RBW (company)
RBW (Korean: 알비더블유; an acronym for Rainbow Bridge World) is a South Korean entertainment company founded by Kim Jin-woo (김진우) and Kim Do-hoon (김도훈).[4][5] The company has multiple subsidiaries, including DSP Media, WM Entertainment, Urban Works Media, and the IP management company Contents X.[6]
Native name
(주)알비더블유
- Rainbow Bridge Agency
- WA Entertainment
March 5, 2010
(as Rainbowbridge Agency)
March 6, 2015
(as RBW)
Kim Jin-woo
- Head Office
RBW Tower, 129 Jayang-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea - Incubating Center[note 1]
B1, 20-gil 7, Janghan-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea - DSP Media
Room 101, Antilia Jayang, 92 Jayang-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, South Korea - WM Entertainment
8 World Cup buk-ro 15-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - RBW Japan
3F, 3-7-1, Higashiyama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Kim Jin-woo (CEO)
- Kim Do-hoon (Chief Executive Producer)
- Kim Kyung-ho (Vice President, CFO)
- Lim In-yong (Vice President, Broadcast Promotion)
₩ 37.2 billion (2020)
₩ 7.6 billion (2020)
- Kim Jin-woo – 17.1%
- Kim Do-hoon – 14.8%
- Com2uS Studios – 9.79%
- Wysiwyg Studios – 5.22%
101 (as of 2024)[3]
See below
One of the leading entertainment companies in South Korea, RBW operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management company, concert production company, and music publishing house. In addition, the company operates various subsidiary ventures and divisions worldwide.[7][8]
Including all its subsidiary labels, RBW is home to many notable artists under the agency such as the groups Mamamoo, KARA, B1A4, Oh My Girl, KARD, ONF, Oneus, Onewe, Purple Kiss, Young Posse and the soloist Chaeyeon.
History[edit]
2010–2014: Early Formation and Debut of Mamamoo[edit]
Kim Jin-woo originally was the representative director of Cube Entertainment's Music Cube. Kim Jin-woo was in charge of the practice room rental business and then expanded his business with opening AN Bridge, Rainbow Bridge Academy and ENB Academy Practical Music Academy, which integrated under the name Modern & Bridge. On March 5, 2010, he later established the first OEM company, Rainbow Bridge Agency, which operates to train students who are not trainees with similar process as the regular entertainment company, such as vocal, dance, acting, language, etc.
In August 2011, Hwang Sung-jin (former Music Cube producer) and Kim Do-hoon (former Music Cube director) joined Kim Jin-woo's Modern & Bridge and took representative and director positions.
In March 2012, Kim Do-hoon joined corporation with Rainbow Bridge Agency's established music label, WA Entertainment. On August 16, WA Entertainment along with Brand New Music debuted Hip hop trio Phantom.[9] In December 2012, Hip hop duo Geeks signed with WA Entertainment.[10][11]
On June 18, 2014, WA Entertainment debuted its first girl group Mamamoo.[12] They would go on to become the label's first successful artist and most profitable group. Beyond achieving commercial success both domestically and overseas as a group, all four members of Mamamoo have established themselves as solo artists in the K-pop industry.[13]