BTS Comeback Drives HYBE to Record Q2 Revenue

Korean entertainment giant HYBE posted record quarterly revenue in Q2, with BTS’ latest album and comeback tour helping drive year-over-year revenue growth of more than 100%.

The Q2 results:

• HYBE posted Q2 revenue of 1.45 trillion won (approximately USD $967 million), a 105.5% year-over-year increase, and 107.6% quarter-over-quarter.

• BTS’ world tour – which launched in April after the Q1 reporting period – pushed concert revenue to 647.7 billion won (USD $432 million), an incredible 243.4% leap year-over-year, and 630% quarter-over-quarter.

• Also contributing to the concert revenue were tours by ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM and BOYNEXTDOOR.

• Recorded music revenue grew 43% to 326.8 billion won (USD $218 million), led by BTS’ fifth studio album, ARIRANG, which came out on March 20.

• Other strong performers were CORTIS and KATSEYE.

Back in black:

• After posting a loss in Q1, due largely to a stock-based compensation charge, the record quarter returned HYBE to profitability, with an operating profit of nearly 171 billion won (USD $114 million), up 159.3% YoY.