HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk and six HYBE executives were selected for the 2026 Billboard Global Power Players.
Billboard, the U.S. music trade publication, announced the 2026 Billboard Global Power Players list on its official website on the 9th (local time). The list selects leaders who are driving growth and innovation in the music industry across global regions outside the United States.
The HYBE executives named to the list are Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of HYBE, Lee Jae-sang, CEO of HYBE, Oh Yu-jin, head of HYBE 360 business, and the six newly selected executives this year: Isaac Lee, chairman and CEO of HYBE America; Han Hyun-rok, CEO of HYBE Japan; and Kim Tae-ho, chief operating officer of HYBE. The result not only represents the largest number of HYBE executives ever selected, but also, by broadly including executives from overseas headquarters implementing the "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy, demonstrates the overwhelming achievements and cultural influence HYBE is showing around the world.
First, Bang Si-hyuk was named to the list for the fifth time this year, following 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2025. Bang expanded the K-pop methodology into a universally successful formula for global pop, achieving results in music markets in various regions. In particular, the global girl group KATSEYE, which he produced, entered Billboard's main charts for an extended period and was nominated in two categories at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards — Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — creating a cultural phenomenon. In Latin America, he discovered and debuted boy group SANTOS BRAVOS and band Musza through a reality program and a band audition respectively, expanding the K-pop system and influence across global markets.
Lee Jae-sang, selected for the second consecutive year, was recognized for strengthening the competitiveness of HYBE's core music business, securing platform and tech-based future growth engines, and solidifying HYBE's position in the global market. In particular, by establishing HYBE China and HYBE India, he drove the "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy in the two largest and fastest-growing music markets in the world.
Oh Yu-jin, head of HYBE 360 business, oversaw global tours and festivals for HYBE Music Group APAC artists and earned the honor of being selected three years in a row. According to Billboard's recently released "2025 Boxscore year-end report," HYBE recorded $469.2 million in tour revenue over the past year (Oct. 1, 2024–Sept. 30, 2025, same standard here), placing fourth in the Top Promoters institutional sector and entering the global concert market's big four.
The achievements of the executives newly added to the list this year also stood out. Isaac Lee, chairman and CEO of HYBE America, co-produced the audition program Pase a la Fama with Telemundo and made it No. 1 in same-time-slot Spanish-language broadcast ratings in Mexico, helping secure HYBE's position in the Latin market by leading the successful debuts of Musza, Low Clika and Destino.
Han Hyun-rok, CEO of HYBE Japan, not only led music business operations in the Japanese market — including album distribution, concert promotion, IP business and marketing for HYBE Music Group artists — but also successfully discovered and developed local Japanese artists. He made the list for the first time by contributing to the debut and growth of Japan-localized artists under the "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy, such as &TEAM's first million-seller achievement and rookie group aoen reaching No. 1 on the Oricon daily singles ranking.
Kim Tae-ho, HYBE chief operating officer, was also selected for the first time this year. Kim led innovation in global fan experiences by driving convergence between entertainment and other industries, including the THE CITY project — which expands fan experiences by offering various events and attractions across cities alongside concerts — global pop-up stores, and spreading a new cheering culture through the "Team Korea lightstick" provided during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In addition to HYBE executives, the 2026 Billboard Global Power Players list also included figures leading the global music industry, such as Avex representative Kuroiwa Katsumi and Victoria Okle, chief executive of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
[Photo] Provided by HYBE.
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