Big Hit Entertainment

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Lore & Background

The historical narrative of this agency is defined by specific milestones and contractual shifts rather than fictional universes. Founded in early 2005, it signed its first major group, 8Eight, in 2007. A pivotal moment occurred around 2007-2008 when the company entered a joint management contract with JYP Entertainment for the boy group 2AM at their debut. However, RM was scouted and signed to Big Hit Entertainment later, in 2010, as the first member of BTS, initiating nationwide auditions that led to the group's debut on June 13, 2013. The agency also formed the girl group Glam in collaboration with Source Music in 2012; however, this group officially disbanded in January 2015 following a controversy involving member Kim Da-hee, who was sentenced to prison for blackmailing actor Lee Byung-hun. In March 2015, the joint contract with JYP ended, resulting in three members of 2AM returning to JYP while Lee Chang-min stayed with Big Hit for his solo career and the duo Homme. The agency saw further changes in June 2016 when Lim Jeong-hee parted ways after her contract expired.

In Their Own Story

In February 2018, the group Homme disbanded after member Changmin's contract ended, leading him to start his own agency while Lee Hyun continued as a solo artist. A major turning point arrived in October 2018 when BTS renewed and extended their contract for seven more years. The company expanded its roster by debuting its second male group, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), in March 2019. On February 13, 2021, Big Hit announced a strategic partnership with Universal Music Group, establishing a joint venture between Big Hit America and Geffen Records to develop a pop group under a K-pop-influenced model and explore the social platform Weverse. Consequently, in October 2021, an agreement was reached for BTS to move its distribution in the U.S. and other countries from Sony Music's Columbia Records and The Orchard to Universal. Finally, on March 19, 2021, the parent company renamed itself Hybe Corporation, and the label business officially became BigHit Music, which became a subsidiary of Hybe on July 1, 2021.

Reader's Guide

BigHit Music operates as a subsidiary of Hybe Corporation with a roster divided into groups and soloists. The current active groups include BTS, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), and Cortis. Under the soloist category, Lee Hyun is listed alongside individual members of BTS who pursue independent projects: RM, Agust D, Suga, J-Hope, Jin, Jimin, Jungkook, and V. The agency also highlights specific creative personnel, listing 'Hitman' Bang, Pdogg, Slow Rabbit, Supreme Boi, and group members Suga, RM, J-Hope, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, and Huening Kai as producers. Son Sung-deuk is noted as a choreographer. Former artists include K.Will (2005–2007), 2AM (2008–2014), Jo Kwon (2010–2014), 8Eight (2007–2014), Glam (2010–2014), Lim Jeong-hee (2012–2015), Homme (2010–2018), and Changmin (2010–2018).

Did You Know?

• Big Hit Entertainment signed RM in 2010 as the first member of BTS before launching nationwide auditions for the rest of the group.
• The girl group Glam, formed with Source Music, officially disbanded in January 2015 after member Kim Da-hee was convicted of blackmailing actor Lee Byung-hun.
• In June 2020, Big Hit and BTS donated $1 million to support the Black Lives Matter movement during the George Floyd protests.
• On March 30, 2021, Big Hit Entertainment officially rebranded itself Hybe Corporation, separating its label business into the new subsidiary BigHit Music.
• Following a partnership with Universal Music Group in February 2021, BTS moved their U.S. distribution from Sony Music's Columbia Records to Universal later that year.