Quality control was acquired for $300 million by the Brown Scooterat the head of HYBE America.
“The company is a division of South Korean entertainment company HYBE, which dominates the K-pop world through its management of superstar group BTS,” writes the New York Timesnoting that the official purchase price has not been made public.
“QC is one of the most important independent labels in the world,” CEO Braun told the newspaper. “Not only do they distribute music, but they also distribute culture. Their artists are the voices of their communities.
Quality Control CEO Pierre “P” Thomas and COO Kevin “Coach K” Lee, who co-founded the legendary Atlanta label in 2013, shared Scooter’s enthusiasm when discussing the deal.
“P and I are excited about this partnership with Scooter and HYBE and are confident they can lead us to our global ambitions that we have had in our scope since the start of our business, because nothing means more than our artists. impacting the world”, declared Coach K.
P added, “HYBE is an ideal quality control partner as we come together to tell our story and work globally. … Taking QC around the world requires key partners like this who understand building from the bottom and aiming high. It is very important to us to understand their culture and to see with acumen what QC has built and the limitless path towards which it can go. … QC artists are our priority and their best interests will be incredibly supported with this partnership.
Quality control has of course been the home of Migos, Little baby, Lil YachtyCity Girls, Icewear Vezzo, Bankroll Freddie, Lakeyah, Make shine, and the late Marlo, among others. It also includes Solid Foundation Management, quality movies, and QC Sports. The label will remain affiliated with Universal Music Group and Motown.
“I’m so proud and honored that Coach and P are joining [HYBE chairman Bang Si-Hyuk] and I as partners,” Braun said in a statement. “QC is one of the most important independent labels in the world, working with incredible artists who are and remain the voices of culture. I’ll never forget walking around Atlanta over 20 years ago with Coach discussing our dreams and ambitions and how we said “If they let us in the game, we’ll never give it back.” Now, all these years later, we’re joining forces to make those dreams a reality. … It’s important to me and my team that P and Coach continue to have the freedom, and now our global resources, to continue doing what they do best; facilitate and nurture great art and culture.
Braun — whose SB Projects falls under the HYBE umbrella, as does Big Machine Label Group — also referenced those longtime ties to Pee and Coach K in a variety Instagram Stories post “how it started/how it happens”:
Among those celebrating the move in the comments sections of Coach K and Pee IG posts were former signatory Rich the Kid, Jamie Foxx, DJ Drama, Murda Beatz and Rich Paul.