YG Entertainment facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
YG Entertainment

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 (19.33%) Naver Corporation (8.89%) Others (71.78%)
Number of employees	885 (2025)
Divisions	Actor & Music
Subsidiaries	YG Plus

YG Entertainment (Hangul: YG 엔터테인먼트) is a big South Korean entertainment company. It was started in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk. This company works as a record label, which means it helps artists make and sell music. It also acts as a talent agency, finding and managing singers and actors. YG Entertainment produces music, organizes concerts, and publishes songs.

Besides music, YG Entertainment has other businesses through a separate company called YG Plus. These include a clothing line, a golf management agency, and a cosmetics brand.

Some of the famous artists currently with YG Entertainment are Eun Ji-won, 2NE1, AKMU, Winner, Blackpink, Treasure, and Babymonster.

Many popular artists have also been part of YG Entertainment in the past. These include Wheesung, Epik High, 1TYM, Big Mama, Gummy, Seven, Psy, Lee Hi, Jinusean, BigBang, and iKon.

History of YG Entertainment

Early Years and K-pop Beginnings (1990s–2005)

Se7en started his career with YG Entertainment in 2003.

In March 1996, Yang Hyun-suk started YG Entertainment. He was a member of a famous K-pop group called Seo Taiji and Boys. At first, the company was named Hyun Planning. Their first group was a hip-hop trio called Keep Six. This group was not very popular.

After Keep Six, the company changed its name to MF Planning. They then launched successful groups like Jinusean and 1TYM. Yang Hyun-suk believes these groups helped bring hip-hop music to the mainstream in Korea. In 1998, the company changed its name again to Yang Goon Planning. This name came from Yang Hyun-suk's nickname, Yang Goon.

In 1999, artists from YG released a group album called YG Family. More artists joined the label, including Perry, Masta Wu, Swi.T, Big Mama, Lexy, Gummy, and Wheesung. In 2001, the company became YG Entertainment, using the initials of Yang Goon. A second YG Family album was released, featuring a young G-Dragon who was a trainee at the time.

Logo used from 2004 to 2013.

The company became very successful in Korea and Japan with its first "idol" singer, Seven, in 2003. He was the first YG artist to try to enter the US music scene.

Rising to Fame (2006–2011)

Big Bang started in 2006 and was very important for YG's album sales.

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

2NE1 debuted in 2009 and was the first group to have nine number-one songs on the Gaon Digital Chart.

In 2010, YG moved to a new building, and the old one became a training center. Later that year, the company signed the well-known artist Psy.

Global Recognition and Growth (2012–2016)

Winner debuted in 2014 and quickly became a top K-Pop group.

In 2012, YG gained worldwide fame when Psy's song "Gangnam Style" became a huge hit. It was the first song 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. This song helped YG's share prices go up by more than 60 percent.

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

Yang Hyun-suk also became more involved in TV reality shows where new talents competed. This led to YG signing many contestants, like Lee Hi from K-pop Star. Other participants, including the sibling duo Akdong Musician and Bang Ye-dam, also joined the agency. YG then launched a show called Win: Who is Next. In this show, two teams of male trainees competed to become the company's next boy band. The winning team formed the group Winner.

Alternative logo used since 2013.

In 2014, YG expanded its acting division by acquiring staff and actors from T Entertainment. They also bought a modeling agency called KPlus. This helped models like Lee Sung-kyung and Nam Joo-hyuk start acting careers. YG also signed actress Choi Ji-woo. A French luxury company, LVMH, invested US$80 million in YG, becoming its second-largest investor. In 2014, YG also started its own cosmetics brand called Moonshot.

In 2015, YG invested nearly US$100 million in a new building complex. They also bought land in Seoul to expand their headquarters. That year, two new sub-labels were created. One was led by Tablo, and the other by YG producers Teddy Park and Kush. The team that lost on WIN: Who is Next later debuted as iKon.

When Gong Minji left 2NE1 in April 2016, YG Entertainment said the group would continue as a trio. In November 2016, YG announced that CL and Dara renewed their contracts as solo artists, meaning Park Bom left the agency and 2NE1 disbanded. On January 21, 2017, 2NE1 released "Goodbye" as a farewell song.

Sixteen years after they first disbanded, the 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 US$85 million in YG. YG also added actors like Lee Jong-suk, Kang Dong-won, and Kim Hee-jung to their roster. YG debuted their second girl group, Blackpink, in 2016, followed by solo rapper One the next year.

Changes and Departures (2017–2019)

At the end of 2017, YG and JTBC launched a talent show called Mix Nine. The winning team was supposed to debut, but YG canceled their debut. This caused financial losses for YG.

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

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, a show to find members for their next boy group. This show created two groups, Treasure and Magnum, who would both be active as Treasure 13.

In 2019, some artists left YG Entertainment. Big Bang's Seungri decided to leave the entertainment industry. Comedian Yoo Byung-jae also left YG. B.I, the leader of iKon, left his group and YG Entertainment. Due to these events, Yang Hyun Suk resigned from all his positions at the agency. His younger brother, Yang Min Suk, also stepped down as CEO. Hwang Bo-kyung was appointed as the new CEO of YG on June 20, 2019.

In July 2019, rapper One announced he had left YG to start his own agency. CL also announced in November 2019 that she would not renew her contract with YG. By the end of December 2019, solo singer Lee Hi also left YG.

Recent Developments (2020–Present)

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. This was helped by focusing on international fans. About 70% of YG Entertainment's income came from overseas fans.

In the second half of 2020, YG continued to show positive financial results. This was thanks to Treasure's album series, Blackpink's full album, and solo activities from Winner's Mino and Yoon, and AKMU's Suhyun. The construction of the new YG Entertainment building was finished in September 2020. This building is known as one of the most luxurious entertainment agency buildings in South Korea.

In January 2021, Big Hit Entertainment (now Hybe Corporation) and its tech company beNX invested in YG Plus, a subsidiary of YG Entertainment. This investment was for a partnership in areas like platforms, distribution, content, and merchandise. YG Plus became the main distributor for Hybe Corporation's products.

In May 2021, the Korea Exchange changed YG's status from a "blue-chip company" to a regular mid-sized business. This was because the company had some financial losses.

In 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Treasure would release a new album in February. After Jinwoo and Seunghoon finished their military service, Winner reunited as a full group and announced a new album. Seungyoon also released a solo album. Treasure and Winner held concerts in April 2022.

In February 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Big Bang would release new music after a five-year break. They also announced that T.O.P ended his contract with YG. On July 1, 2022, Yang Min-suk, the brother of YG founder Yang Hyun-suk, returned to the agency as co-CEO.

On December 26, 2022, it was announced that Taeyang and Daesung would leave YG Entertainment after 16 years. They both said they would remain BigBang members. On December 30, 2022, YG announced that all remaining members of iKon also decided not to renew their contracts. The debut of YG's new girl group, Babymonster, was announced for November 27, 2023.

On July 22, 2024, 2NE1 re-signed with YG. They planned a 15th-anniversary world tour called "Welcome Back", which started in Seoul in October 2024.

In January 2025, YG announced that it would no longer manage actors. This decision was made to focus more on their music artists.

Working with Other Companies

Music Distribution

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

• YG Plus (since 2019) and Kakao Entertainment (for some releases) in South Korea.
• YGEX in Japan.
• Tencent in China (online only).
• WMG in the rest of Asia (like Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia).
• Interscope/UMG in Europe, Oceania, North America, and Japan (only for Blackpink).
• Warner Music Philippines and MCA Music Philippines in the Philippines.
• Columbia (only for Treasure).

Genie Music

In March 2010, seven Korean record labels, including YG, SM Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment, created KMP Holdings. This company aimed to distribute digital music and produce TV shows. In 2012, KT Music bought KMP Holdings. In 2014, the seven agencies bought some of KT Music's stocks.

YGEX

YGEX was formed on April 12, 2011. It is a partnership between Avex and YG. YGEX helps promote and release all YG's music in Japan. Before this, YG worked with other companies for Japanese releases.

YGMM

YGMM was started in May 2021. It is a partnership with GMM Grammy, Thailand's largest entertainment company. This company focuses on entertainment and consulting for concerts, theater, and acting. GMM Grammy owns 51% of the company, and YG Entertainment owns 49%.

Other Partnerships

United Asia Management

In April 2011, United Asia Management was created. It was a joint talent management agency between YG and other big entertainment companies like SM, JYP, and KeyEast.

Live Nation

YG first worked with the concert company Live Nation to produce BigBang's Alive Galaxy Tour in 2012. Live Nation also helped with 2NE1's New Evolution World Tour (2012) and G-Dragon's One of a Kind World Tour (2013).

Asiana Airlines

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

Company Branches

YG Plus

YG Plus Inc. is a publicly traded media and advertising company. YG Entertainment bought it in November 2014. Since 2019, YG Plus has also been involved in music distribution. It produces, distributes, and licenses merchandise related to music artists. In January 2021, Hybe Corporation invested in YG Plus. This deal meant YG Entertainment's artists would join Weverse, a fan platform.

The Black Label

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

The Black Label was created on September 22, 2015. It is an independent sub-label led by YG producers Teddy and Kush. In November 2020, it became an associate company of YG Entertainment. In April 2023, The Black Label partnered with a big Thai company, Charoen Pokphand Group, to expand into Southeast Asia. Artists currently with The Black Label include Meovv, AllDay Project, Jeon Somi, Taeyang, Rosé, and Vince.

Former Sub-labels

Highgrnd

Highgrnd was an independent sub-label led by Epik High's Tablo. It was announced in March 2015. The goal was to work with Korean indie and alternative artists. Highgrnd signed artists like Hyukoh, Millic, and The Black Skirts. However, Highgrnd stopped being active in April 2018 after Tablo resigned as CEO. Many artists then signed with other labels. In June 2019, YG Plus took over Highgrnd's social media and renamed it SEOUL MUSIC.

PsyG

On September 1, 2016, YG announced that Psy would lead an independent sub-label called PsyG. This name combined "Psy" and "YG". PsyG was a new step in the partnership between Psy and Yang Hyun-suk. When Psy left the company in mid-2018, PsyG also stopped its operations.

YGX

In May 2018, Yang Hyun-suk announced that a new company called YGX Entertainment would merge with Seungri's DJ label NHR. Seungri was the CEO of YGX. In 2018, YGX launched a dance and vocal academy called X ACADEMY. Students there could be chosen by YG to become trainees.

In 2020, YGX became a dance group and academy. All its actors, recording artists, and producers moved to YG Entertainment. The YGX academy closed on April 30, 2024.

KPlus

KPlus is a partnership between YG and Chorokbaem Media. It is a Korean model management company. As of 2014, KPlus had over 170 models, including Kang Seung-hyun, Lee Sung-kyung, Nam Joo-hyuk, and Sandara Park. KPlus models have appeared in YG music videos and advertisements. YG has also helped KPlus models get roles in TV dramas, like Nam Joo-hyuk in Who Are You: School 2015.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

YG Entertainment has promised to donate money to charities. They give 100 won for every album sold, 1% of all merchandise sales, and 1,000 won for every concert ticket. In 2009, they raised US$141,000, and in 2010, US$160,000. The company has also given charcoal to families in need during winter. They donated about US$500,000 for disaster relief in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

In 2013, Yang Hyun-suk donated all the money he received as a shareholder of YG to help children needing surgery. This was about US$922,000.

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

In March 2022, YG donated ₩500 million to Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association. This money helped people affected by wildfires in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, Samcheok, and Gangwon.

Artists and Producers at YG

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

Recording Artists

Former Artists and Talents

Former Artists

Former Producers

• Teddy (1998–2018)
• Kush (2003–2019)
• Brave Brothers (2004–2008)
• R.Tee (2016–2020)

Former Actors

Former Talents

• Yoo Byung-jae (2015–2019)
• Ahn Young-mi (2015–2020)

Discography

See also

In Spanish: YG Entertainment para niños

• Korean hip hop
• List of South Korean musicians