Label
Griffin Entertainment
GRIFFIN Entertainment (그리핀엔터테인먼트) is a South Korean entertainment agency and record label established in March 2024 in Seoul. Drawing its name from the griffin, a mythological guardian of priceless treasures, the company positions itself as a sanctuary where artists develop and thrive with creative freedom at the center of every decision.
GRIFFIN launched with a single artist: Onew (온유), the leader of SM Entertainment group SHINee, who signed with the agency in April 2024 following the expiration of his contract with SM. The signing made headlines as one of the first high-profile departures from a major label to a newly established boutique agency. Onew confirmed that his activities with SHINee remain unchanged under SM, while his solo work transitions to GRIFFIN.
The label made its first major statement with Onew's debut release under the new deal, the single Yay in November 2024, followed by the EP Flow in February 2025. Both releases demonstrated the creative latitude GRIFFIN affords its artists, with production spanning atmospheric ballads and stripped-back acoustic arrangements. Onew's solo fanmeeting tour Guess! ran across Japan and South Korea in May and June 2024.
GRIFFIN operates social channels on X and Instagram, positioning itself as a transparent, artist-first label in a market traditionally dominated by vertically integrated entertainment conglomerates.
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Fans Also Ask
When was Griffin Entertainment founded and what does the name mean?
Griffin Entertainment was founded in March 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. The label takes its name from the griffin, a mythological guardian of priceless treasures, reflecting its founding philosophy: a boutique sanctuary where artists create freely, protected from the institutional pressures of larger agency environments.
Who was Griffin Entertainment's first artist?
Onew, leader of SHINee, became Griffin Entertainment's founding artist when he signed with the label in April 2024, following the expiration of his SM Entertainment contract. The signing was one of the most high-profile departures from a major label to a boutique agency in K-pop history.
What has Onew released under Griffin Entertainment?
Under Griffin Entertainment, Onew released the EP Flow (September 2024), the single Yay (November 2024), the EP Connection (January 2025), the Korean studio album Percent (July 2025), and the Japanese EP Saku (October 2025). He also conducted the international solo concert tour Onew the Live: Percent (%) in 2025, spanning Seoul, Tokyo, Europe, South America, and the United States.
Does Onew's Griffin Entertainment contract affect his SHINee activities?
No. Onew's agreement with Griffin Entertainment exclusively governs his solo career. His participation in SHINee remains under SM Entertainment, and he has continued taking part in group activities alongside his solo releases. The split arrangement allows him to pursue both independently.
What is Griffin Entertainment's approach to artist development?
Griffin Entertainment positions itself as a boutique creative agency that places artist autonomy first. Onew has noted that moving to Griffin gave him the space to produce every track on his 2025 album Percent himself, reflecting a label philosophy built around meaningful creative control rather than volume output.
