Seoul/Hong Kong
CNN
—
HYBE, the administration company behind superstar boy band BTS, will develop into the most important shareholder of its Okay-pop rival, SM Leisure.
The transfer strengthens HYBE’s dominance in South Korea’s music trade, the place it’s already the most important participant, even because it seeks to develop overseas.
The South Korean leisure giants introduced the deal Friday, with HYBE set to choose up a 14.8% stake in SM Leisure for 422.8 billion Korean received ($334.5 million).
SM was based by legendary music producer Lee Soo-man, who’s extensively referred to in South Korea as “the godfather of Okay-pop.” The corporate is thought for representing hit artists, comparable to NCT 127, EXO, BoA and Ladies’ Era.
)
Information that the 2 firms have been becoming a member of forces fired up buyers. SM Leisure’s shares soared 16% in Seoul on Friday. HYBE’s inventory initially rose 3%, earlier than paring features to shut down 1.5%.
Outdoors of BTS, HYBE additionally represents outstanding bands comparable to NewJeans, Tomorrow x Collectively and Seventeen.
However its marquee act is at present on hiatus. Members of BTS began particular person obligatory army service in South Korea late final 12 months, and the group as an entire is predicted to reconvene round 2025.
Now, HYBE is popping its consideration elsewhere.
“This acquisition represents a significant step by HYBE to combine the worldwide experience of each firms to develop into a recreation changer within the international music trade,” the corporate mentioned in a press release.
HYBE has been taking steps to develop its international attain. On Thursday, it announced one other main deal in america, saying it might purchase the proprietor of High quality Management, a hip-hop label that represents fashionable artists together with Migos and Lil Yachty.
That deal will assist HYBE construct a stronger presence within the US music market, in keeping with Sunhwa Lee, an web and leisure analyst at KB Securities. In a report Thursday, she famous that the corporate’s broader ambitions have been “to transcend the boundaries of Okay-pop and develop new international artists throughout varied genres.”
“This partnership is a crucial a part of our progress plan to innovate the leisure trade by way of a diversified portfolio,” HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk mentioned in a press release. “We are going to work collectively to proceed including depth of hip-hop to the worldwide music trade.”
Bernie Cho, a Seoul-based music trade govt, mentioned the 2 offers introduced have been not like something he’d seen.
This “stands out as the largest one-two energy punch I’ve ever seen or heard [of] within the historical past of the Okay-pop trade,” mentioned Cho, president of DFSB Kollective, a music artist and label companies company.
He mentioned the offers had the potential to place HYBE in the identical league because the “huge three” main file labels: Sony
(SNE), Common and Warner Music.
“HYBE, of their post-BTS stage, have actually shocked and stunned followers and monetary analysts by actually good, actually savvy big offers,” he added.
In 2019, BTS accounted for as a lot as 90% of income at its administration firm, then known as Big Hit Entertainment. That left analysts involved that the agency, later renamed to HYBE, was overreliant on the band.
Since then, nonetheless, HYBE has expanded its roster.
In recent times, its slate has grown to incorporate different international celebrities, together with Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, who are represented by a staff underneath HYBE’s US subsidiary.
The South Korean agency has additionally has a tie-up with Massive Machine Label Group, an affiliate that oversees a few of the prime artists in nation music, comparable to Sheryl Crowe, Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw.
“HYBE is not a Okay-pop juggernaut. The Okay has now develop into silent,” mentioned Cho. “They’ve develop into a pop music juggernaut.”
