ENTERTAINMENT
SM Entertainment Reports Significant Growth in Q2 2025 with Expanding Global Reach
On a separate basis, the company recorded sales of 220.3 billion KRW and an operating profit of 46 billion KRW, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 26.5% and 56.9%, respectively. This robust growth was driven by expanded album sales, increased music revenue, and strong performance in planning and concert merchandise. The operating profit also saw substantial growth due to improved sales mix alongside double-digit sales growth. Additionally, major subsidiaries maintained stable performance with expanded artist activities.
SM plans to continue its growth trajectory in the latter half of the year by strengthening artist-centered IP activities and expanding its global stage. Super Junior, celebrating their 20th anniversary, is engaging fans with various content and commemorative projects, while BoA has released a full album to mark her 25th anniversary. Other releases include NCT DREAM's full album, TVXQ's Japanese single, WayV's mini-album, and the debut single from XngHan&Xoul. Upcoming releases also feature SHINee's Key, Red Velvet's Joy, and more.
Additionally, mini-albums from aespa and NCT WISH, NCT Haechan's first solo full album, and mini-albums from EXO's Suho and Chanyeol are on the horizon.
Further releases include full albums from TVXQ's Yunho and Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, mini-albums from NCT DREAM, WayV, and Hearts2Hearts, singles from RISE, SHINee's Minho, NCT's Jungwoo, and a Japanese full album from NCT's Yuta, along with a Japanese single from TVXQ's Changmin.
The concert sector is also thriving. RISE, currently on their first world tour, is expanding beyond Asia to North America, showcasing diverse performances in 22 regions worldwide. aespa's solo concert, which recently sold out even restricted-view seats, will kick off in Seoul and continue as a world tour across major cities. Other artists like Red Velvet-Irene&Seulgi, NCT DREAM, EXO's Kai, NCT's Doyoung, and SHINee's Key are actively performing both domestically and internationally.
Notably, SM has established a strategic partnership with Tencent Music Entertainment (TME), China's largest music platform with 550 million monthly users, to build a multifaceted collaboration system in content production, distribution, and fandom marketing in the Chinese market. This partnership aims to create a comprehensive idol success model that connects production, distribution, performance, and data.
Co-CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk stated, "SM is enhancing its competitiveness across all generations of the K-Pop market through the active engagement of both long-loved and new artists. This quarter has visibly demonstrated the potential of IP-centered content business translating into tangible results. Based on this, we aim to continue sustainable growth in the second half through the expansion of artist IP-based content and global activities."
Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr
