Starship Entertainment

Starship Entertainment is a South Korean entertainment company founded in 2008 and became an independent subsidiary of Kakao Entertainment in 2013. It is also called one of the "five major agencies" in the pop music world, with SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment leading the way.

It has been recognized for its contributions to the Hallyu wave, being home to several prominent K-pop groups and soloists. These include groups such as Monsta X, WJSN, Cravity, and Ive and soloists such as K.Will, Yoo Seung-woo, Brother Su, Jeong Se-woon, Wonho, Kihyun, Joohoney, and Seola, as well as formerly home to Sistar, Boyfriend, Junggigo, Mad Clown, Jooyoung, and Soyou. It also manages actors under King Kong by Starship.

2008–2012: Founding and beginnings
Starship Entertainment was founded in 2008, by the couple Kim Shi-dae and Seo Hyun-joo with Kim Young-suk. Kim Shi-dae previously worked as a road manager for K-pop co-ed group Cool, as well as worked for Big Hit Entertainment between 2005 and 2007, while Seo Hyun-joo worked for JYP Entertainment.

Starship's first artist was ex-Big Hit singer K.Will, who released his first single "Love 119" for the label in 2008. In 2010, Starship debuted their first girl group Sistar, while their first boy group Boyfriend the following year.

2013–present: Expansion and subsidiary labels
In 2013, Starship launched its first subsidiary label "Starship X", with rapper Mad Clown being its first signed artist. On December 18, 70% of the label's shares were acquired by its distributor LOEN Entertainment (renamed to Kakao M in 2018 and predecessor of Kakao Entertainment), making it an independent subsidiary of the latter. As of 2022, Kakao Entertainment is still the largest shareholder of the label, holding a 59.73% stake.

In July 2014, Starship signed singer Jeong Se-woon, following his appearance on K-pop Star 3. In December, Starship formed its second boy group Monsta X through the Mnet's survival show No.Mercy, with the seven winners of the show, debuted in 2015, and promoted as a hip hop boy group.

In April 2015, Starship signed a mutual management contract with the Chinese label Yuehua Entertainment. In December, they jointly formed a new girl group Cosmic Girls, also known as WJSN, debuted in 2016, and aimed at appealing to both South Korean and Chinese audiences. In May, Starship acquired all of King Kong Entertainment's shares in a strategic partnership alliance. In January 2017, Starship and King Kong registered their merger. The agencies mutually agreed to use the name of Starship Entertainment, while the division that manages the actors would operate under the label "King Kong by Starship".

In 2017, Starship launched another subsidiary label House of Music, which focused was on recruiting smaller, independent artists, with MoonMoon being the first artist signed under the label. In November 2018, Starship renamed the label "Highline Entertainment". In June, its first girl group Sistar disbanded, with members Dasom and Soyou remaining under Starship.

In May 2019, its first boy group Boyfriend disbanded. In December, Starship acquired the performance production company Shownote at 100% stake. It was established in 2005, which has an accumulated experience in producing live entertainment in various fields including musicals, concerts, plays, showcases, children's performances, exhibitions, and fan meetings.

In 2020, Starship began expanding Highline, with signed artists such as Wonho, Yoo Seung-woo, and DJ Soda. On April 14, Starship debuted its new boy group Cravity. In August, Starship won the Korea Creative Content Agency Award, for their contributions to the Hallyu wave.

In June 2021, the label partnered with Eshy Gazit's new label venture Intertwine, in partnership with BMG. Monsta X and Wonho were the first two artists involved in the partnership, securing both a global distribution deal and expansion. On August 22, Starship is reported to form a new girl group, featuring then-trainees Jang Won-young and An Yu-jin, whom were formerly part of Iz*One, in the second half of 2021. The girl group Ive debuted on December 1.

In April 2022, Starship has appointed Lee Hoon-hee as the new CEO. He is an expert in the Korean entertainment industry, who has experienced music and media contents, and has served as CEO of KOEN Media Production Department, CEO of SM C&C, and the Head of Production at KBS. He will lead Starship with the current CEO Lee Jin-sung (CEO of King Kong by Starship). On August 8, Starship released a statement announcing that all members of Monsta X renewed their contracts, except I.M, but he will still continue to participate in the group's future plans. On October 24, Yang Jae-woong's older brother Yang Jae-jin, a psychiatrist and broadcaster, has signed an exclusive contract with the agency.

In January 2023, Starship planned to open its Dear U bubble service for all its artists, starting in February for three years. On March 3, Starship released a statement announcing that WJSN Chinese members' Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi had departed from the group following the expiration of their contracts. In the same announcement, it was also stated that Luda and Dawon chose not to renew their contracts, but did not specify whether they will remain in the group.

Philanthropy
In July 2022, Starship and its artists participated in The Blue Tree Foundation's campaign to declare support for non-violence. It was established to prevent school and cyberbullying, and to heal the victims, is conducting a "national non-violence campaign" in which the citizens can participate to publicize the seriousness of violence and to spread a culture of non-violence.

In February 2023, Starship donated ,000,000 to help in the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake through Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.

Active

 * 🇯🇵 Universal Music Japan
 * 🇯🇵 Sony Music Japan
 * 🇺🇸 Intertwine

Former

 * 🇯🇵 Being Group
 * 🇯🇵 Kiss Entertainment
 * 🇨🇳 Yuehua Entertainment

Artists
All artists under Starship Entertainment are collectively known as Starship Planet.

Soloists

 * K.Will
 * Jeong Se-woon
 * Kihyun
 * Joohoney
 * Seola

Groups

 * Monsta X
 * Shownu X Hyungwon
 * WJSN
 * Cravity
 * Ive

Project groups

 * Y-Teen (with KT Corporation)
 * OG School Project (with Cube Entertainment)
 * YDPP (with Brand New Music)
 * WJMK (with Fantagio)

Starship X

 * Brother Su
 * Kiggen

Highline

 * Wonho
 * Yoo Seung-woo
 * Leon
 * DJ Vanto
 * dress
 * ROVXE
 * Seungguk

Entertainers

 * Yang Jae-jin

Former artists

 * Sistar (2010–2017)
 * Bora (2010–2017)
 * Hyolyn (2010–2017)
 * Dasom (2010–2021)
 * Soyou (2010–2021)
 * Boyfriend (2011–2019)
 * Mind U (2017–2022)
 * Duetto (2017–2022)
 * I.M (2015–2022)
 * Luda (2016–2023)
 * Dawon (2016–2023)
 * Xuanyi (2016–2023)
 * Cheng Xiao (2016–2023)
 * Meiqi (2016–2023)

Starship X

 * Junggigo (2013–2018)
 * Mad Clown (2013–2018)
 * Jooyoung (2014–2021)
 * #Gun (2015–2022)

Highline

 * MoonMoon (2017–2018; contract terminated due to occlusion of a formal criminal record)
 * DJ Soda (2018–2021)
 * Lil Reta (2020–2022)
 * Jang Seok-hoon (2019–2022)
 * PLUMA (2019–2022)
 * M1NU (2020–2022)