Whether they are in the headlines for breaking a new record or overwhelming idols with slave contracts, we can all admit that the KPOP industry would not be what it is without record labels. And as we hear more about them, more and more Kpop fans may wonder what they do and why they are significant. Hi, I am Amari and join me as I dive into South Korean record companies and how they create content that changes entertainment as we know it.

KPOP, the term for Korean Popular Music, has expanded into a sub-genre in its own right. Boasting artists who spend most of their lives training in dance, singing, rapping, and other disciplines in hopes of becoming the next big thing. Many young hopefuls across the globe dream of being signed to record companies like HYBE, JYP, SM, and YG. But why are these companies so necessary? And what do they do to create some of the biggest stars in the world?

With the rise of Western and Black styles of music (like Eurodance, New Jack Swing, and Hip Hop), it was only a matter of time before it made its way to the East. Acts like Drunken Tiger & Seo Taiji appeared and brought something brand new to South Korea. As western pop proved it had its place in South Korea, many kids and teens wanted to become pop stars, and with three men, it was going to be more accessible than ever.

In the mid-to-late nineties, Lee Sooman (SM), Yang Hyun-suk (YG), and Park Jin-Young (JYP) started their labels that would become South Korea's Big Three. Mainly focusing on recording music and artist management, they would implement a system that would produce top stars without fail for better or worse.

A record label is a large media corporation that has subsidiaries (smaller branches) functioning under it. Record labels facilitate exclusive contracts with artists allowing the artist to monetize and record music. However, there is a bit more to it, a lot more actually. While a record label is a big company, it may expand as it takes on non-music-related divisions like film. But when it comes to record companies, no one does it like South Korea.

When a South Korean record company is looking for artists, they hold auditions and watch hundreds to thousands of kids and teens to become trainees. The trainee may live in a dorm to attend rigorous singing, dance, and language lessons. As a trainee, there are still auditions being held for the individual to ensure they're advancing and meeting the company standards. And, of course, those standards are not easily attainable and lead to scandals we know of today.

Despite years of training and beating out hundreds of trainees, it's no guarantee your career will take off. With all of the dieting, training, auditions, and so on just for the chance to be a star, do you think it is worth it? I mean celebrities who make it achieve status, get to wear designer clothes, and collaborate with top brands. And signing to a record label provides people with more opportunities than what they would ever get trying to make it alone.

Korean labels put out curated images that are idyllic and influence South Korean culture. From fan culture to beauty standards and music, much of what the companies push out are methodical and create success. Even with the controversies, these record companies allow some of the most talented people in the world to collaborate and make some incredible music that wouldn't be possible otherwise.

So, that is a bit of what South Korean record companies do and why they are relevant for artists to become the stars we see today. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. And, what do you think of these record companies?