KWAVESCOPE · AGENCY GUIDE 12
KQ Entertainment
A global performance label shaped by ATEEZ, xikers and a committed creative team.
Last reviewed October 24, 2026 · Back to K-POP Agencies
Company at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | KQ Entertainment Co., Ltd. |
| Established | Developed from the earlier Seven Seasons management business; contemporary KQ identity established during the 2010s |
| Principal groups | ATEEZ (eight members) and xikers (ten-member debut lineup) |
| Other music connections | Solo performers and collaborators including Maddox; KQ family projects have also featured SOHYANG |
| 2025 company revenue | Approximately KRW 145.5 billion for the KQ company; operating income about KRW 10.1 billion |
| Office | 4F, 3 World Cup buk-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul |
An agency whose live stages became a global calling card
Some companies are known first for a founder, a production philosophy or a famous building. KQ Entertainment has become widely recognizable through performance. ATEEZ’s high-intensity choreography and international tours, together with the development of xikers, gave the label a public identity built on precision, theatrical storytelling and energetic live stages.
That reputation did not appear by itself. A concert capable of moving between countries relies on music production, movement directors, stage crews, travel planning, booking partners and fans who remain connected between releases. Those are parts of the business that rarely appear in a music video description but shape the experience of attending a show.
KQ is also useful for understanding the distinction between a relatively focused label and a giant multi-label corporation. A concentrated roster can give individual releases considerable attention, but it must also manage the risks associated with an intensive international schedule.
Artist roster and A–Z links
ATEEZ and xikers form the core group catalogue. Solo and collaborative projects deserve their own identification, but not every KQ-affiliated creative contributor should automatically be described as a newly debuted group.
| Artist | Role and musical context | KWaveScope profile |
|---|---|---|
| ATEEZ | Eight-member group, debuted in October 2018 | ATEEZ ↗ |
| xikers | Ten-member boy group that debuted in March 2023 | xikers ↗ |
| Maddox | Singer-songwriter associated with KQ and label-family projects | No verified KWaveScope A–Z profile link yet |
| SOHYANG | Vocal performer appearing in KQ family promotions; check current contract details before labeling as exclusive | No verified KWaveScope A–Z profile link yet |
| EDEN and other producers | Musical collaborators; creative credits do not always equal exclusive artist contracts | Production credits, not a band profile |
ATEEZ: eight performers and a long international narrative
ATEEZ debuted on October 24, 2018, developing a musical narrative that moved through adventurous, theatrical and sometimes dystopian imagery. Its eight members are HONGJOONG, SEONGHWA, YUNHO, YEOSANG, SAN, MINGI, WOOYOUNG and JONGHO.
The group is especially noted for performances that ask each member to balance individual expression and a larger coordinated stage picture. Strong dramatic sections and shifts in vocal intensity can make its concerts feel closer to a staged narrative than a simple sequence of unrelated songs.
The TREASURE, FEVER and THE WORLD periods gave listeners different entries into that creative universe. Later recordings continued expanding the sound. A music guide can reference those eras, but a present-day release update must still verify the actual single title and date rather than inferring them from a tour poster.
ATEEZ’s international reach is relevant to the KWaveScope readership. The band’s schedule has been followed across Asia, Europe and the Americas. Local venue details, ticket sellers and meet-and-greet rules change from stop to stop; a single worldwide statement does not replace the event organizer’s instructions.
ATEEZ member overview
| Member | Group identity | Editorial reminder |
|---|---|---|
| HONGJOONG | Leader; rapper and creative contributor | Song credits should be checked track by track |
| SEONGHWA | Vocal and performance | Solo appearance is not a full-group release |
| YUNHO | Vocal and dance | Live stage participation depends on dated schedules |
| YEOSANG | Vocal and performance | Individual television work should be credited separately |
| SAN | Vocal and performance | A notable presence in live choreography |
| MINGI | Rapper and performer | Recording and songwriting credits need their own sources |
| WOOYOUNG | Performer and vocalist | Public events can have separate eligibility rules |
| JONGHO | Main vocal strength | Solo vocal projects have their own dates |
xikers: a younger generation with its own sound
xikers debuted in March 2023. Its original ten-member lineup is MINJAE, JUNMIN, SUMIN, JINSIK, HYUNWOO, JUNGHOON, SEEUN, YUJUN, HUNTER and YECHAN. The group has pursued a high-energy music and performance identity that complements, without duplicating, the senior act at the company.
Its music frequently emphasizes momentum, collective shouts and rhythm-led performances. Fans attracted by ATEEZ may recognize a strong appetite for stagecraft, but xikers should be evaluated through its own melodies, members and releases.
There have been periods when an individual member’s participation required health-related schedule adjustments. A fan guide should not rely on an old concert’s lineup to describe the next one. The relevant official notice and current artist profile are the right references for such changes.
KQ’s official fan-platform announcement in July 2023 described both ATEEZ and xikers as supported acts. That remains useful background for the company’s digital-fan strategy, although the presence of a platform account does not prove a particular music release has been issued.
Other artists, producers and creative collaborators
KQ’s identity also includes vocal and production collaborations. Maddox is associated with the KQ musical community, and a 2025 KQ family video documented a gathering that also featured SOHYANG. The company has worked with songwriters and producers whose contributions helped build a recognizable recording character.
Creative participation must be described precisely. A person credited on a song may be an independent producer, a member of an affiliated collective or a directly signed artist. Those categories matter for copyright, songwriting recognition and the accuracy of agency ownership lists.
Official profiles and recording credits provide a better starting point than assumptions based on who appears in a behind-the-scenes photo.
History and milestones
| Year | Development | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | KQ developed its music-management business from earlier operations | Foundation of a focused entertainment label |
| 2018 | ATEEZ debuted in October | The start of its best-known group |
| 2020–2022 | ATEEZ expanded global releases and concert opportunities | Strengthened its international performance identity |
| 2023 | xikers debuted in March | A new boy-group generation joined the roster |
| July 2023 | KQ introduced the TOKTOQ platform for fans | Combined schedules, notices and community content |
| 2025 | ATEEZ, xikers and family collaborators appeared in official projects | Reinforced a collective label image |
| 2026 | International touring and recording plans remained central to the roster | Company visibility was tied to active stages and fan engagement |
2025 company size and financial context
Company information reported for the 2025 business year shows approximately KRW 145.5 billion in KQ Entertainment revenue and operating profit of roughly KRW 10.1 billion. These figures concern the business, not a tour settlement for ATEEZ or the individual incomes of xikers members.
The information is based on company-level financial summaries. It should be checked on the same accounting basis when comparing the label with FNC, RBW or any HYBE subsidiary. The KQ figure should not be added indiscriminately to artist earnings estimates or counted twice if another affiliated business appears elsewhere.
Live touring, recorded music, merchandise and licensing can contribute through different accounting channels. A high-profile arena concert is not itself a published profit figure; costs, partner arrangements and recording periods all matter. This guide does not provide financial-report URLs or invent revenue by individual artist.
What KQ does especially well
One of KQ’s most recognizable strengths is performance storytelling. A concept may continue through an album sequence, a music video and a concert, giving fans a reason to connect separate pieces of creative work. That is a different proposition from simply releasing a new song every few months.
Its smaller set of principal groups also makes official updates comparatively easy for international readers to follow. Nonetheless, the label’s tour announcements, album pages and fan-community notices serve different functions, and should be separated in any responsible news feed.
The real test for an agency known for demanding choreography and touring is sustainability. Keeping the live experience convincing while allowing performers time for recording and individual growth is a long-term creative challenge, not just a scheduling issue.
Office location and Google Maps
KQ’s official artist platform identifies the business at KQ Entertainment, 4F, 3 World Cup buk-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The address is a working company contact, not a public studio itinerary.
Find the office area on Google Maps ↗
Fans can look up the area on public maps, but rehearsal spaces, management offices and residences should not be treated as attractions. Use ticketed performances or publicly announced exhibitions instead of waiting at staff entrances.
Auditions and the visitor perspective
KQ has developed trainees and audition projects, but the application rules for a particular recruitment round need to be verified from an official current notice. Avoid sending personal information in public comments or to accounts that claim to be scouts without verification.
A meaningful audition submission demonstrates actual singing, dance, rap or composition ability. Minors should have appropriate guardian guidance. For fan events, remember that an audition is a private application process and a fan meeting is a separate, ticketed occasion.
Official resources
KQ Entertainment official company site ↗ · ATEEZ official platform ↗. Use the company notice section for schedule and roster changes; no financial-report sources are linked.
Frequently asked questions
Which groups are under KQ Entertainment?
ATEEZ and xikers are its principal group acts in this guide. Creative collaborators and solo singers should be identified separately.
How many members are in ATEEZ?
ATEEZ has eight members: HONGJOONG, SEONGHWA, YUNHO, YEOSANG, SAN, MINGI, WOOYOUNG and JONGHO.
How many members did xikers debut with?
xikers debuted with a ten-member lineup. Individual concert participation can vary by official notice.
What is the difference between KQ and HYBE?
They are separate entertainment business identities. KQ’s principal group roster is not the same as HYBE’s multi-label collection.
Where is KQ based?
The official ATEEZ platform gives an address in Mapo-gu, Seoul: 4F, 3 World Cup buk-ro 6-gil.
Is an artist’s tour revenue identical to company profit?
No. Business revenue, operating profit and an artist’s personal settlement are different quantities.
What to watch next
For KQ, the challenge is to make room for xikers to develop a mature musical identity while ATEEZ continues a highly demanding international career. Its ability to support both groups without treating the younger act as a copy of the senior one will define the next chapter more than any single chart position.
Editorial note: This KWaveScope profile distinguishes company history from current artist contracts. Information about private events, auditions and company accounts can change. Financial figures are rounded and no audit, investor-relations or financial-report URLs have been inserted.