HIVE Earnings Report Conference Call Q&A Followed by an Incident
Confusion among fans regarding the full-group activities of the group BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) is growing. A misunderstanding arose from the Q&A session during HYBE's third-quarter earnings conference call, leading to a minor incident.
According to industry sources on the 7th, during HYBE's third-quarter earnings report held on the 5th, there was a question: “How much revenue contribution is expected from BTS when they start their tour after their comeback in 2026?”
Since tours typically follow the release of new songs or albums, the question was based on the assumption of BTS's comeback in the second half of 2025 and their tour plans in 2026.
In response, Lee Kyung-joon, HYBE's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), explained, “We are currently discussing activities for 2026 with the members. At this stage, it is not possible to provide specific estimates. However, if they make a comeback as a full group, significant revenue is expected. At the same time, other artists and new business sectors are also growing, so BTS's revenue proportion is expected to be lower than in the past.”
The problem arose because, although the Q&A focused on 2026, some misunderstood this to mean that the full-group activities in the second half of 2025 were canceled. This led to controversy spreading among fans.
A representative from BTS's agency, Big Hit Music, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, “We are currently in close discussions with the members regarding post-military service activity plans for BTS. Once specific plans regarding timing and methods are decided, we will inform the fans at an appropriate time.”
The photo was taken on the 8th at HYBE headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
Previously, Big Hit Music had stated that they hope for a full-group comeback in the second half of next year, following the discharge of all members in the first half.
Even during their military hiatus, BTS has been steadily achieving results on global charts by releasing albums worked on before the members enlisted.
In particular, the team's eldest member Jin (Kim Seok-jin) is set to continue individual activities by releasing his first solo album, ‘Happy,’ on the 15th.
Given BTS's strong presence in individual activities, a full-group return is expected to have a significant impact. NH Investment & Securities raised HYBE's target stock price from 270,000 KRW to 300,000 KRW, stating, “A strong momentum for earnings growth is expected starting next year.”
Researcher Lee Hwa-jung explained, “A full-group new release from BTS is scheduled for the second half of 2025, and immediate growth is expected not only in direct sales such as albums, digital music, and concerts but also in indirect sales through fan clubs and merchandise.”
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