Label Facts

Chrome Entertainment is a record label and talent agency, which was founded in 2011 by Hwang Hyunchang. Hwang Hyunchang was a professional photographer, who listened to classical music and never paid attention to K-Pop before. After he watched T-ara's "Roly Poly" on television he had the idea to create a girl group by himself.

He renamed his photo studio (Chrome creative) into Chrome Entertainment, sold his camera gear, spent his savings and made debts to finance his venture. In the Economist he said: “If I had known how much it would cost, I would never have done it.”

The first group that Chrome Entertainment created and managed was Crayon Pop. In contrast to traditional K-Pop bands, the Crayon Pop girls do not look that glamorous. Their single "Bar Bar Bar" was published in July 2012 and landed a surprise summer hit. The choreography of this song was named “Straight Five Engine Dance” by their fans, associating it with the movement of the pistons of an engine. The group jumps up and down during the refrain mirroring the movements of five engine cylinders. This style soon was compared to Psy´s "Gangnam Style" choreography, increasing the popularity of Crayon Pop.

Crayon Pop's "Bar Bar Bar" earned the company US $2 million, which enabled Chrome Entertainment to debut more groups.

Since August 2013 Chrome Entertainment and Sony Music entertainment are in a strategic partnership contract. Initially, this gave Sony international distribution rights to Chrome's music and albums. Later on July 7th, 2014, Chrome Entertainment signed a contract making it an independent label under Sony Music entertainment enabling it to distribute music from other agencies.

Chrome Entertainment also organized concerts for their stars. The first concert was held on 21 July 2014 in Cheongju, South Korea, called “Chrome Happy Concert”. On December 3rd, 2014 the first “Chrome Family” concert took place and subsequently the Chrome Family single „2014 Chrome Family - A very special Christmas“ has been released.

In 2016, the founder Hwang Hyunchang left the company and was replaced by Kim Jeongtae.