K-pop Label Structure and Companies

A preview of every question in this General K-pop quiz. Try it first. Answers and explanations are at the bottom of the page (spoilers). General K-pop · Easy · 10 questions. 10 multiple-choice questions.

1. 1. The 'Big Three' K-pop companies (circa 2010-2020) are SM, YG, and which third company?

   • HYBE (Big Hit)
   • JYP Entertainment
   • Cube Entertainment
   • Starship Entertainment

   Fun fact: SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment were traditionally known as the Big Three K-pop companies, dominating the industry for over a decade.

2. 2. HYBE Corporation was founded in 2005 as what company?

   • Pledis Entertainment
   • Big Hit Entertainment
   • Source Music
   • KOZ Entertainment

   Fun fact: Big Hit Entertainment was founded in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It rebranded to HYBE Corporation in March 2021 after expanding significantly through BTS's success.

3. 3. Which company is home to both TWICE and Stray Kids?

   • SM Entertainment
   • YG Entertainment
   • JYP Entertainment
   • HYBE

   Fun fact: JYP Entertainment manages both TWICE (debuted 2015) and Stray Kids (debuted 2018), as well as other acts like ITZY, NMIXX, and DAY6.

4. 4. BLACKPINK and BIGBANG are both under which company?

   • SM Entertainment
   • JYP Entertainment
   • YG Entertainment
   • HYBE

   Fun fact: YG Entertainment is home to BIGBANG (debuted 2006), 2NE1 (debuted 2009), and BLACKPINK (debuted 2016), among other artists including WINNER and iKON.

5. 5. HYBE acquired which company in 2020, bringing SEVENTEEN under the HYBE umbrella?

   • Source Music
   • ADOR
   • Pledis Entertainment
   • KOZ Entertainment

   Fun fact: HYBE acquired Pledis Entertainment in May 2020, making SEVENTEEN (Pledis's biggest act) part of the HYBE family of labels.

6. 6. Which HYBE sub-label manages LE SSERAFIM?

   • ADOR
   • BELIFT LAB
   • Source Music
   • Big Hit Music

   Fun fact: LE SSERAFIM is under Source Music, a HYBE subsidiary that was acquired in 2019. Source Music was previously known for managing girl group G-Friend.

7. 7. Which HYBE sub-label was created specifically for ENHYPEN?

   • ADOR
   • BELIFT LAB
   • Source Music
   • KOZ Entertainment

   Fun fact: BELIFT LAB was established in 2019 as a joint venture between HYBE and CJ ENM specifically to manage the group that would be formed through the I-LAND survival show -- ENHYPEN.

8. 8. SM Entertainment is home to EXO, SHINee, NCT, and which of these classic groups?

   • BIGBANG
   • 2PM
   • Girls' Generation (SNSD)
   • Wonder Girls

   Fun fact: SM Entertainment manages EXO, SHINee, NCT, Red Velvet, aespa, and classic groups like Girls' Generation, H.O.T., S.E.S., BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, and f(x).

9. 9. (G)I-DLE and BTOB are both under which company?

   • SM Entertainment
   • Cube Entertainment
   • Starship Entertainment
   • JYP Entertainment

   Fun fact: Cube Entertainment manages (G)I-DLE (debuted 2018) and BTOB (debuted 2012), along with other artists like HyunA and Dawn.

10. 10. Which sub-label of HYBE manages NewJeans?

    • BELIFT LAB
    • Source Music
    • ADOR
    • Big Hit Music

    Fun fact: NewJeans is under ADOR (All Doors One Room), a HYBE sub-label headed by creative director Min Hee-jin. ADOR was specifically created to develop NewJeans' unique aesthetic.

Spoilers: the right answer to each question of this General K-pop quiz, with its explanation and source when we have one.

1. 1. The 'Big Three' K-pop companies (circa 2010-2020) are SM, YG, and which third company?

   Answer: JYP Entertainment

   Fun fact: SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment were traditionally known as the Big Three K-pop companies, dominating the industry for over a decade.

2. 2. HYBE Corporation was founded in 2005 as what company?

   Answer: Big Hit Entertainment

   Fun fact: Big Hit Entertainment was founded in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It rebranded to HYBE Corporation in March 2021 after expanding significantly through BTS's success.

3. 3. Which company is home to both TWICE and Stray Kids?

   Answer: JYP Entertainment

   Fun fact: JYP Entertainment manages both TWICE (debuted 2015) and Stray Kids (debuted 2018), as well as other acts like ITZY, NMIXX, and DAY6.

4. 4. BLACKPINK and BIGBANG are both under which company?

   Answer: YG Entertainment

   Fun fact: YG Entertainment is home to BIGBANG (debuted 2006), 2NE1 (debuted 2009), and BLACKPINK (debuted 2016), among other artists including WINNER and iKON.

5. 5. HYBE acquired which company in 2020, bringing SEVENTEEN under the HYBE umbrella?

   Answer: Pledis Entertainment

   Fun fact: HYBE acquired Pledis Entertainment in May 2020, making SEVENTEEN (Pledis's biggest act) part of the HYBE family of labels.

6. 6. Which HYBE sub-label manages LE SSERAFIM?

   Answer: Source Music

   Fun fact: LE SSERAFIM is under Source Music, a HYBE subsidiary that was acquired in 2019. Source Music was previously known for managing girl group G-Friend.

7. 7. Which HYBE sub-label was created specifically for ENHYPEN?

   Answer: BELIFT LAB

   Fun fact: BELIFT LAB was established in 2019 as a joint venture between HYBE and CJ ENM specifically to manage the group that would be formed through the I-LAND survival show -- ENHYPEN.

8. 8. SM Entertainment is home to EXO, SHINee, NCT, and which of these classic groups?

   Answer: Girls' Generation (SNSD)

   Fun fact: SM Entertainment manages EXO, SHINee, NCT, Red Velvet, aespa, and classic groups like Girls' Generation, H.O.T., S.E.S., BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, and f(x).

9. 9. (G)I-DLE and BTOB are both under which company?

   Answer: Cube Entertainment

   Fun fact: Cube Entertainment manages (G)I-DLE (debuted 2018) and BTOB (debuted 2012), along with other artists like HyunA and Dawn.

10. 10. Which sub-label of HYBE manages NewJeans?

    Answer: ADOR

    Fun fact: NewJeans is under ADOR (All Doors One Room), a HYBE sub-label headed by creative director Min Hee-jin. ADOR was specifically created to develop NewJeans' unique aesthetic.