HYBE posts record quarterly revenue of 1.45 trillion KRW and operating profit of 170.9 billion KRW... BTS album and tour effects

HYBE achieved its highest quarterly performance with sales of 1.45 trillion KRW and operating profit of 170.9 billion KRW in the second quarter of 2026. This performance resulted from active activities such as album releases and world tours by artists under HYBE Music Group, leading to increased revenue from concerts, albums, and merchandise. This is the first time HYBE’s quarterly sales exceeded 1 trillion KRW, and operating profit also surpassed 100 billion KRW for the first time. Cumulative sales for the first half of the year also exceeded 2 trillion KRW for the first time. By business segment, concert sales reached 647.7 billion KRW, album and music sales were 326.8 billion KRW, and merchandise and licensing sales amounted to 310.6 billion KRW. Concerts and albums, which are direct participation revenue streams, showed remarkable results, and the merchandise and licensing segment also set a quarterly record alongside the concert effects. Compared to the same period last year, sales more than doubled, and the operating profit margin was 11.8%. BTS played a significant role in the second-quarter results by starting a world tour in April. According to global music data analysis company Luminate, BTS’s album ″ARIRANG″ ranked first in vinyl and CD album sales in the United States. Thanks to this album’s success, South Korea ranked third in global music exports after the United States and the United Kingdom. BTS’s world tour generated economic effects in each host region and performed at the halftime show of the World Cup final for the first time on the 20th. Other artists under HYBE Music Group also resumed activities by releasing new albums in the first half of the year. Five of the top 10 CD album sales in the U.S. for the first half of the year were by HYBE artists, and according to the Circle Chart in South Korea, seven teams including BTS, Tomorrow X Together (TXT), Enhypen, &TEAM, BoyNextDoor, TWS, and Cortis achieved million-seller status. KATSEYE won three awards at the 2026 American Music Awards and has continued activities with a new single. Cortis achieved cumulative sales of over 5.25 million copies with their first and second mini albums. The steady popularity of ″Merchban,″ combined with merchandise, is expected to continue sales through the end of the year. The digital single ″ICONIC BY MISTAKE,″ featuring LE SSERAFIM, Eilet, and KATSEYE, has entered the Billboard and Spotify charts, maintaining long-term success. The overlapping fandoms of the three teams contributed to expanding each team’s market. In the concert business, 12 teams held 119 performances in the first half of the year, with over 200 performances scheduled for the second half. Compared to last year, when 10 teams held 279 performances, the total number of performances this year is expected to increase. Along with the expansion of concerts, related merchandise sales and licensing business revenue, including the ″The City″ project, are also increasing. Enhypen started a world tour in May, entering the South American market for the first time and selling out stadium concerts. LE SSERAFIM is conducting a world tour in major cities in Japan, North America, Europe, and Asia alongside activities for their second full album. BoyNextDoor began their first world tour after debuting in July, and KATSEYE’s world tour, starting in September, added additional shows due to sold-out tickets. Cortis also started a world tour in their first year since debut. The expansion of artist activities has also led to growth in the fan platform Weverse. Weverse’s monthly active users (MAU) reached 14.43 million, setting a record high for the second consecutive quarter. Total payment amount increased by 12% compared to the previous quarter, and average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) rose by 24%. HYBE CEO Jaesang Lee stated, ″HYBE has proven through its performance that it is a company that redefines the global entertainment market in the second quarter of this year and functions as a core export infrastructure of South Korea’s cultural industry. We will continue to pursue expansion and growth strategies going forward.″