WM Entertainment (Hangul: WM 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment company established in 2008 by former singer Lee Won-min (birth name: Kim Jung-soo).[1] The company is responsible for managing artists such as B1A4, Oh My Girl, and ONF.[3] On April 7, 2021, the company was acquired by RBW.
History
WM Entertainment was founded in 2008 by former South Korean singer Kim Jung-soo, who formally changed his name to Lee Won-min before establishing WM Entertainment.[4]
The company was originally operated in a one-story building located in Bangbae-dong, Seocho District.[5] In August 2014, Lee Won-min purchased a six-story building located in Mangwon-dong, Mapo District named Daemyung Tower Building for KR₩4.33 billion (approximately US$3.85 million), which functions as the current headquarters for WM Entertainment.[4][6]
Almost a year after its foundation, WM Entertainment signed up Battle Shinhwa alumnus Taegoon. H-Eugene and Baby Vox Re.V member Ahn Jin-kyung joined the company in 2010.
WM Entertainment debuted their first boy group B1A4 on April 23, 2011.
WM Entertainment's first girl group Oh My Girl debuted on April 21, 2015.
WM Entertainment debuted soloist I (sister of B1A4 member Baro) on January 12, 2017.
WM's second boy group ONF debuted on August 2, 2017.
On April 7, 2021, it was announced that WM Entertainment had 70% of its shares bought by RBW, which houses idol groups such as Mamamoo, Oneus, Vromance, Onewe and Purple Kiss. WM became a subsidiary of RBW.[7]
^"WM 엔터테인먼트" [WM Entertainment]. Saramin Media Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
^ ab"B1A4 소속사…전직가수 대표, 43억빌딩 사 13억차익". Skye Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
^"Contact Us". WM Entertainment (in Korean). Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
^"[르포] B1A4 회사있는 망원역 상권 활활". Asia Today (in Korean). 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
^"RBW, 오마이걸 소속사 WM엔터 인수 'K콘텐츠 선도'". Paxnet News (in Korean). April 7, 2021. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
^"[공식입장] 오마이걸 측 "진이, 전속계약 해지→7인조 재편..건강이 우선"". Archived from the original on 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
^Kim Soo-young (May 9, 2022). "지호, 오마이걸 떠난다…"전속계약 종료·팀 6인 체제 변경" [공식]" [Jiho is leaving Oh My Girl... "Exclusive contract termination, team 6-member system change" [Official]] (in Korean). Korea Economic Daily. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via Naver.
^ ab"[공식입장] B1A4 측 "진영·바로 외 3인 재계약…팀 재정비 집중"" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2018-06-30.