BTS’ Comeback Drives HYBE’s Quarterly Earnings to All-Time Highs
Billboard ·
KATSEYE also contributed to this quarter’s revenue with their WILD EP.
BTS ’ continuing world tour has delivered HYBE its best earnings report in the company’s history, with the company reporting 1.52757 trillion Korean won ($1.135 billion) in revenue and 188.5 billion Korean won ($140.35 million) in operating profit for the third quarter of 2026.
Revenue from recorded music, concerts, appearances and advertisements for HYBE’s artists accounted for 70% of this quarter’s revenue, totaling 1.0743 billion Korean won ($801.36 million). Indirect artist activities, which include merchandise, licensing, fan club memberships and content, had been 750.4 billion Korean won ($559.1 million).
Revenue from recorded music generated 282.8 billion Korean won ($210.67 million) this quarter, while touring generated 726.8 billion Korean won ($541.7 million). On Aug. 14, KATSEYE released their third EP, WILD , which topped the Billboard 200 and earned 170,000 equivalent album units in its first week.
Touring revenue was largely driven by BTS’ European and North American tour dates, with HYBE artists ENHYPHEN , LE SSERAFIM , &TEAM , KATSEYE and CORTIS also all out on the road. KATSEYE performed 31 sold out shows, according to HYBE’s earnings report, with dates in Europe and North America. The group will continue touring Asia and Oceania in January.
BTS’ North American tour merchandise generated 107 billion Korean won ($79.66 million), while overall merchandise and licensing revenue reached 334.6 billion Korean won ($249.11 million) this quarter.
Last week, HYBE Americas launched its first Latin pop label , Tru Records, with Santos Bravos debuting as its first signing. HYBE also launched HYBE Global Label Service in October.
This quarter’s revenue surpassed last quarter’s record-high of 1.45 trillion Korean won ($987 million) and record profit of 170.9 billion Korean won ($116 million).