YG Entertainment facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
YG Entertainment Inc.

Logo used since March 2013
Native name	YG 엔터테인먼트
Romanized name	YG enteoteinmeonteu
Type	Public
Traded as	KRX: 122870
Industry	Entertainment Retail
Genre	Various
Founded	February 24, 1996; 29 years ago (1996-02-24)
Founder	Yang Hyun-suk
Headquarters	397-5 Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul , South Korea
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Yang Min-suk (Chairman & CEO)
Revenue	₩266.65 billion (US$233.09 million) (2021)
Operating income	₩37.32 billion (US$32.62 million) (2021)
Net income	₩7.62 billion (US$6.66 million) (2021)
Owner	Yang Hyun-suk (19.3%) Naver Corporation (8.96%) National Pension Service (5.82%) Tencent (4.33%) Yang Min-suk (3.49%) Vanguard Group (2.06%) Others (56.04%)
Number of employees	678 (2010)
Divisions	Actor & Music
Subsidiaries	3geori Butchers Moonshot Nona9on Shining Star Culture YGMM YG Golf Academy YG Plus YGX

YG Entertainment Inc. is a big entertainment company from South Korea. It was started in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk. The company manages artists, produces music, and organizes concerts. It also has other businesses like a clothing line, a golf management agency, and a cosmetics brand through a related company called YG Plus.

Some of the artists currently with YG Entertainment include Eun Ji-won, Akdong Musician, Winner, Blackpink, Treasure, and BabyMonster. Many actors and actresses are also part of YG, such as Cha Seung-won, Lee Sung-kyung, and Yoo In-na.

Over the years, many famous artists have been with YG Entertainment, including Wheesung, Epik High, 1TYM, Big Mama, Gummy, Seven, 2NE1, Psy, Lee Hi, BigBang, and iKon.

History of YG Entertainment

Starting with Hip-Hop (1996–2005)

Se7en started his career with YG Entertainment in 2003.

In March 1996, Yang Hyun-suk, who was a member of the popular K-pop group Seo Taiji and Boys, started YG Entertainment. He named it after his nickname, Yang Goon. His younger brother, Yang Min-suk, also helped him. The company's first group was a hip-hop trio called Keep Six. When they didn't become popular, Yang focused on the duo Jinusean (who started in 1997) and then the group 1TYM (who started in 1998). Their success helped bring hip-hop music to the mainstream in Korea.

In 1999, YG artists made a group album called YG Family. More artists like Perry, Masta Wu, Swi.T, Big Mama, Lexy, Gummy, and Wheesung joined the label. In 2001, another YG Family album was released, featuring a young 13-year-old trainee named G-Dragon.

In 2003, the company found success in Korea and Japan with its first "idol" singer, Seven. He was also the first YG artist to try to become famous in the US, but it didn't quite take off.

Becoming Mainstream Famous (2006–2011)

Big Bang started in 2006 and became a huge success for YG.

After Se7en's success, YG created its first idol group, Big Bang, in 2006. Even though they started slowly, they quickly became one of the biggest and most popular boy bands in the world. Then, in 2009, YG launched its first successful girl group, 2NE1. Before they split up in 2016, 2NE1 was considered one of the most popular girl groups in South Korea. Both Big Bang and 2NE1 also had successful careers in Japan.

2NE1 was YG's first major girl group, starting in 2009.

In 2010, YG moved into a new, bigger building, and the old one became a training center. Later that year, the famous artist Psy joined the label.

Global Recognition and Growth (2012–2016)

Winner debuted in 2014 and quickly became very popular.

YG gained international fame in 2012 when Psy's song "Gangnam Style" became a huge hit around the world. The music video was the first by a South Korean artist to reach number one on the iTunes Music Video Charts. By November 2012, "Gangnam Style" was the most-watched video in YouTube history and the first to get over a billion views! This song helped YG's stock prices go up a lot.

iKon debuted in 2015. Their song "Love Scenario" broke many records.

That same year, the label signed rapper and producer Tablo, who leads the hip-hop group Epik High. His band Epik High later joined YG as well.

YG also started signing contestants from TV reality shows like K-pop Star. Lee Hi, who was a runner-up, signed with YG. The winners of the second season, the sibling duo Akdong Musician, also joined the agency. YG then launched its own reality show called Win: Who is Next, where two teams of male trainees competed. The winning team became the boy band Winner.

In 2014, YG expanded its acting division by bringing in actors like Cha Seung-won and signing models like Lee Sung-kyung and Nam Joo-hyuk from the modeling agency K-Plus. YG also started a cosmetics brand called Moonshot.

In 2015, YG invested a lot of money in a new industrial complex and bought more land for its headquarters. The company also created two new sub-labels. The members of the losing team from WIN: Who is Next formed the group iKon and debuted.

In 2016, Gong Minji left 2NE1, and later that year, YG announced that 2NE1 would disband. However, CL and Dara renewed their contracts as solo artists. In January 2017, 2NE1 released a farewell song called "Goodbye."

The first-generation K-pop boy band Sechs Kies signed with YG in May 2016 to restart their career. In the same month, Chinese tech companies Tencent and Weiying Technology invested in YG. YG then added more actors like Lee Jong-suk and Kang Dong-won. YG also debuted its second girl group, Blackpink, in 2016, and solo rapper One in 2017.

Changes and New Beginnings (2017–Present)

Blackpink started in 2016 and became the first female K-pop group to have four number-one songs on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart.

In late 2017, YG launched a talent show called Mix Nine, but the winning team's debut was canceled.

In May 2018, Psy left the company after eight years. Epik High also ended their contract with YG in October 2018. In November 2018, YG announced YG Treasure Box, another talent show to find members for their next boy group. This show created two groups, Treasure and Magnum, who would promote together as Treasure 13.

In 2019, some artists left YG, including rapper One and CL. Solo singer Lee Hi also left YG at the end of 2019.

Treasure in April 2022.

In 2020, YG announced plans for Treasure's debut, Blackpink's first full album, and Big Bang's comeback. YG's financial growth slowly improved in 2020, mostly thanks to international fans. The new YG Entertainment building was finished in September 2020.

In January 2021, Big Hit Entertainment (now Hybe Corporation) and its tech company beNX invested in YG Plus. This partnership helps YG artists join the Weverse platform and improves merchandise distribution.

In 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Treasure would release a new album. Winner also reunited with all members after some finished their military service and planned a new album and concerts. Big Bang also announced their first comeback in five years, though T.O.P ended his contract with YG. In July 2022, Yang Min-suk returned as co-CEO of YG Entertainment.

In December 2022, Taeyang and Daesung left YG Entertainment after 16 years, but they said they would remain Big Bang members. Also in December 2022, all remaining members of iKon decided not to renew their contracts. YG also announced their new girl group, BabyMonster, who debuted on November 27, 2023. In December 2023, the members of Blackpink decided to not renew their individual contracts with YG, but will continue their group activities under YG.

Partnerships

Music Distribution

YG Entertainment's music is shared by different companies around the world:

• YG Plus and Kakao Entertainment in South Korea.
• YGEX in Japan.
• Tencent for online music in China.
• WMG in the rest of Asia.
• Interscope/UMG in Europe, Oceania, North America, and Japan (only for Blackpink).
• Columbia (only for Treasure).

YGEX

YGEX was created on April 12, 2011. It's a partnership between Avex and YG to promote and release all of YG's music in Japan.

YGMM

YGMM was started in May 2021. It's a partnership with GMM Grammy, Thailand's biggest entertainment company. This company focuses on entertainment and consulting for concerts, theater, and acting in Thailand.

KPLUS

KPlus is a partnership between YG and Chorokbaem Media. It's a modeling company in Korea. KPlus models have appeared in YG music videos and ads. YG has also helped KPlus models get roles in TV dramas and become actors.

Other Partnerships

Live Nation

YG first worked with the concert company Live Nation to put on Big Bang's Alive Galaxy Tour in 2012. Live Nation also helped with 2NE1's New Evolution World Tour and G-Dragon's One of a Kind World Tour.

Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines made a deal with YG in January 2013. They provide flights for YG's staff and artists for advertising.

Subsidiaries

Sub-labels

YGX

YGX Entertainment was announced in May 2018. It started as a company that merged with Seungri's DJ label NHR. In 2018, YGX launched a dance and vocal academy called X ACADEMY, where students could be chosen by YG to become trainees. In 2020, YGX became a dance group and academy, and its actors and artists moved to YG Entertainment. The YGX academy closed on April 30, 2024.

YG Plus

YG Plus is a publicly traded media and advertising company that YG Entertainment bought in 2014. In 2019, it started distributing music and also handles merchandise for music artists. In January 2021, Hybe Corporation and Weverse Company bought part of YG Plus. This deal means YG Entertainment's artists can join the Weverse platform.

Shining Star Culture

This is also known as YG China. It's a sub-label for trainees in China.

Former Sub-labels

HIGHGRND

HIGHGRND was a separate sub-label led by Epik High's Tablo. It was started by Yang Hyun-suk in March 2015 to work with indie and alternative artists in Korea. The band Hyukoh was its first official artist. HIGHGRND is no longer active since Tablo left as CEO.

PSYG

On September 1, 2016, YG announced that Psy would lead his own sub-label called PSYG. This was a special agreement between Psy and Yang Hyun-suk. PSYG stopped operating when Psy left the company in mid-2018.

The Black Label

Former YG Entertainment headquarter in Seoul, now used by The Black Label.

The Black Label was created on September 22, 2015, by YG producers Teddy and Kush. In November 2020, it became an associate company. In April 2023, The Black Label partnered with Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Group to expand into Southeast Asia. Artists like Zion.T, Jeon Somi, and Taeyang are currently with The Black Label.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

YG promised to donate money from every album sold, merchandise sales, and concert tickets to charities. In 2009, they raised US$141,000, and in 2010, US$160,000. The company also gave US$4,400 worth of charcoal to families in need during winter. After the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, YG donated about US$500,000 for disaster relief.

In 2013, Yang Hyun-suk donated all the money he received as a shareholder of YG (about US$922,000) to help young children who needed surgery.

In 2015, YG donated ₩100 million (about US$92,450) to UNICEF to help after the earthquake in Nepal.

In March 2022, YG donated ₩500 million to help people affected by wildfires in Korea.

Artists and Actors

All musical artists and actors under YG Entertainment are known as YG Family and YG Stage.

Music Artists

Actors

Former Artists and Actors

Former Music Artists

Former Actors and Actresses

See also

In Spanish: YG Entertainment para niños

• Korean hip hop
• List of South Korean musicians