Pledis Entertainment is a South Korean record label and entertainment agency,
home to artists After School, After School's sub-unit Orange Caramel,
NU'EST, Han Dong Geun, Yoonjo and Seventeen.
History = Founding=
The CEO of Pledis Entertainment is Han Sung Soo. In 2007, he took Kahi and Son
Dam Bi to create Pledis. They had no building nor an office, only a practice
room. Pledis Entertainment held auditions in San Francisco and Los
Angeles in 2011. Through these auditions, they hoped to meet highly
inspired and talented people. = Artists history=
Son Dam Bi was the first artist to debut under Pledis in 2007. She was named the
female version of Rain. Pledis debuted their first girl group
After School in 2009. In 2010, Pledis debuted a sub-unit of After School,
Orange Caramel. Pledis artists came together for the
first time for the Happy Pledis 2010 album. The first Happy Pledis Album was
released on 6 December 2010 and consisted of 4 tracks; "Love Love Love"
as their album single, "Someone Is You" and 2 instrumentals of the two songs.
Pledis had planned a series of "Happy Pledis" albums with their artists After
School, Son Dambi, and Orange Caramel as a surprise gift for the fans. A portion
of the profits from the "Happy Pledis" albums would be donated to the “Save the
Children” organization. In 2011, after their comeback, After
School split into two sub units; A.S. Red & A.S. Blue. They both debuted at
the same time. Happy Pledis 2011 was released in
December. A portion of the Happy Pledis 2011 earnings was donated to UNICEF to
help look after those in need, and the album is also a gift to the fans who
have shown the artists so much love and interest. The album included Son Dambi,
After School, NU'EST, Pledis Boys, and Yoo Ara.
On March 15, 2012, Pledis debut their first boy band NU’EST.
In 2012, Pledis' second girl group Hello Venus debuted on May 9.
In June, 2012, Kahi graduated from After School but will remain with Pledis as
she pursues a solo career. On July 31, 2014, Pledis and their
partnership Fantagio , the joined project in creation of Tricell Media,
founder of Hello Venus stated that the members of Hello Venus will be returning
to their respective agencies. Thus, the four members under Fantagio will go on
as Hello Venus, while Yoo Ara and Yoonjo who are originally under Pledis will be
pursuing separate activities. Ara later left the company and joined Urbanworks
Entertainment. On December 31, 2014, Jooyeon's contract
with Pledis Entertainment expired and she announced her graduation from After
School that same day. In January 2015, Jooyeon signed with new management
agency Better ENT, take her new steps as an actress. Kahi also left the company
in the same month. On May 26, 2015, the 13-member group
Seventeen held their debut showcase. On June 2, 2015, it was officially
confirmed Son Dam Bi left the company after 10 years.
= Joint venture with YUEHUA Entertainment=
On November 11, 2013, Pledis Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment
had a press interview on their collaboration stratagem, labeled as
'YUEHUA Entertainment X Pledis', at the Beijing Banquet Hall and officially
start their business alliance. YUEHUA Entertainment is the agency of various
artists including Hangeng, Singaporean singer A Do, and more. YUEHUA
Entertainment is also the one and only Chinese entertainment company that had
established a branch in Korea. Pledis's artists Son Dam Bi, After School, and
NU'EST as well as YUEHUA's artists were participated at this press conference .
From this joint venture,NU'EST-M sub-unit was formed with included the
addition of Chinese member, Jason Fulong Fei, also known as JA, and became a
six-member team. They performed their first stage at the press event and
officially start their promotion in China.
Current Artists Former Artists
Former recording artists Yoo Soyoung
Rebekah Kim Hello Venus
Kahi Yoo Ara
Lee Jooyeon Son Dambi
Former actors Kahi
Lee Jooyeon Son Dambi
Former trainees Jang Do-yoon
Yao Ming-ming Kim Samuel
Shin Dong-jin Happy Pledis
Happy Pledis is the project name used by Pledis Entertainment for compilation
works, similar to SM Town, YG Family, JYP Nation, United Cube and Starship
Planet. It consists of current recording artists under the company
Happy Pledis 2010 Album - Love Love Love Happy Pledis 2011 Album - Love Letter
Happy Pledis 2012 Digital Single - Dashing Through The Snow with High Heels
Discography References
External links Official website