WakeOne explained

WakeOne Co., Ltd. (stylised in all caps) is a South Korean entertainment company under CJ ENM's entertainment division. Their current artists include Kim Feel, Ha Hyun-sang, Jo Yu-ri, Kep1er, Zerobaseone, Izna, and Alpha Drive One.

History

2014–2018: Founding and beginnings

The company was founded in 2014 by Son Dong-hoon under the name MMO Entertainment (MMO standing for Music Makes One, the slogan of CJ ENM's flagship music channel Mnet).^[1]

In September 2018, MMO and CJ ENM founded Off the Record Entertainment to manage Iz*One (now disbanded) and Fromis 9. Pledis Entertainment was involved in the creative direction and music production of both while they were in Off the Record until Pledis CEO withdrew from being involved with Iz*One after April 2020^[2] (Fromis 9 continued to be in the label until they fully transferred to Pledis in August 2021). Iz*One and Fromis 9 are debut groups of Mnet's girl group survival shows Produce 48 and Idol School, respectively.^[3]

2020–2021: Integration of CJ ENM management labels

In March 2020, the company name was changed to Onefect Entertainment.

In May 2021, CJ ENM launched 'WakeOne'. In August, CJ ENM officially launched the label while integrating their in-house production and management labels Stone Music Entertainment, One Effect Entertainment, Studio Blu, and Off the Record.^{[4] [5]} In the same months, Fromis 9 were transferred to Pledis Entertainment.^[6] Following their terminated management contract with n.CH Entertainment by CJ ENM in early 2021, TO1 were transferred to WakeOne in May 2021 (after the company reorganization in the same month).^[7]

On October 25, it was announced that WakeOne would co-manage the winner of the Girls Planet 999 group, Kep1er, with sister company Swing Entertainment.^[8] In December 2021, former RBW composer and producer Park Woo-sang transferred to the label.^[9]

2022–present: Merging with Swing Entertainment

In October 2022, 2AM's Lim Seul-ong signed a contract with WakeOne for his solo activities.^[10]

In January 2023, Dance crew Mbtious signed with the company.^[11]

In April 2023, nine members were selected through reality show Boys Planet to debut as the group Zerobaseone and would be managed by WakeOne.^[12]

On April 3, 2024, WakeOne announced that it would merge with Swing Entertainment with this going into effect on June 1. WakeOne is the surviving entity after the merger.^[13]

On July 4, 2024, seven members were selected through the reality show to debut as Izna would be managed by WakeOne and will be produced by The Black Label and become their first non-temporary girl group with a standard contract.^{[14] [15]}

In June 2025, Soloist Kim Feel re-signed a contract with WakeOne, five years after parting ways with CJ ENM through its sub-label MMO Entertainment.^[16]

In September 25, 2025, eight members were selected through the reality show Boys II Planet to debut as the group Alpha Drive One and would be managed by WakeOne.^[17]

Artists

Groups

• Kep1er
• Zerobaseone
• Izna
• Alpha Drive One

Soloists

• Kim Feel
• Ha Hyun-sang^[18]
• Jo Yu-ri
• Kim Jae-hwan^[19] (inactive due to military service)
• Lim Seul-ong^[20]

Producers

• Park Woo-sang

Former artists

• Song Soo-woo (2021–2022)
• TO1 (2020–2023)
  • Choi Chi-hoon (2020–2022)
  • Kim Min-su (2020–2022)
  • Cha Woong-gi (2020–2022)
  • Oh Seong-min (2020–2023)
  • Renta (2022–2023)
• Mbitious (2023–2024)^[21]
• Davichi (2014–2024)
• Kep1er
  • Mashiro (2021–2024)
  • Kang Ye-seo (2021–2024)
• Roy Kim (2013–2025)
• Izna
  • Yoon Ji-yoon (2024–2025)^[22]

MMO Entertainment

• Hong Dae-kwang (2014–2017)
• Wable (2016–2017)
• IN2IT (2017–2020)
  • Jinsub (2017–2018)^[23]
  • Sunghyun (2017–2019)
• Park Bo-ram (2014–2018)^[24]
• Son Ho-young (2017–2019)
• Kim Feel (2016–2020)
• Hoons^[25]
• Kang Daniel
• Yoon Ji-sung
• Won Seo-yeon

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jellyfish Entertainment, Music Works, MMO, and 1877 Become Label Companies Under CJ E&M. www.mnetamerica.com. April 7, 2018. June 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140606/http://www.mnetamerica.com/news/article/61455/cj-em-joins-label-system. live.
2. Web site: 안녕하세요.. Hello . 2020-03-09. www.instagram.com.
3. Web site: 오프더레코드 "오늘부터 아이즈원X프로미스나인 소속사, 전폭지원" [공식입장 전문]. January 31, 2019. May 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514092743/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/now/article/382/0000676473. live.
4. Web site: CJ ENM "Mnet max 론칭·웨이크원 출범, 음악산업 리더 될 것". July 24, 2022. August 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803000602/http://m.joynews24.com/v/1392521. live.
5. Web site: Cj Enm "산하 엔터테인먼트 통합해 웨이크원으로 출범". July 24, 2022. July 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220724042216/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000492848. live.
6. Web site: 프로미스나인, 플레디스엔터 이적..."아낌없이 지원할 것". August 16, 2021. July 24, 2022. July 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220724033341/http://m.rpm9.com/news/article.html?id=20210816090007. live.
7. Web site: TO1의 당찬 새 출발, 신곡 'Son of Beast' MV 티저 공개. May 18, 2021. May 18, 2021. May 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518022442/https://entertain.v.daum.net/v/20210518104630800. live.
8. Web site: '걸스플래닛999' 최종 데뷔 그룹명 Kep1er 확정 "본격 데뷔 준비 돌입"(공식). Newsen. Lee. Min-ji. October 25, 2021. October 25, 2021. October 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211025081618/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000503388. live.
9. Web site: '히트곡 부자' 박우상 작곡가, RBW→웨이크원 이적. July 24, 2022. July 24, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220724034041/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/015/0004641893. live.
10. Web site: Seulong of 2AM signs with Wakeone Entertainment. m.entertain.naver.com.
11. Web site: 댄스 크루 ‘엠비셔스(Mbitious)’, 웨이크원(WAKEONE) 전속 계약 체결. m.entertain.naver.com.
12. Web site: 장하오x성한빈→김지웅x한유진..역대급 비주얼 제베원 탄생(보이즈 플래닛)[종합]]. m.entertain.naver.com.
13. Web site: CJ ENM 자회사 웨이크원, 스윙엔터테인먼트 흡수 합병. 넘버스. ko. 김 . 진현. April 3, 2024. April 19, 2024.
14. News: 5 July 2024. Seven winners of Mnet's 'I-LAND' named, will debut as girl group izna. Korea JoongAng Daily.
15. Web site: Mnet's audition program 'I-LAND2: N/a' under fire ahead of first episode. Korea JoongAng Daily. en. March 11, 2024. March 18, 2024. March 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240318170451/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-03-11/entertainment/television/Mnets-audition-program-ILAND2-Na-under-fire-ahead-of-first-episode/1999296. live.
16. Web site: 이수진. 김필, 다시 웨이크원 품으로...1인 기획사 접고 재도약. Sports Donga. Naver. June 4, 2025. August 28, 2025. ko.
17. Web site: 'Boys Planet' Season 2 ends with 8 winners who will debut as ALPHA DRIVE ONE. . . . Park . Jun-hee . September 26, 2025 . September 26, 2025.
18. Web site: '슈퍼밴드' 호피폴라 하현상, 스톤뮤직과 전속계약 체결.."전폭 지원할 것"[공식]]. m.entertain.naver.com.
19. Web site: ko:웨이크원, 김재환 활동 모두 전담 "10월 亞공연·12월 컴백"(공식). Wake One, in charge of all Kim Jae-hwan's activities, "Performance in October, Comeback in December" (Official). https://www.joynews24.com/view/1635555. Joy News 24. ko. Jeong. Ji-won. September 21, 2023. September 21, 2023.
20. Web site: 2AM 임슬옹, CJ ENM 레이블 웨이크원과 전속계약 체결 [공식]|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000646613|publisher=[[Naver]]|date=October 26, 2022|access-date=2023-02-16|archive-date=November 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127125049/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000646613|url-status=live.
21. Web site: 엠비셔스 전속계약 종료 안내 . ko . Notice on termination of Ambitious exclusive contract . 2024-01-31 . www.instagram.com.
22. News: ko:[단독]이즈나 윤지윤, 활동 중단 6개월 만에 결국 팀 탈퇴. https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/477/0000564841. SPOTV News. Naver. ko. Jang. Jin-ri. August 19, 2025. August 19, 2025. August 23, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250823184353/https://m.entertain.naver.com/home/article/477/0000564841. live.
23. News: 인투잇 측 "김진섭, 메니에르 병으로 활동 중단"(공식입장).. ZenithNews. October 2, 2018. June 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163536/https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.nhn?volumeNo=14251131&memberNo=12093013&vType=VERTICAL. live.
24. Web site: 박보람, Mmo엔터 계약만료 "새 소속사 물색 중". October 2, 2018. October 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003061843/https://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=469&aid=0000328006. live.
25. Web site: 훈스 : 네이버 통합검색. May 14, 2021. May 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210514092910/https://m.search.naver.com/search.naver?query=%ED%9B%88%EC%8A%A4&sm=mtb_hty.top&where=m&oquery=mmo%EC%97%94%ED%84%B0%ED%85%8C%EC%9D%B8%EB%A8%BC%ED%8A%B8&tqi=UNW4usprvR8ssS7xyIdssssstqR-345012#api=%3Fwhere%3Dbridge%26sm%3Digr_brg%26query%3D%ED%9B%88%EC%8A%A4%26tab_prs%3Dcsa%26col_prs%3Dcsa%26format%3Dtext%26tab%3Dprofile%26nqx_theme%3D%7B%22theme%22%20%3A%20%7B%22main%22%20%3A%20%7B%22name%22%3A%22people_gen%22%2C%20%22os%22%20%3A%207694138%2C%20%22pkid%22%20%3A%201%7D%7D%7D%26u1%3DPeopleMobileDetailEndPage&_lp_type=cm. live.