IST Entertainment
Subsidiary
Native name아이에스티엔터테인먼트
FounderChoi Jin-ho
Key peopleJang Hyun-jin (CEO)
Yoon Young-ro (CEO)
IndustryMusic
Parent
SubsidE&T Story Entertainment (2018–2021)
Homepageistent.co.kr
Foundation2011
Former nameA Cube Entertainment (2011–2015)
Plan A Entertainment (2015–2019)
Play M Entertainment (2019–2021)
Location countrySouth Korea

IST Entertainment (Korean: 아이에스티엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment company under Content Technologies.

History

Plan A Entertainment

In 2011, A Cube Entertainment was established as an independent label of Cube Entertainment. A Cube signed its first solo artist Huh Gak[1] and launched girl group Apink, which was made up from former Cube Entertainment trainees.

In November 2015, LOEN Entertainment (later Kakao M and then Kakao Entertainment) acquired 70% of the entire label and subsequently absorbed it as an independent subsidiary. The label announced in March 2016 that it has been renamed Plan A Entertainment since it was no longer affiliated with Cube Entertainment.[2] It launched its first boy group Victon in November that year.

In early 2018, Plan A Entertainment acquired Kakao M's actor agency E&T Story Entertainment, owning 60% of the agency's shares. In the following months, Choi Jin-ho (founder and co-CEO) resigned and 30% of the remaining shares were sold for 3.51 billion won. As a result, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kakao M.[3]

Fave Entertainment

Main article: Kakao M

Fave Entertainment was originally founded in 2012 as LOEN Tree, to manage LOEN Entertainment's recording artists. It was spun-off as a separate subsidiary label in 2016 and renamed Fave Entertainment.[4][5] Artists who were transferred to Fave Entertainment included Fiestar, History, IU and Sunny Hill.[6][7] Its trainees have notably featured in MIXNINE, Under Nineteen, and Produce 101. In October 2018, the label announced its upcoming girl group, temporarily known as "Fave Girls".[8]

Cre.ker Entertainment

Main article: Kakao M

Cre.ker Entertainment is a record label founded by Kakao Entertainment (formerly LOEN Entertainment) in 2014, the label is home to artist groups Melody Day and The Boyz.

Merged agency named to IST Entertainment

On February 13, 2019, Kakao Entertainment released a statement that Plan A Entertainment and Fave Entertainment would be merging on April 1.[9][10] Plan A Entertainment, being the surviving entity in the merger, was renamed Play M Entertainment[11] and absorbed Fave Entertainment's assets and remaining artists, including trainees.[12]

In May 2020, it was announced that "Fave Girls", who became "Play M Girls" following the merger, would be debuting in June as Weeekly.[13] It is the company's first girl group since Apink.[14]

On September 17, 2021, Kakao Entertainment announced that Play M Entertainment and Cre.ker Entertainment would be merging in the future.[15]

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.[16]

On February 7, 2022, IST Entertainment announced the debut of a new boy group in the second half of the year through a reality competition show, The Origin – A, B, Or What?. The show premiered on March 19, 2022.[17] On the finale episode aired on May 7, 2022, it was announced that the final 7 will debut as ATBO, and will debut in July 27.[18]

On April 11, 2022, IST Entertainment and Universal Music Japan announced the foundation of their joint venture label, "Universal Music IST".[19]

Full acquisition by Beyond Music

On February 5, 2025, Beyond Music announced that it fully acquired IST Entertainment from Kakao Entertainment and will be incorporating it as a subsidiary.[20]

On February 26, 2025, IST Entertainment announced that all Weeekly members have terminated their contract with the label. The future activities of the group remain undecided as of now.[21]

On September 23, 2025, it was reported that IST Entertainment's ownership rights had been transferred to Content Technologies, founded by former Beyond Music co-CEO Lee Jang Won.[22]

On January 15, 2026, IST Entertainment announced to debut new 7-member boy group Tunexx in March led by Park Dong-gyu from Boys II Planet.[23]

Artists

Groups

  • Tunexx (2026–present)

Notable trainees

Former artists

IST Entertainment

Former label

A Cube Entertainment / Plan A Entertainment / Play M Entertainment

Cre.ker Entertainment

  • Melody Day (2014–2018)
    • Yeo Eun (2014–2018)
    • Yoo Min (2014–2018)
    • Ye In (2014–2018)
    • Cha Hee (2014–2018)
  • The Boyz

E&T Story Entertainment

  • Park Han-deul
  • Kim Ye-eun
  • Go Na-hee
  • Ahn Soo-min
  • Shin Hyeon-Seung (2020–2021)
  • Jung Soo-hyun
  • Kim So-hyun (2017–2021)[36]

LOEN Tree / Fave Entertainment

  • KRun
  • Park Ji-yoon (1997–1999)
  • Gain (2011–2013)
  • Mario (2011–2013)
  • Sunny Hill (2011–2017)
  • Fiestar (2012–2018)[37][38]
    • Cheska (2012–2014)
    • Jei (2012–2018)
    • Linzy (2012–2018)
    • Hyemi (2012–2018)
    • Yezi (2012–2018)
    • Cao Lu (2012–2018)[39]
  • IU (2012–2018)[b]
  • History (2013–2017)[40]
    • Song Kyung-il (2013–2019)
    • Na Do-Kyun (2013–2019)
    • Kim Shi-hyoung (2013–2019)
    • Kim Jae-ho (2013–2019)
    • Jang Yi-jeong (2013–2019)
  • Shin Zisu (2015–2016)
  • I.B.I (2016)
  • JBJ (2017–2018)

Discography

Main article: IST Entertainment discography

Projects

TitleYearArtistsPeak Chart PositionsSales
(Download)		Albums
Love Day2012Jung Eun-ji, Yang Yo-seob8A Cube For Season #Green
A Year Ago2013Jung Eun-ji, Kim Nam-joo, Jang Hyun-seung13A Cube For Season #White
Short HairJung Eun-ji, Huh Gak1A Cube For Season #Blue
Break Up To Make Up2014Jung Eun-ji, Huh Gak1A Cube For Season #Sky Blue
Photograph2015Kim Nam-joo, Yook Sung-jae29A Cube For Season #Blue Season 2
Bada 'Ocean.wav'2016Jung Eun-ji, Huh Gak5Plan A First Episode
#Begin AgainHuh Gak, Plan A Boys—Plan A Second Episode
Oasis2017Apink, Huh Gak, Victon100Plan A Third Episode

Notes

  1. ^ Transferred to Bluedot entertainment and debuted as member of Just B
  2. ^ Returned to Kakao M and then transferred to EDAM Entertainment in 2020.

References

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  41. ^ Digital sales for Love Day: * "ko:2012년 Download Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016. Archived May 18, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
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