KT Genie Music
South Korean music content subsidiary of KT Corporation.
KT Genie Music (케이티지니뮤직) is a South Korean music content production and distribution company owned by KT Corporation. As of June 2018, its streaming platform ranked second in the country, with 2.5 million subscribers.
The company began as the music division of Blue Cord Technology, founded in 1991. That division ran Muz (later Olleh Music), a major domestic music portal, and expanded by purchasing Doremi Media, a well-known music publisher, in 2000. In 2007, KT Freetel acquired Blue Cord, and after merging, spun off the music division as KTF Music. The company was renamed KT Music in 2009 when KTF merged with its parent, KT Corporation. It bought KMP Holdings in 2012. Following an investment from LG Uplus, it became Genie Music in March 2017. In October 2018, Genie Music merged with CJ ENM’s CJ Digital Music, with Genie Music as the surviving entity; CJ ENM became its second-largest shareholder, holding 15.35%. In April 2025, the company was officially renamed KT Genie Music.
Its assets include the Genie online music service and Shop&Genie, a music service for stores and businesses. The company’s distribution network covers domestic labels such as 143 Entertainment, Biscuit Entertainment, GBK Entertainment, Star Empire Entertainment, Signal Entertainment Group, Stone Music Entertainment (digital only, from 2018), WakeOne, Hi-Lite Records, AOMG (with Kakao Entertainment), Amoeba Culture, Off The Record Entertainment, LM Entertainment, Happy Face Entertainment (with Kakao Entertainment), HF Music Company, Dreamcatcher Company, D1CE Company, Music Factory Entertainment, and MTN Entertainment (with Kakao Entertainment). Foreign partners include ShowBT Entertainment Philippines Corp (from 2020) and SB19.
Former domestic partners include Astory Entertainment (2017–2019, now with NHN Bugs), Hybe Corporation, Belift Lab (2020–2023; releases now handled by HYBE for physical and YG PLUS for digital), J.
Quick Facts
- Traded As
- 043610
- Predecessor
- Blue Cord Technology Co., Ltd. / (as a division)
- Founded
- 7 February 1991
- Hq Location City
- 6th - 8th floors L7 Hotels Gangnam Tower, 415 Teheran-ro, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
- Hq Location Country
- South Korea
- Key People
- Kim Hoon-bae (CEO)
- Area Served
- worldwide
- Industry
- contents (music)
- Products
- music albums, online services
- Services
- production, distribution
- Parent
- KT Corporation
- Subsidiaries
- Millie's Library · ko · 밀리의 서재
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The company's history traces back to the music contents division of Blue Cord Technology, established in 1991. That division owned Muz (now Olleh Music), a major music portal, and was strengthened by the acquisition of Doremi Media in 2000. In 2007, Blue Cord was acquired by KT Freetel, and the music division became a separate company named KTF Music. It was renamed KT Music in 2009 after the merger of KTF and KT Corporation. The company acquired KMP Holdings in 2012. Following investment from LG Uplus, it changed its name to Genie Music in March 2017. In October 2018, Genie Music merged with CJ ENM's CJ Digital Music, with Genie Music as the surviving entity and CJ ENM becoming its second largest shareholder with 15.35%. In April 2025, the company was officially renamed KT Genie Music.
Reader's Guide
KT Genie Music holds a significant position in South Korea's music industry as the operator of the country's second most used music streaming service, with 2.5 million subscribers as of June 2018. Its history reflects consolidation within the Korean telecom and music sectors, evolving from a division of Blue Cord Technology through acquisitions and mergers with KT Freetel, KT Corporation, and later LG Uplus and CJ ENM. The company's distribution network has included numerous domestic and foreign labels, though many partnerships have shifted over time. Its legacy lies in its role as a major distributor and streaming platform, adapting through name changes and corporate restructuring to remain a key player in the Korean music market.
Did You Know?
- KT Genie Music's music streaming service had 2.5 million subscribers as of June 2018.
- It was renamed Genie Music in March 2017 after investment from LG Uplus.
- In April 2025, the company was officially renamed from Genie Music to KT Genie Music.
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