AOMG is a South Korean hip-hop and R&B record label founded in 2013 by rapper and singer-songwriter Jay Park. The label currently houses 20 musicians, UFC fighter Chan Sung Jung, and cartoonist Kian84.
Above Ordinary Music Group (AOMG) is a prominent Korean hip-hop and R&B record label originating from the "Art of Movement," a Seattle-based B-Boying group which Jay Park joined in 2003, featuring members such as Dial Tone, Junior, and Cha Cha Malone.
Jay Park founded AOMG in late September 2013, and initially signed composer Jun Goon, singer and producer Gray, and Seattle affiliate Cha Cha Malone, who was a producer and dancer with Jay Park's dance crew Art of Movement.[1] The label had its launch party on October 10, 2013, at "The A" in Seoul with Ben Baller as the host.[2] The same month, the label released its first album, Gray's mini-album, Call Me Gray.[3]
Artists Elo, Loco, Ugly Duck, DJ Wegun, DJ Pumkin, and Hoody joined AOMG over the next two years.[4]
In March 2014, Simon Dominic announced that he had joined AOMG as co-CEO several months after his departure from his former label Amoeba Culture.[5]
In January 2016, South Korean media company CJ E&M announced that it had formed a strategic partnership with AOMG.[6] CJ E&M said in a statement that it would "support" AOMG with distribution and marketing, while AOMG would continue to control its music.[7]
On October 30, 2017, rapper Woo Won-jae signed to the label.[8]
On May 9, 2018, UFC fighter Jung Chan-sung (The Korean Zombie) signed to the label.[9] On June 11, 2018, record producer Code Kunst signed to the label and released the single "Rain Bird".[10] On July 25, 2018, Simon Dominic announced his resignation as co-CEO of AOMG with his song "Me No Jay Park".[11]
In August 2019, AOMG's first hip-hop audition show Signhere began airing on MBN, marking the first ever hip-hop and R&B record label to have their own audition program on broadcast television.[12] Singer-songwriter Sogumm won the show and subsequently signed to AOMG on November 1.[13] On November 6, 2019, rapper Punchnello signed to the label.[14]
On April 8, 2020, singer-songwriter DeVita signed to the label and released her debut EP Creme.[15] On July 24, 2020, singer Lee Hi signed to the label after her departure from YG Entertainment and released the single "Holo".[16] On September 4, 2020, record producer Goosebumps signed to the label and released the single "Somewhere" featuring labelmates Gray, Hoody, Elo, and DeVita.[17]
On February 18, 2021, AOMG signed singer Yugyeom, a member of South Korean boy group Got7, following his departure from JYP Entertainment in January 2021.[18] His "Franchise" dance video was uploaded to the label's YouTube channel on the same day.[19] On December 31, Jay Park announced his resignation as the Co-CEO of AOMG.[20]
On January 25, 2022, rapper Coogie signed to the label and released the single "Re:Up".[21] On October 24, rapper Jvcki Wai signed to the label and released the single "Go Back".[22]
On February 14, 2023, Sogumm departed from the label as her contract expired.[23] On April 1, cartoonist Kian84 signed to the label.[24] On April 24, AOMG established sublabel Solabeam Records that consists of DJs and producers.[25] On November 9, singer Meenoi signed to the label.[26]
In December 2018, AOMG announced that the profits made from "119 Remix" would be donated to organizations related to firefighting and fire accidents.[27] In September 2019, Gray donated the song revenue (25 million won) to Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters on behalf of the artists who participated in the song.[28]
^Jeon, Jong-seon (May 9, 2018). "AOMG, UFC '코리안 좀비' 정찬성 영입…"스포츠엔터 산업 첫 발"" [AOMG, signs UFC "Korean Zombie"... "gets their foot in the door in the sports entertainment industry"]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean).
^Joo, Hyeon-uk (October 24, 2022). "재키와이, AOMG 새 아티스트로 공식 합류 발표" [Jvcki Wai, officially announces that she will be a new artist of AOMG]. Hypebeast Korea (in Korean).
^Han, Yu-jin (February 13, 2023). "소금, AOMG와 전속계약 종료→14일 '사랑해' 발매" [Sogumm, ends exclusive contract with AOMG > releases "I Love You" on 14th]. Newsis (in Korean).
^Ko, Seung-a (August 11, 2020). "박재범 레이블 AOMG, 언택트 콘서트 수익금 전액 기부" [Jay Park label AOMG, donates all of untact concert revenue]. Money Today (in Korean).
^Park, Sujeong (January 5, 2016). "힙합 레이블 AOMG, 첫 단독 콘서트 티켓 '매진 행렬'" [Hip hop label AOMG, "sells out" the first solo concert tickets]. Ten Asia (in Korean).
^Jeon, Jong-seon (July 4, 2016). "AOMG, 중국 상해 공연 티켓 오픈2초 만에 매진...힙합 한류 열리나" [AOMG, sells out Shanghai tickets in just 2 seconds... Will it be the start of the hip hop Korean Wave?]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean).
^Ju, Taesan (2017-11-02). "손석희, 국내 첫 '엘르 스타일 어워즈' 수상..."대체불가능한 존재감의 목소리"" [Son Seok-hui, wins the first "Elle Style Awards" in Korea... "Voice with an irreplaceable presence"]. Economic Review (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-11-05.
^"한국 힙합 어워즈 2020 후보 - 올해의 레이블" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2020 Nominees - Label of the Year]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-02-28.
^"한국 힙합 어워즈 2021 - 올해의 레이블/크루 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2021 - Label/Crew of the Year Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2022-01-26.
^"한국 힙합 어워즈 2022 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2022 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-01-22.
