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KOSDAQ: 122870

YG Entertainment

YG Entertainment Inc.
📅 Founded 1996 📍 Mapo-gu, Seoul 👤 Yang Hyun-suk 🏢 CEO: Hwang Bo-kyung
1996
Founded
4
Active Groups
2
Solo Artists
5
Past Acts
2
Sub-Labels
700+
Employees
₩500B
Revenue (2023)
About YG Entertainment

YG Entertainment was founded in 1996 by Yang Hyun-suk, a former member of legendary group Seo Taiji and Boys. YG carved out a distinct identity with a hip-hop and urban aesthetic that stood apart from SM and JYP's more polished approaches. The company launched BIGBANG - arguably the most influential K-pop group ever - as well as global phenomenon BLACKPINK. YG has faced controversy over the years but remains a core player in the K-pop industry. The Black Label, a YG subsidiary, operates as a semi-independent urban music label.

Label Structure

YG Entertainment operates through 2 labels.

YG Entertainment
BLACKPINK · TREASURE · BABYMONSTER · BIGBANG
The Black Label
Zion.T · VINCE · TAEYANGX
Active Artists

4 groups currently active under YG Entertainment

BLACKPINK
Est. 2016 · 4 members
YG Entertainment Quizzes →
TREASURE
Est. 2020 · 10 members
YG Entertainment Quizzes →
BABYMONSTER
Est. 2023 · 7 members
YG Entertainment Quizzes →
BIGBANG
Est. 2006 · 3 members · Hiatus
YG Entertainment Quizzes →
T.O.P left in 2023
Solo Artists
G-Dragon Quizzes →
Taeyang Quizzes →
Company Timeline
1996
Founded by Yang Hyun-suk, former Seo Taiji and Boys member
1998
1TYM debut - YG's first hip-hop group
2006
BIGBANG debut - redefines K-pop with hip-hop authenticity
2009
2NE1 debut - breaks the mold for K-pop girl groups
2011
GD&TOP sub-unit album; PSY signs with YG
2012
PSY's Gangnam Style - first K-pop video with 1B YouTube views
2016
BLACKPINK debut - become one of the most-followed acts globally
2019
Yang Hyun-suk resigns amid multiple controversies
2020
TREASURE debut; iKON continue under reduced terms
2023
BABYMONSTER debut; iKON depart the label
Past & Disbanded Acts
2NE1
2009 → 2016
WINNER
2014 → - · Reduced activity; members in military
iKON
2015 → - · Departed YG in 2023; now at DSP Media
CL
2013 → - · Left YG; now independent
AKMU
2014 → - · Still active under YG
Key Facts
YG's roster has among the highest social media follower counts in K-pop
BLACKPINK's YouTube channel has over 90 million subscribers
PSY's Gangnam Style was the first YouTube video to reach 1 billion views
BIGBANG is widely regarded as one of the most influential K-pop groups ever
The Black Label operates as a semi-independent subsidiary with its own artistic direction
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