HYBE Posts Record Q1 Revenue as BTS Comeback Powers Rebound

HYBE, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, reported record first-quarter 2026 revenue during its April 29 earnings call, marking a decisive rebound for its core music and artist business. The company posted revenue of 698.3 billion won, a 40% jump from the same period a year earlier.

The standout driver was the return of flagship group BTS. The septet's new album "Arirang" topped the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks, and a Gwanghwamun comeback livestream drew a global audience of 18.4 million viewers, underscoring the group's continued pull with fans worldwide.

Recorded music sales nearly doubled, rising 99% year over year to 271.5 billion won, while content sales climbed 157% to 105.9 billion won. Adjusted operating profit surged 170% to 58.5 billion won, reflecting stronger margins across the roster. Executives credited not only BTS but also acts such as ENHYPEN for the improved profitability.

HYBE's fan platform Weverse also set records, with monthly active users reaching 13.37 million, up 20% from the previous quarter. Total payment volume on the platform grew 80% quarter over quarter, and monthly average revenue per paying user rose 8%, pointing to deepening fan engagement and monetization.

Not every metric was positive. Concert sales fell 43% to 88.7 billion won as major artists had yet to launch tours in full, and management flagged concerns over rising artist fees and the cost of overseas intellectual-property investments. Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-Jun said he did not expect margins to deteriorate in the second quarter as BTS shows and other activities ramp up.

Chief Executive Lee Jae Sang pointed to the company's US localization strategy as a source of future growth, noting that girl group KATSEYE had beaten album-sales expectations. He said HYBE would keep adding new artists and genres to Weverse, including acts from Southeast Asia, while timing overseas investments to match market readiness.

The quarter suggests HYBE has moved past the softer stretch that accompanied BTS's military hiatus, with the group's return reinforcing the company's position at the center of the global K-pop industry.