WakeOne

WakeOne (Korean: 웨이크원, stylised in all caps) is a South Korean entertainment company under CJ ENM's entertainment division. Their current artists include Roy Kim, Ha Hyun-sang, Jo Yu-ri, Kep1er, Zerobaseone and Izna.

WakeOne Co., Ltd.

Native name	웨이크원
Formerly	MMO Entertainment Onefect Entertainment[lower-alpha 1]
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Music
Genre	K-pop R&B Folk
Predecessor	Stone Music Entertainment One Effect Entertainment Off The Record Entertainment Studio Blu Swing Entertainment [lower-alpha 2]
Founded	February 18, 2014 (2014-02-18) (as MMO Entertainment)
Headquarters	Seoul , South Korea
Number of locations	153 Tojeong-ro, Seogang-dong, Mapo-gu
Key people	Shin Jeong-soo (CEO) Park Woo-sang (Executive producer)
Number of employees	43 (2022)
Parent	CJ ENM Entertainment Division
Website	wake-one.com

History

2014–2018

The company was founded in 2014 by Son Dong-hoon under the name MMO Entertainment (MMO standing for Music Makes One, the slogan of CJ ENM's flagship music channel Mnet).^[1]

In September 2018, MMO and CJ ENM founded Off the Record Entertainment (Korean: 오프더레코드 엔터테인먼트) to manage Iz*One (now disbanded) and Fromis 9. Pledis Entertainment was involved in the creative direction and music production of both while they were in Off the Record until Pledis CEO withdrew from being involved with Iz*One after April 2020^[2] (Fromis 9 continued to be in the label until they fully transferred to Pledis in August 2021). Iz*One and Fromis 9 are debut groups of Mnet's girl group survival shows Produce 48 and Idol School, respectively.^[3]

2020–2021: Name changes, launch

In March 2020, the company name was changed to Onefect Entertainment.^{[citation needed]}

In May 2021, CJ ENM launched 'WakeOne'. In August, CJ ENM officially launched the label while integrating their in-house production and management labels Stone Music Entertainment, One Effect Entertainment, Studio Blu, and Off the Record.^[4][5] In the same months, Fromis 9 were transferred to Pledis Entertainment.^[6] Following their terminated management contract with n.CH Entertainment by CJ ENM in early 2021, TO1 were transferred to WakeOne in May 2021 (after the company reorganization in the same month).^[7]

On October 25, it was announced that WakeOne would co-manage the winner of the Girls Planet 999 group, Kep1er, with sister company Swing Entertainment. The group's contract will last for two years and six months.^[8] In December 2021, former RBW composer and producer Park Woo-sang transferred to the label.^[9]

2022–2023: New artists join the company

In October 2022, 2AM's Lim Seul-ong signed contract with WakeOne for his solo activities.^[10]

In January 2023, Dance crew Mbtious signed with the company.^[11]

In April 2023, nine members were selected through reality show Boys Planet to debut as the group Zerobaseone and would managed by WakeOne for two years and six months.^[12]

2024–present: Merging with Swing Entertainment

On April 3, 2024 WakeOne announced that it would merge with Swing Entertainment with this going into effect on June 1. WakeOne is the surviving entity after the merger.^[13]

In July 4, 2024 seven members were selected through the reality show I-Land 2: N/a to debut as Izna would be managed by WakeOne and will be produced by The Black Label and become their first non-temporary girl group with a standard contract.

Artists

Groups

• Kep1er
• Zerobaseone
• Izna

Soloists

• Ha Hyun-sang^[14]
• Jo Yu-ri
• Kim Jae-hwan^[15] (inactive due to military service)
• Roy Kim
• Lim Seul-ong^[16]

Producers

• Park Woo-sang

Former artists

• Hong Dae-kwang (2014–2017)
• Wable (2016–2017)
• IN2IT (2017–2020)^{[lower-alpha 3]}
  • Jinsub (2017–2018)^[17]
  • Sunghyun (2017–2019)
• Park Bo-ram (2014–2018)^[18]
• Son Ho-young (2017–2019)^{[lower-alpha 4]}
• Kim Feel (2016–2020)
• Hoons^{[lower-alpha 5][19][unreliable source?]}
• Kang Daniel
• Yoon Ji-sung
• Song Soo-woo^{[lower-alpha 6]} (2021–2022)
• TO1
  • Choi Chi-hoon (2020–2022)
  • Kim Min-su (2020–2022)
  • Cha Woong-gi (2020–2023)
  • Oh Seong-min (2020–2023)
  • Renta (2022–2023)
• Mbitious (2023–2024)^{[lower-alpha 7][20]}
• Davichi (2014–2024)
• Kep1er
  • Mashiro (2021–2024)
  • Kang Ye-seo (2021–2024)

Off the Record Entertainment

• Iz*One (2018–2021, co-managed with Swing Entertainment)
  • Kwon Eun-bi (2018–2021)
  • Sakura Miyawaki (2018–2021)
  • Kang Hye-won (2018–2021)
  • Choi Ye-na (2018–2021)
  • Lee Chae-yeon (2018–2021)
  • Kim Chae-won (2018–2021)
  • Kim Min-ju (2018–2021)
  • Nako Yabuki (2018–2021)
  • Hitomi Honda (2018–2021)
  • An Yu-jin (2018–2021)
  • Jang Won-young (2018–2021)
• Fromis 9 (2017–2021, moved to Pledis Entertainment)
  • Lee Sae-rom (2017–2021)
  • Song Ha-young (2017–2021)
  • Jang Gyu-ri (2017–2021)
  • Park Ji-won (2017–2021)
  • Roh Ji-sun (2017–2021)
  • Lee Seo-yeon (2017–2021)
  • Lee Chae-young (2017–2021)
  • Lee Na-gyung (2017–2021)
  • Baek Ji-heon (2017–2021)

Studio Blu

Further information: Studio Blu § Former artists

Notes

1. The company name prior to integration in 2021
2. in 2021
3. In 2020, remaining of the six member left from the company and continue as a group
4. In 2019, Son continue his contract with CJ ENM and were transfer to the company label Swing Entertainment.
5. Since 2018, the duo was releases music under MMO Entertainment along with Stone Music's FRON+DESK.
6. Winner of the 2020–2021 Mnet teenage audition program CAP-TEEN.
7. Dance crew that was formed on Mnet's survival program Be Mbitious. The crew then placed 3rd on Mnet's Street Man Fighter.

References

1. "Jellyfish Entertainment, Music Works, MMO, and 1877 Become Label Companies Under CJ E&M". www.mnetamerica.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
2. "안녕하세요" [Hello]. www.instagram.com. March 9, 2020.
3. "오프더레코드 "오늘부터 아이즈원X프로미스나인 소속사, 전폭지원" [공식입장 전문]". Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
4. "CJ ENM "Mnet max 론칭·웨이크원 출범, 음악산업 리더 될 것"". Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
5. "Cj Enm "산하 엔터테인먼트 통합해 웨이크원으로 출범"". Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
6. "프로미스나인, 플레디스엔터 이적..."아낌없이 지원할 것"". August 16, 2021. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
7. "TO1의 당찬 새 출발, 신곡 'Son of Beast' MV 티저 공개". May 18, 2021. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
8. Lee, Min-ji (October 25, 2021). "'걸스플래닛999' 최종 데뷔 그룹명 Kep1er 확정 "본격 데뷔 준비 돌입"(공식)". Newsen. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
9. "'히트곡 부자' 박우상 작곡가, RBW→웨이크원 이적". Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
10. "뉴스 : 네이버 TV연예". m.entertain.naver.com.
11. "뉴스 : 네이버 TV연예". m.entertain.naver.com.
12. "뉴스 : 네이버 TV연예". m.entertain.naver.com.
13. 김, 진현 (April 3, 2024). "CJ ENM 자회사 웨이크원, 스윙엔터테인먼트 흡수 합병". 넘버스 (in Korean). Retrieved April 19, 2024.
14. "뉴스 : 네이버 TV연예". m.entertain.naver.com.
15. Jeong, Ji-won (September 21, 2023). 웨이크원, 김재환 활동 모두 전담 "10월 亞공연·12월 컴백"(공식) [Wake One, in charge of all Kim Jae-hwan's activities, "Performance in October, Comeback in December" (Official)]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Retrieved September 21, 2023.
16. "2AM 임슬옹, CJ ENM 레이블 웨이크원과 전속계약 체결 [공식]". Naver. October 26, 2022. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
17. "인투잇 측 "김진섭, 메니에르 병으로 활동 중단"(공식입장)". ZenithNews. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
18. "박보람, Mmo엔터 계약만료 "새 소속사 물색 중"". Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
19. "훈스 : 네이버 통합검색". Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
20. "엠비셔스 전속계약 종료 안내" [Notice on termination of Ambitious exclusive contract]. www.instagram.com (in Korean). January 31, 2024.

External links

• Official website (in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese)