BTS powers HYBE to record first-quarter revenue
The return of BTS helped power HYBE to its highest-ever first-quarter revenue, reaching 698.3 billion won (about $469.62 million).
HYBE disclosed its first-quarter financial results, attributing the strong performance in part to continued growth from HYBE Music Group APAC artists.
Despite the entertainment industry’s typical first-quarter slowdown, the company sustained solid profitability during the period.
Revenue from artist-driven activities—including recorded music, concerts, and advertising—increased 25 percent year-on-year to 403.7 billion won (about $271.48 million), accounting for 58 percent of total revenue.
Recorded music revenue nearly doubled year-on-year to 271.5 billion won (about $182.56 million), largely driven by BTS’ fifth studio album, “Arirang.”
Revenue from indirect artist activities—including merchandise, licensing, content, and fan memberships—rose 66 percent year-on-year to 294.7 billion won (about $198.2 million), driven by strong demand for tour merchandise and presale access to BTS’ world tour.
HYBE said BTS’ comeback reinforced the group’s global pop dominance and long-term touring power, boosting revenue visibility through large-scale concerts and fan engagement.
The group’s fifth studio album, Arirang, topped the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks, while its title track “Swim” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100—their seventh chart-topper. The album’s vinyl edition sold 208,000 copies in a week, the highest for a group since 1991.
BTS also launched its “BTS World Tour Arirang,” with 85 stadium shows across 34 cities, one of the largest tours in K-pop history.
Beyond BTS, HYBE reported continued growth across its roster. ENHYPEN notched its fourth double million-seller with “The Sin : Vanish,” while Cortis surpassed two million sales with its debut album “Color Outside The Lines,” setting a record for a K-pop group debut.
In the U.S., KATSEYE surpassed 32 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with combined sales of its EPs reaching one million copies.
HYBE’s fan platform Weverse posted record engagement, with monthly active users hitting 13.37 million, up 20 percent quarter-on-quarter.
Adjusted operating profit reached 58.5 billion won (about $39.36 million), though reported profit was affected by a one-off accounting expense tied to stock-based compensation.
HYBE expects momentum to continue in the second quarter, supported by BTS’ global tour and comebacks from Tomorrow X Together, Le Sserafim, TWS, ILLIT, and Cortis.