 매출액 5,872억·영업이익 987억..창사 이래 최고 실적 [공식] [Big hit, sales of 587.2 billion in 2019, operating profit of 99.8 billion.]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020 via Naver.
  2. Benjamin, Jeff (February 5, 2020). "BTS Label Big Hit Entertainment Nearly Doubles Revenue From Previous Year, Adds $15 Million In Operating Profit". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  3. "Big Hit Entertainment: Corporate Governance (IR section)". Big Hit Corporation. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  4. "Big Hit Entertainment ("Who We Are" section)". Archived from the original on June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. Kim, Na-yul (May 25, 2020). 빅히트, 플레디스 최대주주 지위 확보..뉴이스트·세븐틴으로 최고 라인업[공식] [[Official] Big Hit secures the position of the largest shareholder in Pledis.. Top lineup with Nu'est and Seventeen]. The Korea Herald (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020 via Naver.
  6. Benjamin, Jeff (November 18, 2020). "Big Hit Entertainment To Acquire Label Founded By Korean Super Producer-Rapper Zico". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  7. ‘방탄소년단’ 만든 이 남자의 헉소리 나는 히트곡들 ['BTS', the man who made these hit songs]. Kookmin Daily (in Korean). December 6, 2017. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Naver.
  8. Yoon, Sung-yeol (February 21, 2014). [단독]에이트, 7년만에 잠정적 해체.."각자 음악 활동" [[Exclusive] 8Eight, temporarily disbanded after seven years.."their own music activities"]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Naver.
  9. Lee, Min-ji; Danbi Hong, Grace (April 9, 2014). "2AM's Jo Kwon, Im Seulong, and Jung Jin Woon Return to JYP Entertainment". Newsen. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Mwave.
  10. 세상의 총알을 막아내는 소년들 그룹 방탄소년단. [Group BTS, boys who block the world's bullets]. Cuvism Magazine (in Korean). July 22, 2013. Archived from the original on June 6, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  11. Danbi Hong, Grace (June 12, 2013). "[Video] BTS Asks about Your Dreams in 'No More Dream' MV". Mwave. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  12. Hwang, Hye-jin (June 12, 2013). "Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee′s Contract Ended in May". Newsen. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Mwave.
  13. Lee, Eun-jeong (January 15, 2015). 이병헌 협박한 가수 소속된 걸그룹 글램 해체 (in Korean). Yonhap News. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  14. 글램, 결국 3년 만에 해체…'이병헌 협박女' 다희-이지연 실형 선고 [Glam, finally disbanded after three years...'Lee Byung-hun blackmailed' Da-hee & Lee Ji-yeon sentenced to imprisonment]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). January 15, 2015. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  15. 글램 다희, 모델 친구와 음담패설 영상 유포 협박 "세계적 스타라 거액 요구" 이병헌 공식입장은? [Glam's Da-hee threatens to spread video with model friend, "demands large sum of money from world star". What is Lee Byung-hun's official position?]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). September 2, 2014. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  16. "Lee Byung-hun repeats apology upon returning home". The Korea Herald. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  17. Lee, Byung-Young. 씨그널엔터테인먼트그룹 "빅히트엔터 CB 60억 인수" [Signal Entertainment Group acquires Big Hit Ent for 60 billion "through CB"]. eDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  18. Jung, Kang-hoon (February 14, 2017). 빅히트엔터, 영업이익 100억 돌파…VC '흐뭇' [Big Hit Entertainment, operating profit surpasses 10 billion...VC 'Happy']. The Bell News (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  19. "Signal Entertainment Group to sell entire shares of entertainment firm for 6.2 bln won". Reuters. October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on March 23, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  20. Park, Sohyun (February 1, 2018). [공식입장] 이창민, 빅히트와 전속계약 만료 "1인 기획사 설립" [[Official Statement] Lee Changmin's contract with Bighit Entertainment expires, "will start his own agency"]. Xsports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Naver.
  21. Park, Bo-ram (July 31, 2018). "BTS' management agency teams up with CJ affiliate to launch entertainment firm". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  22. Kim, Bong-kee (March 12, 2019). "Entertainment Giants Team up to Manufacture 'Next BTS'". The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on March 12, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  23. Herman, Tamar (October 17, 2018). "BTS Extend Contracts With Big Hit Entertainment Until 2026". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  24. Lee, Sang-yeon (December 6, 2018). 한국벤처투자, ‘Korea VC Awards 2018’ 개최 [Korea Venture Investment host 'Korea VC Awards 2018']. Money Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Naver.
  25. Kelley, Caitlin (February 6, 2019). "BTS's Label Reveals TOMORROW X TOGETHER Will Debut March 4". Forbes. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  26. Herman, Tamar (March 7, 2019). "Big Hit Entertainment Appoints New Co-CEO Following Rise Of BTS, Launch Of TXT". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  27. Lee, Jung-ho (March 6, 2019). 빅히트 '방탄 성장 주역' 윤석준 공동 대표이사 선임 [Big Hit 'Ballistic Growth Leader' Yoon Seok-jun appointed as co-CEO]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019 via Naver.
  28. Kelley, Caitlin (July 28, 2019). "Big Hit Entertainment, BTS's Label, Acquires Source Music". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 11, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  29. Kim, Eun-ae (August 19, 2018). 빅히트, 음악게임 회사 수퍼브 인수..방시혁 "긍정적 가치 가져다줄 것"[공식] [[Official] Bighit acquires music game company Superb..Bang Sihyuk "It will bring positive value"]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Naver.
  30. @weverseshop (March 2, 2020). "From 9 March 2020, the global fan merch app, Weply is changing its name to Weverse Shop! All your Weply account information will remain the same on Weverse Shop. You can shop your favorite merch without having to worry about a thing! More info here! 👉" (Tweet). Retrieved June 22, 2020 via Twitter.
  31. Mehta, Stephanie (March 10, 2020). "Millions of BTS fans use these 2 apps to connect and shop. No tech startups needed". Fast Company. Archived from the original on March 10, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  32. Herman, Tamar (May 25, 2020). "BTS's Agency Big Hit Becomes Majority Shareholder Of K-Pop Company Pledis, Home To Seventeen & NU'EST". Forbes. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  33. "이제 진짜 한솥밥 식구…공정위, BTS·세븐틴 소속사 결합 승인". news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  34. Benjamin, Jeff. "Big Hit Entertainment To Acquire Label Founded By Korean Super Producer-Rapper Zico". Forbes. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  35. POP, 헤럴드 (January 27, 2021). "빅히트, 네이버와도 협업 "브이라이브 사업부 양수, 팬 커뮤니티 플랫폼 강화"[공식]". pop.heraldcorp.com (in Korean). Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  36. "Game maker becomes second largest shareholder of BTS' agency".
  37. Ha, Sun-young (April 7, 2018). "Cousins unite as Netmarble buys stake in Bit Hit". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  38. "스틱인베스트, BTS에 1040억 베팅". paxnet.co.kr (in Korean). November 10, 2018. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  39. Kim, Sohee (December 17, 2017). "Mogul Behind K-Pop Boy Band BTS Considers IPO". bloomberg.com. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  40. Kim, Yeon-joo; Kim, Hyo-jin (June 7, 2019). "BTS label Big Hit Entertainment joins the ranks of unicorns: HRI report". Pulse News. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  41. Lee, Ji-Yoo (March 26, 2018). "Expectations high for BTS-backed Big Hit Entertainment's IPO". The Investor. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2019 via The Korea Herald.
  42. "STIC Investments invests W104b in Big Hit". The Investor. October 11, 2018. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  43. Herman, Tamar (March 20, 2019). "BTS Helps Label Big Hit Entertainment to Record Result In 2018". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  44. Kang, Myoung Seok; Jeon, Yu Rim; Gukby, Sim (April 1, 2019). "Big Hit Entertainment│① "New Generation" to introduce a new future of K-pop". Ize. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  45. Park, Hee A; Gukby, Sim (April 1, 2019). "Big Hit Entertainment│② The Decisions that Made Big Hit". Ize. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  46. Choi, Man-soo (March 27, 2018). 양현석 넘은 박진영… BTS 대박에 방시혁 1위. Hankyung (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  47. Kim, Yeon-joo (June 6, 2019). "BTS 소속사 `빅히트엔터` 유니콘 됐다". Maeil Gyeongje (in Korean). Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  48. Bae, Dong-ju (March 2, 2020). [과열로 치닫는 ‘빅히트’ 몸값] 3조원에서 6조원으로 2배 ‘껑충’. JoongAng Ilbo Economist (in Korean). Retrieved July 12, 2020 via Naver.
  49. Pulse (May 27, 2020). "BTS agency Big Hit may file for IPO as early as this week". Pulse. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  50. Yonhap (May 29, 2020). "BTS agency Big Hit applies for preliminary review for listing". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  51. Ji, Min-kyung (October 15, 2020). "빅히트, 시초가 27만원으로 코스피 입성.."세계적으로 사랑받는 기업되겠다" [종합]". Osen (in Korean). Naver.
  52. Cirisano, Tatiana (October 15, 2020). "BTS Label Big Hit Entertainment Doubles Shares in Smash Stock Market Debut". Billboard.
  53. "빅히트 측 "YG에 700억 규모 투자 단행, 음반음원 유통 사업 협업"(공식)". 다음뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  54. Lee, So-dam (January 21, 2017). [단독]방탄소년단, 세월호 참사 416가족협의회에 1억원 기부 [[Exclusive] BTS donated 100 million won to the 4/16 Sewol Ferry Disaster Family Council]. The Korea Herald (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2020 via Naver.
  55. Benjamin, Jeff (June 6, 2020). "BTS and Big Hit Entertainment Donate $1 Million to Black Lives Matter (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  56. Aswad, Jem (June 22, 2020). "BTS and Big Hit Entertainment Donate $1 Million to Crew Nation Charity". Variety. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  57. Hong, Dam-young (February 4, 2020). "GFriend takes leap with 'Crossroads' under Big Hit Entertainment". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  58. Herman, Tamar (May 31, 2018). "7 Factors That Helped Propel BTS To No. 1 On The Billboard 200". Forbes. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  59. Kim, Arin (December 11, 2018). "BTS' team sweeps four awards at 2018 MAMA in Seoul". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  60. "WHO IS SUPREME BOI? GET TO KNOW BTS' PRODUCER AND RAPPER!". Channel Korea. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  61. Kubrick, Kaitlyn (January 27, 2020). "IS SUGA MIXTAPE APPROACHING? THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW". Somag News. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  62. Kim, Myung-shin (June 7, 2011). '위탄' 데이비드오, 방시혁의 빅히트로 소속사 확정. Hankyung (in Korean). Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  63. "BTS to headline Big Hit's year-end concert: agency". Yonhap News Agency. November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  64. "BTS' New Year concert cancels in-person show, moves online". Geo News. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.