Pledis Entertainment

Pledis Entertainment
Founded 2007
Founder Han Sung-soo
Status Active
Distributor(s) LOEN Entertainment
Neowiz Internet
Genre K-pop
Trot
Pop
Dance
Electropop
Dubstep
Electronic dance music
Country of origin South Korea
Location Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Official website www.pledis.co.kr

Pledis Entertainment (Hangul: 플레디스 엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency, home to K-pop artists After School, Orange Caramel, NU'EST and Seventeen.[1] Its name originates from the pleiades, a star cluster in the constellation Taurus.[2] The current vice-president is Kim Yeon-soo.[3]

History

2007-2012: Founding and early artists

Pledis Entertainment was founded in 2007 by Han Sung-soo. Son Dam-bi was the first artist to debut under Pledis, and was dubbed the 'female Rain' by media outlets.[4] The early agency did not have management premises, but only a practice room.[5]

Pledis debuted its first girl group, After School, in 2009. A sub-unit of After School called Orange Caramel was formed in 2010, consisting of members Nana, Lizzy, and Raina.

On December 6, 2010, the Happy Pledis 1st Album was released, including the tracks "Love Love Love" and "Someone Is You". Pledis planned for the "Happy Pledis" series of albums to be released annually, featuring all of their artists, with some of the proceeds going to charity. Proceeds from the first album were donated to Save the Children.

In 2011, After School was split into two further sub-units, A.S. Red and A.S. Blue.[6] The Happy Pledis 2nd Album, featuring Son Dam-bi, After School, Pledis Boys, and Yoo Ara, was released in December, with proceeds going to UNICEF.

In 2011 and 2012, Pledis Entertainment held auditions in San Francisco and Los Angeles.[7][8]

2012-present: Artist changes and joint venture with Yuehua Entertainment

Pledis debuted their first boy band NU’EST with the single "Face" on March 15, 2012. On May 9, a second girl group called Hello Venus debuted under Pledis in partnership with Fantagio.[9] In June, Kahi 'graduated' from After School, but remained signed under Pledis to launch her solo career.

On November 11, 2013, Pledis Entertainment and Chinese agency Yuehua Entertainment held a press conference titled "Yuehua Entertainment X Pledis" at the Beijing Banquet Hall, marking the start of a collaboration under which the sub-unit NU'EST-M was formed with the addition of Chinese member Jason Fulong Fei, known as JA. The six-member team performed for the first time at the press event.

On July 21, 2014, the partnership between Pledis and Fantagio was dissolved. The four members of Hello Venus under Fantagio continued as a group under the same name, while the two members under Pledis- Yoo Ara and Yoonjo- left the group. Yoo Ara later left the company and joined Urbanworks Entertainment. On December 31, 2014, Jooyeon graduated from After School and signed with Better ENT as an actress in January 2015. That month, Kahi also left the agency.

On May 26, 2015, thirteen-member boy group Seventeen debuted under Pledis, after training under the company for several years.[10]

Son Dam-bi left the agency after ten years on June 2, 2015.

Artists

All artists under Pledis Entertainment are collectively known as Happy Pledis, similarly to SM Town, YG Family or JYP Nation.

Musicians

Groups

Soloists

  • Raina (After School)
  • Han Dong Geun a.k.a Donny Han
  • Lizzy (After School)

Trainees

Pledis Girlz

Pledis Girlz is a group of Pledis trainees that have appeared publicly in various promotional activities.[11]

Former artists

Discography

Happy Pledis discography

References

  1. ↑ "Pledis Artist". www.pledis.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  2. ↑ ":: PLEDIS ::". www.pledis.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  3. ↑ "[XP초점] 세븐틴, 컴백 비하인드…"안무 연습기간? 단 2주"". entertain.naver.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  4. ↑ "Son Dambi Proves She Is The Female Rain". jpopasia. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  5. ↑ "Star News interviews Pledis CEO, Han Sung Soo". Allkpop.com. 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
  6. ↑ "After School splits up into subgroups". Allkpop.com. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  7. ↑ "Your chance to be a K-pop star—Pledis Entertainment will hold audition in U.S.". eng.ajunews.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  8. ↑ "Pledis USA Personal Audition". Allkpop.com. 2011-09-09. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  9. ↑ "Pledis Entertainment to Debut Another Girl Group, Hello Venus". Allkpop. 2012-11-30. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
  10. ↑ "New K-Pop Boy Band Seventeen Debut After 4 Years Of Preparation". kpopstarz.com. 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  11. ↑ "Pledis Girlz open official Twitter account + first group photo! | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  12. 1 2 "Ailee shows support for Pledis girls in “Produce 101”". Asiatoday News. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  13. ↑ "[단독] 애프터스쿨 리더 정아, 계약 만료…팀에서 졸업한다 - 열린세상 열린방송 MBN:". Star News. January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Son Dambi parts ways with Pledis Entertainment ~ Netizen Buzz". netizenbuzz.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  15. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (December 31, 2014). "Juyeon Announces Graduation From After School". Billboard K-Town. Retrieved January 2, 2015.

External links

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