HYBE
HYBE Corporation: History, Labels, Artists and Key Facts
HYBE is a South Korean entertainment company best known as the organisation behind BTS. It operates as a group of record labels rather than a single agency, and it also runs the fan platform Weverse. This guide covers HYBE’s history, leadership, labels, artists, and members, along with the key facts readers search for most.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company name | HYBE Co., Ltd. (HYBE Corporation) |
| Former name | Big Hit Entertainment |
| Founder | Bang Si-hyuk |
| Founded | February 2005 |
| Renamed HYBE | March 2021 |
| Headquarters | Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea |
| Stock listing | Korea Exchange (ticker 352820), listed in 2020 |
| Chairman | Bang Si-hyuk |
| CEO | Jason Jaesang Lee, since July 2024 |
| Largest shareholder | Bang Si-hyuk (roughly 28% to 31%, depending on the source) |
| Fan platform | Weverse |
| Record annual revenue | ₩2.65 trillion in 2025 |
What Is HYBE?
HYBE is a multinational entertainment company that operates as a record label group, talent agency, music producer, concert organiser, and music publisher. Its labels, collectively called HYBE Labels, run mostly independently while sharing resources and technology. Its fan platform, Weverse, connects artists with their audiences.
History of HYBE
From Big Hit Entertainment to a Global Company
Bang Si-hyuk, a composer and producer who had worked at JYP Entertainment, founded Big Hit Entertainment in 2005. BTS debuted under the company in 2013, and the group’s global success drove the company’s expansion.
Stock Listing and Rebrand
Big Hit listed on the stock market in 2020 and changed its name to HYBE in March 2021. In July 2021, Bang Si-hyuk stepped down as CEO to focus on music production. He remained chairman, and the label business was separated into the new company Big Hit Music.
Acquisitions and Partnerships
In 2021, HYBE formed a joint venture label with Universal Music Group and acquired the US company Ithaca Holdings for about $1 billion. It also built a multi-label structure by adding Pledis Entertainment, Source Music, KOZ Entertainment, and ADOR. In 2023, HYBE took full ownership of Belift Lab after buying the remaining stake from CJ ENM.
Leadership Today
Jason Jaesang Lee became CEO in July 2024. In his 2026 New Year message, he described the year as the point where the company’s “HYBE 2.0” strategy would begin to show results. The strategy focuses on building new IP, strengthening fan experiences, and expanding globally. Both he and Bang Si-hyuk appeared on Billboard’s 2026 Power 100 list.
HYBE Labels
| Label | Known for |
|---|---|
| Big Hit Music | BTS, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, CORTIS |
| Pledis Entertainment | SEVENTEEN, TWS |
| Belift Lab | ENHYPEN, ILLIT |
| Source Music | LE SSERAFIM |
| KOZ Entertainment | BOYNEXTDOOR, Zico |
| ADOR | A separate label under HYBE |
| YX Labels | &TEAM (Japan) |
| HYBE x Geffen Records | KATSEYE (United States) |
HYBE Artists and Members
BTS (Big Hit Music, 2013)
- Members: RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook
- Notes: The group’s fifth studio album, Arirang, came out on March 20, 2026. Its world tour runs through March 2027.
SEVENTEEN (Pledis Entertainment, 2015)
- Members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino
- Notes: The group has several sub-units, including BSS, and pairs such as Jeonghan X Wonwoo.
TOMORROW X TOGETHER (Big Hit Music, 2019)
- Members: Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai
ENHYPEN (Belift Lab, 2020)
- Members: Jungwon, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo and Ni-ki
- Notes: The group formed through the survival show I-Land.
LE SSERAFIM (Source Music, 2022)
- Members: Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Kazuha and Eunchae
BOYNEXTDOOR (KOZ Entertainment, 2023)
- Members: Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak
ILLIT (Belift Lab, 2024)
- Members: Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee and Iroha
- Notes: The group formed through the survival show R U Next?.
TWS (Pledis Entertainment, 2024)
- Members: Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin
KATSEYE (HYBE x Geffen Records, 2024)
- Members: Daniela, Lara, Manon, Megan, Sophia and Yoonchae
- Notes: The group formed through the global competition Dream Academy and received two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. It also had over 36 million monthly Spotify listeners in early 2026.
CORTIS (Big Hit Music, 2025)
- Members: Martin, James, Juhun, Sunghyun, and Gunho
&TEAM (YX Labels, 2022)
A Japan-based group formed through HYBE’s Japanese label.
HYBE in 2026
BTS’s return has dominated the year. Analysts at iM Securities forecast third-quarter revenue of about ₩1.5 trillion, more than double the previous year, driven by BTS’s stadium shows in North America and Europe and by tours from groups such as ENHYPEN, KATSEYE, and CORTIS. These are forecasts, not reported results, so check HYBE’s official earnings release before quoting final numbers.
Why HYBE Matters
HYBE changed how K-pop companies operate by combining music, technology, and fan platforms under one structure. Its multi-label model lets different teams develop distinct groups, and its overseas projects, such as KATSEYE, show how it is building artists for international markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded HYBE?
Bang Si-hyuk founded it in 2005 as Big Hit Entertainment.
What was HYBE called before?
Big Hit Entertainment. It changed its name in March 2021.
Is HYBE the same as Big Hit Music?
No. Big Hit Music is one of HYBE’s labels. HYBE is the parent company.
Who is the CEO of HYBE?
Jason Jaesang Lee, since July 2024. Bang Si-hyuk is chairman.
Which groups are under HYBE?
They include BTS, SEVENTEEN, TXT, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, BOYNEXTDOOR, ILLIT, TWS, CORTIS, and KATSEYE, each under a different label.
What is Weverse?
HYBE’s global fan platform, where artists share content and fans interact and buy products.
