Big Hit Music
Big Hit Music: History, Artists, Members and Key Facts
Big Hit Music is a South Korean record label and subsidiary of HYBE. It is best known as the home of BTS, and it also manages TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), CORTIS, and soloist Lee Hyun. This guide covers the label’s history, its artists and their members, and its major 2026 milestones.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company name | Big Hit Music Co., Ltd. (stylised BIGHIT MUSIC) |
| Founder | Bang Si-hyuk |
| Founded | February 4, 2005, as Big Hit Entertainment |
| Became Big Hit Music | 2021, after the parent company rebranded as HYBE |
| Type | Private subsidiary of HYBE (100% owned) |
| Headquarters | Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Main groups | BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, CORTIS |
| Soloist | Lee Hyun (MIDNATT) |
| First BTS member signed | RM, in 2010 |
What Is Big Hit Music?
Big Hit Music is the label arm of the company that began as Big Hit Entertainment. It handles music production and artist management for its roster. Because of its history with BTS, it is one of the most recognised labels in the global music industry.
History of Big Hit Music
Founding as Big Hit Entertainment
Bang Si-hyuk, a composer and producer who had worked at JYP Entertainment, founded Big Hit Entertainment on February 4, 2005. In 2007, the company signed the vocal trio 8Eight, which included Lee Hyun. In 2010, it entered a joint management contract with JYP Entertainment for the group 2AM. That contract ended in April 2014.
The Creation of BTS
In 2010, Bang Si-hyuk launched nationwide auditions and signed RM as the first member of BTS. The group debuted in 2013 with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool and went on to become the best-selling act in South Korean history by album sales, according to the Circle Chart.
Debut of TXT
Big Hit debuted its second boy group, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, on March 4, 2019, with the mini album The Dream Chapter: STAR. It was the label’s first debut in six years.
Rebrand to HYBE
In March 2021, Big Hit Entertainment renamed itself HYBE Corporation. The label business was separated into a new company, Big Hit Music, which became a HYBE subsidiary on July 1, 2021. Bang Si-hyuk remains chairman of HYBE.
CORTIS and the Newest Generation
Big Hit Music debuted CORTIS, its first new boy group in six years, in August 2025. The five members are described as a “young creator crew,” meaning they take part in making their own music, choreography, and videos.
Big Hit Music Artists and Members
BTS (2013)
- Members: RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook
- Notes: The members completed a period of hiatus tied to South Korea’s mandatory military service, then returned as a full group. Each member also releases solo music.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER (2019)
- Members: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai
- Notes: Their eighth EP, 7th Year: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorn, reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, the group’s 13th entry on that chart. Yeonjun and Beomgyu have also released solo work.
CORTIS (2025)
- Members: Martin, James, Juhun, Sunghyun and Gunho
- Notes: The group’s second EP is titled GreenGreen, and its pre-release track “RedRed” topped Apple Music’s daily chart in South Korea in April 2026.
Soloist: Lee Hyun (MIDNATT)
Lee Hyun began his career with the vocal trio 8Eight and has been with the company since 2007. He also performs under the name MIDNATT.
Key Milestones in 2026
- A new BTS album: On March 20, 2026, BTS released Arirang, their fifth studio album and their first group album in almost four years. Its single “Swim” became their seventh US number-one single.
- A world tour: The BTS tour began in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9, 2026, and runs through March 2027. The group drew 157,000 fans over two nights at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on August 1 and 2.
- Solo achievements: Yeonjun released his second mini album, NO LABELS: PART 02, in July 2026. On August 5 he performed on ABC’s Good Morning America summer concert series, becoming the second K-pop solo artist after Jung Kook to do so.
Big Hit Music and HYBE: How They Relate
HYBE is the parent company and operates several labels, including Source Music, Pledis Entertainment, Belift Lab and ADOR. Big Hit Music is one of these labels. Artists such as SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN and LE SSERAFIM belong to other HYBE labels, not to Big Hit Music.
Why Big Hit Music Matters
The label’s impact comes mainly from BTS, which has played a leading role in bringing K-pop to a worldwide audience. Its approach of encouraging artists to take part in writing and producing their music has also influenced how groups are developed. TXT and CORTIS now carry that approach to a newer generation of listeners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Big Hit Music?
Bang Si-hyuk founded it in 2005 as Big Hit Entertainment.
Is Big Hit Music the same as HYBE?
No. HYBE is the parent company. Big Hit Music is one of its labels.
Which groups are under Big Hit Music?
BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and CORTIS.
Who was the first member of BTS to sign with the company?
RM, in 2010.
When did BTS debut?
In 2013, with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool.
Is BTS touring in 2026?
Yes. The BTS World Tour started in April 2026 and runs through March 2027.
