Swing Entertainment

Swing Entertainment was a South Korean entertainment agency focused on artist management, music releases, group operations, and related production activities. The company was established in June 2018 by executive producer and former YMC Entertainment manager Shin Dong-gil. Its initial purpose was highly specialized: to take over the management of Wanna One after the project group’s arrangement with YMC Entertainment ended. Stone Music Entertainment, then a principal music label within CJ E&M, established Swing as an exclusive management label for the group, while maintaining a partnership with YMC during the transition. The agency’s importance grew because of its links to Mnet and the Produce franchise. After Wanna One disbanded in early 2019, Swing signed Kim Jae-hwan, one of the group’s members, for his solo activities. It was also connected with plans for an I.O.I reunion, although the proposed return did not materialize amid scheduling difficulties and the continuing fallout from investigations into vote manipulation in the Produce series. Swing subsequently became the management agency for X1, the group formed through Produce X 101. X1 debuted in August 2019, but the group dissolved in January 2020 after the vote-manipulation investigation created severe operational and reputational consequences for the franchise. In late 2019, Cho Yoo-myung, the founder and former chief executive of YMC Entertainment, became Swing’s chief executive, while Shin Dong-gil moved into an executive-director role. The agency then expanded its project-group portfolio. In 2020 it co-managed Iz*One with Off The Record Entertainment; Iz*One continued until its planned project contract ended in April 2021. Swing also signed Thai artist Natty, who had previously appeared on South Korean idol-survival programs, and worked with other individual performers. In 2021, the company entered a co-management arrangement for A.C.E with Beat Interactive. Swing was also involved in the management of Kep1er, the group created through Girls Planet 999. The group was managed jointly by Swing and CJ ENM-related label WakeOne and debuted in January 2022. In the same broad period, Swing participated in a strategic alliance with Million Market and Big Planet Made. Under that arrangement, the parties pursued business cooperation and Swing participated in album-distribution activities for Big Planet Made artists. The agency’s work was primarily project-based rather than built around a large permanent roster. Its managed or co-managed acts included Wanna One, I.O.I, X1, Iz*One, Kep1er, A.C.E, Kim Jae-hwan, Natty, Kim Young-heum, Xani, Son Ho-young, and Viviz in association with BPM Entertainment. Many of these relationships ended when temporary group contracts expired, artists moved to other agencies, or management responsibilities changed. In April 2024, WakeOne acquired Swing Entertainment. The companies were subsequently merged, with Swing being absorbed into WakeOne on June 1, 2024. Swing therefore no longer operates as a separate entertainment agency. Its historical role was that of a CJ ENM-linked specialist label that managed high-profile project groups and artists during a period when survival-program groups became a major part of South Korea’s popular-music industry.

Swing Entertainment was created in June 2018 within the CJ E&M-linked music-business structure. Its formation followed the expiration of Wanna One’s management agreement with YMC Entertainment. Rather than functioning initially as a broad roster agency, Swing was organized as a dedicated label for the project group, with Shin Dong-gil, a former YMC manager, serving as its head. The arrangement allowed Wanna One’s management to continue under a new entity while preserving cooperation with YMC. Wanna One’s activities made Swing visible in the South Korean entertainment market, but the group disbanded after its project contract ended in early 2019. Swing then retained a connection to former members by signing Kim Jae-hwan as a solo artist. The company was also associated with an intended I.O.I reunion, planned jointly with Studio Blu. That project did not proceed because of scheduling problems and the wider consequences of investigations into the Produce voting system. Swing’s next major assignment was X1, the group formed through Produce X 101. X1 debuted on August 27, 2019, but its future was damaged by the investigation into manipulated votes across the Produce franchise. The group disbanded on January 6, 2020. In December 2019, YMC Entertainment founder and former chief executive Cho Yoo-myung became Swing’s chief executive, replacing Shin Dong-gil, who became an executive director. The company continued to manage project groups and individual artists. In March 2020, it began co-managing Iz*One with Off The Record Entertainment. Iz*One ended its activities in April 2021 after the conclusion of its project period. Swing also signed Natty in April 2020 and later worked with Kim Young-heum and Xani. In February 2021, it entered a co-management arrangement for A.C.E with Beat Interactive. Swing was subsequently involved in the management of Kep1er, formed through Girls Planet 999. The group debuted on January 3, 2022, under a joint arrangement involving Swing and WakeOne. The company also maintained business links with other entertainment firms. In 2021, Swing and Million Market signed a memorandum of understanding with Big Planet Made, including a plan for Swing to distribute albums by Big Planet Made artists. Swing was additionally associated with the management of Viviz in cooperation with BPM Entertainment. The agency’s roster changed substantially as temporary groups completed their contracts and individual artists departed. Its corporate life ended in 2024: WakeOne acquired Swing on April 3 and absorbed it through a merger completed on June 1. Swing is consequently a defunct standalone label, while its historical management functions and personnel relationships became part of the WakeOne structure.

• 2024

  Swing is absorbed by WakeOne

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  WakeOne acquires Swing in April and completes the merger and absorption of the company on June 1.

• 2022

  Kep1er debuts

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Kep1er debuts under a joint management arrangement involving Swing Entertainment and WakeOne.

• 2021

  A.C.E co-management agreement

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Swing and Beat Interactive announce a co-management arrangement for A.C.E.

• 2020

  X1 disbands

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  X1 ends its activities after the Produce-series voting investigation creates continuing management difficulties.

• 2020

  Iz*One co-management begins

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Swing begins co-managing Iz*One with Off The Record Entertainment.

• 2019

  Post-Wanna One roster expansion

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  After Wanna One’s disbandment, Swing signs Kim Jae-hwan and takes on further project-group responsibilities.

• 2019

  X1 debuts

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  X1, formed through Produce X 101, makes its debut under Swing Entertainment.

• 2018

  Swing Entertainment is established

  [1]Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org

  Stone Music Entertainment establishes Swing as a dedicated management label for Wanna One, with Shin Dong-gil as its head.

A CJ ENM-linked South Korean music-management label specializing in high-profile idol project groups, survival-program acts, and selected solo artists.

• Entertainment services · 2018

  Artist management

  Swing’s central activity was the management of idol groups and solo performers. Its responsibilities could include scheduling, promotions, media appearances, releases, concerts, fan activities, and coordination with partner agencies. The company was especially associated with temporary groups formed through televised survival programs.

• Recorded music · 2018

  Music releases and distribution

  The label supported music releases by the acts it managed and participated in distribution-related business. Its 2021 alliance with Big Planet Made included an arrangement under which Swing distributed albums by Big Planet Made artists.

• K-pop group management · 2018

  Project-group operations

  Swing specialized in operating groups with defined project periods, including Wanna One, X1, Iz*One, and Kep1er. These activities required coordination among broadcasters, labels, member agencies, and commercial partners, making Swing a specialist operator for multi-agency idol projects.

• 2019

  Produce-series vote-manipulation investigation

  Swing’s management of X1 and other Produce-linked projects occurred during the investigation into manipulation of audience voting results. The controversy disrupted X1’s activities and contributed to the group’s dissolution in January 2020. The investigation concerned the broader Produce program and its production ecosystem rather than a finding that Swing itself had manipulated votes.

  Source

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• 2024

  Merger into WakeOneM&A

  Background

  Swing and WakeOne operated within the same broader CJ ENM-related entertainment ecosystem.

  Action taken

  WakeOne acquired Swing Entertainment in April and absorbed it through a merger completed on June 1.

  Aftermath

  Swing ceased to exist as an independent company and its operations were consolidated into WakeOne.

  Source

• 2020

  Expand into co-management partnershipsStrategy

  Background

  Swing’s project-group model required cooperation with other labels and agencies holding related management or production responsibilities.

  Action taken

  Swing entered or continued co-management arrangements for Iz*One, A.C.E, and later Kep1er with partner companies.

  Aftermath

  The company broadened its role beyond Wanna One and maintained a portfolio centered on collaborative management of temporary or multi-agency acts.

  Source

• 2018

  Create a dedicated Wanna One management labelStrategy

  Background

  Wanna One’s management agreement with YMC Entertainment was ending, creating a need for a new operating structure for the project group.

  Action taken

  Stone Music Entertainment established Swing Entertainment as a dedicated agency and appointed Shin Dong-gil to lead it.

  Aftermath

  Swing became associated with one of South Korea’s most prominent project groups and later expanded into management of other survival-program acts.

  Source

1. 1Swing Entertainmenten.wikipedia.org