HYBE, the entertainment corporation behind BTS, ENHYPEN, and LE SSERAFIM, has announced the launch of their new label dedicated to girl group production, ABD
ABD, short for “A Bold Dream,” represents the label’s creative philosophy of “pursuing unconventional, flexible, and playful ideas that push beyond norms” and aims to “pursue the intrinsic joy of music while exploring new possibilities and expanding the horizons of K-pop.”
Former PLEDIS Entertainment’s Head of Artist Planning, Jiwon No, will serve as ABD’s President, overseeing the label’s overall management and strategic direction, drawing on her own experience with PLEDIS Entertainment and MORE VISION.
The label is set to debut its first girl group in the second half of 2026. Sung Soo Han a.k.a., Master Professional, the creative mastermind behind artists like SEVENTEEN, TWS, IZ*ONE, and After School, will lead the group’s overall creative production – music, concepts, and performances.
Not much is known about the ABD’s upcoming girl group, as everything remains under wraps. But with the experienced professionals behind the label, there’s no doubt that they will be prepared.
The creation of the label aligns with HYBE’s multi-label strategy – alongside its major subsidiary labels: BIGHIT MUSIC (BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Lee Hyun (Midnatt), CORTIS), BELIFT LAB (ENHYPEN, ILLIT, EVAN), SOURCE Music (LE SSERAFIM), PLEDIS Entertainment SEVENTEEN & their units, BUMZU, HWANG MIN HYUN, TWS), KOZ Entertainment (ZICO, BOYNEXTDOOR), and ADOR (NewJeans) – championing creative independence and autonomy within the corporation’s support framework. With the label’s focus on girl group development, new differentiated IPs, and artistic identity, the launch of ABD marks the next generation in HYBE’s multi-label ecosystem in K-pop.
HYBE has also expanded internationally, creating HYBE Japan, which houses subsidiaries NAECO (Hirate Yurina), JCONIC, and YX Label (&TEAM); HYBE America, which houses HYBE x Geffen Records (KATSEYE); and HYBE Latin America (Santos Bravos).
Last month, HYBE reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2026, with its highest-ever revenue for that quarter, reporting KRW 698.3 billion (~$479.6 million), mainly driven by BTS’s comeback and continued growth across HYBE APAC artists. Artist-driven activities, including recorded music, concerts, and ads, accounted for 58% of the total revenue, credited to BTS’s recent album, ARIRANG. There was also an increase in revenue from tour-related merchandise and BTS World Tour : ARIRANG, which launched in April, with 85 stadium shows across 34 cities scheduled – North America and Europe have completely sold out their shows. Other groups in HYBE have shown strong performances, including ENHYPEN, CORTIS, and KATSEYE.
HYBE and ABD will be releasing more information soon.
