IST Entertainment is a South Korean record label under Kakao Entertainment. It was founded on November 16, 2021 following the merger of two of Kakao M's labels: Cre.ker Entertainment and Play M Entertainment.
It is the current agency of THE BOYZ. The label is also home to artists such as Apink, VICTON, Bandage and Weeekly. The label also houses soloists Jeong Eun Ji, Oh Ha Young, Han Seung Woo, Kim Nam Joo and Do Han Se.
The agency was formerly known as Play M Entertainment, Plan A Entertainment and A Cube Entertainment where it was founded.
History[]
2011-2016: Foundation as A Cube Entertainment, renaming to Plan A Entertainment[]
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]
2019-2020: As Play M Entertainment[]
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.[1]
2021-present: IST Entertainment[]
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.[1]
Artists[]
Groups[]
- Apink (2011–present)
- Apink BnN (2014–present)
- Apink JooJiRong (2020–present)
- Apink YOS (2020–present)
- VICTON (2016–present)
- THE BOYZ (2017–present)
- Bandage (2020–present)
- Weeekly (2020–present)
Soloists[]
- Jeong Eun Ji (Apink) (2016–present)
- Oh Hayoung (Apink) (2019–present)
- Han Seung Woo (VICTON) (2020–present)
- Kim Nam Joo (Apink) (2020–present)
- Do Han Se (VICTON) (2021–present)
Trainees[]
- Huening Bahiyyih (Kep1er)
Former artists[]
- Apink
- Yookyung (2011–2013)
- Naeun (2011–2021)
- Lim Jimin (2019–2021)
- Huh Gak (2011–2021)[6]
Trainees[]
- PlayM BOYS (2018–2021)
- Lee Seung Hwan (2018–2020)
- Jung Jin Sung (2018–2020)
- Jeon Do Yum (2018–2021)
- Song Byeong Hee (2018–2021)
- Bae Sumin
- Yoon Seeun