BTS World Tour Pays Off as HYBE Reports Record Q3 Profit

HYBE has posted its strongest quarter yet, driven by BTS' world tour and stronger merchandise sales.

The company reported third-quarter revenue of approximately $1.14 billion (1.5257 trillion won) and operating profit of $140.6 million (188.5 billion won) on Nov. 3. Both figures set new quarterly records. Its operating margin reached 12.4%.

The results surpassed records set just one quarter earlier. In the second quarter, HYBE posted revenue of $1.08 billion (1.45 trillion won) and operating profit of $127.4 million (170.9 billion won).

Cumulative revenue through the third quarter of the year reached $2.74 billion (3.674 trillion won). HYBE said its adjusted operating profit for the first nine months totaled $311.6 million (417.9 billion won), excluding one-time costs incurred in the first quarter.

Concerts were the biggest driver of growth. Third-quarter concert revenue reached a record of $541.9 million (726.8 billion won), supported by BTS' tours in Europe and the United States and ENHYPEN's tour of the Americas. LE SSERAFIM, &TEAM, BOYNEXTDOOR, TWS, ILLIT, KATSEYE and CORTIS also went on tour during the quarter.

Album and music revenue came to $210.9 million (282.8 billion won). ENHYPEN contributed to the results with an album released in August that topped the Billboard 200, the leading U.S. albums chart. New releases from &TEAM, KATSEYE, TOMORROW X TOGETHER member Yeonjun and EVAN also contributed to sales.

CORTIS' second EP surpassed 4 million copies sold within four months of its release. Music streaming by BTS and KATSEYE also contributed to music revenue.

Merchandise and licensing revenue reached a quarterly record of $249.5 million (334.6 billion won). HYBE attributed the growth to improvements in product planning, manufacturing and distribution, along with more convenient purchasing options such as Weverse Pickup.

Merchandise sales during BTS' North American tour were particularly strong. According to HYBE, approximately 1 million fans visited merchandise sales locations across 12 cities over 45 days, with around 2 million items sold.

The company said merchandise purchases, previously concentrated in the early stages of a tour, were spread more evenly throughout BTS' North American tour dates.

HYBE also continued expanding its "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy, which focuses on developing artists across different markets and genres.

KATSEYE's "WILD," released in August, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while the group's song "Animal" spent 12 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

The group also sold out all 31 concerts scheduled across 27 cities in North America and Europe.

Meanwhile, &TEAM, which primarily operates in Japan, held its first solo dome concert at Belluna Dome.

In October, HYBE launched HYBE Global Label Services, a system designed to support artist marketing and promotions across key markets, including South Korea, the United States, Japan and India.

Looking ahead, HYBE plans to apply the concert and merchandise sales strategies developed during BTS' world tour to artists under its other labels.

BTS will continue its world tour through the first half of 2027 while working on new music and other projects.