SM Entertainment
Encyclopedia
S.M. Entertainment is an independent Korean record label
, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music
, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea. Initially, "SM" was an abbreviation of the agency founder's name, but now stands for "Star Museum." Once the home to top-selling groups such as H.O.T.
, S.E.S., and Shinhwa
, its current roster of recording artists include top selling artists in Korean entertainment like BoA
, Kangta
, The Grace, TVXQ
, Super Junior
, Girls' Generation
, SHINee
, f(x)
, TRAX and Zhang Liyin. SM Entertainment also co-publishes Avex Trax
releases for Japanese artists such as Ayumi Hamasaki
, Namie Amuro
, and Kumi Koda
, as well as Johnny's Entertainment acts like Arashi
and KAT-TUN
. The company celebrated its ten-year anniversary with a party on February 15, 2005. Its current CEO is Kim Young-min.
and pursuing his own career as a singer, Lee Soo Man surveyed teenage girls on what they wanted to see in music groups and started the boy band H.O.T.
and girl group S.E.S.. Both groups became successful during the late 1990s. Soon thereafter, Lee created Shinhwa
, and once again, the band attained the same popularity and success, continuing Lee's streak of producing successful artists. In 1999, Lee created Korea's first R&B duo, Fly to the Sky, with members Hwanhee and Brian, adding to Lee's list of successful groups.
However, problems began appearing in SM Entertainment following the breakup of H.O.T. Some assumed financial issues to be the problem, but the real reasons have never been officially disclosed. S.E.S. disbanded a year after H.O.T. and a few years later in 2003, SM Entertainment would see the departure of Shinhwa as well, though the group shifted toward a new management instead of breaking up and continued its success outside of SM Entertainment. In the following years, some of its newer ventures, such as Isak N Jiyeon
and Black Beat
, failed to attain the popularity achieved by earlier SM artists.
The agency later found new successes with many other acts. SM Entertainment debuted a solo singer BoA
in 2000, a five-member boy group TVXQ
in 2003, a four-member rock band TRAX in 2004, a four-member girl group The Grace and a thirteen-member boy group Super Junior
in 2005, a solo singer of Chinese descent Zhang Liyin in 2006, A Nine-member girl group Girls' Generation
in 2007, another five-member boy group Shinee
in 2008, five-member girl group f(x)
and four-member ballad project group S.M. the Ballad
in 2010.
50,000,000. In January 1996, SM Entertainment purchased land for a recording site and manufactured its contents for broadcasting companies like KBS, SBS, HBS, KMTV, M-NET
. In April 1997, the head office was transferred to the Yadang ri Kyoha myon Paju
Kyungki do part of Seoul
. In October 1998, Kim Kyoung-wook was awarded the position of CEO. In August 1999, a paid-in capital increase of ₩25,000,000 (5,000 shares) and free issue of 225,000 shares (₩112,500,000) occurred. In that same year, SM Entertainment built a branch office in Apgujung dong Kangnam gu, Seoul.
as 041510. Late that year, SM Entertainment and Avex Trax signed a contract for music licensing and an Asia agency. In December 2000, SM established an affiliation with Fandago Korea. In January 2001, SM Entertainment established an overseas joint-venture corporation as SM Entertainment Japan Co., Ltd. They are also preparing to establish a new headquarters in Beijing
, China
. SM Entertainment will also set up its Asian headquarters in Hong Kong
.In March of the same year, Kim Kyoung-wook was appointed the company's third CEO. In May of the same year, SM Entertainment spent 10 billion won to organize its first joint-venture investment fund in the music industry. SM also established subsidiaries BM Entertainment and Cid.K Entertainment for girl groups M.I.L.K. and Shinvi
, respectively, but now defunct upon the groups' disbandment. In April 2002, an additional 1,341,180 shares was added, and in June 2002, the third-party paid-in capital increased another 61,048 shares. In late-2002, SM Entertainment was awarded the Grand Prix of Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the Culture Contents for Export Award in music. In 2003, it established its affiliation with the Starlight Corporation Ltd and was awarded a prize for the best music contents in Korea. In February 2004, the third-party paid-in capital increased another 271,428 shares. In April of the same year, the head office moved from Paju
, Kyungi to Apgujung dong,Kangnam gu, Seoul. A month later, it established its affiliation with C-Cube Entertainment Corporation. In May 2005, the fourth CEO came on board, Hur Dah-shin. In August 2010, Kim young-min took office. Kim Young-min (born April 13, 1970 is a graduate of Korea University majoring in Sociology. In September 1999, Kim Young-min joined SM Entertainment as a team leader of overseas business, and during 2001 to 2005, he was the CEO of Fandango Korea. On October 21, 2008, the company announced its plans to debut BoA in the United States
under SM's new subsidiary label, SM Entertainment USA.
, JYP Entertainment
, KeyEast, AMENT and Star J Entertainment will be joining forces to create a huge Asian management agency named ‘United Asia Management‘. This joint investment corporate body was created in an effort to develop an industry that will push ‘Hallyu’ to ‘Asianlyu’. United Asia Management aims to pioneer a global market, and all artists under the six agencies will be under a database system that manages intellectual property rights. A new contents production system will be utilized as well for movies, dramas, and other media. UAM will also be acting as the global agency for artists planning to advance, or currently promoting, overseas. UAM was officially established as of April 2011.
called "SM True." Artists Kangta
and Shinee are present in the event, as well as SM's CEO, Kim Youngmin. Kim said that the joint venture will help "quickly and more effectively distribute [SM's] contents" and that this will create a "positive synergistic effect."
, JYP
, Star Empire
, and other companies like Medialine, Ken Entertainment and Music Factory. KMP is the official distributor of releases from these companies. KMP stands for Korean Music Power. The firm's first distributed release from SM was Super Junior
's fifth studio album, Mr. Simple
and since this release, SM is not self-distributed any longer.
, Micky
and Xiah
, submitted an application to the Seoul Central District Court to determine the validity of their contract with SM Entertainment. Through their lawyers, the members stated that the 13-year contract was excessively long and that the group's earnings were not fairly distributed to the members. Early termination penalty of their contract will cost them 2 times the profit that the group is estimated to earn for the rest of the contract period (over ₩
11 billion, or around US$
9.2 million). The news was enough to cause SM Entertainment's stock price to drop over 10% on the KOSPI
.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the three members. They have claimed that the contract was unfair and the members were left out of proper profit distribution. In response, SM Entertainment called a press conference and claimed that the lawsuit was a fraud, stating that the lawsuit was not about unfair contracts or human rights but a scam motivated by the three members’ greed over their cosmetics business. The three members remained silent except to say through their lawyers that they hoped SM Entertainment would respect the court’s decision.
In response to the lawsuit, 120,000 members of TVXQ fan club, Cassiopeia, filed a petition against SM Entertainment’s long-term contracts with the Seoul District Court. Cassiopeia also filed for compensation from SM Entertainment for the canceled SM Town Live Concert, as both SM and TVXQ initially stated that the concert would go on as planned; the concert was canceled a week before its scheduled date. It was later announced in early May 2010 that the three members of TVXQ (Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu) will return to the stage as a sub-group. Their group is called JYJ
representing the first letter of each of their names.
On December 21, 2009, five months after the three TVXQ members filed, Han Geng of Super Junior
followed suit. The following day, December 22, 2009, Han Geng's lawyer released the reasons for the contract termination: it contained provisions in SM Entertainment's favor, the 13-year contract length was unlawful, it would take an unfair sum of money to end the contract, he was not allowed to request to revise his contract, he was forced to do things that were not in his contract, he was forced to do things against his will, he was fined if he disobeyed the company, missed any events or was late, and there was unfair profit distribution. Along with this, it was disclosed that because of SM Entertainment's refusal to give him a day off in over two years, he had developed gastritis
and kidney disease.
Han Geng's best friend and now current manager, Sun Le, also submitted a statement to the Korean courts citing SM Entertainment's violation of Han Geng's rights. This statement was later leaked to the public via the Internet. Though many suspected the statement to be fan-created, it was later confirmed as true. Sun Le's statement contended that: Han Geng was forced to wear a mask due to SM Entertainment's ill handling of the visa issue, SM Entertainment purposely discriminated against Han Geng and his family, including financially, SM Entertainment refused to cooperate or listen to any of Han Geng's suggestions, SM Entertainment purposely turned down individual activities for Han Geng (including Ariel Lin
's "Fireflies" music video, which later starred two other Super Junior members,) and SM Entertainment treated Han Geng's potential endorsers poorly.
They continued, “As leaders of the industry, we have been cooperating closely with the National Assembly and other related bureaucracies in order to protect the rights and interests of our celebrities, and to aid in the advancement of Korea’s entertainment industry and the Hallyu wave.” After numerous discussions with the FTC, SME drafted a new contract earlier this year with the changed terms mentioned in the previous article. All artists re-contracted with the agency under the new terms, which were acknowledged by the FTC to be fair. The representative continued, “We fully complied with the recent request by the FTC regarding our contract with a trainee. With the help of the FTC, we will be developing better contracts for the progression of Korean culture and contract customs.”
The boycott however has ended, and SME artists with their songs have started appearing in MNet.
of Universal Records (Philippines)
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, talent agency, producer, and publisher of pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, founded by Lee Soo-man in South Korea. Initially, "SM" was an abbreviation of the agency founder's name, but now stands for "Star Museum." Once the home to top-selling groups such as H.O.T.
H.O.T.
H.O.T. was a popular five-member South Korean boy band in the mid to late 1990s. Their name is an acronym, standing for "High-five Of Teenagers". They were formed by SM Entertainment in 1996 and disbanded in 2001.H.O.T...
, S.E.S., and Shinhwa
Shinhwa
Shinhwa is a popular South Korean boy band and hip hop group. The group has six members , and debuted on March 24, 1998. It has enjoyed massive success alongside the likes of Sechs Kies, g.o.d., Turbo , Fin. K.L., H.O.T. and S.E.S...
, its current roster of recording artists include top selling artists in Korean entertainment like BoA
BoA
Boa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
, Kangta
Kangta
Ahn Chil-Hyun , better known by his stage name Kangta is a South Korean pop, R&B singer, first known as the lead singer the boy band H.O.T. ....
, The Grace, TVXQ
TVXQ
TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
, Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
, Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...
, SHINee
SHINee
Shinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
, f(x)
F(x) (band)
f is a five member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2009. The name is a play on the mathematical notation for function, and when input with different 'x', there can be many different outcomes. f strives to be the kind of girl group that can change and adapt to many situations....
, TRAX and Zhang Liyin. SM Entertainment also co-publishes Avex Trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
releases for Japanese artists such as Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
, Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
, and Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda
, better known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs. Having debuted in 2000 with the single "Take Back", Koda gained fame for her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", the songs of which were used as themes for the video game...
, as well as Johnny's Entertainment acts like Arashi
Arashi
is a Japanese boy band formed under the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates, which announced the formation of the group on November 3, 1999 in Honolulu, Hawaii...
and KAT-TUN
KAT-TUN
KAT-TUN is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates in 2001. The group's name is an acronym based on the first letter of each member's family name until the departure of Jin Akanishi in 2010. As of 2010, KAT-TUN stands for Kazuya KAmenashi, Junnosuke Taguchi, Koki Tanaka, Tatsuya Ueda,...
. The company celebrated its ten-year anniversary with a party on February 15, 2005. Its current CEO is Kim Young-min.
History
After graduating from Seoul National UniversitySeoul National University
Seoul National University , colloquially known in Korean as Seoul-dae , is a national research university in Seoul, Korea, ranked 24th in the world in publications in an analysis of data from the Science Citation Index, 7th in Asia and 42nd in the world by the 2011 QS World University Rankings...
and pursuing his own career as a singer, Lee Soo Man surveyed teenage girls on what they wanted to see in music groups and started the boy band H.O.T.
H.O.T.
H.O.T. was a popular five-member South Korean boy band in the mid to late 1990s. Their name is an acronym, standing for "High-five Of Teenagers". They were formed by SM Entertainment in 1996 and disbanded in 2001.H.O.T...
and girl group S.E.S.. Both groups became successful during the late 1990s. Soon thereafter, Lee created Shinhwa
Shinhwa
Shinhwa is a popular South Korean boy band and hip hop group. The group has six members , and debuted on March 24, 1998. It has enjoyed massive success alongside the likes of Sechs Kies, g.o.d., Turbo , Fin. K.L., H.O.T. and S.E.S...
, and once again, the band attained the same popularity and success, continuing Lee's streak of producing successful artists. In 1999, Lee created Korea's first R&B duo, Fly to the Sky, with members Hwanhee and Brian, adding to Lee's list of successful groups.
However, problems began appearing in SM Entertainment following the breakup of H.O.T. Some assumed financial issues to be the problem, but the real reasons have never been officially disclosed. S.E.S. disbanded a year after H.O.T. and a few years later in 2003, SM Entertainment would see the departure of Shinhwa as well, though the group shifted toward a new management instead of breaking up and continued its success outside of SM Entertainment. In the following years, some of its newer ventures, such as Isak N Jiyeon
Isak N Jiyeon
Isak N Jiyeon was a Korean female duo formed by SM Entertainment in 2002. The group has since been disbanded. Many think the disbandment was due to low album sales and lack of popularity, but that wasn't the case; the only problem with the duo was timing: Isak had to go back to her home in...
and Black Beat
Black Beat
Black Beat was South Korean boy band. Black Beat belonged to SM Entertainment. A few of their members have appeared elsewhere. But for the most part their public appearances have been limited...
, failed to attain the popularity achieved by earlier SM artists.
The agency later found new successes with many other acts. SM Entertainment debuted a solo singer BoA
BoA
Boa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
in 2000, a five-member boy group TVXQ
TVXQ
TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
in 2003, a four-member rock band TRAX in 2004, a four-member girl group The Grace and a thirteen-member boy group Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
in 2005, a solo singer of Chinese descent Zhang Liyin in 2006, A Nine-member girl group Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...
in 2007, another five-member boy group Shinee
SHINee
Shinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
in 2008, five-member girl group f(x)
F(x) (band)
f is a five member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2009. The name is a play on the mathematical notation for function, and when input with different 'x', there can be many different outcomes. f strives to be the kind of girl group that can change and adapt to many situations....
and four-member ballad project group S.M. the Ballad
SM The Ballad
SM The Ballad is a South Korean ballad project group formed by S.M. Entertainment. The group's members are: TRAX's Jay, Super Junior's Kyuhyun, SHINee's Jonghyun and new member Jino...
in 2010.
1990s
In February 1995, SM Entertainment set up its capital fund at ₩South Korean won
The won is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates...
50,000,000. In January 1996, SM Entertainment purchased land for a recording site and manufactured its contents for broadcasting companies like KBS, SBS, HBS, KMTV, M-NET
Mnet (TV channel)
Mnet is a music television channel in South Korea owned by CJ Group.-Television programs:* Superstar K* M! Countdown* 2NE1 TV* MUST* Kara Bakery* Wonder Bakery* Girls' Generation Goes to School...
. In April 1997, the head office was transferred to the Yadang ri Kyoha myon Paju
Paju
Paju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county .The city is located just south of Panmunjeom on the 38th parallel. To defend the Korean capital, Seoul, many US and Korean army bases are set up in the city. In 2002, the northernmost...
Kyungki do part of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. In October 1998, Kim Kyoung-wook was awarded the position of CEO. In August 1999, a paid-in capital increase of ₩25,000,000 (5,000 shares) and free issue of 225,000 shares (₩112,500,000) occurred. In that same year, SM Entertainment built a branch office in Apgujung dong Kangnam gu, Seoul.
2000s
In early 2000, SM Entertainment agreed to share the split from 5,000 won to 500 per a share. In mid-2000, the company was approved and listed in KOSDAQKOSDAQ
KOSDAQ is a trading board of Korea Exchange in South Korea established in 1996. Initially set up by Korea Financial Investment Association as an independent stock market from the Korean Stock Exchange, it was benchmarked from the American counterpart, NASDAQ.KOSDAQ is an electronic stock market,...
as 041510. Late that year, SM Entertainment and Avex Trax signed a contract for music licensing and an Asia agency. In December 2000, SM established an affiliation with Fandago Korea. In January 2001, SM Entertainment established an overseas joint-venture corporation as SM Entertainment Japan Co., Ltd. They are also preparing to establish a new headquarters in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. SM Entertainment will also set up its Asian headquarters in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.In March of the same year, Kim Kyoung-wook was appointed the company's third CEO. In May of the same year, SM Entertainment spent 10 billion won to organize its first joint-venture investment fund in the music industry. SM also established subsidiaries BM Entertainment and Cid.K Entertainment for girl groups M.I.L.K. and Shinvi
Shinvi
Shinvi was a South Korean pop musical girl group. Shinvi belonged to Cid.K Entertainment, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment. After activities of their first album, the group disappeared from the K-pop scene. All three members have left SM Entertainment and have yet to return to the industry.-...
, respectively, but now defunct upon the groups' disbandment. In April 2002, an additional 1,341,180 shares was added, and in June 2002, the third-party paid-in capital increased another 61,048 shares. In late-2002, SM Entertainment was awarded the Grand Prix of Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the Culture Contents for Export Award in music. In 2003, it established its affiliation with the Starlight Corporation Ltd and was awarded a prize for the best music contents in Korea. In February 2004, the third-party paid-in capital increased another 271,428 shares. In April of the same year, the head office moved from Paju
Paju
Paju is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Paju was made a city in 1997; it had previously been a county .The city is located just south of Panmunjeom on the 38th parallel. To defend the Korean capital, Seoul, many US and Korean army bases are set up in the city. In 2002, the northernmost...
, Kyungi to Apgujung dong,Kangnam gu, Seoul. A month later, it established its affiliation with C-Cube Entertainment Corporation. In May 2005, the fourth CEO came on board, Hur Dah-shin. In August 2010, Kim young-min took office. Kim Young-min (born April 13, 1970 is a graduate of Korea University majoring in Sociology. In September 1999, Kim Young-min joined SM Entertainment as a team leader of overseas business, and during 2001 to 2005, he was the CEO of Fandango Korea. On October 21, 2008, the company announced its plans to debut BoA in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
under SM's new subsidiary label, SM Entertainment USA.
United Asia Management
SM Entertainment, YG EntertainmentYG Entertainment
YG Entertainment is a record label and talent agency founded by Korean band Seo Taiji & Boys member Yang Hyun Suk and based in Seoul, South Korea. It specializes in producing R&B and hip hop music. YG stands for Yang Goon and are also the initials of the chief executive officer, Yang Hyun Suk...
, JYP Entertainment
JYP Entertainment
JYP Entertainment is a Korean music record label, founded in South Korea in 1997 by Park Jin-young.- History :Park Jin-young founded the company in 1997 as "Tae-Hong Planning Corporation", which eventually became "JYP Entertainment" in 2001....
, KeyEast, AMENT and Star J Entertainment will be joining forces to create a huge Asian management agency named ‘United Asia Management‘. This joint investment corporate body was created in an effort to develop an industry that will push ‘Hallyu’ to ‘Asianlyu’. United Asia Management aims to pioneer a global market, and all artists under the six agencies will be under a database system that manages intellectual property rights. A new contents production system will be utilized as well for movies, dramas, and other media. UAM will also be acting as the global agency for artists planning to advance, or currently promoting, overseas. UAM was officially established as of April 2011.
SM True
On August 16, 2011, SM has established their first international joint venture with Thai media company TrueVisions GroupTrueVisions
TrueVisions is Thailand's leading cable satellite television operator, broadcasting largely in English. Now owned by the True Corporation, the company was formerly known as the United Broadcasting Corporation , but it was rebranded in February 2007....
called "SM True." Artists Kangta
Kangta
Ahn Chil-Hyun , better known by his stage name Kangta is a South Korean pop, R&B singer, first known as the lead singer the boy band H.O.T. ....
and Shinee are present in the event, as well as SM's CEO, Kim Youngmin. Kim said that the joint venture will help "quickly and more effectively distribute [SM's] contents" and that this will create a "positive synergistic effect."
KMP Holdings
Last March 2010, KMP Holdings was established via a joint venture between S.M., YGYG Entertainment
YG Entertainment is a record label and talent agency founded by Korean band Seo Taiji & Boys member Yang Hyun Suk and based in Seoul, South Korea. It specializes in producing R&B and hip hop music. YG stands for Yang Goon and are also the initials of the chief executive officer, Yang Hyun Suk...
, JYP
JYP Entertainment
JYP Entertainment is a Korean music record label, founded in South Korea in 1997 by Park Jin-young.- History :Park Jin-young founded the company in 1997 as "Tae-Hong Planning Corporation", which eventually became "JYP Entertainment" in 2001....
, Star Empire
Star Empire Entertainment
Star Empire Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company. Star Empire specializes in producing R&B and hip-hop music. Its current roster includes Jewelry, V.O.S, ZE:A, Nine Muses, Poppin' Hyun Joon, and actor Julien Kang.-Company:...
, and other companies like Medialine, Ken Entertainment and Music Factory. KMP is the official distributor of releases from these companies. KMP stands for Korean Music Power. The firm's first distributed release from SM was Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
's fifth studio album, Mr. Simple
Mr. Simple
Mr. Simple is the fifth studio album of South Korean boy band Super Junior, released on August 3, 2011 by SM Entertainment and KMP Holdings in South Korea. This is the group's second album featuring ten members, the first being their previous album, "Bonamana"...
and since this release, SM is not self-distributed any longer.
Thirteen-year 'slave contracts'
In late July 2009, three of the TVXQ members; HeroHero (singer)
Kim Jaejoong , also known by his stage name Hero, is a Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and director....
, Micky
Micky (singer)
Park Yoochun , better known by his stage names, Micky, Micky Yoochun and , is a Korean singer-songwriter, composer, and occasional actor. He was a member of South Korean boy band TVXQ, known as Dong Bang Shin Ki in South Korea and Tohoshinki in Japan...
and Xiah
Xiah
Kim Junsu , also known by his stage name Xiah , is a South Korean singer-songwriter, composer and occasional actor...
, submitted an application to the Seoul Central District Court to determine the validity of their contract with SM Entertainment. Through their lawyers, the members stated that the 13-year contract was excessively long and that the group's earnings were not fairly distributed to the members. Early termination penalty of their contract will cost them 2 times the profit that the group is estimated to earn for the rest of the contract period (over ₩
South Korean won
The won is the currency of South Korea. A single won is divided into 100 jeon, the monetary subunit. The jeon is no longer used for everyday transactions, and appears only in foreign exchange rates...
11 billion, or around US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
9.2 million). The news was enough to cause SM Entertainment's stock price to drop over 10% on the KOSPI
KOSPI
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index or KOSPI is the index of all common stocks traded on the Stock Market Division—previously, Korea Stock Exchange—of the Korea Exchange....
.
The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the three members. They have claimed that the contract was unfair and the members were left out of proper profit distribution. In response, SM Entertainment called a press conference and claimed that the lawsuit was a fraud, stating that the lawsuit was not about unfair contracts or human rights but a scam motivated by the three members’ greed over their cosmetics business. The three members remained silent except to say through their lawyers that they hoped SM Entertainment would respect the court’s decision.
In response to the lawsuit, 120,000 members of TVXQ fan club, Cassiopeia, filed a petition against SM Entertainment’s long-term contracts with the Seoul District Court. Cassiopeia also filed for compensation from SM Entertainment for the canceled SM Town Live Concert, as both SM and TVXQ initially stated that the concert would go on as planned; the concert was canceled a week before its scheduled date. It was later announced in early May 2010 that the three members of TVXQ (Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu) will return to the stage as a sub-group. Their group is called JYJ
JYJ
JYJ is a three-member pop group, formed by three members of the South Korean boyband TVXQ: Jaejoong, Yoochun and Junsu. Their group name is taken from the first letters of each members' names....
representing the first letter of each of their names.
On December 21, 2009, five months after the three TVXQ members filed, Han Geng of Super Junior
Super Junior
Super Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
followed suit. The following day, December 22, 2009, Han Geng's lawyer released the reasons for the contract termination: it contained provisions in SM Entertainment's favor, the 13-year contract length was unlawful, it would take an unfair sum of money to end the contract, he was not allowed to request to revise his contract, he was forced to do things that were not in his contract, he was forced to do things against his will, he was fined if he disobeyed the company, missed any events or was late, and there was unfair profit distribution. Along with this, it was disclosed that because of SM Entertainment's refusal to give him a day off in over two years, he had developed gastritis
Gastritis
Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach, and has many possible causes. The main acute causes are excessive alcohol consumption or prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic...
and kidney disease.
Han Geng's best friend and now current manager, Sun Le, also submitted a statement to the Korean courts citing SM Entertainment's violation of Han Geng's rights. This statement was later leaked to the public via the Internet. Though many suspected the statement to be fan-created, it was later confirmed as true. Sun Le's statement contended that: Han Geng was forced to wear a mask due to SM Entertainment's ill handling of the visa issue, SM Entertainment purposely discriminated against Han Geng and his family, including financially, SM Entertainment refused to cooperate or listen to any of Han Geng's suggestions, SM Entertainment purposely turned down individual activities for Han Geng (including Ariel Lin
Ariel Lin
Ariel Lin |Hakka]]: Lim2 Yi3 Sen2) was born 29 October 1982. She is a Taiwanese actress and singer, who won Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the 43rd Golden Bell Awards...
's "Fireflies" music video, which later starred two other Super Junior members,) and SM Entertainment treated Han Geng's potential endorsers poorly.
Fair Trade Commission revisions
SM Entertainment has released an official statement regarding the contract revisions demanded by the Fair Trade Commission. SME officials clarified on the 23rd, “The FTC only ordered us to revise the contract of one of our trainees by removing the three years added onto his contract. We complied, thus making every contract under our agency to date as ‘fair.’ BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, SNSD, SHINee, The Trax, and other celebrities under our agency have already been acknowledged as fair contracts by the FTC.”They continued, “As leaders of the industry, we have been cooperating closely with the National Assembly and other related bureaucracies in order to protect the rights and interests of our celebrities, and to aid in the advancement of Korea’s entertainment industry and the Hallyu wave.” After numerous discussions with the FTC, SME drafted a new contract earlier this year with the changed terms mentioned in the previous article. All artists re-contracted with the agency under the new terms, which were acknowledged by the FTC to be fair. The representative continued, “We fully complied with the recent request by the FTC regarding our contract with a trainee. With the help of the FTC, we will be developing better contracts for the progression of Korean culture and contract customs.”
2009 MNet Asian Music Awards boycott
Prior to the show, SM Entertainment announced that they will be boycotting the M.net Asian Music Awards, questioning the validity of the award ceremony.The boycott however has ended, and SME artists with their songs have started appearing in MNet.
Locations
- South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
: 521, Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-guGangnam-guGangnam-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the most affluent areas of Seoul and is located in the southeast of the city...
, SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world... - United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
: 4322 Wilshire BlvdWilshire BoulevardWilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire , an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. Henry Wilshire initiated what was to become Wilshire...
, Suite 300, Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CA 90010
Roster
SM Town, which started in 1999, is the project name for SM Entertainment's summer and winter vacation albums. SMTown albums consist of current SM Entertainment artists. Each SMTown album consists of one SMTown song and a song from each artist or group.Main
- Super JuniorSuper JuniorSuper Junior is a South Korean boy band. Formed in 2005 by producer Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment, the group comprised a total of thirteen members at its peak, and was once claimed to be the world's largest boy band...
- SHINeeSHINeeShinee is a contemporary R&B South Korean boy band. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2008, they made their debut on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo with their promotional single, "Noona Neomu Yeppeo "...
- The Grace
- TVXQTVXQTVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
- BoABoABoa Kwon , commonly stylized and known by her stage name BoA, which is a backronym for Beat of Angel, is a Korean singer, active in South Korea, Japan, and the United States and sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Korean Pop Music"....
- Girls' GenerationGirls' GenerationGirls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean electropop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007. The nine members are: Taeyeon , Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona and Seohyun...
- Iconiq (formerly known as Ahyoomee)
- KangtaKangtaAhn Chil-Hyun , better known by his stage name Kangta is a South Korean pop, R&B singer, first known as the lead singer the boy band H.O.T. ....
- f(x)F(x) (band)f is a five member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment in 2009. The name is a play on the mathematical notation for function, and when input with different 'x', there can be many different outcomes. f strives to be the kind of girl group that can change and adapt to many situations....
- TRAX
- Zhang Liyin
Project/unit groups
- The Grace: Dana & Sunday
- SM The BalladSM The BalladSM The Ballad is a South Korean ballad project group formed by S.M. Entertainment. The group's members are: TRAX's Jay, Super Junior's Kyuhyun, SHINee's Jonghyun and new member Jino...
- JinoSM The BalladSM The Ballad is a South Korean ballad project group formed by S.M. Entertainment. The group's members are: TRAX's Jay, Super Junior's Kyuhyun, SHINee's Jonghyun and new member Jino...
- Jino
- Super Junior-H
- Super Junior-KRY
- Super Junior-MSuper Junior-MSuper Junior-M, often referred to as SJ-M or SJM, is the third official sub-unit of Korean boy band Super Junior. They are the first international music group in the Chinese music industry to have members of both Chinese and Korean descent, and is also the first group produced by Korea's CT ...
- HenryHenry LauHenry Lau , better known mononymously as Henry, is a Chinese Canadian singer songwriter. He is a member of the Mandopop boy band Super Junior-M....
- ZhoumiZhou Mi (entertainer)Zhou Mi is a Chinese pop singer, emcee, and actor. He is a member of the Mandopop boy band Super Junior-M.Aside from providing lead and background vocals, he contributed to the group's first Chinese album "迷 " by writing the Chinese lyrics for "愛你愛你 ", "Marry U" and "渴望 "...
- Henry
- Super Junior-TSuper Junior-TSuper Junior-Trot , officially known as Super Junior-T is the second official sub-unit of Korean boy band Super Junior. They are the first idol group known for capitalizing trot music, the oldest form of Korean pop music...
- M&DM&DM&D was a South Korean project duo formed by SM Entertainment in June 2011 which consists of South Korean boy band Super Junior's Heechul and labelmate rock band TRAX's Jungmo...
Promoting only in Japan
- 72 ' onMouseout='HidePop("81115")' href="/topics/Sony_Music_Entertainment_Japan">Sony JapanSony Music Entertainment Japanis Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
) - J-Min (signed under Avex TraxAvex Trax, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
)
Actors/Actresses
- Go Ara
- Hyunjin (M.I.L.K)
- Park Hee-bon (M.I.L.K)
- IsakIsak N JiyeonIsak N Jiyeon was a Korean female duo formed by SM Entertainment in 2002. The group has since been disbanded. Many think the disbandment was due to low album sales and lack of popularity, but that wasn't the case; the only problem with the duo was timing: Isak had to go back to her home in...
- LinaThe GraceThe Grace or The Graces may refer to:*Charites of Greek mythology*The Grace , a Korean girl band, otherwise known as CSJH the Grace, TSZX the Grace and so on;*The Graces , a late 1980s and early 1990s American band...
(The Grace) - Kim Min-jongKim Min-jongKim Min-jong is a veteran South Korean actor and singer. He is a member of the SM ballad duo The Blue and has appeared in both television series and movies, including 2010's Athena: Goddess of War....
(The Blue) - Lee Yeon-heeLee Yeon-heeLee Yeon-hee is a South Korean actress and model under record label and talent agency, S.M. Entertainment. She made her first appearance in Moon Heejun's music video, "ALONE" in 2001 and officially debuted in the Korean television drama, Sea God as young Junghwa in 2004...
- Jay KimTyphoon (entertainer)Jay Kim known under the stage name Typhoon, is a Korean-American singer and lead singer of South Korean rock band TRAX.-Background:...
(TRAX) - Yoon Da-hoon
- Jung Min-ji
- Jung Yunho (TVXQ)
- Shim Changmin (TVXQ)
- Lee Donghae (Super Junior)
- Choi Siwon (Super Junior)
- Kim Ki-bum (Super Junior)
- Im YoonaIm YoonaIm Yoona commonly stylized as YoonA , is a South Korean idol singer, Dancer, Actress, and Promotional model. She is a member of the Korean girl group, Girls' Generation. She made her debut as an actress in the 2007 Korean drama, 9 Ends, 2 Outs. She is often considered to be the "face" of the...
(Girls' Generation) - Kim Heechul (Super Junior)
- Luna (singer)Luna (singer)Park Sunyoung , better known mononymously as Luna , born on August 12, 1993, is a South Korean singer, dancer and model. She is most famous as being part of quintet pop girl band f, under the label of SM Entertainment in South Korea and Avex Trax in Japan.-Personal life:Luna was born as Park...
(f(x) (band)) - SooyoungSooyoungChoi Soo-young , commonly known as Sooyoung , is a South Korean idol singer, actress, dancer, spokesmodel, TV presenter, and RJ. She is a member of the Korean girl group Girls' Generation, Her position is Vocalist and Lead Dancer.- Early life :...
(Girls' Generation)
Disbanded
- Black BeatBlack BeatBlack Beat was South Korean boy band. Black Beat belonged to SM Entertainment. A few of their members have appeared elsewhere. But for the most part their public appearances have been limited...
- H.O.T.H.O.T.H.O.T. was a popular five-member South Korean boy band in the mid to late 1990s. Their name is an acronym, standing for "High-five Of Teenagers". They were formed by SM Entertainment in 1996 and disbanded in 2001.H.O.T...
- Isak N JiyeonIsak N JiyeonIsak N Jiyeon was a Korean female duo formed by SM Entertainment in 2002. The group has since been disbanded. Many think the disbandment was due to low album sales and lack of popularity, but that wasn't the case; the only problem with the duo was timing: Isak had to go back to her home in...
- M.I.L.K. (from BM Entertainment)
- SS (group)S was a South Korean project group consisting of three members: Kangta, Lee Ji Hoon and Shin Hye Sung. The group was active only in 2003, under the SM Entertainment label.-History:...
- S.E.S.S.E.S. (band)S.E.S. , was a popular pop girl group that signed with SM Entertainment. Lasting from 1997 to 2002, they were viewed as the female version of H.O.T., another SM group who also enjoyed phenomenal popularity during the same years.S.E.S. was the first highly successful female K-pop group...
- ShinviShinviShinvi was a South Korean pop musical girl group. Shinvi belonged to Cid.K Entertainment, a subsidiary of SM Entertainment. After activities of their first album, the group disappeared from the K-pop scene. All three members have left SM Entertainment and have yet to return to the industry.-...
(from Cid. K Entertainment)
Left the company
- Fly To The SkyFly to the SkyFly to the Sky was a South Korean R&B duo, consisting of Korean American Brian Joo and South Korean native Hwanhee.Initially marketed as a duo that can sing, rap, and dance, their early works featured bubblegum pop and upbeat techno music. The duo later changed their image and style with the...
- Han Geng
- Hero Jaejoong
- Micky Yoochun
- Xiah Junsu
- Kang Jung Woo
- Jang NaraJang NaraJang Na-ra is a South Korean singer and actress. She also sings in Chinese, and is known in China by her transliterated Chinese name .-Early life:...
- Jang Woo HyukJang Woo HyukJang Woo Hyuk is a South Korean rapper. He debuted under SM Entertainment as one of the members of the 5 member boyband H.O.T. in 1996.-H.O.T.:...
- Lee Jae WonLee Jae Won-External links:* *...
- Moon Hee JunMoon Hee JunMoon Hee-joon is a South Korean pop/rock singer-songwriter, and formerly a notable boyband leader of the group H.O.T. He created PS Entertainment after leaving SM Entertainment. Currently he is under a company called Sidus HQ.- Criticism :...
- No Min-wooNo Min-wooNo Min-woo is a South Korean actor. He debuted in 2004 with the stage name Rose as the drummer for the band The TRAX under S.M. entertainment until he left the group in 2006. After leaving the band, No Min Woo pursued a career in acting and has returned to the music scene, as the leader of 24/7...
- Park Myung Soo
- ShinhwaShinhwaShinhwa is a popular South Korean boy band and hip hop group. The group has six members , and debuted on March 24, 1998. It has enjoyed massive success alongside the likes of Sechs Kies, g.o.d., Turbo , Fin. K.L., H.O.T. and S.E.S...
- Tony AnTony An- External links :* * * * *...
Former notable trainees
- Hwang Yeon Kyoung (she was a member of Baby Vox Re.VBaby Vox Re.VBaby Vox Re.V is a K-pop music group, being the descendant group of Baby V.O.X. The group's subtitle "Re.V" stands for Renaissance Voices...
) - Shim Hyun Kyung (now a member of Chinese group:I-ME)
- Heo Young SaengHeo Young SaengHeo Young Saeng was born on 3 November 1986. He is a South Korean entertainer and main/lead vocalist of boyband SS501. He debut as a solo artist in May 2011 with mini album Let It Go and made his musical debut in The Three Musketeers in November 2011 as D'Artagnan.-2005: Debut:Heo is a former...
(now a member of SS501) - G-DragonG-DragonAside from Big Bang, G-Dragon also made several solo appearances. After helping produce Taeyang's debut album, he recorded his own version of the album's lead single "Only Look At Me" , titled as the part two version to the song. The single was released digitally...
(now a leader of Big Bang) - Park So YeonPark So YeonPark So Yeon , is a South Korean idol, singer, dancer and a member of K-pop girl group T-ara.- Biography :Soyeon was born on October 5 1987 in Anyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea. Her birth name was Park In Jung. Soyeon was formerly a trainee under SM Entertainment, preparing to be a member of girl...
(now a member of T-araT-araT-ara is a South Korean girl group formed by Core Contents Media in 2009. Before their debut, there was a high level of interest in the group as they were called "Super Rookies" and had been training for three years prior to debut....
) - Heo Chanmi (now a member of Co-Ed School)
- Lee Sung Yeol (now a member of Infinite)
- Zico (now a member of Block BBlock BBlock B is a South Korean boy group created by Cho PD under his label Brand New Stardom. On April 15, 2011, they made their debut on KBS Music Bank with their promotional single, "Freeze!" . The group consists of seven members: Zico , Lee Taeil, B-Bomb , Ahn Jaehyo, U-Kwon , Park Kyung, and P.O...
) - Sol Bi (now under SidusHQ Entertainment}
- Son Anna (now under Nine Media Group)
- Kim minji (now under N.O.A Entertainment)
- Kei Nangon (now under Clumsy Media)
Labels distributed
- Avex Group
- J StormJ Stormis a Japanese music and film company owned by Johnny & Associates. It was established on November 12, 2001, initially as a label for the Johnny's group, Arashi, after which it was named ....
- Nayutawave Records
- Purple Communication
S.M. Entertainment
- SM Entertainment - Official website
- SM Entertainment - Japan Official website (Verified)
Links related to Avex Trax
of Avex TraxAvex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
Other partners
of GMM Grammy InternationalGMM Grammy
GMM Grammy Public Company Limited is the largest media conglomerate entertainment company in Thailand. It claims a 70% share of the Thai entertainment industry. Artists on Grammy include Bird McIntyre and Loso...
of Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records (Philippines)
Universal Records Philippines Inc. is a Filipino record label founded in 1977 as a part of Warner Music Group. Since 1992, it became independent.-History:URPI was founded in 1977 as WEA Records Philippines Inc...