Finally, after 8 years, HIGHLIGHT now owns the rights to their former group name, BEAST.
The news was shared by Around Us Entertainment, HIGHLIGHT’s agency, in a press release posted on April 2, 2024. In the statement, Around Us Entertainment said that they “smoothly completed the mutual agreement regarding the use of the trademark for BEAST” with Cube Entertainment.
Hello, we're Around Us,
Welcome news to LIGHT fans who love HIGHLIGHT (Yoon Doo-joon, Yang Yoseob, Lee Ki-kwang, and Son Dong-woon).
We have recently reached a smooth mutual agreement with Cube
Entertainment on the use of the trademark rights of BEAST. We would also like to… pic.twitter.com/LEKbp2lAAe— ash (@highlight486_) April 1, 2024
Cube Entertainment was formerly reported to have rights to the name “BEAST” until 2026 and was said to also have the right to renew its ownership after that same year.
They also added, “Regardless of the group name they promote under, it feels new to be able to showcase the group name BEAST. We hope that this becomes a meaningful gift to HIGHLIGHT fans for their 15th debut anniversary.” The agency also stated that HIGHLIGHT will still be promoted under its current name.
HIGHLIGHT, formerly known as BEAST, debuted as a 6-member boy group under CUBE Entertainment in October 2009 with the EP “Beast Is the B2ST.”
Following the expiration of their exclusive contracts with CUBE Entertainment in 2016, BEAST re-debuted as HIGHLIGHT under the agency Around Us Entertainment, which was founded by the members of the group—Yoon Doo-joon, Yang Yo-sseob, Lee Gi-kwang, Song Dong-woon, and Yong Jun-hyung.
In 2016, Jang Hyun-seung withdrew BEAST after citing differences in the music styles between him and the other members and debuted as a solo artist under CUBE Entertainment. In 2019, Yong Jun-hyung announced his departure from HIGHLIGHT after being involved in the “Burning Sun scandal.”
Most recently on March 11, 2024, HIGHLIGHT released their 5th mini album “SWITCH ON,” with its lead single “BODY.” On May 10-12, 2024, HIGHLIGHT will hold a concert titled “Lights Go On, Again” at the KSPO Dome in Seoul, as part of the 15th debut anniversary celebrations.
LIGHT, HIGHLIGHT’s fandom, couldn’t help but express their joy over the news, as BEAST had “gone through so much” and that their old name is rightfully theirs.
"Group HIGHLIGHT can now use BEAST trademark."
god I'm happy for them– that name is theirs to begin with, and after everything they went through they deserve this and so much morehttps://t.co/Nu2Wr5H17D pic.twitter.com/NFfNgTKuLr
— lightʷᵃʰᵘ (@ilawwahu) April 1, 2024
ITS MORE THAN MEANINGFUL 😭 https://t.co/CregMMCf0t
— 𝙮𝙖𝙮𝙖 ✧ (@qtkwangie) April 2, 2024
HighlightxBeast 🥹 https://t.co/8Dmy508vIQ
— d🍁 (@Heedina) April 2, 2024
"Highlight (Beast)"
😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/xCDN7o8Yh9
— 기광아 행복하세요💚🍀 (@Kwanggu_) April 2, 2024
“HIGHLIGHT, BEAST's name is reclaimed after 8 years. ‘trademark rights agreement on a grand scale’”
HIGHLIGHT RECLAIMED THEIR NAME BACK OHMYGOD THE WORLD IS HEALING!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Y4YFZ1OSV7
— tine🍒ᰔᩚ (@hlxlight) April 1, 2024
"as beast's time flows again too, beast and highlight will forever be the same age going forward"
how beautiful 😭🌹💡❤️ pic.twitter.com/4mtlrbi9ud
— chey 🌸 (@seoblicious) April 2, 2024
dujun commented "it's been a long time, beast! have you been doing well? 👏🏻👏🏻 let's run forward again together with highlight🔥🔥"
😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/2W9BGArkTQ
— chey 🌸 (@seoblicious) April 1, 2024
this concert will be so iconic, it should be streamed around the world.
they won't put up "highlight x beast" if they haven't revisited the darkest eyeliners ever eyelinered. i bet the setlist will go harder than ever. pic.twitter.com/IOIoZMtVMI
— lee gikwang's publicist (@ayogeek) April 1, 2024
HIGHLIGHT REACHED A MUTUAL AGREEMENT WITH CUBE ON THE USE OF THE TRADEMARK RIGHTS OF BEAST!!!
Those who were present back then know how precious this moment is… finally… just in time for their 15th anniversary, congratulations 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/vE6w5TLgAW pic.twitter.com/u7Zw7PM5Pn
— wonpilates 🍀 (@wonpilatesx) April 1, 2024
does this mean highlight's official account is gonna use beast hashtags in all their posts going forward 😭😭😭 this truly feels so surreal 🥲 pic.twitter.com/3YkpmPTC66
— chey 🌸 (@seoblicious) April 2, 2024
yoon doojoon of highlight, beast
son dongwoon of highlight, beast😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/KnZiIillIv
— 🌿 (@darkgreyballoon) April 1, 2024
2009.10.16
2017.03.20beast & highlight debut dates
🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 pic.twitter.com/drh1YgjLfN— chey 🌸 (@seoblicious) April 1, 2024
its the way highlight fought for beast silently, without us knowing, all this while. just to give us a precious gift for their 15th anniversary and the concert. they've always been the bigger person in this whole situation. i love and respect them and their kind hearts so much.
— chey 🌸 (@seoblicious) April 2, 2024
highlight will definitely perform lots of old beast songs at the concert 😭
— chey 🌸 (@seoblicious) April 1, 2024
HIGHLIGHT X BEAST#하이라이트X비스트 pic.twitter.com/d5cKffFGOA
— 🌿 (@darkgreyballoon) April 1, 2024
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