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This article, HYPE, is the sole property of ImHorridSalmon. As such, this article cannot be used or edited without asking for prior permission from the author.

HYPE is the Featured Company of December 2022

We Believe In Our Artists; 우리는 아티스트를 믿습니다

—HYPE


HYPE Co., Ltd (Korean: 하이프, stylized as HYPE Corporation) (commonly known as HYPE) (formerly HIGH Entertainment) is a South Korean multinational entertainment company established in 1995 by Lucas Kim and In Jae Hwa. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event and concert production company, and music publishing house.

HYPE is currently home to idol groups such as TCXQ?, ZAXB, LXXK, Starlight and Playground, in addition to numerous non-idol groups and solo artists.

History[]

1989—2000: Formation and first generation artists[]

OPO

OPO in 1997

After graduating from University of Oxford in the UK, Lucas Kim returned to Korea and in 1989 established what was then known as "HIGH Entertainment" with his partner In Jae Hwa in the Nonhyeon neighborhood of Gangnam, Seoul and signed singer Yuk Jin-Ho. In February 1995, the company changed its name to HYPE Corp,. Ltd and set up its capital fund. HYPE then developed an in-house production system and created a string of successful artists, including soloist Yunho in 1996, girl group S.O.S and boy band OPO in 1997, R&B duo Black Dice in 1999, and soloist LEA in 2000. In 1999 HYPE acquired LO Entertainment a record label responsible for artists such as RIPPLE and SIG+NATURE.

2000—2012: Second-generation artists[]

TCXQ

TCXQ in 2003

The early 2000's saw the disbandment of OPO in 2003. Lucas Kim established a new label in 2004 called Big Hug Music which managed some of the overseas promotions of HYPE's early artists.

In 2003, HYPE debuted five-member boy group TCXQ?. The following years saw the debuts of groups such as CRAX (2004), The Pace (2005), V.L.I.X. (2005) and the debuts of soloists LOC! (2010) and NaRa (2011).

2013—2016: Third-generation artists[]

In February 2013, HYPE established EDM focused label SHADOW Records. On June 3, HYPE debuted INV!TE, its first girl group since The Pace eight years prior.

In May 2016, HYPE announced the termination of soloists LEA and LOC! contracts, stating that two plan to pursue a different career in the future.

2017—2022: End of "HYPE 2.0" era[]

On April 17, 2017, HYPE debuted ZAXB, its first boy group since V.L.I.X. twelve years prior. In August 2017, HYPE acquired Course Music a record label responsible for artists such as ϽHɅRM.

Playground - Music Core

Playground at Music Core in 2018

On March 11, 2018, HYPE debuted Playground a girl group aiming to bring K-pop and rock together whilst having a horror concept to all of their comebacks, the group is now dubbed as the "Dark Queens Of K-Pop" by the public and fans. On July 23, 2018, HYPE announced the debut of soloist IO with her first mini album Viola.

On January 23, 2022, HYPE announced that ZAXB would be returning after a three year hiatus however the group would be returning with a new line-up after Dongheon, Yanan, U and Jinwoo all did not renew their contracts. The new line-up was announced to consist of Sunghoon, Jake, Sunoo and NI-KI.

2023—present: Announcing "HYPE 3.0" era, Starlight, HYPE Culture Universe[]

STARLIGHT MOONLIGHT group concept photo

Starlight group concept photo for MOONLIGHT

On January 1, 2023, HYPE released a video on YouTube announcing the end of HYPE 2.0 and the reveal of a new era of the company in the form of HYPE 3.0. It was announced that a new label would be founded, Studio S, the label was formed to exclusively manage the promotions and activities of the girl group SIRIUS.

On January 8, HYPE announced that it had taken over the management of the temporary collaborative girl group IM:PACT and announced that the group would be making their first comeback under the company with their first mini album Water Droplets.

On February 15, HYPE opened the official SNS's for its new girl group called Starlight. They introduced the three members of the group, Kim Seon-Mi, Itō Miyū and Oh Gaeul and confirmed that the group would be making their debut sometime in July.

On July 27, Starlight officially made their debut with their EP MOONLIGHT.

On January 1, 2024, during the HYPECITY Live 2024 concert Lucas Kim announced the start of the HYPE Culture Universe a shared universe consisting of multiple projects including groups, soloists and more. It was announced that a new co-ed mixed reality k-pop group called SUPERNOVA would be the first project under the HYCU and that the project is scheduled to begin on July 24. HYPE announced that they plan to debut the new group in Q1 2025.

Divisions[]

HYPE Business[]

HYPE Labels[]

Former[]

Divisions[]

  • HYPE Brand Marketing
  • HYPE Talent
  • HYPE Plus
  • Plum Company

HYPE Brand Marketing[]

This division handles all of HYPE's marketing and brand assets.

HYPE Talent[]

HYPE Talent is an agency created by HYPE to manage up and coming actresses and actors.

HYPE Plus[]

HYPE Plus is an agency created by HYPE to manage up and coming models.

Plum Company[]

Plum Company is responsible for the management of company’s technology and software development venture's. In 2022 It became in charge of the online music store and music streaming service Plum and its social media alternative Plum+.

Platforms[]

Projects[]

Joint ventures[]

Artists[]

HYPE's artists are divided similarly to companies such as Four Bloc Records and Big Planet Creative, having multiple divisions for specific artists. The divisions are represented as HYV's (pronounced as Hives).

HYV.1 (HYPE)[]

Groups[]

Soloists[]

Trainees[]

HYV.2 (LO Entertainment)[]

Groups[]

Soloists[]

Trainees[]


HYV.3 (SHADOW Records)[]

DJ’s[]

HYV.4 (Big Break Records)[]

Soloists[]


HYV.5 (Smiling Records)[]

Groups[]

  • THE LILY (2017-present)
  • 7pm (2009-present)
  • Block-A (2005-present)
    • Block-JISUNG&NAMJUNG (2006-present)
    • Block-L (2008-present)
    • Block-S (2009-present)
    • Block-T&T (2011-present)
    • Block 127 (2012-present)
    • Block 100 (2015-present) (Thailand Sub-Unit)
    • Block 120 (2017-present) (Chinese Sub-Unit)
    • Block 140 (2023-present) (Japanese Sub-Unit)
  • RaiNa (2008-present)
    • RaiNa-Oh?NO (2009-present)

Soloists[]

Trainees[]

  • Lee Chung-hee (PEAK)

HYV.6 (Artist Music You)[]

Groups[]

HYV.7 (HYPE Labels Japan)[]

Groups[]

  • =HEART (2020-present)
  • WE:FIRST (2018-present)

Soloists[]


HYV.8 (Big Hug Music)[]

Groups[]

Soloists[]

Trainees[]

  • Jeon Ho-young (PEAK)

HYV.9 (HYPE Labels China)[]

Groups[]

Soloists[]


HYV.10 (KORE Entertainment)[]

Groups (Korean)[]

Trainees[]

HYV.11 (Course Music)[]

Groups[]

  • Ste1ar (2018-present)

Trainees[]


Former artists[]

Groups[]

Soloists[]

  • NaRa (2011-2018)
  • LOC! (2010-2016)
  • LEA (2000-2016)
  • Yunho (1996-2009)
  • Yuk Jin-Ho (1990–1993)

Choreographers[]

HYPER[]

HYPER is a co-ed dance crew. It was formed in 2022 by Cha Young-Soo.

Idols[]

Staff[]

  • Ikehata Naoko (F) (Choreographer for Starlight)
  • Takano Yoshitoki (F) (Choreographer for Playground)
  • Okubo Anzai (M) (Choreographer for ZAXB)
  • Cha Young-Soo (M) (Choreographer for Diavolo)

Managers[]

  • Yang Young-Ja (Manager for Playground)
  • Lee Chung-yong (Manager for ZAXB)
  • Jeung Soon-bok (Manager for K.D)
  • Jin Kyung (Manager for GEMINI)
  • Hwan Seung-Gi (Manager for Diavolo)
  • He Yuexin (何悦心) (Manager for Starlight)

HYPE PrO (Producers)[]

HYPECITY[]

HYPECITY is the collective name of the musical artists in the agency.

Discography[]

Special albums[]

Digital singles[]

  • TBA

OSTs[]

  • TBA

Concerts[]

World tours[]

  • HYPECITY Live 2017 : Around The World (2017)

Europe tours[]

  • HYPECITY Live 2023 : UK (2023)

Online concerts[]

Music festivals[]

Official SNS[]

  • Facebook: HYPE Official
  • Instagram: @hype_labels
  • Twitter: @HYPEOFFICIALtwt
  • YouTube: HYPE LABELS

Awards and nominations[]

Partnerships and business ventures[]

  • On February 20, 2018, HYPE announced that they had acquired Vistamp Entertainment (now known as AMU).
  • In 2018, HYPE acquired EDM Record Label Seoultiger.
  • On February 11, 2021, HYPE announced that they had acquired legendary label Smiling Records home to iconic boy group 7pm.
  • On December 19, 2020, HYPE announced that they had acquired hip-hop label Big Break Records for approximately ₩15.6 billion ($12 million).
  • On March 24, 2022, HYPE acquired Plum from X&S Entertainment.
  • On June 10, 2023, HYPE announced its strategic partnership with the UK's leading music label EMI Records. The partnership aims to improve HYPE's artists global reach, girl group Playground is set to be the first artist to be powered up by the partnership.

Company guidelines[]

Company 3 Strike System:

  • The company has a 3 strike system: 1st Strike = Warning. 2nd Strike = No participation in upcoming activities/promotions. 3rd Strike = Removal from the company and contract end.

Idol rules:

  • Idols must give notice to the company before leaving.
  • Smoking/Drugs are strictly prohibited.
  • Dating is not prohibited as long as it doesn't get in the way of group or solo activities.
  • Bullying, discrimination, and other forms of harassment will result in an immediate 2nd strike.
  • Only idols who are of the right age (20 or above in international age) are allowed to drink if moderated correctly.
  • Driving is prohibited in case of incidents unless the idol has a drivers license.
  • Individual SNS's are allowed.
  • If idols are suffering from any physical or mental health issues, they are to immediately report to their managers, the company's counselors or the company's physicians.

Trainee rules:

  • Trainees must give notice to the company before leaving.
  • Smoking/Drugs are strictly prohibited.
  • Bullying, discrimination, and other forms of harassment will result in an immediate 2nd strike.
  • Dating is not prohibited as long as it doesn't get in the way of group or solo activities.
  • Only trainees who are of the right age (20 or above in international age) are allowed to drink if moderated correctly.
  • Driving is prohibited for all trainee's until they become idols and pass their drivers license.
  • Trainees are required to take a medical test every year.
  • Attending their classes is a mandatory, unless they have a different schedule approved by the company or have given notice beforehand.
  • Individual SNS's are allowed but must be private until debut.
  • If trainee's are suffering from any physical or mental health issues, they are to immediately report to their managers, the company's counselors or the company's physicians.


Inspired by JGC Entertainment and M&A Entertainment Behind The Company Section