Antenna
South Korean artist management and entertainment agency.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Late VC | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Antenna is a South Korean entertainment and artist management agency founded in 1997 by musician You Hee-yeol, initially under the name Toy Music. The founder, a singer-songwriter known for the project band Toy, established the label to support artists focused on the essence of music. The company rebranded from Toy Music to Antenna Music in 2007, signifying a mission to spread good musical waves like a radio antenna, and later restructured to Antenna Co., Ltd. in 2015.
The agency started by producing albums for artists like Lucid Fall and Kim Yeon-woo. A significant expansion occurred between 2013 and 2017 when You Hee-yeol, serving as a judge on the competition show K-pop Star, recruited finalists such as Sam Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, and Jung Seung-hwan. The business has since broadened its scope from a music-centric label to a comprehensive entertainment company, managing musicians, producers, actors, and television personalities. Its roster includes prominent figures like TV host Yoo Jae-suk, singer Lee Hyori, and actor Lee Seo-jin.
In May 2021, Kakao Entertainment made a strategic investment by acquiring a 19% stake in Antenna, and by August 2021, it fully acquired the company, making it a subsidiary. This partnership aimed to leverage Kakao's resources to discover new artists and expand into music and video content. However, in June 2023, You Hee-yeol and Yoo Jae-suk bought back significant stakes, becoming the second and third-largest shareholders, respectively, while Kakao Entertainment remains the largest shareholder. Financially, the company's revenue increased in 2023, but it also reported an operating loss, attributed to a rise in operating expenses, including salaries.
To diversify its content, Antenna established an independent production studio, Antenna Plus, in November 2022. This division creates original content, including the popular YouTube talk show "Pinggyego," hosted by Yoo Jae-suk, as part of its strategy to bolster future revenue streams.
Keywords: South Korean entertainment, artist management, music label, K-pop, talent agency, Kakao Entertainment, You Hee-yeol, Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Hyori, record label, Korean music, artist development, content production, Antenna Plus, K-variety, singer-songwriters, music producers, entertainment content, Korean artists, artist representation