BTS’s company Big Hit Entertainment rebrands as HYBE

Big Hit Entertainment, the company managing global superstars BTS, is officially changing its name to HYBE.

Through a video presentation streamed live via YouTube on Friday, the company announced that it would be rebranding on its 16th year.

“What we think of as variation of music is that of infinite realm, and I think the name Big Hit Entertainment cannot fully capture this concept,” said chairman and chief executive officer Bang Si Hyuk.

Since the company, which manages other K-Pop groups including TXT, Enhypen, GFriend, and Seventeen, also handles music production, publishing, new artist development, artist management, platform business, and education business, Bang said they needed a new name that could encompass all aspects.

“I thought that we needed a new company name that could encompass all the business realms that we carry out and be a symbol for our connecting and expanding structure. HYBE symbolizes connection, expansion and relationships,” he said.

The chairman clarified that Big Hit would not disappear, but rather be within HYBE.

“The identity of Big Hit Entertainment will live on as Big Hit Music as a label that makes up HYBE,” he said.

“I believe that it will strengthen the fundamental capabilities as a label, that is music production, artist management and fan communication, attitude and standards that formed the bedrock that made HYBE what it is today.”

Under the new name, HYBE will have two offices—the main headquarters in South Korea and a branch in North America.

It will be composed of three divisions: labels, solutions, and platforms.

The labels division comprises Big Hit Music, Belift Lab, Source Music, Pledis Entertainment, KOZ Entertainment, and HYBE Labels Japan.

“The artists who belong to each of the labels have their own distinct colors, which is the characteristic of HYBE Labels,” said the chairman.

“Exactly, which is why each label will maintain their independence and originality,” said HQ CEO Jiwon Park.

The solutions include the HYBE subsidiaries involved in concerts, distribution, intellectual property, gaming, education, and other businesses, while the under the platform division is Weverse Company, which handles the fan community application.

According to the company, the name HYBE will be used after its approval during the 16th shareholders’ meeting on March 30. – RC, GMA News