Source Music (Korean: 쏘스뮤직; RR: ssoseumyujik) is a South Korean record label established in 2009 by So Sung-jin. In July 2019, the company was acquired by Hybe Corporation, making the company part of the collective term "Hybe Labels".[a] The company manages girl group Le Sserafim, and previously managed soloist Kan Mi-youn and girl groups Glam and GFriend.
Source Music was founded on November 17, 2009, by So Sung-jin, who worked at SM Entertainment as a talent manager for various artists between 2000 and 2002. He later moved to JYP Entertainment.[1]
In 2010, the label's first-ever artist, female soloist Kan Mi-youn (formerly of Baby Vox) released her first digital single titled "Going Crazy".[2][3] The music video featured Lee Joon and Mir from MBLAQ.[4] The song peaked at #11 on South Korea's national chart Gaon.
In 2012, Glam was formed as a joint collaboration between Source Music and Big Hit Entertainment and was composed of Dahee, Trinity, Zinni, Miso and Jiyeon. Following Trinity's departure, they continued as a four-member group. The group was active until 2014 and was officially disbanded in January 2015, after Dahee was sentenced to one year imprisonment for a case of extortion against actor Lee Byung-hun.[5]
In July 2019, Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) acquired Source Music, making the company a subsidiary under Hybe Labels, Hybe Corp.'s subdivision of labels, and keeping its existing management and style.[8][9] On March 22, 2021, Source Music, as well as the other labels under Hybe Labels, moved to its new headquarters in the Yongsan Trade Center in the Yongsan District, the new headquarters of its parent company, Hybe Corporation.[10] On March 31, 2021, the official website of Source Music changed its physical address to the new building in Yongsan, Seoul.[11]
Following the completion of their six-year contract, all GFriend members left the company on May 22, 2021, marking the disbandment of the group.[12][13]
On March 14, 2022, former Iz*One members Sakura Miyawaki and Kim Chaewon signed exclusive contracts with Source Music and confirmed their debut in a new group.[14][15]Le Sserafim, consisting of Sakura, Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, Kim Ga-ram and Hong Eun-chae, debuted on May 2 with the extended play Fearless.[16]
On April 13, 2022, the company was fined ₩3 million and given a correction order by the Korea Personal Information Protection Commission for disclosing personal information to third parties and failing to protect personal information.[17][18] Source Music used Google's questionnaire to reimburse membership fees related to the disbandment of GFriend, and the personal information of 22 survey participants was compromised due to improper disclosure of survey results.[19]
On September 24, 2024, Source Music announced that the members of GFriend would reunite in 2025 for a tenth anniversary project. [20]
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (March 22, 2021). 빅히트 사옥 이전, 용산으로 [공식] [Big Hit office relocated to Yongsan [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (May 18, 2021). "여자친구 계약종료…각자 길 간다 [공식입장]". Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^Yoon Sang-geun (March 14, 2022). "미야와키 사쿠라·김채원 하이브 합류 "쏘스뮤직 걸그룹 데뷔"[전문]" [Miyawaki Sakura and Kim Chaewon join Hybe "Source Music girl group debut" [Full text]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Jae-eun (March 21, 2022). "쏘스뮤직 측 "김채원·사쿠라 그룹, 5월 데뷔 목표로 준비중"[공식]" [Source Music side "Kim Chaewon and Sakura group are preparing to debut in May" [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Khan. Retrieved March 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Baek Yoon-gi (April 13, 2022). "'하이브 첫 걸그룹' 르세라핌, 5월 2일 데뷔 [공식]" ['Hybe's first girl group' Le Sserafim to debut on May 2nd [Official]] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved April 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seung-gil (September 24, 2024). "[공식] 여자친구, 4년만에 재결합 한다...쏘스뮤직 "데뷔 10주년 기념 프로젝트" (전문)" [[Official] GFriend reunites after 4 years... Source Music "10th Anniversary Debut Project" (Full Text)] (in Korean). MyDaily. Archived from the original on September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024 – via Naver.