History Creator / SMEntertainment

In 2023, SM Entertainment was embroiled in a contentious bidding war over a controlling stake in the company between communications company Kakao (backed by CEO Chris Lee) and rival K-Pop label HYBE (backed by Lee Soo-Man). Kakao's eventual acquisition led longtime songwriter and producer Yoo Young-Jin to immediately leave.

* Music/{{TRAX}}

[[foldercontrol]]
!!Roster of artists:
[[folder:Current]]
[[AC:Groups]]

** EXO-K
** EXO-M

** Girls' Generation-TTS [[note]]Subunit consisting of Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun[[/note]]
** Oh!GG [[note]]Subunit consisting of Taeyeon, Sunny, Hyoyeon, Yuri, and Yoona[[/note]]

** Sunny

** Yuri
** Sooyoung [[note]]No longer directly under SM, but still a member of the group[[/note]]
** Yoona
** Seohyun [[note]]No longer directly under SM, but still a member of the group[[/note]]

** NCT U
** NCT 127
** NCT Dream

** Wendy
** Yeri
** Seulgi

** Taemin
** Jonghyun
** Key

** Super Junior-M
*** Henry
*** Zhou Mi
** Super Junior-T
** Super Junior-M
** Super Junior KRY
** Super Junior Happy
** Super Junior-D&E
** Kyuhyun
** Ryeowook
** Yesung
** Heechul

** Changmin
** Yunho

[[AC:Soloists]]
* [[Music/BoAKorea BoA]]
* J-Min
* Kangta[[note]]Former member of H.O.T.[[/note]]

[[AC:Producers and Songwriters]]
* Kenzie
* Raiden

[[AC:Project Groups]]
* The Blue
* Girls On Top
** GOT the Beat [[note]]a [[{{Supergroup}} supergroup]] consisting of [=BoA=], Girls' Generation's Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet's Seulgi and Wendy, and aespa's Karina and Winter[[/note]]
* Kangta & Vanness
* SM The Ballad
* SM The Performance
* SM Rookies
* [[Music/MnD M&D]]
* Younique Unit
* TOHEART
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Former]]
[[AC: Performers]]
* Music/{{FX}}
** Victoria
** Amber
** Luna
** Creator/{{Sulli}}
** Krystal
* The Grace
** The Grace - Dana & Sunday
** Dana
** Sunday
** Stephanie
* H.O.T: Considered the first Kpop idol group and TropeCodifier for the Korean idol formula.
* Jessica [[note]]formerly of Girls' Generation[[/note]]
* JYJ [[note]]formed by formet members of TVXQ after the split under another label[[/note]]
* S.E.S.
* Shinhwa
* Music/{{TRAX}}

[[AC:Songwriters and Producers]]
* Min Heejin
* Yoo Young-jin
[[/folder]]

[[/folder]]

----

!!Tropes associated with works created by SM Entertainment:
* AudienceParticipationSong: Performers now create videos for new songs instructing fans when and how to cheer during live performances.
* BusbyBerkeleyNumber: The majority of their music videos are bright, colorful stages of intricately choreographed dancing.
* CoverVersion: SM is known to recycle its own past hits as singles for newer artists.
** TranslatedCoverVersion: Usually of obscure songs that were never big hits, but occasionally of more well-known songs, such as "Dancing Queen" by Girls' Generation, a cover of "Mercy" by Duffy.
* GirlGroup: S.E.S., The Grace, Girls' Generation, f(x), Red Velvet, and aespa.
* IdolSinger: Their most well-known business.
* MelismaticVocals: SM focuses on producing talented vocalists, so these are common throughout their songs.
* TheMentor: Lee Soo-Man himself for much of the label.
** Yoo Young-jin for aespa
* MultinationalTeam: Many of their groups contain members from outside of Korea.
* PerformanceVideo: Many of their hit songs have either an alternate music video focused on dancing. Expect big hit songs to have a dance practice video alongside it.
* SingerSongwriter: Artists who have been with the label for a long time often write some of their lyrics, and in some rare cases are allowed to compose and produce. Yoo Young-Jin is the most notable example of the latter.
* SongStyleShift: Many of their groups have at least one song that has distinctly different sections, in some cases changing tempo. Notable examples include:
** "I Got A Boy" by Girls' Generation
** "Zimzalabim" by Red Velvet
** "Next Level" and "Savage" by aespa
* {{Supergroup}}: GOT the Beat consists seven of SM's most respected female performers.
* UnreplacedDeparted: Group members who leave are not replaced.
* VocalTagTeam: Most of their songs in groups with two or more notably strong vocalists.
* AWildRapperAppears: While rap verses are expected in their songs these days, this was much more of a novelty when groups not known for rapping had rap verses included in their songs.

!!Tropes associated with SM Entertainment:

* Yoo Young-jin

[[AC:Producers]]

SM was the label who created the trainee model that has become a staple of the K-Pop industry ever since. Along with their performers, they also have a roster of in-house songwriters and producers. While mostly known for their music, they act as a talent agency for actors and actresses as well.

* ContractualPurity: While not as strict as many other entertainment companies in Korea, their artists will not publicly confirm being in romantic relationships until they have been established artists for years.
** Sulli faced public backlash when her relationship with rapper Choiza was revealed, but the company largely respected her desire to alter her career path rather than take punitive measures.

* Kangta[[note]]Former member of H.O.T.]]

** GOT the Beat [[note]]a [[{{Supergroup}} supergroup]] consisting of BoA, Girls' Generation's Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet's Seulgi and Wendy, and aespa's Karina and Winter[[/note]]

[[folder:Current Artists]]

[[folder:Former Artists]]