• (Photo courtesy of HYBE)
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  • - Albums, concerts, and MD all hit record highs…200 tour dates forecast for second half
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[Hanteo News = Reporter JUNG JUNHWA] HYBE has received its highest report card since its founding.

 

HYBE announced on the 28th that it recorded KRW 1.45 trillion in revenue and KRW 170.9 billion in operating profit for the second quarter of 2026. It is the first time since the company’s founding that quarterly revenue surpassed the KRW 1 trillion mark, and also the first time operating profit broke through the KRW 100 billion barrier. Cumulative revenue for the first half also exceeded KRW 2 trillion, setting a new record on a half-year basis.

 

The quality of growth was also exceptional. While more than doubling revenue year on year, the company maintained double-digit profitability with an operating margin of 11.8%.

 

◇ A closer look by segment shows “record highs across all divisions”

 

Direct participation revenue, where fans directly open their wallets, led the performance. The concert segment recorded KRW 647.7 billion, while the album and digital music segment posted KRW 326.8 billion. In indirect participation, MD and licensing also created synergy with concerts, breaking its previous record with KRW 310.6 billion.

 

The top contributor was undoubtedly BTS. BTS, which embarked on its world tour in April, swept No. 1 in vinyl and CD sales in the U.S. with its comeback album 'ARIRANG.' According to Luminate, the album also helped Korea rise as “the world’s No. 3 music exporter,” following the U.S. and the U.K. Each city on the tour saw its local economy stirred up, giving rise to the new term “BTS-nomics,” and on the 20th, Korea time, BTS reaffirmed its status as a global icon by taking the stage for the first-ever halftime show at a World Cup final.

 

◇ Seven million-seller teams in the first half alone…The power of the multi-label system

 

HYBE Music Group poured out its firepower in the first half, with all of its artists releasing new music. Half of the top 10 CD sellers in the U.S. for the first half were HYBE artists, and seven teams, BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, and CORTIS, became million-sellers based on Korea’s Circle Chart.

 

The rookies’ momentum is also fierce. CORTIS surpassed 5.25 million cumulative copies sold with only its 1st and 2nd mini albums, and its sales momentum is expected to continue through the end of the year, fueled by the popularity of its “MD-bundled” merch album. KATSEYE emerged as a new face of global pop after winning three awards at the 2026 American Music Awards. The digital single 'ICONIC BY MISTAKE,' which brought together LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE, created a box-office phenomenon as the three teams’ fandoms flowed into one another, and it is enjoying long-term success on Billboard and Spotify.

 

◇ Key points to watch in the second half are “tours” and “Weverse”

 

The push into the concert market is only beginning. Following 12 teams performing 119 shows in the first half, more than 200 shows are scheduled for the second half. This far exceeds last year’s scale of 279 shows by 10 teams. ENHYPEN sold out stadiums in South America, while KATSEYE’s tour, which begins in September, has already sold out all seats and confirmed additional shows. LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, and CORTIS will also embark on world tours. The expansion of tours is expected to lead to increases in MD and licensing revenue, as well as revenue from “THE CITY” events.

 

Fan platform Weverse is also rising in tandem. Its second-quarter MAU reached 14.43 million, once again setting a new record, while total payment amount and ARPPU increased 12% and 24%, respectively, from the previous quarter. Analysts say a virtuous cycle of “activity → visits → time spent → subscriptions and purchases” has taken root.

 

HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang said, “These results prove that HYBE is a company that is redefining the global entertainment market and functioning as a core export infrastructure for the Korean cultural industry,” adding, “We will continue our expansion and growth strategy.”

joonamana@hanteo.com