This is a list of labels controlled, distributed or associated with Kakao M.

Subsidiaries

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House labels

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IST Entertainment

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IST Entertainment is a record label established by Kakao M in November 2021. The label (previously known as Play M Entertainment) was established with the merger of Plan A Entertainment and FAVE Entertainment in April 2019. On November 1, 2021, Play M Entertainment merged with Cre.ker Entertainment. The agency currently houses the groups Apink, Victon, The Boyz, Bandage, Weeekly, and ATBO.

BLUEDOT Entertainment

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BLUEDOT Entertainment was established by Kakao M (formerly known as LOEN Entertainment) to manage their newest boygroup Just B that debuted on June 30, 2021. It is their first boy group to be launched after The Boyz who debuted in 2017.

EDAM Entertainment

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EDAM Entertainment was established by Kakao M to manage their long-time soloist IU in 2020. The name EDAM (이담) is the reverse word of "Made" and stands for 이 다음 (E-da-um = the next), bringing the meaning of reversing the obvious ideas to make the next things go beyond times.[1] On July 5, 2021, actress Shin Se-kyung signed with the label.[2] On October 25, 2022, singer Woodz signed with the label.[3]

Independent labels

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Starship Entertainment

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Starship Entertainment is an entertainment company founded by Kim Shi-dae in 2008. In 2013, Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment) acquired 70% shares of Starship, became a majority owner of the label and making Starship as an independent subsidiary of Kakao M.[4] In the same year, Starship announced its first subsidiary label "Starship X", which rapper Mad Clown was signed under.[5] In 2015, King Kong Entertainment was acquired by Starship.[6] In 2017, upon the merger of the businesses of the two companies, the company was relaunched as "King Kong by Starship".[7] In the same year, Starship launched another subsidiary label House of Music, which focused on recruiting smaller, independent artists, with artist MoonMoon being the first signed under the label.[5] In 2018, Starship renamed the label "Highline Entertainment".[8][9]

Mun Hwa In

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Mun Hwa In is an independent record label established by Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment) in June 2016. It is currently being co-distributed by Kakao M and Mirrorball Music.

Source:[10]

Groups

  • Hanumpa
  • AISLE
  • Hey Men
  • Bandage

Duos

  • CRACKER
  • ANTS
  • Everlua
  • Long:D

Soloists

Studio artists

  • Yoon Hyun-sang
  • KREAM
  • Youngman
  • glowingdog
  • CRACKER
  • the night of Seokyo
  • Collective Arts

High Up Entertainment

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High Up Entertainment, also simply known as High Up, is a South Korean entertainment agency founded by producer duo Black Eyed Pilseung, in partnership with CJ E&M, in 2017. On June 10, 2021, it was announced that Kakao Entertainment had acquired High Up Entertainment after becoming their largest shareholder, and therefore would become a Kakao Entertainment subsidiary.

Antenna

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Former subsidiaries

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Cantabile

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Cantabile was a record label under Seoul Records (now LOEN Entertainment), founded in April 1991. It was the first record label in South Korea.[11]

Avent

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Avent was also a record label under Seoul Records, founded in April 2002.[11]

Collabodadi Label

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Collabodadi Label was also an in-house label of LOEN Entertainment (now Kakao M), founded in September 2013. It was led by Shinsadong Tiger. Prior to being chosen to lead the label, he produced the K-pop hits "Bo Peep Bo Peep" (T-ara), "Hot Issue" (4Minute), "U&I" (Ailee) and more.[12][13]

The name Collabodadi (콜라보따리) is a portmanteau of 콜라보 (collabo - collaboration) and 보따리 (boddari - package).

In September 2015, the label's artists Fiestar and Zia were moved back to LOEN Tree (now known as Fave Entertainment).[14]

WS Entertainment

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WS Entertainment was a joint venture between Warner Music Korea, SK-KTB Music Investment Fund, and Seoul Records (now LOEN Entertainment). It was founded in 2006 and currently led by Philip Oh.[15][16] The initial WS stands for Warner Music and SK Telecom.

E&T Story Entertainment

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E&T Story Entertainment was founded on December 26, 2017, by Kakao M (formerly LOEN Entertainment) as a one-person agency of actress Kim So-hyun and led by Park Chan-woo.[17][18] As January 2018, Play M Entertainment was acquisition 60% of E&T Story Entertainment shares.

Former artists

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Former recording artists

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  • Run
  • Park Ji-yoon (1997–1999)
  • Gain (2011–2013)
  • Sunny Hill (2011–2017)
  • Fiestar (2012–2018)[19][20]
    • Cheska (2012–2014)
    • Jei (2012–2018)
    • Linzy (2012–2018)
    • Hyemi (2012–2018)
    • Yezi (2012–2018)
    • Cao Lu (2012–2018)[21]
  • History (2013–2017)[22]
    • Song Kyung-il (2013–2019)
    • Na Do-kyun (2013–2019)
    • Kim Si-hyoung (2013–2019)
    • Kim Jae-ho (2013–2019)
    • Jang Yi-jeong (2013–2019)
  • Shin Zisu (2015–2016)
  • I.B.I (2016)
  • JBJ (2017–2018)
  • Melody Day (2012–2018)
  • Seenroot (Munhwa In, 2013–2019)

Former actors

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Distribution network

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Current

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Former

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "아이유 '블루밍', 유튜브 주간 인기 뮤직비디오 차트 1위 차지..롱런의 정석". Archived from the original on 2020-07-28. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  2. ^ Hyo-Jeong Yoon (July 5, 2021). "신세경, 아이유와 한솥밥 먹는다 "이담엔터 전속계약하기로" [공식입장]". Naver (in Korean). News1. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  3. ^ Park, Jong-min (October 25, 2022). "우즈, 이담 엔터와 전속계약…아이유·신세경과 한 식구" (in Korean). Newswn. Retrieved October 25, 2022 – via Naver.
  4. ^ alim17 (December 18, 2013). "Loen Entertainment takes over majority stake in Starship Entertainment for 15 billion won". allkpop. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b Jeong, Jin-young (January 4, 2018). "[트렌드] 문문 안은 스타쉽, 도전은 계속된다". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "스타쉽, 킹콩엔터테인먼트 인수 '아시아 시장공략 나선다'". Archived from the original on 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  7. ^ "Starship Entertainment and King Kong Entertainment merge into one entertainment company". Archived from the original on 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  8. ^ @Highline_Ent (November 26, 2018). "Rebranding Announcement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Na, Wonjae (September 15, 2019). [신아-50대기업 해부26] 카카오, 환경변화 적극 대응…여전히 진화. Shin-a Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  10. ^ "Artists". Mun Hwa In. Archived from the original on 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
  11. ^ a b "LOEN Entertainment - About LOEN - History". LOEN Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  12. ^ starsung (September 24, 2013). "LOEN Entertainment undergoes reorganization to become a multi-label system". allkpop. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  13. ^ lordbordem (September 25, 2013). "LOEN Entertainment to Split Their Artist Division into Multiple Labels". Soompi. Archived from the original on August 4, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  14. ^ elliefilet (September 22, 2015). "Zia and FIESTAR join IU at Loen Tree". allkpop. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  15. ^ WMG Investor Relations Division (May 10, 2006). "Warner Music International and SK Telecom Announce Partnership - Groundbreaking Deal Places WS Entertainment at Forefront of Korean Music Industry". Warner Music Group. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  16. ^ "WS Entertainment". WS Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  17. ^ "E&T Story Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  18. ^ "E&T Story Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2017-12-26.
  19. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2018-06-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "피에스타 차오루 제외 4人, 페이브와 전속계약 만료 [공식입장]". Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
  21. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2018-06-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "History (band)" (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
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