SM Entertainment:
Sales in 2015: $280 million USD
Net Income in 2015: $15.3 million USD
SM Entertainment operates as a record label, talent agency, travel agency, film production company, music production company, event management, and concert production firm as well as a music publishing house. They are the #1 K-Pop Entertainment Company in Korea based on sales as well as talent. Their K-pop groups Super Junior, Girls Generation, and EXO have become international sensations. The company started with boy band H.O.T. as well as a girl band S.E.S. and with their success, the company really never looked back. Once H.O.T. and S.E.S. left the company, the company bounced right back with solo female singer BoA and five member group TVXQ. Two years later the company hit it big with Super Junior and even bigger two years later with Girls Generation. However, after having several artists, as well as trainees, leave the company and sue SM for human rights violation SM has to earn a notorious reputation for mistreating its artist.
Artist: BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, f(x), EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, Tiffany, Lay, Amber, Taeyeon, Taemin, Jonghyun, J-Min, and formally H.O.T., S.E.S., Wu Yifan, Luhan, Z. Tao, Jessica Jung, and Shinhwa
Actors/Actresses: Go Ah Ra, Kim Ian, Choi Jong-yoon, Kim Min-jong, Lee Jae-ryong, Sulli, Yoo Ho-jeong, Lina, and Lee Yeon-hee
YG Entertainment:
Sales in 2015: $165.1 million USD
Net Income in 2015: $20.5 million USD
YG Entertainment operates as a record label, talent agency, fashion clothing line, a cosmetics firm, event management and concert production company, music production company, and music publishing house. As far as running a business, YG is considered the best in the business. They are said to have brought “Hip Hop” to K-Pop when the former member of Hip-Hop boy band Seo Taiji Boys, Yang Hyun-Suk founded YG Entertainment. They are created for making some of the biggest names in K-pop. Big Bang, PSY, and 2NE1 dominate the K-pop scene today. As far as talent produced, SM might have the volume but YG might arguably have the quality. This is because YG tends to put a lot of time and money into their “product”. In 2015, YG Entertainment invested nearly $100 million (USD) in a new industrial complex, which will house recording studios and performance facilities, as well as a recreational tourism complex. The complex should be completed by the end of 2018. This should allow YG to compete with SM when it comes to the volume of talent produced.
Artists: Psy, Big Bang, and 2NE1, IKon, Black Pink, Epik High, Winner, Zion T, G-Dragon, Top, Taeyang, CL, Park Bom, Bobby, Mino, Sandra Park, Seungri,and Daesung,
Actors/Actresses: Kang Dong-won, Choi Ji-woo, Cha Seung-won, Kim Hee-ae, Lee Sung-kyung, Nam Joo-hyuk, Son Ho-jun, Kal So-won, Im Ye-jin, Yoo In-na, and Lee Jong-suk
JYP Entertainment:
Sales in 2015: $43.4 million USD
Net income in 2015: $3 million USD
JYP Entertainment operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management, and concert production company as well as a music publishing house. They have offices in outside of Korea, for example, they have headquarters in New York and Beijing. In 2009 they launched Wonder Girls who became international sensations. They became so popular that they were able to book tours with The Jonas Brothers. However, their value has been dropping ever since they had to shut down their U.S. headquarters and were never really able to repeat the success of Wonder Girls. They could be dropping below the top 5 by the end of 2017 if things don’t pick up soon as other hungry K-Pop entertainment companies look to take them down.
Artists: Wonder Girls, 2AM, 2PM, Miss A, Baek A-yeon, 15&,Sunmi, GOT7, HA:TFELT, Bernard Park, G.Soul, DAY6, Twice, Park Jimin, Jo Kwon, Lee Junho, and J.Y.Park
Actors/Actresses: Choi Woo-shik, Jang Hui-ryoung, Kang Yoon je, Kim Ji min, Kim Jong-moon, Nam Sung joon, Lee Ki-hyuk, Park Joo hyung, Ryu Won, Shin Eun-soo, Song Ha yoon, Wei Daxun, Yoon Park (Yun Bak), Kim Tae-hoon, and Min Hyo-rin
FNC Entertainment:
Sales in 2015: $62.4 million USD
Net Income in 2015: $1.9 million USD
FNC Entertainment started off as just a company that managed musicians. However, in 2012 they have broadened their business field and currently they operate as a record label, music production company, talent agency, and music distribution company. They also manage actors and actresses for film and television. They manage the most famous variety show comedian named Yoo Jae Suk. FNC Entertainment is new to this music industry but they have been very successful so far.
Artists: FTISLAND, CNBLUE, AOA, N.Flying, SF9, HONEYST, Hong-gi, Yonghwa, Jimin, Choa, Jong-hyun, and InnoVator
Actors/Actresses: Choi Jong-hoon, Choi Min-hwan, Jung Hae-in, Jung Hye-sung, Jung Jin-young, Jo Jae-yoon, Jung Woo, Jung Yong-hwa, Kang Chan-hee, Kang Min-hyuk, Kim Jae-hyun, Kim Min-seo, Kim Seolhyun, and Kim Seo-jin
Starship Entertainment:
Sales in 2015: $20 million USD Net Income in 2015: $1.8 million USD
Starship Entertainment operates as a record music label. The label was founded in 2013 and is by far the youngest Entertainment in Korea which goes to show how successful they have become in such a short time. They are following the footsteps of YG Entertainment by focusing more on Hip Hop Music/talent. They have gone on to sign stars from hit Korean music variety shows like K-Pop Stars.
Artists: Sistar, Boyfriend, Monsta X, Cosmic Girls, Mad Clown, Junggigo Jooyoung, Brother Su,Yoo Seung Woo, Lovey, #Gun, and K Will
Actors/Actresses: Choi Won Myeong
Riding the Korean wave 