Big Hit Entertainment (Hangul: 빅히트 엔터테인먼트), or BigHit, is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It currently manages soloist Lee Hyun and idol group BTS.
History
Big Hit Entertainment was founded on February 1, 2005, and signed the vocal trio 8Eight, consisting of Lee Hyun, Baek Chan, and Joo Hee, in 2007.
In 2010, Big Hit Entertainment and JYP Entertainment signed a joint management contract over the boy group 2AM. That year, Bang Si-hyuk launched nationwide auditions and signed RM (formerly known as Rap Monster), the first member of BTS, followed by the other members of the group. BTS made their debut under Big Hit in 2013.
In 2012, the company signed Lim Jeong-hee, and the girl group GLAM was formed as a collaboration between Source Music and Big Hit entertainment. The group was active until 2014, when they disbanded due to controversy over one of the members, Kim Da-hee, who was sentenced to prison following accusations of blackmail in relation to actor Lee Byung-hun.
Following the end of the joint contract between Big Hit and JYP Entertainment in April 2014, three of the 2AM members returned to JYP, while Lee Chang-min stayed with Big Hit in order to continue with his solo career and as part of the duo Homme. The year also saw the disbandment of 8Eight after Baek Chan and Joo Hee's contracts with Big Hit ended.
In May 2015, Signal Entertainment Group (Signal), a KOSDAQ-listed company specializing in artist management and television production, acquired Big Hit through a KR₩6 billion (~ million) convertible bond. Signal also owns Better ENT, the agency founded by actor Song Seung-heon, as well as another record label, Jungle Entertainment.
In May 2015, Lim Jeong-hee parted ways with Big Hit Entertainment, following the expiration of her three-year contract with the agency
In early 2017, BigHit ended their stake relationship with Signal Entertainment Group. BigHit issued a 6 billion won convertible bond Signal Entertainment Group in 2015. After a year, Signal Entertainment Group made a full settlement of the bonds.
In February 2018, Homme disbanded after member Changmin's contract came to an end. He left the company to start his own agency, while Lee Hyun continued on as a solo artist
Artists
Groups
- BTS (2013–present)
Soloists
- Lee Hyun (2009–present)
- RM (2015–present)
- Agust D (Suga) (2016–present)
- J-Hope (2018–present)
Actors
- Kim Tae-hyung (V) (2016–present)
Former Artists
- K.Will (2006-2007)
- 2AM (2010-2014, co-managed by JYP Entertainment)
- 8Eight (2007–2014, co-managed by Source Music)
- GLAM (2012–2015, co-managed by Source Music)
- Lim Jeong-hee (2012–2015)
- Homme (2010-2018)
- Changmin (2010-2014; 2015-2018)