# BTS powers HYBE to record Q2 as ARIRANG world tour drives concert revenue boom for K-pop giant

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/bts-powers-hybe-to-record-q2-as-arirang-world-tour-drives-concert-revenue-boom-for-k-pop-giant/
- Published: 2026-07-28T11:23:38+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-28T12:20:04+00:00
- Original publisher: Music Business Worldwide
- Original article: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bts-arirang-powers-hybe-to-record-q2-as-concert-revenue-soars-243-yoy/
- Topics: Entertainment, Middle East, Music, World

## Key points

- HYBE posted record Q2 revenue of $967m, driven by BTS's world tour
- Concert revenue soared 243% year-on-year on the ARIRANG tour
- Company swung back to profit after a loss-making first quarter

## Summary

HYBE, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, has reported a record second quarter, swinging back to an operating profit as concert revenue from BTS's ARIRANG world tour surged. Revenue more than doubled year-on-year to a record KRW 1.45 trillion (about $967 million), with the company crediting the tour and broader activity across its HYBE MUSIC GROUP labels for the turnaround, following a loss-making first quarter caused by a one-off compensation charge.

Concert revenue jumped 243.3% year-on-year to KRW 647.7 billion ($432 million), while recorded music revenue rose 43% to KRW 326.8 billion ($218 million), boosted by BTS's fifth studio album ARIRANG, which topped US vinyl and CD sales rankings in the first half of the year. Operating profit reached KRW 170.9 billion ($114 million) and net profit hit KRW 109.8 billion ($73 million), up more than sixfold year-on-year. HYBE's artists held 119 performances in the first half, with over 200 more planned, while merchandise, licensing and fan platform Weverse also posted record figures, reflecting a wider boom in K-pop exports from South Korea.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.