Source Music (
Korean: 쏘스뮤직;
RR: ssoseumyujik) is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2009 by So Sung-jin. In July 2019, the company was acquired by
Hybe Corporation, making the company part of the collective term "Hybe Labels".[a] The company manages girl group
Le Sserafim, and previously managed soloist
Kan Mi-youn and girl groups
Glam and
GFriend.
History
2009–2014: Foundation and first generation artists
Source Music was founded on November 17, 2009, by So Sung-jin, who worked at
SM Entertainment as a talent manager for various artists between 2000 and 2002. He later moved to
JYP Entertainment.[2]
In 2010, the label's first-ever artist, female soloist
Kan Mi-youn (formerly of
Baby Vox) released her first digital single titled "Going Crazy".[3][4] The music video featured Lee Joon and Mir from
MBLAQ.[5] The song peaked at #11 on South Korea's national chart
Gaon.
In 2012,
Glam was formed as a joint collaboration between Source Music and
Big Hit Entertainment and was composed of Dahee, Trinity, Zinni, Miso and Jiyeon. Following Trinity's departure, they continued as a four-member group. The group was active until 2014 and was officially disbanded in January 2015, after Dahee was sentenced to one year imprisonment for a case of extortion against actor
Lee Byung-hun.[6]
In July 2019,
Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) acquired Source Music, making the company a subsidiary under Hybe Labels, Hybe Corp.'s subdivision of labels, and keeping its existing management and style.[9][10] On March 22, 2021, Source Music, as well as the other labels under Hybe Labels, moved to its new headquarters in the Yongsan Trade Center in the
Yongsan District, the new headquarters of its parent company, Hybe Corporation.[11] On March 31, 2021, the official website of Source Music changed its physical address to the new building in Yongsan, Seoul.[12]
Following the completion of their six-year contract, all GFriend members left the company on May 22, 2021, therefore marking the disbandment of the group.[13][14]
On March 14, 2022, former
Iz*One members
Sakura Miyawaki and
Kim Chae-won signed exclusive contracts with Source Music and confirmed their debut in a new group.[15][16]Le Sserafim, consisting of Sakura, Kim Chae-won,
Huh Yun-jin,
Kazuha, Kim Ga-ram and Hong Eun-chae, debuted on May 2 with the extended play Fearless.[17]
On April 13, 2022, the company was fined 3 million won by the Korea Personal Information Protection Commission and a correction order for disclosing personal information to third parties and failing to protect personal information.[18][19] Source Music used Google's questionnaire to reimburse membership fees related to the dissolution of the GFriend group, and the personal information of 22 survey participants was compromised due to improper disclosure of survey results.[20]
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (March 22, 2021).
빅히트 사옥 이전, 용산으로 [공식] [Big Hit office relocated to Yongsan [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean).
Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (May 18, 2021).
"여자친구 계약종료…각자 길 간다 [공식입장]". Sports Donga (in Korean).
Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^Yoon Sang-geun (March 14, 2022).
"미야와키 사쿠라·김채원 하이브 합류 "쏘스뮤직 걸그룹 데뷔"[전문]" [Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chae-won join Hybe "Source Music girl group debut" [Full text]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Jae-eun (March 21, 2022).
"쏘스뮤직 측 "김채원·사쿠라 그룹, 5월 데뷔 목표로 준비중"[공식]" [Source Music side "Kim Chae-won and Sakura group are preparing to debut in May" [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Khan. Retrieved March 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Baek Yoon-gi (April 13, 2022).
"'하이브 첫 걸그룹' 르세라핌, 5월 2일 데뷔 [공식]" ['Hybe's first girl group' Le Sserafim to debut on May 2nd [Official]] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved April 13, 2022 – via Naver.