[Shareholders' Meeting Focus] HYBE Lee Jae-sang "BTS Needs Time to Return, Thinking About Direction"
Added 2025-03-31 06:56:09 +0000 UTCIt may still be a while before BTS returns as a full group. At HYBE's recent shareholders' meeting, CEO Lee Jae-sang confirmed that while BTS members are scheduled to complete their military service in the first half of 2025, fans shouldn't expect an immediate group comeback. "They need time to prepare and work toward their return," he said, emphasizing that the company is collaborating with top-tier composers and considering the group's long-term direction as global superstars.
Historically, BTS would follow a traditional cycle: record, release, and tour. But as CEO Lee pointed out, “BTS isn’t a typical group anymore.” Their next phase requires more than just new music—it requires a reimagined vision. Industry insiders expect a full group comeback in the second half of 2025, with a potential world tour kicking off in 2026.
While BTS’ absence has been a drag on HYBE’s bottom line, other business areas—like Weverse and gaming—have helped maintain growth. Still, operating profits are expected to rebound significantly in 2025, with analysts forecasting a 54% year-on-year increase, totaling around 500 billion won.
HYBE’s strategy is clear: diversify and go global. In 2024, the company hosted 172 concerts and saw strong performances across its artist portfolio. However, the debut of new groups, higher costs, and the temporary gap left by BTS impacted profitability.
Looking ahead, HYBE plans to leverage its “multi-label, multi-genre, multi-home” strategy. The company is expanding its presence in key markets like Japan—where it’s launching a second group and saw up to 700 billion won in revenue last year—and Latin America, where it now operates two labels.
In the U.S., HYBE owns four labels including QC Music and BMLG. Their efforts are already paying off: Lil Baby’s January 2025 album placed 12 tracks on the Billboard Hot 100, highlighting the strength of HYBE’s local strategy.
As CEO Lee emphasized, HYBE's multi-label system is maturing and becoming more robust. With global diversification and a steady pipeline of content and artists, the company is positioning itself for long-term dominance—well beyond just BTS.
source: https://n.news.naver.com/article/293/0000065532?sid=105
Comments
@Faydra “rabble-rabble, torches & pitchforks” (seeing Simpsons’ scene)😄😂🤣😂😁
Ayda Lucero Fleck
2025-04-18 02:29:29 +0000 UTCI'm glad to hear this because the guys have been off in MS, not a vacation. They need time to debrief from the military mindset, reconnect with family/loved ones, reconnect with fellow BTS members, and THEN allow the creative brainstorms to flow for both group and solo projects. I hope they are allowed this sufficient time even if that means they don't put out a group album until late 2026 and then group tour in mid to late 2027 or 2028. I hope they don't feel pressured to put their personal lives or solo opportunities on hold. Chapter 3 hopefully will allow them to grow and determine the direction they want to take in all areas be it personal life, group life, and solo career life. For over 10 years they have given their all for group only, now they should be allowed to follow the paths each one chooses in addition to any group activities. What they do when they return will set up the fandom's expectations/response. If they just do business as usual then the fandom will again return to that mindset that the guys should only do nonstop group work and forgo any other career/personal goals they have....not good for the guys and not good for a healthy fandom. I want the Bangtan Papas and GrandPapas to become a reality one day but that would require them also focusing on their personal lives.
A. Brown
2025-03-31 18:48:46 +0000 UTC
