South Korean entertainment powerhouse Hybe Corporation announced record-breaking second-quarter financial results, with revenue reaching an all-time high for the April-June period. The K-pop giant reported revenue of 705.7 billion won ($507.5 million), representing a 10.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The impressive performance was primarily attributed to successful global touring activities and sustained demand for music and album sales across international markets.
The company's touring division experienced exceptional growth, with concert revenue surging 31 percent year-over-year to reach 188.7 billion won. This substantial increase was driven by expanded world tours and solo concerts featuring prominent artists from Hybe's roster, including BTS members Jin and J-Hope, the popular group Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, and Le Sserafim. These performances attracted massive audiences worldwide and demonstrated the continued global appeal of K-pop entertainment.
Hybe's operating profit showed strong momentum, climbing 29.5 percent to 65.9 billion won, though it fell slightly short of market expectations. Financial analysts had projected operating profits of 67.8 billion won according to consensus data compiled by Yonhap Infomax. Despite missing this target, the company's net profit performance exceeded expectations, surging an impressive 53.5 percent to reach 15.5 billion won.
Artist-related sales, which encompass concerts, album sales, and music streaming revenue, totaled 447.9 billion won during the quarter. While concert revenue experienced significant growth, album and music sales declined 8.4 percent to 228.6 billion won. However, company executives characterized this performance as "stable" given the broader slowdown affecting the entire K-pop album market during this period.
The company's merchandising and licensing operations demonstrated remarkable strength, with sales from merchandising, licensing, and fan clubs reaching 258.7 billion won. Merchandise and licensing revenue specifically soared 40 percent to 152.9 billion won, while fan club revenue achieved record-breaking performance with a 46 percent surge to 34.6 billion won. These figures highlight the diverse revenue streams that Hybe has successfully developed beyond traditional music sales.
Hybe's digital platform Weverse continued to show impressive user engagement metrics, with average monthly active users (MAUs) reaching 10.9 million during the second quarter. The platform experienced peak activity in June, when MAUs reached 12 million users, coinciding with the completion of military service by all BTS members. This timing demonstrates the significant impact that major artist milestones have on fan engagement and platform usage.
During the quarterly earnings conference call, Hybe CEO Lee Jae-sang outlined the company's strategic vision and commitment to innovation in the music industry. "Hybe is making meaningful changes based on three pillars: music, platforms and tech-based future growth businesses," Lee stated. He emphasized the company's dedication to maintaining its leadership position in the global music market and driving technological innovation that strengthens connections between fans and artists worldwide.
