SM Entertainment is officially entering the hip-hop game. On May 23, SM announced that it will acquire shares in Great M Entertainment, the agency behind rising hip-hop boy group 82MAJOR, becoming the label's second-largest shareholder.

📈 First External Expansion of SM's Multi-Label Strategy

SM stated that the acquisition will be finalized through a share transfer agreement on May 27. This move marks the first external extension of SM's "SM 3.0" multi-label strategy, aimed at widening the company's musical spectrum and boosting its global competitiveness.

"We believe that CEO Kim Young-sun's production expertise and 82MAJOR's hip-hop-oriented musical direction will create strong synergy with SM's multi-label vision," the company shared.

🎧 About Great M Entertainment and 82MAJOR

Great M Entertainment was founded in March 2020 by Kim Young-sun, former executive director at FNC Entertainment. After three years of preparation, the label debuted 82MAJOR on October 11, 2023.

82MAJOR is known for their hip-hop-focused sound, with members actively participating in songwriting and composition. Despite being rookies, they made a splash on the Billboard charts within a year of debut—demonstrating rapid growth and global potential.

🌍 Global Expansion + Music Diversity

SM emphasized that this is just the beginning:

"We will continue to acquire and invest in domestic and international labels to further diversify our music and explore experimental content. This will help us strengthen our global influence and expand revenue sources."

The strategic move aligns with SM's broader vision of evolving from a centralized system to a dynamic multi-label structure that nurtures diverse artists and genres.

[Photo Credit: SM Entertainment, Great M Entertainment]