KPOP AGENCIES BATTLE REVENUE OF Q4 2021

The world of South Korean entertainment is undergoing very dynamic changes, especially the Kpop industries. It is inseparable from the role of the agency. Every time, agencies are competing to promote their best boyband and girlband in this already saturated market. They also prepare trainees who are ready to debut. Every concept and detail is carefully considered. Here are the 4th quarter revenues of the Big 4 in 2021.

Recently the South Korean media reported that the era of the Big 3 is over. The South Korean music industry is now entering the era of the Big 4 agency. The new Big 4 titles have been awarded to SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, BigHit Entertainment, and CJ ENM. YG Entertainment had to give up the Big Agency title it had held for years. Industry experts have analyzed entertainment revenues earned by the 'Big 4' agencies in the 4th and final quarter of 2021, as well as projected yearly revenues, predictions for 2022. 

1. SM Entertainment

In the 4th quarter of 2021, SM Entertainment's projected sales amounts to 192.7 billion KRW (~ 160.2 million USD), with projected operating profits amounting to 18.4 billion KRW (~ 15.3 million USD). Throughout the 4th quarter, artists including NCT 127, aespa, Kai, and Super Junior D&E contributed to over 4 million copies in album sales, and artists including NCT 127 and aespa swept multiple awards at year-end ceremonies.    In 2022, SM Entertainment is expected to expand its business ventures in new areas, such as the Metaverse, NFTs, and more.   

 2. HYBE Labels

 In the 4th quarter of 2021, HYBE Labels recorded a sales of 402.4 billion KRW (~ 334.5 million USD), plus an operating profit of 72.3 billion KRW (~ 60.1 million USD). This signals the company's highest quarterly sales in 2021, with album sales by Seventeen and ENHYPEN reaching 4.77 million copies in the 4th quarter. With this, HYBE Labels is projected to hit the 1 trillion club in yearly profits for 2021. Industry experts also noted the company's increasing efforts to "rely less on BTS" in 2021, through artists like Seventeen, TOMORROW x TOGETHER, ENHYPEN, and more.   In the first half of 2022, BTS will be resuming activities with 'Permission To Dance on Stage - Seoul' in March, also attending the '64th Annual Grammy Awards' in April. HYBE Labels also previews the launch of Weverse 2.0 in the first half of 2022, as well as entry into the NFT market, plus more.       

3. JYP

In the 4th quarter of 2021, JYP Entertainment's sales amounted to 58.4 billion KRW (~ 48.5 million USD). The company's operating profits amounted to 14.5 million KRW (~ 12.1 million USD). Throughout 2021, boy group Stray Kids established itself as JYP Entertainment's best-selling artists, while girl groups like TWICE and ITZY demonstrated steady popularity both in Korea and Japan. 

In 2022, rookie artists including Xdinary Heroes, NMIXX, and the debut team members of the SBS audition program 'Loud' are projected to bring in fresh revenues for JYP Entertainment

4. YG Entertainment 

 In the 4th quarter of 2021, YG Entertainment recorded a sales of 77.2 billion KRW (~ 64.2 million USD), and an operating profit of 6.4 billion KRW (~ 5.3 million USD). YG Entertainment was the only member of 'Big 3' to fail in the second quarter of 2021. YG suffered a loss of 1.50 billion Won or the equivalent of 1.29 million US dollars. YG's operating profit was only 10.4 billion Won or about 8.92 million US dollars, which was obtained from album and merchandise sales of 83.6 billion Won or the equivalent of 71.7 million US dollars.

This is because during the second quarter of 2021, not a single YG artist released a new song or made a comeback. Sales are predicted to increase in the third quarter of 2021 through BLACKPINK's Lisa solo debut. As YG Entertainment was demoted from “blue-chip company” (superior) status to “mid-sized business” after facing consistent operational losses. For 2022, it looks like YG Entertainment is already planning several big releases from TREASURE, BLACKPINK, and WINNER, along with a new girl group, and together they’ll certainly bring in the cash!

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