IST Entertainment (
Korean: 아이에스티엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment company under
Kakao Entertainment.
History
Plan A Entertainment
In 2011, A Cube Entertainment was established as an independent label of
Cube Entertainment. A Cube signed its first solo artist
Huh Gak[1] and launched girl group
Apink, which was made up from former Cube Entertainment trainees.
In November 2015, LOEN Entertainment (later
Kakao M and then
Kakao Entertainment) acquired 70% of the entire label and subsequently absorbed it as an independent subsidiary. The label announced in March 2016 that it has been renamed Plan A Entertainment since it was no longer affiliated with Cube Entertainment.[2] It launched its first boy group
Victon in November that year.
In early 2018, Plan A Entertainment acquired Kakao M's actor agency E&T Story Entertainment, owning 60% of the agency's shares. In the following months, Choi Jin-ho (founder and co-CEO) resigned and 30% of the remaining shares were sold for 3.51 billion won. As a result, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kakao M.[3]
Fave Entertainment was originally founded in 2012 as LOEN Tree, to manage LOEN Entertainment's recording artists. It was spun-off as a separate subsidiary label in 2016 and renamed Fave Entertainment.[4][5] Artists who were transferred to Fave Entertainment included
Fiestar,
History,
IU and
Sunny Hill.[6][7] Its trainees have notably featured in MIXNINE,
Under Nineteen, and
Produce 101. In October 2018, the label announced its upcoming girl group, temporarily known as "Fave Girls".[8]
Cre.ker Entertainment is a record label founded by Kakao Entertainment (formerly LOEN Entertainment) in 2014, the label is home to artist groups
Melody Day and
The Boyz.
2019–present: Merged agency named to IST Entertainment
On February 13, 2019, Kakao Entertainment released a statement that Plan A Entertainment and Fave Entertainment would be merging on April 1.[9][10] Plan A Entertainment, being the surviving entity in the merger, was renamed Play M Entertainment[11] and absorbed Fave Entertainment's assets and remaining artists, including trainees.[12]
In May 2020, it was announced that "Fave Girls", who became "Play M Girls" following the merger, would be debuting in June as
Weeekly.[13] It is the company's first girl group since Apink.[14]
On September 17, 2021, Kakao Entertainment announced that Play M Entertainment and Cre.ker Entertainment would be merging in the future.[15]
On November 12, 2021, it was announced that the company's new corporate name would be IST Entertainment, which took in effect on November 1.[16]
On February 7, 2022, IST Entertainment announced the debut of a new boy group in the second half of the year through a
reality competition show, The Origin – A, B, Or What?. The show premiered on March 19, 2022.[17] On the finale episode aired on May 7, 2022, it was announced that the final 7 will debut as
ATBO, and will debut in July 27.[18]
On April 11, 2022, IST Entertainment and
Universal Music Japan announced the foundation of their joint venture label, "Universal Music IST".[19]
^Kwak, Hyeon-su (September 17, 2021).
"플레이엠·크래커 엔터 통합…에이핑크·더보이즈 한 식구 된다" [PlayM and Creker Enter integration… Apink and The Boyz become one family]. YTN (in Korean).
Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Kim Ye-ji (November 12, 2021).
"에이핑크 '플레이엠'·더보이즈 '크래커', IST로 통합" [Apink's 'PlayM' and The Boyz's 'Creker' merged into IST] (in Korean).
Newsis.
Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Kim No-eul (February 7, 2022).
"에이핑크·더보이즈 소속사, 올 상반기 새 보이그룹 론칭 [공식입장]" [Apink and The Boyz agency launch a new boy group in the first half of this year [Official position]] (in Korean). Xports News.
Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jeong Bit (May 9, 2022).
"[공식]IST엔터, 新보이그룹 ABO 론칭…'디 오리진'으로 뽑힌 7人, 하반기 데뷔" [[Official] IST Entertainment launches new boy group ABO... 7 people selected as 'The Origin' to debut in the second half of the year] (in Korean).
Sports Chosun. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Seoyeon, Ban (January 15, 2021).
김소현, 이앤티스토리와 전속계약 만료 "앞날 응원"(공식) [Kim So-Hyun and E&T Story and Exclusive Contract Expiration "Support for the Future" (Official)]. YTN Star.
Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
"2012년 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2013년 01월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2013년 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on June 25, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2014년 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2015년 06월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2016년 07월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2016년 08월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2016년 09월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2016년 36주차 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.
Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
"2017년 31주차 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. August 10, 2017.
Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.