In 2011,A Cube Entertainment was established as an independent label ofCube Entertainment. A Cube signed its first solo artistHuh Gak[1] and launched girl groupApink, which was made up from former Cube Entertainment trainees.
In November 2015, LOEN Entertainment (laterKakao M and thenKakao 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 renamedPlan A Entertainment since it was no longer affiliated with Cube Entertainment.[2] It launched its first boy groupVicton 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 was originally founded in 2012 asLOEN 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 includedFiestar,History,IU andSunny Hill.[6][7] Its trainees have notably featured inMIXNINE,Under Nineteen, andProduce 101. In October 2018, the label announced its upcoming girl group, temporarily known as "Fave Girls".[8]
Cre.ker Entertainment is a record label founded by Kakao Entertainment (formerly LOEN Entertainment) in 2014, the label is home to artist groupsMelody Day andThe Boyz.
2019–2025: 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][unreliable source?][10] Plan A Entertainment, being the surviving entity in the merger, was renamedPlay 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 asWeeekly.[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 beIST 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 areality 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 asATBO, and will debut in July 27.[18]
On April 11, 2022, IST Entertainment andUniversal Music Japan announced the foundation of their joint venture label, "Universal Music IST".[19]
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]
^Kwak, Hyeon-su (September 17, 2021).플레이엠·크래커 엔터 통합...에이핑크·더보이즈 한 식구 된다 [PlayM and Creker Enter integration... Apink and The Boyz become one family].YTN (in Korean).Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. RetrievedSeptember 17, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Kim, Ye-ji (November 12, 2021).에이핑크 '플레이엠'·더보이즈 '크래커', IST로 통합 [Apink's 'PlayM' and The Boyz's 'Creker' merged into IST] (in Korean).Newsis.Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. RetrievedNovember 12, 2021 – viaNaver.
^Kim, No-eul (February 7, 2022).에이핑크·더보이즈 소속사, 올 상반기 새 보이그룹 론칭 [공식입장] [Apink and The Boyz agency launch a new boy group in the first half of this year [Official position]] (in Korean).Xports News [ko].Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 7, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Jeong Bit (May 9, 2022).[공식]IST엔터, 新보이그룹 ABO 론칭...'디 오리진'으로 뽑힌 7人, 하반기 데뷔 [[Official] IST Entertainment launches new boy group ABO... 7 people selected as 'The Origin' to debut in the second half of the year] (in Korean).Sports Chosun.Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. RetrievedMay 9, 2022 – viaNaver.
^Seoyeon, Ban (January 15, 2021).김소현, 이앤티스토리와 전속계약 만료 "앞날 응원"(공식) [Kim So-Hyun and E&T Story and Exclusive Contract Expiration "Support for the Future" (Official)]. YTN Star.Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2021.
2012년 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2013년 01월 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2013년 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on June 25, 2019. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2014년 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2015년 06월 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2016년 07월 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2016년 08월 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2016년 09월 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2016년 36주차 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. December 21, 2016.Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. RetrievedDecember 21, 2016.
2017년 31주차 Download Chart.Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. August 10, 2017.Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. RetrievedAugust 10, 2017.
