HYBE, the South Korean leisure large behind Okay-pop phenomenon BTS, has right this moment (August 6) reported its strongest second-quarter efficiency on file.
A part of that was helped by the solo actions of BTS’s members. However a part of it was all the way down to one thing folks don’t essentially readily affiliate with HYBE: nation music.
Through its acquisition of Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings in 2021, HYBE purchased Nashville-based Huge Machine Label Group, residence to a number of main league nation artists (and, in fact, as soon as residence to Taylor Swift).
HYBE’s world group income climbed 10.2% YoY in Q2 to 705.6 billion South Korean received (USD $507.5 million). The corporate’s working revenue jumped 29% YoY to 65.9 billion received ($47m).
Maybe essentially the most notable stat in HYBE’s newest numbers?
Recorded music streaming revenues in H1 2025 (Jan-June) from HYBE’s two US-based labels – High quality Management and Huge Machine Label Group – surpassed these generated by its Korean artists in worldwide markets (i.e. all markets outdoors of Korea).
HYBE’s US labels generate 63 billion received ($45m) in streaming income within the six month interval, exceeding the 59 billion received ($42m) worldwide income of HYBE’s Korean labels.
At residence, HYBE’s Korean labels generated 18 billion received ($13m) in streaming income in H1.
A giant a part of this HYBE’s profitable efficiency within the US final quarter was nation, by way of BMLG.
Thomas Rhett‘s Die A Glad Man earned an RIAA Diamond certification within the quarter, whereas Riley Inexperienced’s Worst Means claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Nation Airplay Chart.
Individually, HYBE AMERICA has seen success with newly-formed group KATSEYE, whose EP Lovely CHAOS appeared on each Billboard and UK Official charts whereas promoting out a 13-city North American tour.
The group’s singles Gnarly and Gabriela additionally noticed multi-week runs on the Billboard Sizzling 100.
KATSEYE was shaped from a expertise search organized by HYBE’s partnership with Common Music Group‘s Geffen Data.
In line with stats shared by HYBE with traders, simply 1% of the group’s Spotify listeners are primarily based in Korea. Over 20% are in the US, 17% in Europe, and 12% within the Philippines.
HYBE AMERICA lately restructured its American operations to higher combine actions throughout each North and Latin America beneath new Chairman and CEO, Isaac Lee.
HYBE’s Latin American division continues increasing by means of strategic partnerships and new content material ventures.
The division lately launched audition program Pase a la Fama and established Santos Bravos, which is to debut a brand new Latin boy band. Latest signings embody world artist DY and Latin pop band Morat.
In the meantime, BTS members continued to generate income for HYBE by means of their solo actions regardless of the group’s army companies, which have lately ended.
Jin‘s EP Echo reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, whereas each Jin and j-hope secured spots on the Billboard Sizzling 100 with solo tracks Don’t Say You Love Me and Killin’ It Lady, respectively.
BTS will return as a whole seven-member group in March 2026.
Elsewhere in HYBE’s Q2 earnings, the corporate reported a 31% YoY bounce in live performance revenues to 188.7 billion received ($136m), fueled by solo excursions from BTS members and performances by different HYBE artists.
Jin’s #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR and j-hope’s HOPE ON THE STAGE world tour drew sturdy attendance, as did HOSHI X WOOZI of SEVENTEEN’s fan live performance [WARNING].
HYBE additionally attributed its sturdy live performance income to excursions from TOMORROW X TOGETHER and LE SSERAFIM. Through the quarter, ENHYPEN carried out at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Pageant. The group is about togo on a 10-city tour throughout the U.S. and Europe, whereas BOYNEXTDOOR lately capped off their first solo tour and debuted at Lollapalooza Chicago.
In the meantime, HYBE’s direct artist actions generated 447.9 billion received ($322m) in income, up 5.7% YoY, whereas recorded music income slipped 8.4% YoY to 228.6 billion received ($164m) amid industry-wide declines in bodily album gross sales.
HYBE mentioned SEVENTEEN’s studio album HAPPY BURSTDAY topped Korea’s album gross sales in H1, whereas ENHYPEN’s sixth mini album DESIRE : UNLEASH turned a “double million-seller” inside its first week.
Oblique income streams, together with from official merchandise, mental property licensing, content material, and fan membership memberships, surged 19% YoY in Q2 to 257.8 billion received ($185m).
The rise got here as merchandise and licensing income jumped 40% YoY to 152.9 billion received ($110m), pushed by tour-related merchandise.
Fan membership memberships hit a file 34.6 billion received ($25m), up 46% YoY from the earlier 12 months.
HYBE’s world fan platform Weverse averaged 10.9 million month-to-month lively customers in Q2, peaking at 12 million following the June return of all BTS members from army service.
The platform’s income elevated 41% quarter-on-quarter.
HYBE’s file Q2 earnings come as the corporate’s chairman, Bang Si-hyuk, faces an investigation over alleged “unfair buying and selling” associated to HYBE’s 2020 IPO. Bang together with three others on the firm, is beneath investigation for what may very well be a critical violation of South Korea’s Capital Markets Act.
Bang allegedly pocketed 190 billion received ($137m) in earnings from deceptive sure pre-IPO traders into believing HYBE’s public inventory itemizing can be delayed.
HYBE had informed MBW that it’s “absolutely cooperating with the native authorities, together with the monetary regulators and the police, by submitting related supplies and offering detailed explanations as a part of the fact-finding efforts… We’ll take the required time to completely display that the IPO was carried out in full compliance with legal guidelines and laws.”
HYBE can be in the course of a bitter feud between HYBE subsidiary ADOR, its former CEO Min Hee-jin and NewJeans.
HYBE has to date received the enterprise and authorized battle, with a South Korean court docket granting HYBE the injunction to stop NewJeans from impartial business actions.
Music Enterprise Worldwide
