IST Entertainment (아이에스티엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency.
History[]
IST was originally founded in 2011 as A Cube Entertainment, then a subsidiary of Cube Entertainment. In November 2015, LOEN Entertainment acquired the company after purchasing 70 percent of their stocks. The company was renamed as Plan A Entertainment on June 8, 2016.[1]
On February 13, 2019, Kakao M announced that Plan A and FAVE Entertainment would be merging together. It was later confirmed that the company would be called Play M Entertainment and started operating on April 1.[2][3] The company's name change was registered on April 22 with Plan A as the surviving company and FAVE as the defunct company.[1]
On September 17, 2021, Kakao Entertainment officially announced that Play M would undergo a merger with Cre.ker Entertainment before the end of the year.[4] 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.[5] The company's name change was registered on November 19, 2021 with Play M as the surviving company and Cre.ker as the defunct company.[1]
On February 7, 2022, IST announced that they will debut a new boy group in the first half of the year through a survival show, The Origin - A, B, or What?, which will air on MBN and also be available online on KakaoTV and 1theK. The show premiered on March 19, 2022.[6] On the finale episode aired on May 7, 2022, it was announced that the final 7 will debut as ATBO.[7]
On February 5, 2025, Beyond Music announced that it fully acquired IST Entertainment from Kakao Entertainment and will be incorporating it as a subsidiary.[8]
On September 23, 2025, it was reported that IST Entertainment's ownership rights had been transferred to Content Technologies, founded by former Beyond Music co-CEO Lee Jang Won.[9]
Artists[]
Groups[]
Trainees[]
Former artists[]
- Apink (2011–2023)
- Lim Jimin (2019–2021)
- Huh Gak (2011–2021)[13]
- Bandage (2020–2022)[14]
- Lim Hyeong Bin (2020–2022)
- Lee Chan Sol (2020–2022)
- Kang Kyoung Yoon (2020–2022)
- Shin Hyun Bin (2020–2022)
- VICTON
- Heo Chan (2016–2023)
- Do Han Se (2016–2023)
- Choi Byung Chan (2016–2023)
- Jung Su Bin (2016–2023)
- Han Seung Woo (2016–2024)[15]
- Kang Seung Sik (2016–2024)[16]
- Lim Se Jun (2016–2024)[17]
- Weeekly (2020–2025)[18]
- Shin Jiyoon (2020–2022)
- THE BOYZ (2021–2024)[19]
- The CrewOne (2024)
- ATBO (2022–2025)[20]
- Seok Rakwon (2022–2024)
Trainees[]
- Bae Sumin (2015–2018)
- Yoon Seeun (2018–2019)
- PlayM BOYS (2018–2021)
- Lee Seung Hwan (2018–2020)
- Jung Jin Sung (2018–2020)
- Jeon Do Yum (2018–2021)
- Song Byeong Hee (2018–2021)
- FAVEGIRLS
- Kodai
- Park Gwan Young
- Jeong Junho (2022)
- Kim Minseo (2022)
- Choi Jinwook (2022)
- Kang Daehyun (2022)
- Yang Dong Hwa (2022)
- Park Jaehoon (2022)
- Ki Hyeongjun (2024)
- Woo Ha Joon (2025-2026)
- Ryu Yeon-su
- Chu Yoo Chan
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 KOCCA: 대중문화예술기획업 등록기업 정보 (search under (주)플레이엠엔터테인먼트)
- ↑ Plan A Entertainment And FAVE Entertainment Merge Under Kakao M
- ↑ Plan A Entertainment And FAVE Entertainment Announce New Name After Merger
- ↑ Soompi: Apink’s Agency Play M And THE BOYZ’s Agency Cre.Ker Entertainment Announce Merger
- ↑ IST ent on Twitter (November 12, 2021)
- ↑ Korea JoonAng Daily: IST Entertainment will form new boy band through survival program
- ↑ Soompi: THE BOYZ And Apink’s Agency IST Entertainment Announces Final Debut Lineup And Name Of New Boy Group
- ↑ (KR) The Korea Economic Daily: [단독] 비욘드뮤직, '카카오엔터 자회사' IST엔터 인수
- ↑ (KR) The Bell News: '음원 IP 컴퍼니빌더' 콘텐츠테크놀로지스, 800억 투자유치 추진
- ↑ Soompi: Apink’s Son Naeun In Talks To Sign With YG After Leaving Play M + Other Apink Members Renew Contracts
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Soompi: All Apink Members To Leave IST Entertainment Except For Jung Eun Ji
- ↑ Soompi: Apink’s Jeong Eun Ji Parts Ways With IST Entertainment After 14 Years
- ↑ (KR) Star News: [단독]허각, 11년 몸담은 플레이엠 떠난다..아름다운 이별
- ↑ Bandage on Twitter (January 6, 2023)
- ↑ Soompi: Han Seung Woo Parts Ways With IST Entertainment After 8 Years
- ↑ Soompi: VICTON's Seungsik And Sejun Part Ways With IST Entertainment
- ↑ Soompi: VICTON's Seungsik And Sejun Part Ways With IST Entertainment
- ↑ Soompi: All Members Of Weeekly Part Ways With IST Entertainment
- ↑ Soompi: All 11 THE BOYZ Members Confirmed To Sign With New Agency
- ↑ Soompi: ATBO Announces Disbandment
Official links[]
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