MLD Entertainment

MLD Entertainment
Native name
MLD 엔터테인먼트
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusic
GenreK-pop
Founded2015
FounderDuble Sidekick
Headquarters
South Korea
Key people
  • Lee Hyung-jin[1]
Websitewww.mldenter.com

MLD Entertainment (formerly known as Duble Kick Entertainment; Korean: MLD 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment agency and record label founded in 2015 by Duble Sidekick. The agency currently manages several artists, including Cheetah, Hori7on, and Lapillus and previously managed Momoland and TFN.

History

2015–2018: Formation and Momoland

Momoland at KBS Music Bank in February 2018.

Duble Kick Entertainment was founded in 2015 by the music-producing duo, Duble Sidekick.[2][3] In 2016, the company aired a survival program on Mnet titled Finding Momoland, in which seven trainees were selected to form the lineup of Momoland. The group attracted attention internationally with their crowd-funded project to fund their debut release.[4] Their debut extended play, Welcome To Momoland, was released on November 10, 2016.[5]

2018–2021: Joint ventures and rebranding

The company rebranded itself as MLD Entertainment on January 16, 2018. On May 31, 2018, MLD Entertainment announced that they acquired BM Entertainment, R&D Company, and Double HTNE, as subsidiaries.[6]

TFN in May 2021.

On October 13, 2020, MLD Entertainment announced that they had signed a deal with NHN Entertainment Corporation and Sony Music to simultaneously debut a boy band in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.[7] The group, T1419, later renamed to TFN, debuted on January 11, 2021, with the release of their EP, Before Sunrise Part.1.[8] On October 14, 2021, R&B duo JT&Marcus released their debut album, Dear You, under the agency.[9]

2022–present: Departure of Momoland and disbandment of TFN

The company partnered with ABS-CBN and Kamp Global on September 7, 2022, to form and manage a Filipino boy band in South Korea. The members of the band was determined through the survival program Dream Maker, in which seven contestants were selected to form the lineup of Hori7on.[10][11] The group debuted July 24, 2023, with the release of their album Friend-Ship.[12]

On January 6, 2022, CocaNButter, a quartet known for their appearances on Street Woman Fighter and Street Dance Girls Fighter, signed an exclusive contract with the agency.[13] On April 14, 2022, Lee Seung-chul signed an exclusive contract with the agency.[14]

On May 16, 2022, the agency announced that it formed a new girl group, Lapillus, for the first time since the debut of Momoland six years prior.[15][16][17] Lapillus debuted on with the release of the extended play Girl's Round Part.1, supported by its lead singles "Gratata" and "Burn with Love", on September 22, 2022.[18]

On January 27, 2023, MLD Entertainment issued a press release announcing that the remaining six members of Momoland did not renew their contracts with the company.[19][20] Rapper Cheetah signed an exclusive contract with the company on April 6, 2023.[21] On February 29, 2024, media outlets reported that TFN had disbanded.[22]

Artists

Soloists

Groups

  • JT&Marcus (2021–present)
  • CocaNButter (2022–present)
  • Narin (2022–present)
  • Lapillus (2022–present)
  • Hori7on (2023–present)
  • New: ID (2023–present)

Former artists

  • Momoland (2016–2023)
    • Yeonwoo (2016–2019)
    • Taeha (2017–2019)
    • Daisy (2017–2019)
    • Hyebin (2016–2023)
    • Jane (2016–2023)
    • Nayun (2016–2023)
    • JooE (2016–2023)
    • Ahin (2016–2023)
    • Nancy (2016–2023)
  • TFN (2021–2024)

References

  1. ^ Mallorca, Hannah (February 15, 2023). "HORI7ON gearing up for June debut in South Korea — MLD Entertainment CEO". Inquirer.net. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  2. ^ Smith, Corynn (December 28, 2012). "Duble Sidekick Kickstarts Duble Kick". MTV Iggy. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Lee, Eun-jung (May 20, 2014). 이단옆차기 "작곡은 '자뻑'과 '자학'의 반복이죠" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  4. ^ Cheong, Jin-hong (October 20, 2016). "After reality show, girl group ready to rock". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  5. ^ 모모랜드, '엠카운트다운' 500회 특집 통해 전격 데뷔. Asian Economy (in Korean). November 11, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  6. ^ Park, Dong-jae (April 23, 2021). 모모랜드 소속사 MLD엔터, 3개 엔터사 인수..공격적 사업 확장 [MLD Entertainment, Momoland's agency, acquired 3 entertainment companies... Aggressive business expansion]. Break News (in Korean). Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  7. ^ Park, Dong-jae (December 23, 2020). ［공식］'모모랜드 남동생' 그룹 T1419, 내년 1월 11일 데뷔 확정 '눈길' [[Official] 'Momoland's younger brother' group T1419, confirmed to debut on January 11 next year 'eyes']. Break News (in Korean). Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Jung, Hee-yeon (January 11, 2021). [DA:투데이] T1419 데뷔, '아수라발발타' 발표 (종합) [[DA:Today] T1419 debut, 'Asurabalbalta' announced (comprehensive)]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  9. ^ Ji, Mi-kyung (October 14, 2021). JT&MARCUS, 오늘(14일) 데뷔 앨범 '너에게 닿기를' 발매 [JT & Marcus released their debut album 'Hope to reach you' today (14th)]. Mosen (in Korean). Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  10. ^ "'Dream Maker' final forms new seven-member Filipino boy band Hori7on". Korea JoongAng Daily. February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Lee, Jian (September 6, 2022). "K-pop agency MLD Entertainment to produce audition program in Philippines". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Lee, Jung-hyuk (July 4, 2023). '글로벌 루키' 호라이즌, 24일 국내 데뷔 확정...첫 정규 'Friend-SHIP' 발매 ['Global Rookie' Horizon confirms domestic debut on the 24th... First regular 'Friend-SHIP' release]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). ChosunMedia. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  13. ^ Park, Dong-jae (January 6, 2022). "코카엔버터 전속계약, MLD서 모모랜드·연우·T1419 등과 한솥밥［공식］" [Coca En Butter exclusive contract, MLD, Momoland, Yeon-woo, T1419, etc. [Official]]. Break News (in Korean). Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  14. ^ Seo, Byung-gi (April 14, 2022). 이승철, 모모랜드 소속사 MLD와 매니지먼트 전속계약 체결 [Lee Seung-chul signed an exclusive management contract with Momoland's agency, MLD]. Naver Entertainment (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  15. ^ "Meet Lapillus, the newest K-pop girl group to watch out for". Rappler. June 21, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  16. ^ Chin, Carmen (December 23, 2021). "Agency behind Momoland to debut new girl group next year". NME. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Yeo, Gladys (April 26, 2022). "Momoland's agency to launch new "global" girl group in June". NME. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "K-pop group Lapillus coming to PH". CNN Philippines. CNN. August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022.
  19. ^ "All 6 Momoland members leave MLD Entertainment". Rappler. January 27, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  20. ^ Suacillo, Angela Patricia (January 27, 2023). "All members of Momoland reportedly leave longtime agency MLD Entertainment". NME. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Lee, Min-ji (April 6, 2023). 치타, MLD엔터 전속계약 체결…이승철-코카앤버터 한솥밥 [공식] [Cheetah signed an exclusive contract with MLD Entertainment... Lee Seung-chul- CocaNButter [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean).
  22. ^ Kim, Ji-ha (February 29, 2024). MLD엔터 "TFN, 전속계약 및 그룹활동 종료" [공식] [MLD Entertainment "TFN, exclusive contract and group activities terminated" [Official]]. Nate News (in Korean). Nate. Retrieved February 29, 2024.