HYBE America, the U.S. division of BTS-led South Korean entertainment company HYBE Labels, has officially acquired Quality Control (QC) Media Holdings, home to artists like Migos, Lil Yachty, City Girls, Lil Baby and more. ‘others.
Variety reported the deal yesterday (February 8) to PT, detailing that HYBE America has reached an agreement with QC Media Holdings to merge and acquire the latter. Quality Control is an Atlanta-based hip-hop label spanning music, sports, film and television. The company was founded by CEO Pierre “P” Thomas and COO Kevin “Coach K” Lee.
According to Variety, HYBE America’s acquisition of Quality Control was valued at $320 million in stock and cash, and was led by HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun. Apparently, Braun’s relationship with Lee and Thomas dates back to the early 2000s, when Braun was still working in Atlanta.
The deal aligns with HYBE Labels’ mission to build a global music-based entertainment giant with interests in other entertainment, lifestyle and cultural media and platforms, according to Variety. Despite the merger and acquisition, Variety reports that Quality Control’s artist roster will continue to be affiliated with Universal Music Group.
HYBE America’s agreement with Quality Control marks Braun’s first major move as sole CEO of the organization since taking office earlier this year. Outside of quality control, the company’s catalog of American artists includes SB Projects (the New York-based company home to Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, The Kid LAROI and others), as well as Big Machine Label Group. , which is home to country artists such as Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts and Sheryl Crow.
“I am very proud and honored to have Coach and P join Bang and I as partners,” Braun told Variety in his deal announcement, referring to HYBE Labels president Bang Si-hyuk. “QC is one of the biggest independent labels in the world, working with incredible artists who are, and continue to be, the voices of culture. I’ll never forget walking through Atlanta with Coach to talk about our dreams over 20 years ago and ambitions, and how we used to say, “If they let us in the game, we’re never going to bring it back.” Now, all these years later, we join forces to achieve these dreams.”
Based in Seoul, South Korea, HYBE Labels also offers an extensive roster of K-pop artists, including BTS, ENHYPEN, TXT, SEVENTEEN, LE SSERAFIM, and NewJeans, among others. In addition to its US subsidiary, HYBE Labels has also established its presence in the entertainment industry in Japan with the launch of HYBE Japan.