Key Takeaways
- FNC Entertainment’s shares rose by 2.3% on the first day of trading in 2026, opening at 4,220 Korean won (approximately $2.92) on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ).
- The increase in shares is attributed to the release of CNBLUE’s new digital single "Still, a Flower" and the upcoming release of their first Korean album in a decade, 3LOGY.
- FNC Entertainment has a packed January release calendar, with CNBLUE’s 3LOGY, In Seong’s debut solo mini-album Crossfade, and AxMxP’s Amplify My Way EP all scheduled for release.
- The company is expected to showcase a more diversified revenue pipeline and a broader artist lineup in 2026, its 20th anniversary year.
Introduction to FNC Entertainment’s Momentum
FNC Entertainment kicked off 2026 with impressive momentum as its shares climbed on the year’s first day of trading on January 2, opening its milestone 20th year since its founding. The agency’s stock closed at 4,220 Korean won (approximately $2.92) on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) for January 2, marking a 2.3% jump for the day. The day’s high was 4,250 KRW. This increase in shares is a positive sign for the company, indicating a strong start to the year.
CNBLUE’s Upcoming Album and Recent Releases
Investor interest could be tied to FNC’s long-running rock band CNBLUE releasing their new digital single "Still, a Flower" as a warm-up, pre-release track on New Year’s Day, ahead of their first Korean album in a decade, 3LOGY, due on January 7. As of press time, "Still, a Flower" managed to enter the Worldwide iTunes Songs Chart and debuted within the Top 40 of Korea’s real-time Melon Music Hot100 chart. The single continues the group’s ongoing momentum, like CNBLUE’s 2024 mini-album X, producing their best-charting single in Korea since 2017, while their late-2025 Japanese single "Shintouya" reached Number One on the Oricon Singles Chart.
FNC Entertainment’s Diversified Artist Lineup
The trio also closed out last year in Japan as part of FNC’s year-end concert FNC Kingdom 10th Anniversary — Amazing Wonderland at Yokohama’s Pia Arena MM alongside the label’s full musical lineup, which included its rock groups (like CNBLUE and FTISLAND), K-pop idol acts (SF9, P1Harmony, AMPERS&ONE), hybrid K-pop-rock outfits (N.Flying and AxMxP), as well as the company’s Japanese-based band Hi-Fi Un!corn and actor-singer Jung Hae-in. The major event — a decade of the company’s signature FNC Kingdom concert — signals expectations for this year to showcase a more diversified revenue pipeline and, additionally, a broader artist lineup.
Upcoming Releases and Expectations for 2026
Despite 2025 just wrapping, FNC Entertainment’s January release calendar is already more stacked than any other Korean-pop label this year. Sustaining such a robust release momentum could put the agency at a new level of competitiveness with larger agencies like HYBE and SM Entertainment, which are almost as busy as FNC. Looking ahead, CNBLUE will release 3LOGY on January 7. A week later, In Seong of FNC boy band SF9 will release his debut solo mini-album, Crossfade, on January 14. A week after, FNC’s newest artist, AxMxP, will unveil their Amplify My Way EP that follows their September debut with the self-titled debut album.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The upward stock movement suggests the market is rewarding concrete release activity and legacy acts returning with major LPs. CNBLUE’s first full Korean album in a decade is a clear investment in one of their longest-running artists, while the label’s packed January schedule provides multiple follow-through opportunities for the company to show its seriousness in 2026. After FNC founder and current chairman Han Seong-ho established the company in 2006 as FNC Music, the company has expanded from its initial specialty with rock bands like CNBLUE to managing K-pop idol groups like SF9, P1Harmony, and AMPERS&ONE, as well as becoming a go-to agency for actors and entertainers with the likes of Rowoon, Jung Hae-in, Lee Guk-joo, and Moon Se-yoon all on their roster. With the first day of trading in January already off to a strong start, all signs point to a promising year as it celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026.
