YG Plus and HYBE Renew Distribution Deal, Continuing Eight-Year Partnership

YG Plus renews domestic distribution deal with HYBE, extending eight-year partnership

May 20, 2026 By Mandy Dalugdug

YG Plus has renewed its distribution agreement with HYBE , extending a partnership that has underpinned the domestic distribution of some of K-pop’s best-selling catalogs for eight consecutive years.

The renewal, announced on Tuesday (May 19) via a regulatory filing , will see YG Plus continue to handle the domestic distribution of albums and digital music content for HYBE  artists – a roster that includes BTS , SEVENTEEN , LE SSERAFIM , ENHYPEN , TXT , and NewJeans .

The two companies first signed a distribution agreement in 2018, when HYBE was still known as Big Hit Entertainment .

The contract runs for three years from April 1, 2026.

YG Plus CEO Choi Seong-jun said, as per Nate : “Our collaboration with HYBE is becoming a significant partnership in YG Plus’s music distribution business.”

“We will combine the capabilities of both companies to continuously expand the competitiveness of K-pop content.”

> “We will combine the capabilities of both companies to continuously expand the competitiveness of K-pop content.” Choi Seong-jun, YG PLUS

Yoo Dong-ju , CEO of HYBE Music Group APAC , was quoted by Nate as saying: “Our collaboration with YG Plus is generating meaningful results in terms of domestic music content distribution and marketing.

“We will continue to work closely to deliver the music of HYBE Music Group artists to domestic fans more effectively.”

The renewal comes as the equity relationship between the two companies has shifted.

In January  2021 ,  HYBE  and its subsidiary  Weverse Company  invested a combined  70 billion South Korean won (approx. USD $63 million  at the time) in  YG Plus , acquiring a  17.9%  stake.

> “Our collaboration with YG Plus is generating meaningful results in terms of domestic music content distribution and marketing.” Yoo Dong-ju , HYBE Music Group APAC

That deal saw  HYBE  artists distribute albums through  YG Plus ‘s domestic network, while  YG Entertainment  acts – including  BLACKPINK  –  joined Weverse , HYBE’s superfan platform.

In September 2025, HYBE sold its entire direct 7.67% stake in YG Plus for 38.22 billion won (approx. $27 million ), citing portfolio optimization.

HYBE still holds a 10.23% position in YG Plus through its subsidiary Weverse Company , making it the second-largest shareholder behind YG Entertainment , which holds 30.22% .

YG Plus  says it works with more than  600   domestic and global partner labels  – including  YG Entertainment ,  HYBE , and  THEBLACKLABEL  – and operates direct contracts with music platforms covering more than  190  countries.

For  HYBE , which does not operate its own domestic physical distribution infrastructure,  YG Plus  provides the logistics network needed to get albums from its labels into stores and online retail channels across South Korea – a market where physical album sales remain central to the K-pop economy.

The deal renewal also arrives as HYBE ‘s domestic output is surging. The company posted record Q1 2026 revenue of 698.3 billion won (approx. $477 million ), up 39.5% year-on-year, driven by the return of BTS , whose fifth studio album Arirang sold 3.98 million copies on its first day.

All of those albums were distributed domestically through YG Plus .

HYBE also sold its entire stake in rival SM Entertainment to Tencent Music Entertainment for nearly $180 million earlier in 2025, as the company has shifted its capital toward international expansion – including new headquarters in India , Latin America , and China . Music Business Worldwide

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_Originally reported by [Music Business Worldwide](https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/yg-plus-renews-domestic-distribution-deal-with-hybe-extending-eight-year-partnership/)._