IST Entertainment

IST Entertainment

Native name	아이에스티엔터테인먼트
Formerly	A Cube Entertainment (2011–2015) Plan A Entertainment (2015–2019) Play M Entertainment (2019–2021)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Music
Founded	2011 (2011)
Founder	Choi Jin-ho
Headquarters	South Korea
Key people	Jang Hyun-jin (CEO) Yoon Young-ro (CEO)
Parent	Cube Entertainment (2011-2015) Kakao Entertainment (2015-2025) Beyond Music (since 2025)
Subsidiaries	E&T Story Entertainment (2018–2021)
Website	www.istent.co.kr

History

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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

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

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.

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 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]

2025–present: 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]

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Former artists

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