BTS's great influence despite temporary suspension of group activities
In the second quarter revenue report of 2025 just released by HYBE Group, 63% of the total revenue of 705.6 billion won comes from concert activities and album sales.
Although HYBE artist's total album sales fell 8.4% year-on-year, concert revenue has offset this decline.
concerts alone accounted for 26.7% of total revenue, up 31% over the same period last year, reaching 188.7 billion won, leading the overall growth rate.
Hyundai Motor Securities analyst Kim Hyun Yonh said on a news program that nearly 40% of HYBE's concert revenue in the second quarter of this year came from the "Hope on the Stage" world tour of BTS member J-Hope.
If this number is correct, J-Hope will generate about 75.5 billion won - accounting for about 10% of HYBE's total Q2 revenue.
J-Hope's tour will last from February to June 2025, passing through 16 cities around the world, holding 33 shows and attracting about 500,000 fans.
In addition, BTS member Jin's solo tour also boosted HYBE's achievements.
Although BTS has not returned to activities with a full 7-member lineup, because the new group had just completed their military service at the end of June, the role and influence of this group on HYBE is still huge.
In addition, BTS's concert revenue is supplemented by Seventeen's fan meetings in Japan and world tour of TXT, LE SSERAFIM...
Chairman Bang Si Hyuk's ambition faces difficulties
Since 2022, HYBE President Bang Si Hyuk has promoted HYBE as a "comprehensive enterprise", comparing HYBE to " Disney of Kpop".
He hopes to help the company grow based on intellectual property (IP) on music platforms, expand technology and develop fan communities.
With the concept of "half a technology company", HYBE aims to "not rely on any single artist".
However, the latest results show the opposite. A large part of HYBE's profits still come from direct artist activities, raising doubts about the company's speed of implementing the diversification strategy.
HYBE has invested in new groups and expanded its global fan platform Weverse, but so far, no artist of the company can compare with BTS' sales power.
Launched in 2022, NewJeans quickly emerged as a "new generation Kpop phenomenon". However, the ongoing legal dispute between NewJeans and ADOR (HYBE's subsidiary) has caused the group to temporarily suspend operations.
Meanwhile, the multinational girl group KATSEYE, formed by HYBE America in collaboration with American record label Geffen Records, and trained in the Kpop system, has yet to create a significant financial impact. Although the group has had two songs, "Gabriela" and "Gnarly," chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it has been just over a year since their debut.
