K-pop company behind BTS wants to make its superfan app global

A woman takes a photograph of the Hybe Co headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. BTS’s famous ARMY fans propelled Weverse into being in 2019. The app, which has around 69 million subscribers and more than 100 channels, took off during the pandemic as tens of millions of BTS fans flocked to Weverse to livestream concerts and talk online with K-pop stars who were unable to tour overseas or perform at home. — Bloomberg

K-pop boy band BTS may be on hiatus, but its management company is looking to boost the superfan app the group inspired.

Hybe Co is doubling efforts to sign up new artistes to the Weverse app, seeking to draw fans from around the globe and pursue profitability. Having added rival K-pop talent firms’ artistes such as Blackpink and Riize to its offerings, the Pangyo-based Weverse Company is setting its sights on artistes from bigger music markets in Japan and the US. So far, it’s secured Japanese groups including AKB48 and US boy band Prettymuch.