HYBE<\/strong> Chairman Bang Si-hyuk<\/a><\/strong> and Universal Music Group<\/a><\/strong> Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge<\/a><\/strong> appeared together at a HYBE town hall to discuss their careers, their leadership philosophies, and the future of the music business.<\/p>\n The event, at HYBE\u2019s HQ in Seoul, gave HYBE<\/strong> staff across the company\u2019s global offices the chance to hear directly from the two executives, the company said in a statement on Wednesday (June 17<\/strong>).<\/p>\n The conversation also turned to the partnership between the two companies, a relationship the pair traced back to 2017<\/strong>.<\/p>\n During the discussion, Bang<\/strong> spoke about HYBE<\/strong>\u2018s mission to create value for fans through music, and about staying grounded in that purpose as the industry changes, according to the company.<\/p>\n Grainge<\/strong> said that while AI would unlock new opportunities, great music and great people would remain at the center of every successful music company.<\/p>\n Both executives pointed to trust, complementary strengths, and long-term thinking as the foundations of a relationship built on shared values and a commitment to artists, HYBE<\/strong> said.<\/p>\n \u201cMany leaders work to build successful companies, but Sir Lucian<\/strong> has consistently worked to move the music industry forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Bang Si-Hyuk, HYBE<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cMany leaders work to build successful companies, but Sir Lucian<\/strong> has consistently worked to move the music industry forward,\u201d said Bang Si-hyuk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout decades of change, he has repeatedly introduced new ideas and solutions that helped shape the future of the industry,\u201d Bang<\/strong> said. \u201cI have long admired his leadership and continue to learn from the way he approaches change and innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n Grainge <\/strong>said: \u201cBang has built a truly unique company and creative culture.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat HYBE has achieved across its artists, platforms and global business is extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n Grainge<\/strong> added: \u201cThe vision, determination and creativity behind that success are exceptionally rare. It has been a privilege to build this partnership together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat HYBE has achieved across its artists, platforms and global business is extraordinary. The vision, determination and creativity behind that success are exceptionally rare. It has been a privilege to build this partnership together.\u201d<\/p>\n Sir Lucian Grainge, Universal Music Group<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n HYBE<\/strong> and UMG<\/strong> first worked together in 2017<\/strong>, on a distribution deal covering BTS<\/strong> releases in Japan<\/strong>, before broadening into a strategic partnership in 2021<\/strong>.<\/p>\n That collaboration brought UMG<\/strong> artists onto HYBE<\/strong>\u2018s superfan platform Weverse<\/strong> and launched the HYBE x Geffen<\/strong> joint venture.<\/p>\n In 2024<\/strong>, the companies signed a new 10-year agreement<\/a> handing UMG<\/strong> exclusive distribution rights across HYBE\u2019s artists and labels.<\/p>\n As part of that deal, the major took a minority stake in Weverse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cUMG is an iconic music company and together with HYBE, the potential is endless,\u201d Bang<\/strong> said at the time.<\/p>\n For UMG<\/strong>, the Weverse<\/strong> stake is one piece of a wider superfan strategy.<\/p>\n The major has also backed platforms including Stationhead<\/strong> and EVEN<\/strong>, and pushed streaming services toward higher-priced tiers aimed at superfans.<\/p>\n Grainge<\/strong>\u2018s town hall comments on AI echoed a position he has set out repeatedly over the past two years.<\/p>\n In an October<\/strong> 2025<\/strong> memo to staff, the UMG<\/strong> boss said the company would not license<\/a> any AI model built on an artist\u2019s voice or existing songs without that artist\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n Grainge<\/strong> has framed AI as an opportunity rather than a threat.<\/p>\n UMG<\/strong> has struck AI agreements with partners including YouTube<\/a><\/strong>, TikTok<\/strong>, and Meta<\/strong>, while pursuing litigation against AI music generators like Suno, which it accuses of training on its catalog without permission.<\/p>\n Last month, Spotify<\/a> and Universal Music Group announced<\/a> licensing agreements enabling fans to create AI-powered covers and remixes of songs from participating artists and songwriters.<\/p>\n The two companies reported their latest quarterly results on the same day in late April, and both cited the return of BTS<\/strong> as a driver.<\/p>\n HYBE<\/strong> generated record first-quarter revenue of KRW 698.3 billion<\/strong> ($477 million<\/strong>) in Q1 2026<\/strong>, up 39.5%<\/strong> YoY<\/a>, driven by BTS<\/strong>\u2018s sixth studio album ARIRANG<\/em>.<\/p>\n That followed a 2025<\/strong> in which HYBE<\/strong> posted record annual revenue<\/a> of $1.86 billion<\/strong> but saw operating profit fall 73% YoY<\/strong><\/span>, as it spent on global expansion and new artist launches.<\/p>\n The company opened HYBE China<\/strong><\/a> in April 2025<\/strong> and HYBE India<\/strong><\/a> in September 2025<\/strong>, and injected $100 million<\/strong><\/a> into its US arm, HYBE AMERICA<\/strong>, earlier this year.<\/p>\n Its newer acts include CORTIS<\/strong> and KATSEYE<\/strong>, the girl group formed through the HYBE x Geffen<\/strong> partnership.<\/p>\n In May<\/strong>, the two companies unveiled a second global girl group<\/a>, SAINT SATINE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n KATSEYE<\/strong> has surpassed<\/a> 29 million<\/strong> monthly listeners on Spotify<\/strong>, and earned two nominations at the 68th Grammy Awards<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Universal Music Group<\/strong> generated EUR \u20ac2.9 billion<\/strong> ($3.39 billion<\/strong>) in Q1 2026<\/strong>, up 8.1% YoY<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0at constant currency, with BTS<\/strong> among its top sellers.<\/p>\n K-pop<\/strong> featured among UMG<\/strong>\u2018s biggest releases of the past year through the KPop Demon Hunters<\/em> soundtrack, released via its Republic<\/strong> label.<\/p>\n\n
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