Contract renewals have always been among the most sensitive and important decisions in the K-pop industry. In fact, quite a few groups have faced the possibility of disbandment or a decline in group activities because their members were unable to reach a unanimous agreement to renew their contracts. For an entertainment company, especially when the artist in question is its flagship group, a renewal decision can have a significant impact on stock prices, shareholder confidence, investment flows, and the company’s future business direction.
Since their debut under BigHit Entertainment, BTS have renewed their exclusive contracts with the company twice. The first renewal took place in October 2018, when all the members agreed to extend their contracts by seven years, more than a year before the original agreements were due to expire. In September 2023, all seven members agreed to renew their contracts for a second time, although the specific duration of the new agreements was not disclosed. HYBE only confirmed that both parties would continue their partnership in 2025 and beyond.
In recent years, discussions surrounding BTS’s contracts have repeatedly sparked heated debates, even causing fluctuations among investors and in the stock market. As a result, the issue was brought up once again by shareholders during HYBE’s recent third-quarter earnings conference. However, CEO Lee Jae-sang’s response left many fans and investors feeling unsatisfied.
When asked about the possibility of another contract renewal and the group’s future touring plans, Lee Jae-sang did not directly confirm the status of any ongoing negotiations. Instead, he simply stated that BTS would continue their world tour through the first half of next year, while also preparing group and solo activities following the tour.
When asked about the group's schedule for the second half of next year, the HYBE CEO explained: “Nowhere in the global music industry do companies announce their plans a year in advance. We hope you will trust the company based on HYBE's track record and the way we have operated. We plan to announce additional concerts for the BTS ARIRANG World Tour. We are also preparing group and solo activities following the world tour.”
Notably, immediately after addressing BTS’s plans, the HYBE CEO went on to strongly emphasize the company’s “Multi-home, Multi-genre” strategy, stating: “Regarding this achievement, what I want to emphasize beyond the numbers is that the 'Multi-home, Multi-genre' strategy, in which HYBE has consistently invested, has borne explosive fruit,” adding, “We will continue not to disappoint expectations through our performance.”
This contrast has sparked even more debate, particularly because BTS’s activities are making a substantial contribution to HYBE’s revenue. The company itself stated that the group’s European and North αмєяι¢αn tour dates were the main driving force behind its revenue growth, attracting an average of approximately 70,000 attendees per show.
HYBE also highlighted the impact of BTS’s merchandise business, stating: “Through the second North αмєяι¢αn leg of BTS’s tour, we have pushed beyond the traditional limits of the merchandise business.” The company further revealed that approximately one million fans visited merchandise sales locations across 12 cities during the 45-day North αмєяι¢αn tour, with total sales reaching two million items.
Many fans acknowledge that contract renewals and future business plans may involve confidential information that the company cannot freely disclose to the public. Nevertheless, they feel that the CEO’s evasive answers have done little to ease their concerns and may even have further shaken their confidence in the company. What ARMY want is not necessarily for HYBE to reveal all of its plans, but rather to demonstrate a clearer attitude and give BTS the recognition they deserve, instead of appearing evasive or seemingly trying to reduce the company's dependence on the group.
Fans shared their reactions: "A lot of things rubs me wrong way here", "My money follows BTS only… where they are and where they go— I hope Hybe knows that and ARMY", "Fvkng unthankful вαѕтαя∂s. BTS built Hybe, they profit 188.5 Trillion, but they want Next BTS?", "It’s obvious that this company has no intention of protecting BTS; in fact, they might even be colluding with outsiders to fuel the wave of hate against them", "It just made obvious what we've been thinking for a long time lol BTS is the biggest group in the world and if HYBE tries to distance itself from the BTS name, they're the ones losing", "Or are they afraid that if they admit BTS no longer wants to renew with this ∂αми company, the shareholders will walk away too?",...
