ScreaM Records

ScreaM Records is an electronic and dance music label established by SM Entertainment in South Korea in 2016. It was introduced as part of SM Entertainment’s broader New Culture Technology initiative, which sought to expand the company’s entertainment activities beyond conventional idol-centered music production and create more participatory forms of performance and music consumption. The label was presented by SM executive producer Lee Soo-man at the SMTOWN: New Culture Technology, 2016 presentation held at SM Town Coex Artium. The label’s central focus is electronic music, particularly dance-oriented releases and collaborations involving DJs, electronic producers, and artists from South Korea and overseas. Its creation reflected SM Entertainment’s interest in bringing electronic dance styles more directly into the K-pop production system. Before ScreaM Records was formed, SM A&R executive Lee Seo-kyung had worked on SHINee’s “View” and f(x)’s “4 Walls,” two 2015 releases associated with deep-house influences in K-pop. Lee Seo-kyung has been described as an important originator of the label concept, while Lee Soo-man accepted and advanced the proposal within SM Entertainment. ScreaM Records was initially framed as a label intended to cover electronic music broadly, although the term “EDM” was used as a practical and accessible description of its direction. Rather than functioning only as a conventional catalog imprint, the label was designed to facilitate collaboration between SM-affiliated artists and electronic musicians, producers, and DJs. Its artist roster has included Imlay, Raiden, Mar Vista, 2Spade, and Ginjo, as well as collaborations and activities connected with SM Entertainment’s wider artist network. The label has also been associated with dance-music events and programs such as the Spectrum Dance Music Festival and ShowMe. In April 2024, ScreaM Records presented an expansion of its role as a dance-music label and introduced a new logo. In May 2024, it launched Scream Academy, an educational sub-brand offering practical guidance and production know-how from domestic and international electronic-music producers. The academy followed a memorandum of understanding signed with Seoul Institute of the Arts in May 2023, indicating a move into music education and creator development alongside recording and artist activities. ScreaM Records therefore occupies a specialized position within the SM Entertainment ecosystem: it connects the company’s K-pop production infrastructure with electronic dance music, international producer collaboration, live and festival-oriented programming, and educational initiatives. Publicly available information provides limited detail about its financial structure, release economics, and current management, but the label remains active and has continued to broaden its identity beyond a narrow EDM imprint.

ScreaM Records was established by SM Entertainment in 2016 as a dedicated electronic and dance music label. Its introduction formed part of SM’s New Culture Technology strategy, which aimed to broaden the company’s music and performance activities and encourage audiences to participate in music culture rather than only consume finished idol performances. Lee Soo-man introduced the label at the SMTOWN: New Culture Technology, 2016 presentation at SM Town Coex Artium. The concept was associated with Lee Seo-kyung, a former SM A&R overseas employee. In the period before the label was created, Lee Seo-kyung worked on SHINee’s “View” and f(x)’s “4 Walls,” both released in 2015 and notable for incorporating deep-house elements into K-pop. The experience helped shape an idea for a label that would connect SM’s artist and production system with the wider electronic-music field. Lee Soo-man accepted the proposal, and ScreaM Records was developed as an imprint capable of working with DJs, electronic producers, and artists from South Korea and other countries. Although the label was commonly described through the term EDM, the underlying ambition was broader: to cover electronic music in multiple forms and use collaboration as a bridge between K-pop and global dance music. ScreaM Records subsequently became associated with artists including Imlay, Raiden, Mar Vista, 2Spade, and Ginjo. Its activities have extended beyond recordings into dance-music festivals and programs, including the Spectrum Dance Music Festival and ShowMe. These activities support the label’s role as an interface between recorded music, club and festival culture, and SM Entertainment’s broader artist network. The label’s roster changed over time. Imlay has been identified with ScreaM Records since 2017, Raiden since 2019, Mar Vista since 2022, and 2Spade since 2024. Ginjo was associated with the label from 2018 to 2024. Public information also identifies Hyo among the label’s artists, while the referenced roster lists Arkins from 2026 onward; that future-dated roster entry should be treated cautiously unless independently confirmed. In 2023, ScreaM Records signed a memorandum of understanding with Seoul Institute of the Arts. The partnership provided a foundation for a later educational initiative. In April 2024, the label announced an expansion as a dance-music label and introduced a new logo. In May of the same year, it launched Scream Academy, a sub-brand intended to give aspiring and interested electronic-music creators practical advice and production knowledge from domestic and international producers. ScreaM Records remains a specialist label within the SM Entertainment group. Its development shows SM’s effort to maintain a structured presence in electronic and dance music while using its existing expertise in artist development, production, international collaboration, and entertainment programming. Detailed financial information, formal corporate leadership, and a complete catalog are not established in the available reference material.

• 2024

  Label expansion and new logo

  [1]ScreaM Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  ScreaM Records announced an expanded dance-music-label identity and presented a new logo.

• 2024

  Scream Academy launches

  [1]ScreaM Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label introduced Scream Academy, an educational program focused on practical electronic-music production knowledge.

• 2023

  Memorandum of understanding with Seoul Institute of the Arts

  [1]ScreaM Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  ScreaM Records signed an MOU with Seoul Institute of the Arts, a partnership later connected with the creation of Scream Academy.

• 2016

  ScreaM Records is introduced

  [1]ScreaM Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  SM Entertainment introduced ScreaM Records at the SMTOWN: New Culture Technology, 2016 presentation as a label focused on electronic music and collaboration with DJs, producers, and artists.

• 2015

  Deep-house influences enter SM-related K-pop releases

  [1]ScreaM Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Lee Seo-kyung worked on SHINee’s “View” and f(x)’s “4 Walls,” releases associated with deep-house elements and later cited in connection with the concept behind ScreaM Records.

A specialist electronic and dance music label within SM Entertainment, positioned around collaboration between K-pop artists, DJs, electronic producers, and international dance-music communities.

• Recorded music · 2016

  ScreaM Records electronic music releases

  The label’s core output consists of electronic and dance music recordings created by its own artists and through collaborations with DJs, producers, and artists connected to SM Entertainment. The available reference material does not provide a complete catalog or identify particular releases as definitive flagship products.

• Music education · 2024

  Scream Academy

  Scream Academy is an educational sub-brand launched by ScreaM Records in 2024. It is designed to give people interested in electronic music practical tips, production knowledge, and working insights from Korean and international electronic-music producers.

• Music event

  Spectrum Dance Music Festival

  Spectrum Dance Music Festival is a dance-music event associated with ScreaM Records’ event and festival activities. The available material identifies the festival connection but does not provide enough detail to summarize its editions, venues, or complete artist lineups.

• Music program

  ShowMe

  ShowMe is a music-related program associated with ScreaM Records’ performance and dance-music activities. Specific format, dates, and distribution details are not established in the available reference material.

• 2024

  Expand the label’s dance-music positioningStrategy

  Background

  After operating as an electronic-music imprint, ScreaM Records moved to clarify and broaden its identity as a dance-music label.

  Action taken

  The label announced the expansion and introduced a new logo.

  Aftermath

  The rebranding positioned ScreaM Records for a wider combination of recordings, events, collaborations, and creator-focused initiatives.

  Source

• 2024

  Launch Scream AcademyProduct launch

  Background

  ScreaM Records had signed an MOU with Seoul Institute of the Arts in 2023 and sought to extend its activities into electronic-music education.

  Action taken

  The label launched Scream Academy to provide practical production tips and know-how from domestic and international electronic-music producers.

  Aftermath

  The initiative broadened the label’s role from releasing and promoting music to supporting education and creator development.

  Source

• 2016

  Create a dedicated electronic-music labelStrategy

  Background

  SM Entertainment sought to expand its music activities beyond conventional K-pop formats and to connect its artists with the global electronic-music community.

  Action taken

  The company established and introduced ScreaM Records as a label for electronic music and collaborations with DJs, producers, and artists.

  Aftermath

  The label developed a roster of electronic artists and became associated with dance-music events and international collaboration.

  Source

1. 1ScreaM Recordsen.wikipedia.org