Highlight (band)

Highlight (Korean: 하이라이트; RR: Hailaiteu), formerly known as Beast (비스트; Biseuteu), is a South Korean boy band formed by Cube Entertainment. The band consists of four members: Yoon Doo-joon, Yang Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang, and Son Dong-woon. Originally a six-piece band, Jang Hyun-seung departed from the group in April 2016, and Yong Jun-hyung departed in March 2019. In late 2016, the group moved labels from Cube Entertainment to Around Us Entertainment and subsequently changed their name to Highlight in 2017.

The group debuted in 2009 with the extended play (EP) Beast Is the B2ST. In 2011, they released their first studio album, Fiction and Fact, and made their Japanese debut with the single, "Shock". As Beast, the group released three Korean studio albums, nine Korean extended plays, two Japanese studio albums, and numerous singles. The group re-debuted as Highlight in 2017 with the extended play (EP) Can You Feel It?.

Beast initially received attention for the lack of industry success previously experienced by its members, with media outlets referring to them as a "recycled group". However, the group has achieved significant commercial success and critical accolades and is one of the most awarded groups of all time at the Golden Disc Awards, the Seoul Music Awards, and the Melon Music Awards.^{[citation needed]}

In August 2009, Cube Entertainment publicly introduced its new boy group B2ST (an abbreviation for "Boys To Search for Top") on the TV documentary series MTV B2ST. The group consisted of Yoon Doo-joon, who previously competed on another series to be member of 2PM or 2AM; Jang Hyun-seung, who had competed on a series to be a member of BigBang; Lee Gi-kwang, who previously debuted as a solo artist under the name AJ; Yang Yo-seob; Yong Jun-hyung; and Son Dong-woon.

After changing their name from B2ST to Beast, the group debuted on October 15, 2009, with the extended play Beast Is the B2ST. They began promotions that day for the album and its lead single, "Bad Girl", by holding a live showcase and performing on KBS Music Bank. The EP sold over 10,000 copes in its first week of release and went on to sell 40,000 copies by early 2010, an unusual feat for a Korean rookie group at the time.

In December, Beast won the Rookie of the Month award from South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The group's second single, "Mystery", garnered them an award for Rookie of the Month at the Cyworld Digital Music Awards that December. Beast also won Best New Artist at the 19th Seoul Music Awards in February 2010.

Beast released their second EP, Shock of the New Era, on March 1, 2010. Later that month, the group achieved their first music show number-one win on Mnet's M Countdown with the album's lead single "Shock". Beast released a music video for the album's second single, "Take Care of My Girlfriend (Say No)", in April. Shock of the New Era quickly sold 20,000 copies in South Korea, ultimately selling nearly 60,000 copies by the end of the year. In August, Beast received the Golden Disk Award from their international label, Universal Music, in recognition of the group's album sales in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

On September 28, Beast released their third EP, Mastermind. One week later, the group claimed first place on KBS Music Bank with the album's lead single, "Breath". In October, Beast received the Asia Influential Artist Award at the 2010 Asia Song Festival. The group followed up this success with their fourth EP, Lights Go On Again, released on November 9. The album, which includes the single "Beautiful", was the group's first to reach the number-one spot on the Gaon Album Chart. Cumulative sales of Shock of the New Era, Mastermind and Lights Go On Again exceeded 107,000 copies by mid-December, making Beast the only South Korean rookie group to sell over 100,000 albums in 2010.