HYBE Posts First-Ever Quarterly Revenue of 1 Trillion Won, Driven by BTS

HYBE has surpassed 1 trillion won in quarterly revenue for the first time in its history.

On July 28, HYBE announced that it recorded 1.45 trillion won in revenue and 170.9 billion won in operating profit for the second quarter of 2026. This marks the first time HYBE's quarterly revenue has exceeded 1 trillion won, while quarterly operating profit also crossed the 100- billion-won mark for the first time. Cumulative revenue for the first half of the year also broke the 2 trillion won threshold. The operating profit margin stands at 11.8%. By sector, concert revenue reached 647.7 billion won, and album and digital music revenue recorded 326.8 billion won. Merchandise and licensing revenue amounted to 310.6 billion won.

BTS, who embarked on a world tour starting in April, served as the main driver behind the second-quarter performance. According to global music data analytics firm Luminate, their comeback album "ARIRANG" ranked first in vinyl and CD album sales within the United States, spearheading a general revival in the physical album market. "ARIRANG" also contributed to South Korea ranking as the world's third-largest music exporter, following the United States and the United Kingdom.

The BTS world tour generated massive economic impacts in every region where concerts were held, coining the new term "BTS-nomics." On July 20 (Korean time), the group appeared in the halftime show of the World Cup final, the first time in tournament history, showcasing their influence and status as global icons.

Album sales among artists under the HYBE Music Group also increased. According to Circle Chart, seven teams—including BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, and CORTIS—became million-sellers in the first half of the year alone. KATSEYE won three awards at the 2026 American Music Awards. CORTIS sold a cumulative 5.25 million copies with its 1st mini album "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES" and 2nd mini album "GREENGREEN".

The digital single "ICONIC BY MISTAKE," a collaboration featuring LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE, landed on Billboard and Spotify charts.

The number of concerts also increased. In the first half of the year, 12 teams under the HYBE Music Group held 119 concerts, and more than 200 shows are scheduled for the second half. This compares to 10 teams and 279 concerts last year. ENHYPEN sold out stadium concerts in South America during their world tour, which has been underway since May. LE SSERAFIM is kicking off promotions for their 2nd full-length album and holding tours across Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia. BOYNEXTDOOR launched its first world tour since debut in July, and KATSEYE decided to add more dates after selling out all seats for its scheduled September world tour.

Weverse's monthly active users (MAU) reached 14.43 million, setting a new record following the first quarter. Payment amounts increased by 12% compared to the previous quarter, and average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) grew by 24%.

"Through our financial performance this second quarter, HYBE has proven that it is a company that redefines the global entertainment market and functions as a core export infrastructure for South Korea's cultural industry," said Lee Jae-sang, CEO of HYBE. "We will continue to actively pursue expansion and growth strategies moving forward."

HYBE's concert schedule for the second half of the year is expected to exceed 200 shows.

 

Reported by Kang Kyung-yoon | SBS & Entertainment News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.