KQ Entertainment
active
Native nameKQ엔터테인먼트
Former nameSeven Seasons Entertainment
IndustryEntertainment
GenreK-pop · Hip hop · R&B
Founded2016 (age 10)
FounderKim Kyu-wook
Hq locationMapo-gu
Hq location citySeoul
Hq location countrySouth Korea
Key peopleKim Kyu-wook (founder and CEO)
Subsid
  • Seven Seasons
  • KQ Produce
Websitekqent.com

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

Artists

KQ Ent.

Seven Seasons

KQ Produce

Former artists

References

  1. ^ "ko:블락비 소속 세븐시즌스→KQ엔터테인먼트 변경..공룡기획사 발돋움" (in Korean). Star News. June 20, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  2. ^ "블락비 소속사 세븐시즌스→KQ엔터테인먼트 사명 변경". Naver. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  3. ^ "KQ Ent.-About". kqent.com. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Staff, Billboard (2017-11-23). "Sony Music and South Korea’s KQ Entertainment Strike Global Strategic Partnership". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  5. ^ 배정원 (2022-04-14). ""해외 넘어 국내 노린다"…어디서 터질지 모르는 'K팝 로또'" (in Korean). 중앙일보. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  6. ^ "에이티즈, 오늘 데뷔...괴물 퍼포돌 출격 준비 끝". October 24, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Kim, Soo-jung (September 12, 2021). "ko:블락비 피오, 세븐시즌스와 전속계약 종료" [Block B P.O. Ends Exclusive Contract with Seven Seasons] (in Korean). Nocut News. Retrieved October 28, 2024. – via Nate
  8. ^ "Small K-pop labels rising". The Korea Times. February 21, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  9. ^ "Block B members Jaehyo, B-Bomb and U-Kwon to leave agency". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 4, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Boy band xikers to debut with EP 'House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing'". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 6, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  11. ^ "Ateez and xikers' agency launches exclusive fandom app". Korea JoongAng Daily. July 18, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  12. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (March 27, 2024). "ATEEZ & xikers to Star in Grammy Museum's First K-Pop 'Pop-Up' Exhibition". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "소향, 에이티즈와 한솥밥 의외네…KQ엔터테인먼트와 전속계약 체결" (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  15. ^ NEWS, SPOTV (November 20, 2017). "소니뮤직, 블락비 소속사 KQ엔터테인먼트와 손잡았다" (in Korean). SPOTV NEWS. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Herman, Tamar (July 24, 2019). "K-Pop Group ATEEZ Signs With RCA Records: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  17. ^ "소향, 에이티즈와 한솥밥 의외네…KQ엔터테인먼트와 전속계약 체결" (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved January 20, 2025.