Among "BIG 4" HYBE, SM, YG and JYP Entertainment, which agency earned the most this 2021? Based on the year-end settlement of a Korean media outlet, HYBE which is home to BTS once again reigned as a top entertainment company in terms of sales and profit.
On December 15, the Korean media outlet Sports Today released their year-end settlement featuring "BIG 4," a group of top companies that was relatively successful amid the pandemic wave of COVID-19.
In particular, "BIG 3" SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment, hereinafter "BIG 4" with the addition of HYBE, succeeded in making high profits based on music and album sales even when offline concerts were impossible.
HYBE Dominates as Top Entertainment Company with 798 Billion Won Sales and 116.4 Billion Won Operating Profit
Amid the pandemic, HYBE Corporation secured its position as the No. 1 company in terms of sales and profit after recording the highest quarterly performance ever.
ALSO READ: HYBE Records All-Time Highest Operating and Sales Profit for the Third Quarter of 2021
In the third quarter, the company's sales rose 79.49% or 341 billion won while its operating profit skyrocketed to 63.33% or 65.6 billion won.
Adding it to HYBE's first and second-quarter sales and profit, the cumulative worth was 798 billion won and 116.4 billion won, respectively.
The incredible performances of BTS, SEVENTEEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and ENHYPEN particularly boosted HYBE's high album sales.
SM, YG Entertainment & JYP Entertainment Shows Impressive Rise in Sales & Operating Profit in 2021
Following HYBE, SM Entertainment secured its spot in the "BIG 4."
This year, the high growth of NCT and aespa drove SM's performance. Based on consolidation, SM's sales in the third quarter of this year rose to 34.2% or 154.4 billion won, while operating profit rose to 109% or 14.1 billion won, turning into a surplus.
In terms of cumulative sales until the third quarter, sales of SM Entertainment were 395 billion won and operating profit was 56.9 billion won.
Following HYBE and SM, YG Entertainment ranked third despite few activities from its artists compared to the previous years.
Although BLACKPINK didn't have any release as a group in 2021, their online concerts as well as Rosé and Lisa's solo debut contributed the most to YG's sales and profit.
In the third quarter, YG's sales rose to 31% or 86 billion won, and its operating profit rose 371% or 17.3 billion won.
Cumulatively, YG Entertainment earned 266.6 billion won and 37.3 billion won for sales and operating profit, in order.
Lastly, JYP Entertainment achieved strong performance this 2021 as Stray Kids achieved "career high" along with a solid girl group lineup TWICE, ITZY, and NiziU.
Thanks to these artists' performances, JYP's sales and operating profit in the third quarter of this year were 57.3 billion won and 18.2 billion won, respectively.
The cumulative value was 130.1 billion won and 41.6 billion won.
READ MORE: 'Big 4' Entertainment Agencies Release 2020 Overall Profits and Sales — Who Do You Think Earned the Most?
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Written by Eunice Dawson
