KQ Entertainment, formerly known as Seven Seasons, is a South Korean entertainment company founded in 2016 by Kim Kyu-wook.[1]
KQ Entertainment, is home to the K-pop groups Ateez and Xikers, and manages two labels: Seven Seasons, Block B's label, and KQ Produce, a label for singer-songwriters and producers.[1]
History
After Block B left Stardom Entertainment in 2013, Kim Kyu-wook founded the label Seven Seasons specifically for the group, the name representing the seven members.[1]
In June 2016 Seven Seasons changed their name to KQ Entertainment in order to branch out, develop and support a bigger variety of artists and improve their management through structural changes.[2] Seven Seasons has operated since then as one of two subsidiaries along the label KQ Produce.[3]
In November 2017, it was announced Sony Music Korea had struck a strategic partnership through equity investment with KQ Entertainment; it was later revealed they own 33%.[4][5]
The K-pop group Ateez debuted in October 2018 under the label KQ Entertainment.[6]
In September 2021, P.O's label, Seven Seasons, announced that he would not be renewing his contract with them at the end of the month.[7]
The label has been focusing on international markets as a way to gain attention for their group Ateez.[8]
In January 2023, Block B members Jaehyo, B-Bomb and U-Kwon left KQ Entertainment after the expiration of their respective contracts.[9]
On March 30, 2023, KQ Entertainment debuted a new boy group Xikers.[10]
KQ Entertainment has created a new app for fans to receive information and content about their boy groups Ateez and Xikers.[11]
For one month from April 10 to June 10, 2024, KQ Entertainment held KQ ENT. (ATEEZ & xikers): A Grammy Museum Pop-Up in partnership with the Grammy Museum.[12][13]
On January 20, 2025, KQ announced that they had signed an exclusive contract with Sohyang.[14]
Partnerships
- Sony Music[15]
- CJ E&M
- My Music Taste
- RCA Records[16]
Artists
KQ Ent.
- Ateez
- Xikers
- Sohyang[17]
Seven Seasons
- Block B
- Bastarz
- T2U
- Taeil
- Park Kyung
KQ Produce
- Eden
- Maddox (singer)
Former artists
- Zico
- Lucy
- HBL
- Heo Young-saeng
- Babylon
- Score
- P.O
- B-Bomb
- Jaehyo
- U-Kwon
References
- https://www.starnewskorea.com/stview.php?no=2016062015431895181 Star News, June 20, 2016, retrieved September 14, 2023^
- 블락비 소속사 세븐시즌스→KQ엔터테인먼트 사명 변경 Naver, retrieved August 13, 2021^
- KQ Ent.-About kqent.com, retrieved August 13, 2021^
- Billboard Staff. Sony Music and South Korea’s KQ Entertainment Strike Global Strategic Partnership Billboard, 2017-11-23, retrieved 2025-08-24^
- 배정원. "해외 넘어 국내 노린다"…어디서 터질지 모르는 'K팝 로또' 중앙일보, 2022-04-14, retrieved 2025-08-24^
- 에이티즈, 오늘 데뷔...괴물 퍼포돌 출격 준비 끝 October 24, 2018, retrieved August 14, 2021^
- Soo-jung Kim. https://news.nate.com/view/20210912n04591 Nocut News, September 12, 2021, retrieved October 28, 2024^
- Small K-pop labels rising The Korea Times, February 21, 2022, retrieved November 8, 2023^
- Block B members Jaehyo, B-Bomb and U-Kwon to leave agency Korea JoongAng Daily, January 4, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2023^
- Boy band xikers to debut with EP 'House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing' Korea JoongAng Daily, March 6, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2023^
- Ateez and xikers' agency launches exclusive fandom app Korea JoongAng Daily, July 18, 2023, retrieved September 14, 2023^
- Jeff Benjamin. ATEEZ & xikers to Star in Grammy Museum's First K-Pop 'Pop-Up' Exhibition Billboard, March 27, 2024, retrieved June 17, 2024^
- Ateez and xikers' outfits to feature at L.A. Grammy Museum's first-ever K-pop exhibition Korea JoongAng Daily, March 28, 2024, retrieved June 17, 2024^
- 소향, 에이티즈와 한솥밥 의외네…KQ엔터테인먼트와 전속계약 체결 Ten Asia, retrieved January 20, 2025^
- SPOTV NEWS. 소니뮤직, 블락비 소속사 KQ엔터테인먼트와 손잡았다 SPOTV NEWS, November 20, 2017, retrieved September 14, 2023^
- Tamar Herman. K-Pop Group ATEEZ Signs With RCA Records: Exclusive Billboard, July 24, 2019, retrieved October 28, 2024^
- 소향, 에이티즈와 한솥밥 의외네…KQ엔터테인먼트와 전속계약 체결 Ten Asia, retrieved January 20, 2025^