MLD Entertainment explained

MLD Entertainment
Native Name:MLD 엔터테인먼트
Native Name Lang:ko
Type:Private
Industry:Music
Genre:K-pop
Founded:2015
Founder:Duble Sidekick
Location Country:South Korea

MLD Entertainment (formerly known as Duble Kick Entertainment;) is a South Korean entertainment agency and record label founded in 2015 by Duble Sidekick. The agency currently manages several artists, including Cheetah, Hori7on, and Lapillus and previously managed Momoland and TFN.

History

2015–2018: Formation and Momoland

Duble Kick Entertainment was founded in 2015 by the music-producing duo, Duble Sidekick.[1] [2] In 2016, the company aired a survival program on Mnet titled Finding Momoland, in which seven trainees were selected to form the lineup of Momoland. The group attracted attention internationally with their crowd-funded project to fund their debut release.[3] Their debut extended play, Welcome To Momoland, was released on November 10, 2016.[4]

2018–2021: Joint ventures and rebranding

The company rebranded itself as MLD Entertainment on January 16, 2018. On May 31, 2018, MLD Entertainment announced that they acquired BM Entertainment, R&D Company, and Double HTNE, as subsidiaries.[5] On October 13, 2020, MLD Entertainment announced that they had signed a deal with NHN Entertainment Corporation and Sony Music to simultaneously debut a boy band in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.[6] The group, T1419, later renamed to TFN, debuted on January 11, 2021, with the release of their EP, Before Sunrise Part.1.[7] On October 14, 2021, R&B duo JT&Marcus released their debut album, Dear You, under the agency.[8]

2022–present: Departure of Momoland and disbandment of TFN

The company partnered with ABS-CBN and Kamp Global on September 7, 2022, to form and manage a Filipino boy band in South Korea. The members of the band was determined through the survival program Dream Maker, in which seven contestants were selected to form the lineup of Hori7on.[9] [10] The group will debut on July 24, 2023, with the release of their album Friend-Ship.[11]

On January 6, 2022, CocaNButter, a quartet known for their appearances on Street Woman Fighter and Street Dance Girls Fighter, signed an exclusive contract with the agency.[12] Later, on April 14, 2022, Lee Seung-chul signed an exclusive contract with the agency.[13]

On May 16, 2022, the agency announced that they are set to debut a new girl group, Lapillus, for the first time since the debut of Momoland six years prior.[14] [15] [16] Lapillus debuted on with the release of the extended play Girl's Round Part.1, supported by its lead singles "Gratata" and "Burn with Love", on September 22, 2022.[17]

On January 27, 2023, MLD Entertainment issued a press release, announcing that the remaining six members of Momoland will not renew their contracts with the agency.[18] [19] Rapper Cheetah signed an exclusive contract with the company on April 6, 2023.[20] On February 29, 2024, media outlets reported that TFN had disbanded.[21]

Artists

Soloists

Groups

Former artists

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Smith . Corynn . 28 December 2012 . Duble Sidekick Kickstarts Duble Kick . MTV Iggy . 28 January 2015.
  2. News: Lee Eun-jeong . 20 May 2014 . 이단옆차기 "작곡은 '자뻑'과 '자학'의 반복이죠" . ko . . 28 January 2015.
  3. Web site: Chung . Jin-hong . 2016-10-20 . After reality show, girl group ready to rock . 2023-07-09 . . en.
  4. News: November 11, 2016 . Momoland to debut in M! Countdown's 500th episode . ko . Asian Economy . live . February 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191223211702/http://view.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2016111020175434751 . December 23, 2019.
  5. Web site: Park . Dong-jae . 2021-04-23 . 모모랜드 소속사 MLD엔터, 3개 엔터사 인수..공격적 사업 확장 . MLD Entertainment, Momoland's agency, acquired 3 entertainment companies... Aggressive business expansion . 2023-07-09 . breaknews.com.
  6. Web site: Park . Dong-jae . 2020-12-23 . [공식]‘모모랜드 남동생’ 그룹 T1419, 내년 1월 11일 데뷔 확정 ‘눈길’ . [Official] 'Momoland's younger brother' group T1419, confirmed to debut on January 11 next year 'eyes' . 2023-07-09 . breaknews.com.
  7. Web site: Jeong . Hee-yeon . January 11, 2021 . [DA:투데이] T1419 데뷔, '아수라발발타' 발표 (종합) ]. [DA:Today] T1419 debut, 'Asurabalbalta' announced (comprehensive) . January 11, 2021 . . ko.
  8. Web site: Ji . Mi-kyung . 2021-10-14 . JT&MARCUS, 오늘(14일) 데뷔 앨범 '너에게 닿기를' 발매 . JT&MARCUS, released their debut album 'Hope to reach you' today (14th) . 2023-07-11 . mosen.mt.co.kr . ko.
  9. Web site: 2023-02-13 . 'Dream Maker' final forms new seven-member Filipino boy band Hori7on . February 15, 2023 . . en.
  10. Web site: Lee . Jian . 2022-09-06 . K-pop agency MLD Entertainment to produce audition program in Philippines . 2023-08-09 . . en.
  11. Web site: Lee . Jeong-hyeok . 2023-07-04 . '글로벌 루키' 호라이즌, 24일 국내 데뷔 확정…첫 정규 'Friend-SHIP' 발매 . 'Global Rookie' Horizon confirms domestic debut on the 24th... First regular 'Friend-SHIP' release . 2023-07-03 . . ko.
  12. Web site: Park . Dong-jae . 2022-01-06 . 코카엔버터 전속계약, MLD서 모모랜드·연우·T1419 등과 한솥밥[공식] . Coca En Butter exclusive contract, MLD, Momoland, Yeonwoo, T1419, etc. [Official] . 2023-07-09 . 브레이크뉴스.
  13. Web site: Seo . Byeong-gi . 2022-04-14 . 이승철, 모모랜드 소속사 MLD와 매니지먼트 전속계약 체결 . Lee Seung-chul signed an exclusive management contract with Momoland's agency, MLD . 2023-07-11 . entertain.naver.com . ko.
  14. Web site: 2022-06-21 . Meet Lapillus, the newest K-pop girl group to watch out for . 2023-07-11 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  15. Web site: Chin . Carmen . 2021-12-23 . Agency behind Momoland to debut new girl group next year . 2023-08-09 . NME . en.
  16. Web site: Yeo . Gladys . 2022-04-26 . MOMOLAND’s agency to launch new “global” girl group in June . 2023-08-09 . NME . en-GB.
  17. Web site: August 31, 2022 . K-pop group Lapillus coming to PH . https://web.archive.org/web/20220902040801/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2022/9/2/Lapillus-Chanty-Philippines-trip.html . dead . September 2, 2022 . CNN Philippines.
  18. Web site: 2023-01-27 . All 6 Momoland members leave MLD Entertainment . 2023-07-11 . RAPPLER . en-US.
  19. Web site: Suacillo . Angela Patricia . 2023-01-27 . All members of MOMOLAND reportedly leave longtime agency MLD Entertainment . 2023-07-11 . NME . en-GB.
  20. Web site: Lee . Min-ji . 2023-04-06 . 치타, MLD엔터 전속계약 체결…이승철-코카앤버터 한솥밥 [공식] ]. Cheetah signed an exclusive contract with MLD Entertainment... Lee Seung-cheol - CocaNButter [Official] . newsen.com.
  21. Web site: Kim . Ji-ha . 2024-02-29 . ko:MLD엔터 "TFN, 전속계약 및 그룹활동 종료" [공식] . MLD Entertainment "TFN, exclusive contract and group activities terminated" [Official] . 2024-02-29 . Nate News.