Which entertainment agencies made remarkable moves in the Korean entertainment scene this year? One of the biggest issues that dominated the management business was that persistent demand on Hallyu contents, especially on K-pop, allowed singer and actors to expand their boundaries to overseas market. In the contents producing industry, it has become a matter of common interest that abilities to create and produce more diversified contents as viewers and audiences have higher criteria. There were bigger examples of middle and small sized agencies to make strategic alliance or have merger and acquisitions for retaining stable profit system. In addition to those, private life of stars became more in danger thanks to the Internet, which make the “risk management ability” as the top priority of the management firm should have.
As a wrap-up and recap of this year 2013, TenAsia picked up eight entertainment agencies that impressed the industry and found out their performance, strength and weakness and searched their right direction to go (in alphabetical order).
Sidus HQ – The Rise of Kim Woo-bin
This Year’s Performance
“We’re getting back our past dignity as the biggest general entertainment company in Korea!,” Jeon Young-joo, who was appointed as a newly accredited president this year, was quoted as saying. Sidus HQ adopted the management specialized system and separated ownership and management this January. The newly-accredited president Jeon has focused on managing its new business sectors, namely game, mobile and franchise, while the former president Jeong Hoon-tak has stepped back from management and concentrated on artist management and contents producing.
After putting up a good show with TV series “Deep Rooted Tree” and “The Innocent Man” last year, Sidus HQ has also achieved good results in drama producing this year. SBS’s weekend series “The Secret of Birth” and MBC’s daily drama “Princess Aurora” met TV viewers this year. Although “Princess Aurora” made controversy due to its absurd storyline, the drama’s ratings figure showed fairy good result, nicknamed as “bad but addictive drama.”
Sidus HQ’s artists have also been alive and strong: Jang Hyuk and Hwang Jeong-eum have shined again each through MBC’s reality show “Real Man” and KBS’s melodrama “Secret Love”; teenage actresses Kim You-jung and Kim So-hyun have showed vigorous activities; Lee Yu-bi received spotlight through MBC’s “Kang Chi, the Beginning.” Above all, Kim Woo-bin cemented himself as a star through film “Friend 2” and SBS’s hit series “The Inheritors.”
This Year’s Star
Kim Woo-bin, who shot to the company’s next big star, is definitely the hero of Sidus HQ this year. Making an exclusive contract with the agency in 2012, Kim became the figurehead of Sidus HQ only in two years with KBS series “School 2013,” “Friend 2” and “The Inheritors.” Considering entertainment stock market’s trend hailing to a big star, it is clear that Sidus HQ caught the biggest fish in the pond. Proving the star industry’s nature that popularity goes right to guarantee, Kim Woo-bin’s guarantee rocketed up. His characteristic mask which has never seen before is his biggest weapon. His odd and unforgettable looks made him irreplaceable. Kim’s solid acting skills, which made him differentiated from other model-turned-actors, is also one of the factors that increase Kim’s competitiveness.
Korean actor Lee Soo-hyuk. [TenAsia]
Sidus HQ’s biggest quality is that the company has lots of star materials. Along with Kim You-jung and Kim So-hyun, who showed in-depth acting skills better than average adult actress in “Moon Embracing the Sun,” the firm has wide spectrum of child actors including Seo Sin-ae of “Queen’s Classroom” and Park Gun-tae of “Goddess of Fire.” Lee Yu-bi is also one of a would-be star after detaching a label as ‘daughter of veteran actress Kyeon Mi-ri.’ The industry is also casting high interest in model-turned-actor Lee Soo-hyuk. It is often said that he will take straight up to the top star’s position when he join the right work. Park Eun-ji, former weather caster to TV emcee, is also vigorously working in the field.
What’s Next?
Sidus HQ’s goal is getting back their past honor. To regain the nickname as Korea’s biggest general entertainment company, Sidus HQ is planning to strengthen their new business sectors such as game, fashion, IT and franchise marketing. The company is also set to take back the top status in the music industry. 2EYES, rookie girl group who made a debut after three years’ training, is only a beginning. Sidus HQ is about to discover and train new idol groups and considering scout many musicians to consolidate the artist line-up. In that sense, the strategic alliance with CUBE Entertainment is full of meaning.
About Sidus HQ
Jun Ji-hyun, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Hye-soo, Shin Mina, Zo In-sung, Song Joong-ki, Lim Soo-jung, Ha Jung-woo, Gong Yoo and Kong Hyo-jin. What these stars have in common? The thing is, all of these stars started their career in Sidus HQ. Then, what Korean actors management firms King Kong Entertainment, Blossom Entertainment, Fantagio and Management Soop have in common? The answer is again, Sidus HQ. These management companies are all established by managers who have worked for Sidus HQ before.
“The origin of enterprise-typed entertainment company,’ ‘ the cradle of top stars,’ these are what called Sidus HQ before. As big name stars left their old nest one by one, the company is considered as being weaker than before. However, Sidus HQ still have great future since they have actors whose future are brighter than now, namely Jang Hyuk, Kim Woo-bin, Hwang Jeong-eum, Lee Soo-hyuk, Jay Park, Lee Yu-bi, Kim Yoo-jung and Hyun Woo.
Sidus HQ, which started as EBM Production, Inc. by president Jung Hoon-tak in 1999, founded itself as an independent entertainment company by separating management arm and music business in 2002. Listed on the stock market as general entertainment firm named IHQ, the company is working hard to diversify their business to film producing, game developing, mobile business and more.
This year, the company has showed noticeable performance in producing their artists. The firm drew in great response, saying “rediscovery of Hwang Jeong-eum,” by making the sitcom-specialized actress to star in authentic melodrama “Secret Love.”
Korean actor Jang Hyuk. [TenAsia/ Gue Hye-Jung]
Making Jan Hyuk to appear in “Real Man” is even considered as a magical move. It was actually dangerous choice to make the actor, who suffered from evasion of military service once, appear on the military reality show in that it could harm the actor’s image severely. However, Jang Hyuk wore the military uniform and the result was a success. Spotlighting Jang Hyuk as ‘a human’ not as ‘an actor,’ the actor succeeded in receiving huge response.
In discovering new faces, Sidus HQ has focused on the music department rather than the actors’ one. Girl group 2EYES, who made a debut this June, received attention in that they are Sidus HQ’s first rookie group in 14 years after highly-successful boy band god.
It also caught attention that their new challenge in management strategy. Sidus HQ broadened their business sector by acquiring music distribution firm Wise Peer, beauty franchise Dusol and gaining share of venture capital firm HQ Investment. In September, the firm also made strategic alliance with CUBE Entertainment and strengthened their position in the market.
As a veteran management company, Sidus HQ also showed clever strategy to promote their artists and business arms at the same time. After scoring big with marketing coffee chain Café Bene with their former artist Han Ye-seul, Sidus HQ made various collaboration marketing with their top artists and TV drama PPL. The firm also played it cool with fast-paced action when Kim Woo-bin was embroiled in so-called ‘Balmain Incident’ [it was brought out after his official girl friend and model Yoo Ji-an spotted wearing Balmain T-shirt, the same one Kim received as a gift from one of his fans. Sidus HQ explained that Kim had bought the same one to his girlfriend as a present.]
Sidus HQ’s global business sector is still in its way to get settled. This year’s drama sales was not significant, compared to last year’s great result: SBS’s drama “Deep Rooted Tree” scored 1.8 billion Korean Won (approximately 1.69 million U.S. Dollars) with its overseas airing right sales to Japan and Southeast Asian countries; KBS’s series “The Innocent Man” scooped up total sales of 2.8 billion Won (approx 2.64 million Dollars) through its overseas sales including Japan, cable TV usage and online download.
TS Entertainment – B.A.P Sweeps the World
This Year’s Performance
Year 2013 was the year that B.A.P’s global competence shined bright. B.A.P held their first exclusive concert at the Olympic Hall in Seoul this February, one year and two months after their debut which is the shortest time for a Korean idol group. This May, the six-member boy group embarked on “B.A.P Live on Earth Pacific Tour,” their first global tour including Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and four US cities.
B.A.P proved their global popularity by putting the third mini-album, released this August, onto the top ten of iTunes Hip-hop Album chart in US and Asian regions as well as No. 1 on Billboard’s World Album chart. Afterwards, the boy band announced their official Japan debut and confirmed Japan arena tour at the same time with releasing Japan debut single. The arena tour was held in three cities through six shows for two months from November, drawing in a total of 40,000 audiences
TS Entertainment’s hip-hop duo Untouchable showed off that they are still alive and strong, releasing “CALL ME,” their first album right after being discharged from the mandatory military service in May. Especially, member Sleepy shot to the new star of TV variety shows after showing his honest and skilled talking as well as off-the-wall charms through MBC’s talk show “Radio Star.”
Girl group Secret has focused on expanding their individual boundaries. Member Jun Hyo-sung is prepping up for her first major role in upcoming OCN drama “Cheo-yong” (Romanized Korean), while Song Ji-eun recognized her singing ability through the first solo EP “False Hope.”
K-pop boy group B.A.P members. [TS Entertainment]
This Year’s Star
This year’s star of TS Entertainment is B.A.P, who collected noticeable result in overseas market in two years of their debut. Since debuting in January 2012, B.A.P has built awareness from their early debut days with distinctive characters of the members, which are Bang Yong-guk’s heavy low-toned voice, Zelo’s high-toned rapping, Younjae’s sweet vocal and Daehyun’s powerful high pitch. The group succeeded in cultivating solid fandom by differentiating themselves from other groups, especially Bang Yong-guk participated in song-writing and unveiled his philosophy throwing at our society.
All the shows to the B.A.P’s Pacific Tour, including four cities in the US, have been sold out and the group grabbed 10,000 audiences more through the encore shows in Japan. They conquered seven accumulated No. 1 and sat in top 10 for 20 months on Germany’s K-pop chart, while confirmed arena tour as soon as their official Japan tour. This year is surely B.A.P’s time, whose overseas activities were significant.
What’s Next?
TS Entertainment will debut a seven-member girl group in the first half of next year, based on their producing ability proved through Secret and B.A.P. One of the girl group’s member Dohee has already featured in “Keep In Touch,” one of the tunes of Untouchable’s November mini-album “TRIP.” B.A.P is aiming at making comeback next January, when Secret Jun Hyo-sung’s first TV series “Cheo-yong” is slated to hit air.
About TS Entertainment
Established in 2008, TS Entertainment is an entertainment agency of rap duo Untouchable, girl group Secret, boy band B.A.P and actress Han Soo-yeon. The company concentrates on business sectors including music producing and management. Opening its Tokyo branch TS JAPAN in July of 2011, TS Entertainment is taking its step to grow as a global entertainment firm.
Without a big move to discover new talents, TS focused its abilities on global activities of B.A.P, who are in their second year of debut. But it succeeded in drawing curiosity by unveiling a member of soon-to-debut girl group Dohee, who joined Untouchable’s album. The strategy has been shown through B.A.P member Bang Yong-guk’s rap featuring in Secret Song Ji-eun’s 2011 single “Going Crazy” and Bang and Zelo’s pre-debut unit BANG & ZELO.
It also grabs attention that TS found musical color that matches well to their artists. B.A.P marked themselves as an idol with critical message to the soceity in “Badman,” the song about a war against social crime. Secret redefined themselves as cute girl group with “YooHoo” and “I Do I Do,” continuing the success of “Shy Boy” and “Starlight Moonlight.” Untouchable also broke from ‘sweet love song singing’ hip-hop group’s image and filled their new album with realistic lyrics.
In the global business sector, B.A.P achieved excellent results through Pacific Tour, official Japan debut and arena tour in the country.
About promotion and public relations, TS Entertainment developed aggressive marketing when releasing new DVDs of “B.A.P Pacific Tour” and the group’s arena tour. When Secret’s Jun Hyo-sung embroiled in mentioning in-word of controversial Internet community Ilbe, TS exhibited their risk management ability by making apologies right away.
In the management sector, TS increased its competence with in-house system that thoroughly managing from discovering new talents, training, producing, promoting and overseas activities through TS JAPAN.
Will Entertainment – Lee Bo-young, Ryu Su-young Rise and Shine
This Year’s Performance
Will Entertainment cemented itself as one of the Korea’s representative entertainment agencies after showing a steep rise for the past two years. Son Ji-hyun, Will Entertainment’s President and CFO (Chief Finance Officer) of Will’s parental firm Soribada, Korean online music distribution service, raised the agency’s awareness by appealing its strategic system, which allowed Will to scout more actors and well-support its artists. In 2013, Will Entertainment gained sales record twice bigger than last year’s.
Borrowing the enterprise system from Soribada, Will Entertainment is organized with subdivided business system from legal department, finance, management, PR and artist management. After solidifying its foundation as an entertainment agency, Will expanded its boundaries to the producing field by co-investing in movie “The Attorney,” the winner of year-end box office starring Song Kang-ho of “Snowpiercer” and Siwan of idol group ZE:A.
Will Entertainment’s artists also put up a good show this year. Will has a big number of stars who have played all over TV programs, from Lee Bo-young on SBS’s hit series “I Can Hear Your Voice” to Ryu Su-young on MBC’s real variety show “Real Man.” Next year, it is expected to see more of Will Entertainment stars’ vigorous activities, including E. Ji-ah on SBS’s “A Woman Married Three Times,” Kim Ok-vin of thriller movie “AM 11:00” and Kang So-ra who starred in SBS’s “Ugly Alert.”
Korean actor Ryu Su-young on the set of MBC’s real variety show “Real Man.” [MBC]
This Year’s Star
Will Entertainment’s biggest star this year is definitely Ryu Su-young. Since appearing on his first TV variety show “Real Man” this April, he led the TV show’s syndrome throughout Korea and proved his potential as a TV personality as well as an actor. After earning the intimate image from the public, Ryu starred in KBS’s one-act drama “Drama Special – A Memory in My Shabby Wallet” (translated title), MBC’s “Two Weeks” and musical “Guys and Dolls.” His next project will be a movie, his first major one in 11 years.
Lee Bo-young, who joined Will Entertainment after starring in KBS’s smash hit “Seo-young, My Daughter,” also marked herself as a top actress through “I Can Hear You Voice” before her sweet marriage with actor Ji Sung. Yu In-young, chosen as famed cosmetic brand Elizabeth Arden’s first Korean model early this year, shot for the 2014’s next big star by appearing on MBC’s “Empress Ki, Battle of Flowers” and SBS’s “Love From Star.”
What’s Next?
Will Entertainment has established its base with actors E. Ji-ah, Ryu Su-young, Yu In-young, Lee Bo-young, Kang so-ra and Kim Ok-vin. In 2014, Will is planning to train new faces and also jump into the producing business of film and drama. Next year, the overseas marketing of Will is expected to be activated by Kang So-ra’s activities in China and Ryu Su-young’s Hallyu promotions in Japan as his KBS drama “Ojakgyo Brothers” received nice responses in the country.
About Will Entertainment
Will Entertainment was established by president Son Ji-hyun in October 2011. Possessed its 75 percent of share by its parent company Soribada, the agency is considered to be financially solid and has stable management system. Since scouting E Ji-ah last March, Will Entertainment has been joined by big name actors Ryu Su-young, Yu In-young, Lee Bo-young, Choi Jung-won, Kang So-ra and Kim Ok-vin as well as trained rookie actors Choi Ju-hee, Jang Eui-soo and Yeo Ho-min, raising a disturbance in the entertainment industry with its short-term yet big rise.
When Will Entertainment focused on scouting more talents and expanding its business infra this year, Will’s plan for 2014 is training new faces and expanding boundaries of its existing talents. Actively supporting their newbie actors Choi Ju-hee, Jang Eui-soo, Choi Jung-won and Go Du-rim, Will Entertainment is aiming at making their actors have the next star’s status. The company is also set to broaden their actors boundaries and let them make a new leap, such as Jin Yi-han who is showing charismatic yet sweet charm in MBC’s period-set drama “Empress Ki, Battle of Flowers.”
The company’s skilled artist management already shined this year in that the firm gave their undervalued artists a chance to remake their image. Ryu Su-young, who has starred in over 20 TV dramas including “Ojakgyo Brothers,” “My Princess” and “The Sons,” finally met his second golden age after joining Will Entertainment and starring “Real Man” and “Two Weeks.” E Ji-ah, who slew down her activities for a while, came back to the small screen and displayed impressive acting skills on SBS’s “A Woman Married Three Times.”
The promotion and public relations department has been aggressive this year. When Ryu Su-young’s 2011 series “Ojakgyo Brothers” received nice response in Japan, Will Entertainment contacted agencies in Japan and succeeded to mark Ryu as the next Hallyu star. E Ji-ah, who had suffered from issues and rumors from her past marriage with ‘90s K-pop icon Seo Tae-ji, joined Will Entertainment and then made successful comeback as an actress. The promotion tactic to match an actor’s image and character was also noticeable, which was shown in the case of Yu In-young, who has been chosen as the global cover model of cosmetic brand Elizabeth Arden.
Will Entertainment’s actors will now be more seen in the overseas activities. Along with Ryu Su-young who is working on to have a fan event in Japan, Kang So-ra is learning Chinese and revving up for activities in China.
Will Entertainment’s stable capital and organized business system, deprived from its parental company and Korean online music distribution service Soribada’s, was linked to its increase in sales and stability in working environment. Aiming at making the company “where actors, managers and staff all want to work for,” the firm is expected to make the continuous growth in the future.
YG Entertainment – Big Bang, Power of ‘Together and Apart’
This Year’s Performance
Year 2013 was the year when YG Entertainment, Inc. took one step ahead. YG, still competing to win the top spot of K-pop with SM Entertainment, raised individual ‘manpower’ of each musician this year. World star PSY’s global popularity went on and on, while Big Bang, who firmly grabbed their position as the top boy group, displayed individual members’ musical development as well as increased awareness from the public. Girl group 2NE1 put up a good fight, YG’s new boy group WINNER marked themselves as a next-generation idol group through a TV audition.
PSY’s “GENTLEMAN” continued the popularity of “Gangnam Style” without difficulty. The music video of “GENTLEMAN” surpassed 100 million views only four days of its release on April 17, setting the new record, and jumped straight up to No. 12 on Billboard’s Singles chart only with its first second days’ usage data. The addictive electroniic dance tune reached the fifth spot on the chart at the highest and its music video hit 400 million views on YouTube in 55 days of its release, becoming the 16th most-watched video on the world’ biggest online video streaming service. On December 13, the “GENTLEMAN” video outnumbered 600,314,700 hits and made itself as the most-watched clip around the world this year. Throughout these records, PSY scooped up the title as the most-watched video’s artist two years straight.
However, YG’s biggest result this year will be Big Bang members’ growth to solo artists. Starting with Seungri, Big Bang members G-Dragon, Taeyang and T.O.P released solo albums or singles in turn as well as Daesung who released the debut album “D’scover” and the first solo single “I Love You” in Japan this year. Seungri got away from his image as the youngest member of the group and was recognized as a male musician through his second solo EP “LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE.” With his skilled Japanese, Seungri showed vigorous activities in the country, appearing on TV variety shows and dramas. G-Dragon spent one of the best years with the second full effort “COUP D’ETAT.” T.O.P also displayed noticeable activities with movie “Commitment” and introduced solo single “DOOMDADA,” while Taeyang electrified music fans with “RINGA LINGA.”
The ‘united’ Big Bang is currently active with Japan dome tour. Since November until next January, the group has hit the road across the country, starting with the Saitama Seibu dome, Osaka Kyocera Dome, Fukuoka Yahoo! Oku Dome, Nagoya Dome, Tokyo Dome to Sapporo Dome. According to YG, this six-city dome tour is expected to draw in a whopping 771,000 audiences, the honorable achievement of Big Bang four years after their official Japan debut. Back in 2009 when Big Bang made their Japanese debut, the group was recognized only by K-pop manias. After building up awareness step by step from small club shows, Big Bang finally achieved the current position as one of the most beloved K-pop groups in Japan.
Korean artist G-Dragon performs during the Malaysia leg of his world concert tour “2013 G-Dragon World Tour: ONE OF A KIND.” [YG Entertainment]
This Year’s Star
The most distinguished star of YG Entertainment this year is G-Dragon. Throughout this year, G-Dragon has been active around the world. After finalizing his solo world tour in success, G-Dragon cemented his presence as a solo musician. GD stepped up on the top status as an idol singer by making numerous chart success with “COUP D’ETAT” and becoming a symbolic idol-turned-musician.
For the first time as a Korean singer, the twenty-something musician entered Billboard’s Album chart 200 two years in a row. G-Dragon’s reinterpretation of Korean folk song “NILIRIA,” featuring US hip-hop big name Missy Elliott, was included in the top 25 songs of the year chosen by American magazine Complex. Throughout his second world tour “G-Dragon 2013 World Tour: One Of A Kind,” the singer attracted 570,000 audiences, entering the phase as the one and only greatest idol.
What’s Next?
What attracted the biggest attention among YG’s plan for next year is PSY and Big Bang’s new records. PSY is said to have been working on his new album, while Big Bang also increased huge expectation toward their upcoming group effort after showing outstanding individual career this year. Big Bang’s Taeyang will also unveil his solo album next year, while WINNER’s upcoming work as an idol group is grabbing attention from music fans.
About YG Entertainment
YG Entertainment, led by rapper-turned-producer Yang Hyun-suk, is Korea’s top-tier music agency vying with SM Entertainment to win the domestic number one. Formerly named as Hyun Producing which debuted Keep Six, the company changed its name to MF Producing and led hip-hop duo Jinusean to a success. Jinuseon, co-produced by Yang Hyun-suk and Korea’s first hip-hop duo DEUX member D.O, introduced American hip-hop style to the local scene and grabbed both trend and commercial success. Afterwards, YG debuted Korea’s first hip-hop idol group 1TYME and solidified their color as black music through the big-scale performance of YG ‘Family,’ joined by all the YG artists.
In 2000s, solo singer Se7en led the success of YG while WheeSung, Gummy and Big Mama made a series of hit after YG cooperated with R&B label M-boat. Recently, Big Bang and 2NE1 have grown as Korea’s top idol groups and PSY’s “Gangnam Style” nabbed international success, which made YG Entertainment becoming the country’s top agency. YG’s sales of last year reached 99.7 billion Korean Won (approximately 94.5 million US Dollars).
This year, YG played aggressive producing in activities of their artists. One of the remarkable producing this year is a series of individual activities of Big Bang members. Starting with Seungri, G-Dragon, Taeyang and T.O.P released solo album or single in turn and received nice responses. Along with some chart success, the Big Bang members received outstanding results with their quality music.
K-pop rookie boy group WINNER members. [YG Entertainment]
In discovering new faces, YG made active movement to introduce WINNER, the winning boy group in the firm’s self-produced audition show “WHO IS NEXT – WIN” in corporation with Mnet. WINNER has already grabbed a significant number of fans through the show, slated to have a splendid debut soon. Attracting 8,000 fans to their first exclusive Japan fan meeting, WINNER also opened up Big Bang’s Japan dome tour.
In the global department, Big Bang proved their name value. The group ranked at No.5 on Japanese concert ranking this year with accumulated 719,000 audiences. From November to next January, the group hit the road around the country starting with Saitama Seibu dome, Osaka Kyocera Dome, Fukuoka Yahoo! Oku Dome, Nagoya Dome, Tokyo Dome to Sapporo Dome. According to YG, this six-city dome tour is expected to draw in a whopping 771,000 audiences in total.
G-Dragon’s second world tour “G-Dragon 2013 World Tour: One Of A Kind” attracted 361,000 fans into its Japanese destinations and the star stood at No. 17 on the Japanese concert ranking. The artist drew in a total of 570,000 audiences through the tour around the globe. PSY’s “GENTLEMAN” reached the fifth spot on the Billboard’s Singles chart and its music video surpassed 600 million hits, marking PSY as the winner of the most-watched clip on YouTube two years in a row.
About promotion and public relations, Yang Hyun-suk took a new track to introduce the company’s plan by himself through “From YG,” the direct communication channel via YG’s official blog. The chief music producer has shot to one of the opinion groups and is playing a big role on the K-pop scene. His appearance on SBS’s talent show “KPOP STAR” also helped him to connect more with the public. The office building of YG Entertainment was unveiled through MBC’s popular variety show “Infinite Challenge” and helped the company have more intimate image.
Cube Entertainment
(Clockwise from top: Planning, Public Relations, Global, Business Management, Rookie Management)
So how did Cube Entertainment fare this year?
Cube Entertainment established by co-founder of JYP Entertainment Representative Hong SeungSong in april 2008, and is a house for BEAST, 4minute, G.NA, BTOB and gagman Kim KiRi. Subsidiary Cube DC includes soloist Rain, Roh JiHoon, and Shin JiHoon. Cube Entertainment specializes in album and contents production and artist management. In year 2011 and 2012, they had recorded 3.33 billion Won and 0.97 billion Won of operating profit respectively. The company is expected to make about 2.5 billion Won in 2013.
Cube Entertainment’s label company, A Cube houses girl group A Pink and male soloist Huh Gak, and is operated as a separated entity from Cube Entertainment. Artists under Cube Entertainment often comes together for their branded concert ‘United Cube’. In December 2013, all artists under Cube Entertainment came together to release their first ever Christmas carol.
This year, Cube Entertainment’s talent management for rookies stayed stagnant, but the agency came strong as we see Trouble Maker’s success and BEAST as well as other artists’ overseas concerts. Overall, their planning skills and overseas promotions are some of the aspects worth noticing.
First of all, in the planning section, 3-years-old unit group ‘Trouble Maker’ has once again charted its success with its extraordinary one-of-a-kind male-female duo group, hence, placing Cube Entertainment itself in the ‘example of good entertainment’ position.
On the downside, management overseeing rookies tend to see a dropping trend. BTOB who had debuted last year, despite having full force promotions, the performance reaped was unlike what had been expected. For other rookies as well, their promotions were not eye-catching, which is an unfortunate down point for the company.
In the businese management category, Cube Entertainment has taken a huge leap through their strategic partnership with IHQ. Partnering up with a company that specializes in movies and drama productions, we will soon see a variety of roles taken up by Cube Entertainment’s artists in the near future.
Public relations which is vital for artists’ image sees a stable trend for Cube Entertainment this year. There isn’t any external incidents and the company scored a pass for its crisis management skills.
In the overseas expansion (global) category, 5-years-old BEAST accomplished their Japanese concerts as well as signing a contract with Japan’s largest advertisement company, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners (subsidiary of Hakuhodo DY Group), which is a great achievement by Cube Entertainment.
This year’s results
In the digital category, for the first half of 2013, 4minute recorded strong results digitally, whereas in the second half year, Trouble Maker (Beast’s Hyunseung and 4minute’s Hyuna) took over the baton. In May, 4minute released title track ‘What’s Your Name?’ under their 4th mini album ‘Name is 4minute’, and had dominated various charts, becoming one of the most prominent girl groups in the first half year.
In particular, ‘What’s Your Name?’ fought off strong competitors such as Cho YongPil and Lee MoonSei. Even after a month after its release, the track recorded #1 on May monthly charts, showing off its amazing longevity. ‘Trouble Maker’ which was formed in 2011 December came back with a new title ‘Now’ in October, yet another hit song to prove their unstoppable popularity.
BEAST’s Yong JunHyung (tvN drama ‘Monstar’), Yoon Doojoon (tvN ‘Let’s Eat’), Lee Kikwang (CJ E&M ‘Twenty Years Old’) and more broaden their activities as an actor. Moreover, Rain who had officially signed with subsidiary Cube DC will soon carry out rich activities. In November, Rain performed on Mnet ‘Asian Music Awards’ while hinting a comeback after 3 years of blank period. Movie wise, he will once again return to big screen with Hollywood movie ‘The Prince’, 5 years after his last movie role.
In terms of business, Cube Entertainment signed a strategic partnership with IHQ. The synergy effect between two entertainment agencies could have a positive impact for both, in terms of artists management as well as drama productions.
Star of the Year
The hit duo that rose the sexy wave in the entertainment industry last year end, Trouble Maker, has once again return to the music scene with another successful story. Trouble Maker’s ‘Now’ MV is made from the concept used in movie ‘Bonnie and Clyde’. The sexy choreograph performed by both starlets further became a hot topic immediately after its release. The project group gained mixed reactions, as some condemned the ‘repeated sexy concept’. Despite these criticisms, ‘Now’ is still undeniably a popular hit for the second half year. In fact, it dominated the nation’s largest music site ‘Melon’ November monthly chart. On Youtube, the MV’s popularity spanned to audience abroad as well, with more than 10 million views and still counting.
Plans for 2014
Having set on their goals to be listed next year, Cube Entertainment will place even more emphasis on planning skills for their artists. First runner for 2014 would be soloist Rain, who will be making his comeback to the music industry in January. After his comeback, G.NA, Beast and 4minute will follow suit while more focus will be given to rookie group BTOB’s promotion activities. Cube Entertainment also plans on providing more composing or acting opportunities to each artist. Business wise, they are planning on establishing self-operated ‘Cube Cafe’ branches around South East Asia, after branches in Seoul MyungDong and Japan Osaka.
source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, translation loveindacube