Entertainment Labels
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment is an independent Korean record label, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music, founded by Lee Soo-man in 1989. The current CEO is Kim Young-min. The genres from this publisher go along the sides of pop, dance, electropop, and R&B. Its home to the older K-pop generation such as H.O.T., S.E.S., and Shinhwa. Current leading artists in the industry include Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, J-Min, SHINee, f(x), EXO, and Henry.
YG Entertainment
Another popular label is YG Entertainment. It is home to Big Bang, 2NE1, Epik High, Lee Hi, and PSY. Its headquarters are located in Seoul, founded by Yang Hyun-suk in 1996. YG is an abbreviation for "Yang Goon". This label is known for its hip-hop genre.
JYP Entertainment
JYP Entertainment, YG, and SM Entertainment makes up whats known as the "big three" record companies. All three are influential in the production of music and the spread of the Hallyu Wave. JYP was founded in 1997 by Park Jin Young. Its artists and banbs include Wonder Girls, Joo, 2AM, 2PM, Miss A, Baek Ah Yeon, 15& and Lee Sunmi.
Bands
SHINee
- Debut
- 2008
- Members
- Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, Taemin
- Label
- SM Entertainment
- Comment
- SHINee is known for their tight and highly difficult choreography. One example is their song Lucifer.
TVXQ!
- Debut
- 2003
- Members
- U-Know Yunho, Max Changmin
- Label
- SM Entertainment
- Comment
- TVXQ use to be a 5 member group and were commonly known as DBSK
Girls' Generation
- Debut
- 2007
- Members
- Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, Seohyun
- Label
- SM Entertainment
- Comment
- SNSD‘ s song ,Gee. use to be the most viewed K-pop song on Youtube before Psy's Gangman Style came out.
EXO
- Debut
- 2012
- Members
- EXO-M: Kris, Xiumin, Luhan, Lay, Chen, Tao
- EXO-K: Suho, Baekhyun, Changyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun
- Label
- SM Entertainment
- Comment
- Comment Exo is divided in to Exo-K (singing in Korean) and Exo-M (singing in Mandarin, Chinese). Although still rookies, they have dominated various music charts.
f(x)
- Debut
- 2009
- Members
- Victoria, Amber, Luna, Sulli, Krystal
- Label
- SM Entertainment
- Comment
- Kystal and Sulli are also known as actresses
Big Bang
- Debut
- 2006
- Members
- G-Dragon, TOP, Taeyang, Daesung, Seungri
- Label
- YG Entertainment
- Comment
- Big Bang is one of the top acts in K-pop. Their wild video for Fantastic Baby has gained wide success.
2NE1
- Debut
- 2009
- Members
- CL, Dara, Bom, Mimzy
- Label
- YG Entertainment
- Comment
- 2NE1 is known for their hiphop style songs and flashy colors. The group is pronounced as “21“.
2PM
- Debut
- 2008
- Members
- Jun. K, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho, Chansung
- Label
- JYP Entertainment
BAP
- Debut
- 2012
- Members
- Yong Guk, Him Chan , Dae Hyun , Young Jae, Jong Up, Zelo
- Label
- TS Entertainment
FT Island
- Debut
- 2007
- Members
- Jonghoon, Hongki, Jaejin, Minhwan, Seunghyun
- Label
- FNC Entertainment
- Comment
- FT Island is short for Five Treasure Island. Their genre of music is rock ballad ("sad" songs).