Be the max Entertainment (비더맥스 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency. It was formerly known as Addiction Entertainment before rebranding into their current name in 2020.
History[]
2014: Establishment[]
Addiction Entertainment was established on 2014 by founder Kim Hae Kwon.
2017-2019: Yellow Bee[]
On November 23, 2017, Addiction Entertainment debuted their first artist; a five-member girl group named Yellow Bee. In mid-2019 the group had a total line-up change.[1]
2020: Auditions for new boy group, Yellow Bee's disbandment, controversy, rebrand to Be the max Entertainment, Holika[]
On April 27, 2020, the label announced that they would be holding online auditions for their upcoming new boy group.[2]
On July 12, Addiction Entertainment released a statement on their Instagram revealing that Yellow Bee had officially disbanded. The agency further stated, "But with member B carrying on her rather slutty lifestyle, plus the other members being unable to come to an agreement, we’ve decided that the group cannot stay together." The statement was highly controversial and criticized on several news outlets for 'slut shaming'.[3] Addiction Entertainment later edited the Instagram post to remove certain information and was left at "personal issues and differences between the company and members" as a reason for the group's disbandment.[4] Despite this, Addiction Entertainment later deleted all posts from their Instagram.
A week after their disbandment, former Yellow Bee member Ari took to her own Instagram account on July 31 and revealed that the members were subject to neglect, exploitation, sexual harassment and sexual assault by the company staff.[5][6][7]
On December 8, the label rebranded its name and profile photo in Be the max Entertainment removing also all previous photos.[8]
On December 14, they revealed a new dance team called Holika with the meaning of a compound word of Holic and indulge.[9] On December 22, 2020 they announced that they would be holding online auditions for their upcoming new girl group.[10]
2021: Hoxy, upcoming boy group[]
On March 17, 2021, they revealed their trainees for the new girl group called Hoxy and in addition they are preparing to debut in July 2021.[11]
On August 21, they announced that they would be holding online auditions for a five-member boy group.[12]
On December 16, they announced that they are waiting for the girl group members who have confirmed their debut as a 5 member group in 2022.[13]
2022: Trainee boy group, Siwoo[]
On June 18, 2022, they announced their new trainee boy group revealing the first two members Sol who is the leader and then Siwoo that will make their debut within this year.[14][15] In addition they also introduced their performance girl group Harley Quinn on the same day.[16]
On December 28, it was announced announced that all the members of the trainee group Be on new, except Siwoo, left the company, announcing also that Siwoo will be debuting as a soloist in June 2023.[17]
2024: I:MOND[]
On January 18, 2024, it was announced that pre-debut girl group Partyence changed its name to I:MOND.
On February 7, the 4 members Eseol, Ahyeon, Miku and Youngwon were revealed. They made their debut in June with "We Are Gravity". However, it was reported on January 22, 2025 that I:MOND left the agency in July, a month after their debut.[18]
Artists[]
Groups[]
- Hashtax (with M Flow Entertainment) (2023–present)
Soloists[]
- Siwoo (2022–present)
Trainee Groups[]
- Hoxy (2021–present)
Dance teams[]
- B-boy Addiction Crew
- Red Crew
- Holika
- Harley Quinn
Former artists[]
Groups[]
- Yellow Bee (2017–2020)
- I:MOND (2023–2024)
Trainee groups[]
References[]
- ↑ Allkpop: ADDICTION Entertainment announces rookie girl group Yellow Bee will change all its members
- ↑ a.d_ent_official Instagram post (April 27, 2020)
- ↑ Koreaboo: Rookie Girl Group Disbands After Agency “Slut-Shames” A Member… And Now Netizens Are Confused AF
- ↑ @yellowbee_official on Instagram (May 25, 2020)
- ↑ Instagram: Ari's (Dung Jihee's) statement
- ↑ Soompi: Girl Group Yellow Bee’s Agency Announces Disbandment + Member Ari Alleges Sexual Harassment And Neglect From Agency Staff
- ↑ Koreaboo: Former Yellow Bee Member Ari Accuses Employee Of Sexual Assault In Response To Agency’s “Slut-Shaming”
- ↑ bethemaxcrew Facebook post (December 8, 2020)
- ↑ bethemaxcrew Facebook post (December 14, 2020)
- ↑ bethemaxcrew Facebook post (December 22, 2020)
- ↑ bethemaxcrew Facebook post (March 17, 2021)
- ↑ bethemaxcrew Facebook post (August 21, 2021)
- ↑ bethemaxcrew Facebook post (December 16, 2021)
- ↑ b.t.m_ent_official Instagram post (June 18, 2022)
- ↑ b.t.m_ent_official Instagram post (June 18, 2022)
- ↑ b.t.m_ent_official Instagram post (June 18, 2022)
- ↑ si_woo_official Instagram post (December 28, 2022)
- ↑ (KR) News In: 아이몬드 2월 14일 컴백 확정, 신인 걸그룹 최초 자체 제작 앨범으로 새도전