Attrakt (Korean어트랙트; RReoteuraegteu), stylized in all caps, is a South Korean record label formed in 2021 by Jeon Hong-joon. The label is best known for being home to the girl group Fifty Fifty.

Attrakt
Native name
어트랙트
eoteulaegteu
Company typePrivate
IndustryEntertainment
GenreK-pop
FoundedJune 17, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-06-17)
FounderJeon Hong-joon
Headquarters
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
,
South Korea
Key people
  • Jeon Hong-joon (CEO, founder, executive director)
Websitewww.theattrakt.com

History

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On November 14, 2022, Attrakt announced the debut of girl group Fifty Fifty by releasing the group's official logo image on their social media accounts.[1] The same day, a pre-released music video for the song "Lovin Me" was released on their official YouTube channel.[2] The members were revealed on November 15 through the concept photo of their debut album.[2] A performance video of "Log In" was also released the same day.[3] The group made their debut with the extended play (EP) The Fifty on November 18, 2022, with "Higher" serving as the lead single.[4]

In September 2023, Evergreen Group Holdings, a Singapore company led by David Yong (a Singaporean K-pop singer), made an investment of 10 billion won (equivalent to S$10.2 million) in Attrakt with a view to collaborate with Attrakt to foster the agency’s vision in the K-pop industry.[5] The investment was said to be inconsequential with only a minimum sum being channelled to Attrakt in an update by the agency in August 2024 after it was made known that Yong was facing legal issues of his own back in Singapore.[6]

On October 20, 2023, Attrakt and JTBC announced that they were discussing the production of a survival show to create the agency's next global girl group.[7] It was confirmed five days later.[8]

On October 23, after a four-month-long legal dispute with the members of Fifty Fifty, Attrakt announced the termination of the exclusive contracts of three members (Saena, Sio, and Aran).[9] On November 2, it was announced that The Givers' CEO, who produced Fifty Fifty's music, would be suing Attrakt for defamation.[10][11]

Artists

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Groups

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Former artists

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  • Fifty Fifty
    • Saena (2022–2023)
    • Aran (2022–2023)
    • Sio (2022–2023)

Discography

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2022

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Released Title Artist Type Language
November 18 The Fifty Fifty Fifty EP Korean

2023

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Released Title Artist Type Language
February 24 The Beginning: Cupid Fifty Fifty Single album Korean, English
September 22 The Beginning EP

2024

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Released Title Artist Type Language
September 20 Love Tune Fifty Fifty EP Korean, English
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Contractual disputes

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Fifty Fifty

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On June 19, 2023, the members of the group filed for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with Attrakt, citing the violation of contractual obligations, as well as the lack of transparency in financial settlements, and medical negligence, during the group's promotions.[12][13] They also filed for trademarks of the group's name and their stage names.[14] The news of the injunction was belatedly revealed to the public after Attrakt accused Warner Music Korea and Ahn Sung-il of trying to get the members to violate their contracts to sign with another agency.[15] While both parties denied the claim, Attrakt filed criminal charges against Ahn and three other individuals for fraud, breach of duty, and obstruction of business.[16][17]

On August 28, 2023, the Seoul Central District Court sided with Attrakt against Fifty Fifty, dismissing the injunction.[18] Fifty Fifty's law firm, Barun Law, stated that the group would immediately appeal against the dismissal.[19]

On October 17, 2023, one of the members, Keena, withdrew her lawsuit against Attrakt and returned to her original agency.[20][21] On October 24, the court once again upheld the decision to dismiss the injunction.[22]

On December 19, 2023, Attrakt filed a lawsuit damages against Saena, Aran, and Sio, the three former Fifty Fifty members, two The Givers executives, and the former members' parents.[23]

On March 11, 2024, the three former Fifty Fifty members lost their breach of trust claim filed against Attrakt, after the police decided to dismiss the investigations of Attrakt on charges of alleged embezzlement, having found that there was no evidence of suspected criminal activity in the case.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ Jung, Bit (November 14, 2022). '4인조 걸그룹' 피프티 피프티, 가요계 도전장…4세대 코어 유망주 노린다 ['4-member girl group' Fifty Fifty, a challenge to the music industry... Aiming for 4th generation core prospects]. The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Kim, Ji-hye (November 14, 2022). '新 걸그룹' 피프티 피프티, 멤버 베일 벗었다..신비+청순 비주얼 ['New girl group' Fifty Fifty took off the member veil.. Mystery + Innocent visual]. HeldPop. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Kim, Min-ji (November 15, 2022). '데뷔 D-1' 피프티 피프티, 비주얼 포토·'로그인' 퍼포먼스 영상 공개 ['Debut D-1' Fifty Fifty, visual photo and 'Login' performance video released]. News1. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Cho, Eun-bin (November 18, 2022). 피프티 피프티, 18일 데뷔...새나·아란·키나·시오 '4色 매력' 베일 벗는다 [Fifty Fifty debuts on the 18th... Sana, Aran, Kina, Shio take off the veil of '4 color charm']. KStarNews. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ "Singaporean CEO-singer David Yong invests $10.2m in Fifty Fifty's K-pop agency Attrakt". The Straits Times. Singapore. 3 September 2023.
  6. ^ "데이비드 용, 사기 혐의 기소…어트랙트 "MOU 체결했지만 투자·피해無"". 모바일 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-08-15.
  7. ^ "어트랙트, JTBC와 새 걸그룹 프로젝트 제작하나…"논의 중"" [ATTRAKT is producing a new girl group project with JTBC... "Discussing"]. News1 (in Korean). 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  8. ^ "'피프티 소속사' 어트랙트·JTBC, 신인 걸그룹 결성..오디션 제작[공식]" ['Fifty Fiffty agency' Attrakt JTBC, forms new girl group...audition production [Official]]. MK (in Korean). 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  9. ^ "Agency terminates contracts with 3 Fifty Fifty members". 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  10. ^ "The Givers CEO sues Attrakt for defamation in continued Fifty Fifty legal battle". Korea JoongAng Daily. November 2, 2023.
  11. ^ "Producer of FIFTY FIFTY's 'Cupid' reportedly sues the girl group's agency, Attrakt". NME. November 2, 2023.
  12. ^ "FIFTY FIFTY seeks suspension of contracts with agency ATTRAKT". RAPPLER. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  13. ^ "Girl group Fifty Fifty in dispute with agency over exclusive contracts". The Korea Times. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  14. ^ Kang, Kyung-yoon (July 7, 2023). "[단독] 피프티피프티, 독자활동 노렸나?...팀명+멤버명으로 상표권 등록" (in Korean). Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Go, Seung-hee (June 26, 2023). "어트랙트 "피프티 피프티 멤버 불법 강탈"…워너뮤직코리아에 내용증명 발송" (in Korean). Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Cho, Yong-jun (July 5, 2023). "Fifty Fifty cancels KCON LA performance amid disputes with agency". Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Choi, Min-ji (June 27, 2023). "'중소의 기적' 피프티 피프티 측, '멤버 강탈' 세력으로 프로듀서 지목·고소" (in Korean). Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. ^ So-yeon, Yoon (28 August 2023). "Seoul court sides with Attrakt in Fifty Fifty legal battle". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  19. ^ "피프티 피프티, 전속계약 가처분 기각에 즉시 항고 결정 [공식]". 스타투데이 (in Korean). 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Keena exits Fifty Fifty's lawsuit against Attrakt, seeks to rejoin agency". The Korea Times. 17 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Fifty Fifty's Keena returns to label, ending contract dispute". The Korea Times. 17 October 2023.
  22. ^ Kim, Ji-ye (25 October 2023). "Fifty Fifty's appeal to end contracts with Attrakt dismissed by court". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  23. ^ Shim, Sun-ah (December 19, 2023). "Agency sues Fifty Fifty members, associates over contract". korean-vibe.com. Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  24. ^ "ATTRAKT's CEO clears charges amid 'FIFTY FIFTY' dispute". The Chosun Ilbo. 11 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Fifty Fifty to debut with new members in June or July this year". Korea JoongAng Daily. 11 March 2024.
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