Starship Entertainment

Starship Entertainment
Native name
스타쉽 엔터테인먼트
Company typePublic
Industry
Genre
FoundedJanuary 28, 2008; 16 years ago (2008-01-28)
Founder
  • Kim Shi-dae
  • Seo Hyun-joo
  • Kim Young-suk
Headquarters
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
,
South Korea
Key people
Kim Shi-dae (co-founder, executive producer)
Seo Hyun-joo (co-founder, vice-president and executive producer)[1]
Kim Young-suk (co-founder, executive director)[a]
Lee Hoon-hee (CEO)[2]
Lee Jin-sung (CEO)[b]
Services
  • Music production
  • Publishing
  • Artists management
RevenueIncrease ₩201.9 billion (US$176.49 million) (2023)[3]
Increase ₩38.1 billion (US$33.31 million) (2023)[3]
OwnerKakao Entertainment (59.73%)[4]
DivisionsKing Kong by Starship (since 2015)
SubsidiariesStarship X (2013)
Highline (2017)
Shownote (2019)
Websitestarship-ent.com

Starship Entertainment (Korean: 스타쉽 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment company founded in 2008 and became an independent subsidiary of Kakao Entertainment in 2013. It is also called one of the "five major agencies" in the pop music world, with SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment leading the way.[5][6]

It has been recognized for its contributions to the Hallyu wave, being home to several prominent K-pop groups and soloists.[7] These include groups such as Monsta X, WJSN, Cravity, and Ive and soloists such as K.Will, Yoo Seung-woo, Brother Su, Jeong Se-woon, Wonho, Kihyun, Joohoney, and Seola, as well as formerly home to Sistar, Boyfriend, Junggigo, Mad Clown, Jooyoung, and Soyou. It also manages actors under King Kong by Starship.

History

2008–2012: Founding and beginnings

Starship Entertainment was founded in 2008, by the couple Kim Shi-dae and Seo Hyun-joo with Kim Young-suk. Kim Shi-dae previously worked as a road manager for K-pop co-ed group Cool, as well as worked for Big Hit Entertainment between 2005 and 2007, while Seo Hyun-joo worked for JYP Entertainment.[8]

Starship's first artist was ex-Big Hit singer K.Will, who released his first single "Love 119" for the label in 2008.[9] In 2010, Starship debuted their first girl group Sistar, while their first boy group Boyfriend the following year.[10][11]

2013–present: Expansion and subsidiary labels

In 2013, Starship launched its first subsidiary label "Starship X", with rapper Mad Clown being its first signed artist.[12] On December 18, 70% of the label's shares were acquired by its distributor LOEN Entertainment (renamed to Kakao M in 2018 and predecessor of Kakao Entertainment), making it an independent subsidiary of the latter.[13] As of 2022, Kakao Entertainment is still the largest shareholder of the label, holding a 59.73% stake.[4]

In July 2014, Starship signed singer Jeong Se-woon, following his appearance on K-pop Star 3.[14] In December, Starship formed its second boy group Monsta X through the Mnet's survival show No.Mercy,[15] with the seven winners of the show, debuted in 2015, and promoted as a hip hop boy group.[16]

In April 2015, Starship signed a mutual management contract with the Chinese label Yuehua Entertainment.[17] In December, they jointly formed a new girl group Cosmic Girls, also known as WJSN, debuted in 2016, and aimed at appealing to both South Korean and Chinese audiences.[18] In May, Starship acquired all of King Kong Entertainment's shares in a strategic partnership alliance. In January 2017, Starship and King Kong registered their merger. The agencies mutually agreed to use the name of Starship Entertainment, while the division that manages the actors would operate under the label "King Kong by Starship".[19]

In 2017, Starship launched another subsidiary label House of Music, which focused was on recruiting smaller, independent artists, with MoonMoon being the first artist signed under the label.[12] In November 2018, Starship renamed the label "Highline Entertainment".[20][21] In June, its first girl group Sistar disbanded, with members Dasom and Soyou remaining under Starship.[22][23]

In May 2019, its first boy group Boyfriend disbanded.[24] In December, Starship acquired the performance production company Shownote at 100% stake. It was established in 2005, which has an accumulated experience in producing live entertainment in various fields including musicals, concerts, plays, showcases, children's performances, exhibitions, and fan meetings.[25]

In 2020, Starship began expanding Highline, with signed artists such as Wonho, Yoo Seung-woo, and DJ Soda.[26][27][28] On April 14, Starship debuted its new boy group Cravity.[29] In August, Starship won the Korea Creative Content Agency Award, for their contributions to the Hallyu wave.[7]

In June 2021, the label partnered with Eshy Gazit's new label venture Intertwine, in partnership with BMG. Monsta X and Wonho were the first two artists involved in the partnership, securing both a global distribution deal and expansion.[30] On August 22, Starship is reported to form a new girl group, featuring then-trainees Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin, whom were formerly part of Iz*One, in the second half of 2021.[31] The girl group Ive debuted on December 1.[32][33]

In April 2022, Starship has appointed Lee Hoon-hee as the new CEO. He is an expert in the Korean entertainment industry, who has experienced music and media contents, and has served as CEO of KOEN Media Production Department, CEO of SM C&C, and the Head of Production at KBS. He will lead Starship with the current CEO Lee Jin-sung (CEO of King Kong by Starship).[2] On August 8, Starship released a statement announcing that all members of Monsta X renewed their contracts, except I.M, but he will still continue to participate in the group's future plans.[34] On October 24, Yang Jae-woong's older brother Yang Jae-jin, a psychiatrist and broadcaster, has signed an exclusive contract with the agency.[35]

In January 2023, Starship planned to open its Dear U bubble service for all its artists, starting in February for three years.[36] On March 3, Starship released a statement announcing that WJSN Chinese members' Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi had departed from the group following the expiration of their contracts. In the same announcement, it was also stated that Luda and Dawon chose not to renew their contracts, but did not specify whether they will remain in the group.[37]

Philanthropy

In July 2022, Starship and its artists participated in The Blue Tree Foundation's campaign to declare support for non-violence. It was established to prevent school and cyberbullying, and to heal the victims, is conducting a "national non-violence campaign" in which the citizens can participate to publicize the seriousness of violence and to spread a culture of non-violence.[38]

In February 2023, Starship donated ₩150,000,000 to help in the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake through Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.[39]

Partnerships

Artists

All artists under Starship Entertainment are collectively known as Starship Planet.[41]

Musicians

Actors/actresses

Further information: King Kong by Starship

Entertainers

Former artists

Discography

Main article: Starship Entertainment discography

Awards

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, recipient of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Recipient Result Ref.
Asia Artist Awards 2022 Best Producer Award Seo Hyun-joo Won [46]
2023 Won [47]
Circle Chart Music Awards 2015 Producer of the Year Kim Shi-dae Won [48]
Golden Disc Awards 2023 Best Producer Seo Hyun-joo Won [49]
Korea Content Awards[c] 2023 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation Won [51]
Korea Popular Music Awards[d] 2018 Producer Award Kim Shi-dae Won [53]
Newsis K-Expo Cultural Awards[e] 2020 Korea Creative Content Agency Award Won [7]
Soribada Best K-Music Awards 2019 Best Hip Hop Maker Award dress Won [55]

Notes

  1. ^ Also concurrent executive vice-president and head of music content at Kakao Entertainment.
  2. ^ Also the founder and concurrent head (formerly CEO) at King Kong by Starship (formerly King Kong Entertainment).[2]
  3. ^ Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency, it awards content industry workers who have led the global cultural trend with K-content since 2009, and selects and awards excellent content.[50]
  4. ^ The Korea Popular Music Awards was jointly established in 2018 by the Korea Singers Association, the Korea Entertainment Producer's Association, the Recording Industry Association of Korea, the Federation of Korean Music Performers, and the Korea Music Copyright Association.[52]
  5. ^ Co-sponsored by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Korea Communications Commission, and Korea Creative Content Agency, it awards cultural icons and businesses who have contributed greatly to Hallyu, the Korean wave.[54]

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