Logo for ABD. Photo courtesy of ABD and HYBE
MANILA — HYBE, the company behind K-pop supergroup BTS, is launching a new label dedicated to "girl group production," marking the latest addition to its roster of subsidiaries managing some of the industry's most popular acts.
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The new label called ABD — short for "A Bold Dream" — is guided by a creative philosophy "of pursuing unconventional, flexible, and playful ideas that push beyond norm," HYBE said in a press statement.
"Guided by a deep understanding of both artists and fans, the new label aims to pursue the intrinsic joy of music while exploring new possibilities and expanding the horizons of K-pop," it added.
ABD will be led by No Ji-won, who previously served as head of artist planning at Pledis Entertainment, another HYBE label that handles popular boy group SEVENTEEN.
The label is set to debut its first girl group in the second half of 2026, with Han Sung-soo overseeing the group's production. Han is known for producing acts such as SEVENTEEN, as well as the all-female acts After School and IZ*ONE.
ABD is the latest addition to HYBE's multi-label strategy, where several subsidiary labels operate under the company. HYBE's current girl groups include LE SSERAFIM under Source Music, ILLIT under Belift Lab and NewJeans under ADOR.
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