Who are Antenna Music, as K-Pop performer Kyuhyun jumps ship from SM Entertainment to new label?

There’s been a shake-up in the K-Pop industry over the weekend, with the announcement of a SM Entertainment member jumping ship and joining a label that has had a history as an independent in South Korea, but with a hallowed history behind it. Super Junior member Kyuhyun has left one of the big four K-Pop labels in Japan, opting to join You Hee-yeol’s Antenna Music. 

Antenna Music confirmed the Super Juniors member would be joining their roster, issuing a statement that read “We have recently signed an exclusive contract with Super Junior’s main vocal and variety show heartthrob Kyuhyun. We will actively support his wide range of activities and we ask for your support for Kyuhyun, who is making his new start."

Kyuhyun joined Super Junior in 2006 as part of the subgroup Super Junior-M, which focused on the Chinese music market; he officially debuted as a member of the main group, Super Junior, in 2007 -  Super Junior is one of the most well-known and successful K-pop groups, known for their dynamic music and performances.

On July 14, 2023, news broke that  Kyuhyun, along with his fellow group members Eunhyuk and Donghae, had decided not to renew their contracts with SM, but will continue group activities for Super Junior with SM. That then led to the acquisition of Kyuhyun by Antenna Music, and the announcement dropped earlier today in South Korea.

Though Super Junior has quite the discography as a group and the performer himself has a number of extended plays to his name, Kyuhyun has only released one album record himself; 2017’s “One Voice” which reached the top of the Japanese album chart in 2017.

Who are Antenna Music?

Antenna (안테나) is a South Korean music and entertainment agency that was founded by You Hee-yeol, a prominent figure in the music industry and a member of the project band Toy, in the year 1997. Originally established as an independent label, Antenna Music gained recognition for its dedication to nurturing talent and spreading good music and laughter. In August 2021, the agency was fully incorporated as a subsidiary under Kakao Entertainment, a significant move that further solidified its presence in the industry.

The inception of Antenna Music can be traced back to its roots as "Toy Music," an indie record label established by You Hee-yeol in 1997. Over the years, the label's roster expanded to include a range of talented artists such as Lucid Fall, Kim Yeon-woo, and the South Korean rock band Dear Cloud. In a pivotal move in 2007, the label's name was changed to "Antenna Music," symbolizing its commitment to introducing music that resonates deeply and spreads positivity like radio waves, regardless of its scale.

Throughout its journey, Antenna Music has been characterized by its vibrant label concerts and collaborations that bring together both established and emerging artists. Notably, the agency's transition to the name "Antenna" in 2015 marked a period of growth and evolution. The agency continued to build its legacy through the introduction of new talents like Sam Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Jung Seung-hwan and Lee Soo-jung, who made their debuts under the Antenna banner.