Source Music () is a South Korean record label established in 2009 by So Sung-jin. In July 2019, the company was acquired by
Hybe Corporation
Hybe Co., Ltd. (; stylized as Hybe Corporation; commonly known as simply Hybe) is a South Korean multinational entertainment company established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk as Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd.
The company operates as a record l ...
, making the company part of the collective term "Hybe Labels". The company manages girl group
Le Sserafim
Le Sserafim ( ; ; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music, a sub-label of Hybe Corporation, Hybe. The group consists of five members: Sakura Miyawaki, Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. ...
, and previously managed soloist
Kan Mi-youn and girl groups
Glam and
GFriend
GFriend (stylized in all caps; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music in 2015. The group consists of six members: Kim So-won, Sowon, Yerin (entertainer), Yerin, Eunha (singer), Eunha, Yuju (singer), Yuju, SinB, and Umji. They deb ...
.
History
2009–2014: Foundation and first generation artists
Source Music was founded on November 17, 2009, by So Sung-jin, who worked at
SM Entertainment
SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...
as a talent manager for various artists between 2000 and 2002. He later moved to
JYP Entertainment
JYP Entertainment Corporation () is a South Korean Multinational corporation, multinational entertainment and record label Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1997 by Park Jin-young, J. Y. Park. Operating as a record label, talent ...
.
In 2010, the label's first-ever artist, female soloist
Kan Mi-youn (formerly of
Baby Vox) released her first digital single titled "Going Crazy". The music video featured Lee Joon and Mir from
MBLAQ. The song peaked at #11 on South Korea's national chart
Gaon.
In 2012,
Glam was formed as a joint collaboration between Source Music and
Big Hit Entertainment
Big Hit Music (, stylized in all caps), formerly Big Hit Entertainment (), is a South Korean record label established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It was re-branded and re-structured into an independent label under Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit ...
and was composed of Dahee, Trinity, Zinni, Miso and Jiyeon. Following Trinity's departure, they continued as a four-member group. The group was active until 2014 and was officially disbanded in January 2015, after Dahee was sentenced to one year imprisonment for a case of extortion against actor
Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-hun (; born July 12, 1970) is a South Korean actor. He has received acclaim for his work in a wide range of genres, most notably '' Joint Security Area'' (2000); '' A Bittersweet Life'' (2005); '' The Good, the Bad, the Weird'' (2008) ...
.
2015–2019
In 2015,
GFriend
GFriend (stylized in all caps; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music in 2015. The group consists of six members: Kim So-won, Sowon, Yerin (entertainer), Yerin, Eunha (singer), Eunha, Yuju (singer), Yuju, SinB, and Umji. They deb ...
was formed. The group consisted of members
Sowon,
Yerin,
Eunha,
Yuju,
SinB, and
Umji
Kim Ye-won (; born August 19, 1998), better known by her stage name Umji (), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer. She is a member of the girl groups GFriend and Viviz.
Early life
Umji was born on August 19, 1998, in Yeonsu-dong, Ye ...
. They made their debut with the
extended play
An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...
''
Season of Glass'' on January 15, 2015.
2019–present: Acquisition by Hybe Corporation
In July 2019,
Hybe Corporation
Hybe Co., Ltd. (; stylized as Hybe Corporation; commonly known as simply Hybe) is a South Korean multinational entertainment company established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk as Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd.
The company operates as a record l ...
(formerly Big Hit Entertainment) acquired Source Music, making the company a subsidiary under Hybe Labels, Hybe Corp.'s subdivision of labels, and keeping its existing management and style. On March 22, 2021, Source Music, as well as the other labels under Hybe Labels, moved to its new headquarters in the Yongsan Trade Center in the
Yongsan District
Yongsan District (, ) is one of the 25 List of districts of Seoul, districts of Seoul, South Korea. It has a population of 231,685 (2020) and has a geographic area of , and is divided into 19 ''Dong (administrative division), dong'' (administrati ...
, the new headquarters of its parent company, Hybe Corporation. On March 31, 2021, the official website of Source Music changed its physical address to the new building in Yongsan, Seoul.
Following the completion of their six-year contract, all GFriend members left the company on May 22, 2021, marking the disbandment of the group.
On March 14, 2022, former
Iz*One
Iz*One ( ; ; ; stylized in all caps) was a South Korean–Japanese girl group formed through the Mnet (TV channel), Mnet reality competition show ''Produce 48''. The group was composed of twelve members: Jang Won-young, Sakura Miyawaki, Jo Yu-r ...
members
Sakura Miyawaki and
Kim Chaewon signed exclusive contracts with Source Music and confirmed their debut in a new group.
Le Sserafim
Le Sserafim ( ; ; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music, a sub-label of Hybe Corporation, Hybe. The group consists of five members: Sakura Miyawaki, Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. ...
, consisting of Sakura, Kim Chaewon,
Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, Kim Ga-ram and Hong Eun-chae, debuted on May 2 with the extended play ''
Fearless''.
On April 13, 2022, the company was fined and given a correction order by the Korea Personal Information Protection Commission for disclosing personal information to third parties and failing to protect personal information. Source Music used Google's questionnaire to reimburse membership fees related to the disbandment of GFriend, and the personal information of 22 survey participants was compromised due to improper disclosure of survey results.
On September 24, 2024, Source Music announced that the members of GFriend would reunite in 2025 for a tenth anniversary project.
Artists
*
GFriend
GFriend (stylized in all caps; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music in 2015. The group consists of six members: Kim So-won, Sowon, Yerin (entertainer), Yerin, Eunha (singer), Eunha, Yuju (singer), Yuju, SinB, and Umji. They deb ...
(2015–2021; 2024–present)
*
Le Sserafim
Le Sserafim ( ; ; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by Source Music, a sub-label of Hybe Corporation, Hybe. The group consists of five members: Sakura Miyawaki, Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. ...
Former artists
*
8Eight (2009–2014, co-managed by
Big Hit Entertainment
Big Hit Music (, stylized in all caps), formerly Big Hit Entertainment (), is a South Korean record label established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It was re-branded and re-structured into an independent label under Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit ...
)
*
Glam (2012–2015, co-managed by Big Hit Entertainment)
* Eden Beatz (2012–2015)
* MI.O (2014–2018)
*
Kan Mi-youn (2009–2014)
Notes
References
External links
Source Musicat Naver
{{Authority control
K-pop record labels
South Korean record labels
Talent agencies of South Korea
2009 establishments in South Korea
Companies based in Seoul
Entertainment companies established in 2009
Record labels established in 2009
2019 mergers and acquisitions
Hybe Corporation