HYBE(352820) posted its highest-ever quarterly results. Comebacks and expanded world tours by HYBE music group artists, including BTS, drove sales in concerts, albums, and merchandise (MD).
HYBE said on the 28th that it posted second-quarter consolidation basis revenue of 1.45 trillion won and operating profit of 170.9 billion won.
Both revenue and operating profit hit all-time quarterly highs. This is the first time quarterly revenue topped 1 trillion won and operating profit surpassed 100 billion won. Cumulative first-half revenue also exceeded 2 trillion won for the first time.
By segment, concert revenue was 647.7 billion won and album revenue was 326.8 billion won. The MD and licensing segment also set a record high at 310.6 billion won, helped by the expansion of concerts. The operating margin was 11.8%, staying in double digits.
BTS, which began a world tour in April, is cited as a driver of growth. According to global music data analytics firm Luminate, the new album "ARIRANG" ranked No. 1 in U.S. vinyl and CD sales. The world tour also generated economic ripple effects by boosting consumption and tourism demand in host regions.
Other HYBE music group artists also stood out. In the first half, every artist released a new album, and HYBE artists accounted for half of the U.S. top 10 CD sellers in the first half. In Korea's official album sales tally, seven teams besides BTS—TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, and KATSEYE—achieved million-seller status.
KATSEYE won three awards at the "2026 American Music Awards," and KATSEYE's cumulative sales for its first and second mini albums surpassed 5.25 million. LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE's joint digital single "ICONIC BY MISTAKE" also drew a strong response overseas.
Concerts are also expanding. HYBE music group artists held 119 shows across 12 teams in the first half. More than 200 shows are slated for the second half. ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, KATSEYE, and KATSEYE are also set to embark on world tours in succession.
Fan platform Weverse also continued to grow. The average monthly active users (MAU) in the second quarter reached a record high of 14.43 million. Total payment volume and average revenue per paying user (ARPPU) rose 12% and 24%, respectively, from the previous quarter.
HYBE CEO Lee Jae-sang said, "In the second quarter, HYBE redefined the global entertainment market and proved through results that it functions as a core export infrastructure for the domestic cultural industry," adding, "These results are the fruit of steady efforts toward business innovation, and we will continue to pursue strategies for expansion and growth."