Billboard
Entertainment
HYBE Shares Fall on YG Plus Sale, SM Entertainment Stock Slips After Failed EXO Mediation
The share prices of two K-pop giants, HYBE and SM Entertainment, suffered steep losses in a week in which few music stocks mustered even small gains.
In the week ended Friday (Sept. 26), HYBE’s stock fell 7.5% to 268,500 KRW ($190.53) amid a broader monthly downturn of approximately 9%. The company’s founder and chairman, Bang Si-hyuk, is currently facing a securities litigation probe. Additionally, on Tuesday (Sept. 23), HYBE sold its stake in YG Entertainment’s YG Plus.
While HYBE maintains exposure to YG Plus through the 10.2% stake owned by HYBE subsidiary Weverse, the disposal of its 4.8 million shares worth a total of 38.22 billion KRW ($27 million) will help shore up the company’s finances. HYBE’s operating profit rebounded in the second quarter, but in 2024, the company reported that cash flow from operating activities was at its lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. HYBE held 412 billion KRW ($292 billion) in cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2024, an improvement from 2023 but lower than in both 2021 and 2022.
SM Entertainment fared even worse than HYBE, falling 13.9% to 131,700 KRW ($93.46) after the company’s first court-led mediation with three members of the group EXO failed to resolve a $430,000 contract dispute. The artists claimed last year that they were being overcharged by SM for the distribution of music.
Despite their recent struggles, the two K-pop companies are among the best-performing music stocks in 2025. Year to date, SM Entertainment is up 81.4% — third-best behind Netease Cloud Music (134.2%) and Tencent Music Entertainment (111.9%) — and HYBE has gained 33.6%.
The Billboard Global Music Index (BGMI) fell 2.1% to 3,034.75 this week, lowering its year-to-date gain to 40.8%. That marked the first decline in four weeks and just the sixth losing week in the second half of the year. Only two stocks posted gains for the week, while 16 lost value and one was unchanged.
Related
Global markets were mixed this week as investors weighed the damage that could arise from a possible federal government shutdown in the U.S. The Nasdaq composite index fell 0.7% to 22,484.07 after closing the previous week at an all-time high. The S&P 500 ended a three-week winning streak, closing down 0.3% to 6,643.70. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 rose 0.7%. South Korea’s KOSPI composite index slid 1.7% and China’s Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2%.
Universal Music Group had the week’s largest gain, rising 2% to 24.00 euros ($28.09). Madison Square Garden Entertainment, which improved 0.3% to $45.29, was the week’s only other music stock in positive territory.
Live Nation fell 1.2% to $161.79, bringing its two-week decline to 6.9%. Live Nation and Ticketmaster were sued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Sept. 18 over allegedly violating the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act and engaging in “systemic unfair and deceptive practices,” according to the lawsuit. The stock received good news earlier in the week, however, when Seaport Global increased its price target to $190 from $170 and maintained its “buy” rating.
Music streaming companies were among the week’s biggest losers. Tencent Music Entertainment fell 5.9%, Anghami slipped 4.8%, Netease Cloud Music dropped 4.4% and Spotify, the BGMI’s most valuable company, dipped 2.5%.
Another streaming company, LiveOne, executed a 10-to-1 reverse stock split on Friday (Sept. 26) that allowed it to meet the Nasdaq exchange’s minimum bid requirement of $1 per share. After accounting for the split, LiveOne’s share price fell 5.5% to $4.82, deepening its year-to-date loss to 65.1%.
iHeartMedia had the second-largest decline of the week, falling 10.6% to $2.71. Despite the stock suffering its first decline in three weeks, iHeartMedia shares have risen 69.4% over the past seven weeks and have gained 27.2% year-to-date. The stock has been on a roll since its Q2 earnings on Aug. 11 showed that the company beat guidance by posting a small revenue gain.
Billboard
Billboard
Continue Reading
Live entertainment company Venu Holding Corporation (VENU) raised $86.25 million from institutional investors through an oversubscribed stock offering this week, the company announced on Thursday (March 12).
Colorado-based VENU, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, said on Tuesday (March 10) it had completed an underwritten public offering for 18.75 million shares sold for $4 each. Executives said the stock offering beat the $75 million in gross proceeds they initially expected, despite widespread market volatility sparked by the conflict in Iran.
“The market is hungry, and this raise proves it,” J.W. Roth, VENU’s founder, chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “We’ve created a model to scale premium entertainment destinations across the country, and investors are recognizing the opportunity.”
Founded in 2017, VENU owns, operates and is developing live music venues in cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma, and El Paso and Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas. VENU says its luxury music venues put a family and group-friendly spin on typical VIP offerings with fire pit suites, which individuals can buy shares in.
The company, which boasts shareholders including Niall Horan and Dierks Bentley, said the capital raised through this week’s offering will go toward accelerating development of projects currently underway in Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma.
Related
VENU’s flagship facility, the Ford Ampitheater in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was named the Top West Coast Amphitheater on Billboard‘s Top Venues of 2026. The 8,000-seat, open-air venue, which opened in August 2024, has held concerts by Cage the Elephant, OneRepublic, Miranda Lambert, Dwight Yoakam, The Black Keys and Godsmack, in partnership with promoter AEG Presents.
The company said it expects to open three more amphitheaters in 2026 and aims to operate 25 amphitheaters and 15 indoor entertainment complexes by 2030.
“We might be $4 or $5 today, but we’re going to $50. This capital is what accelerates us to get there,” Roth said in a video posted to YouTube.
VENU’s stock was trading at $3.56 around 11:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, near its 52-week low of $3.49. The S&P 500 index was down 1.26% on Thursday.
Cynthia Erivo, Sade, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Kate Nash are among the bold-faced names on the shortlist for the Rainbow Honours 2026, which celebrates individuals, organizations and cultural moments advancing LGBTQIA+ equality across the U.K. and beyond.
Sade, Ellis-Bextor and Nash are recognized in the Celebrity Ally of the Year category, alongside actors David Tennant and Eddie Redmayne, both long-standing supporters of LGBTQIA+ equality. Sade is currently a nominee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Ellis-Bextor had a global hit in 2024 with her 2001 song “Murder on the Dancefloor” after it was featured in the film Saltburn. They are joined on the shortlist by broadcaster Jeremy Vine, actor Paapa Essiedu, actress Suranne Jones, and actors Alison King and Balvinder Sopal.
The Celebrity LGBTQIA Champion of the Year category celebrates high-profile LGBTQIA+ figures using their platforms to drive visibility and change. Nominees include Erivo, whose continued advocacy for LGBTQIA+ representation and inclusion has resonated globally, and actor Andrew Scott, whose openness around identity has helped bring LGBTQIA+ stories to wider audiences.
They are joined by broadcaster and athlete Adele Roberts, comedian Rosie Jones, actor Layton Williams, chef and presenter Gok Wan MBE, Olympic swimmer Michael Gunning, reality TV trailblazer Ella Morgan, actor Heather Peace, and campaigner Jordan Sangha.
The awards also recognize the cultural moments shaping the national conversation around LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Nominees for Media Moment of the Year include Alan Carr and Cat Burns’ starring appearances in Celebrity Traitors; Coronation Street’s same-sex domestic abuse storyline; and the BBC’s coverage of Pride Month.
“The Rainbow Honours celebrate the individuals and organisations who are truly making a difference for LGBTQIA+ communities,” Linda Riley, founder of the Rainbow Honours, says in a statement. “From global stars using their influence to champion equality, to charities providing life-saving support and businesses building inclusive workplaces, the shortlist reflects the incredible breadth of work happening across society. We are proud to honour those who are helping to create a more inclusive and accepting world for everyone.”
The ceremony will take place on June 11 at The London Hilton on Park Lane, hosted by comedian Steven Bailey and featuring a special performance from disco greats Boney M.
The full 2026 shortlist can be viewed at the Rainbow Honours website.
.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Peso Pluma‘s 2026 Dinastía Tour is in full swing and everyone’s celebrating, including Amazon.
The retailer just launched Pluma’s official tour merch on their site, and the pieces are extremely cute. The new line includes unisex styles like graphic tees, hoodies and even quarter-zips that are affixed with graphics that make reference to the singer’s Mexican roots and the tour’s name. The collection also includes some fire accessories like an everyday tote, ankle-length socks and a few fashionable hats that we couldn’t pass up on.
Dinastía Tour Luchador Dateback T-Shirt
$50.00
This tee features a luchador motif on the back and an oversized fit. The graphics are a contrasting black.
Dinastía Tour Chainstitch Tote
$35.00
This is an everyday tote in black with Pluma’s tour name stitched on the front. The tote is roomy enough for all your essentials and is machine washable.
The official merch collection retails from $20 to $165 and comes in a slew of sizing. If you are planning on attending Pluma’s Dinastía tour but don’t want to spend a ton on merch at your chosen venue, shopping his merch on Amazon can save you both time and money. The Dinastía Tour Chainstitch Quarter Zip Fleece is an item we can’t pass up on.
The famed quarter-zip gets a Dinastía upgrade with white embroidered detailing and a cozy mock neck. Most, if not all, the pieces in this collection are slightly oversized, giving the pieces that effortless “street style” look. The trucker hat for $40 is also a favorite, what with the stylish chain-stitched embroidery on the front. Mesh paneling on the sides offer a unique textural finish.
Dinastía Laija Family Crest Socks
$20.00
Black ankle-length socks with branded white graphics. These socks are machine washable.
Dinastía Tour Crest Dateback T-Shirt
$50.00
Yet another Peso Pluma tee, this time, with the Dinastía tour logo. The tee is oversized like our last pick.
The Dinastía Tour Luchador Dateback T-Shirt for $50 nods to the singer’s roots with a luchador mask affixed to the back. The graphics are black, juxtaposed against the white background. The tee is also oversized, making for an extremely comfy moment if you’re looking to dress casually for your concert experience.
Pluma’s first stop on his 30-city tour already took place in Seattle on March 1 at the Climate Pledge Arena. Next up, the performer will be stopping in Houston, Austin, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Tampa and New York before finally finishing off his run in Chicago on May 7 at the United Center. Fans in attendance can expect dynamic performances of some of Pluma’s top tracks, along with a rotating lineup of special guest appearances from the performer’s friends.
Dinastía Tour Trucker Hat
$40.00
This is a trucker-style hat with white embroidered logo detailing on the front. The trucker style is slightly oversized.
Dinastía Tour Chainstitch Quarter Zip Fleece
$165.00
The famed quarter zip gets a Dinastía makeover. This black zip-up features the tour’s logo throughout in white.
We’ve already covered where to find affordable ticketing that you can buy here. “This moment is a reminder of how far our music has traveled, and it makes me really happy to see the fans connecting with it,” Pluma told Billboard. “Together, we’re continuing to push Mexican culture forward.”
Politics13 hours ago
US Central Command Releases Epic Footage of US Military Blowing Up Iran’s Air Force (VIDEO)
Tech14 hours ago
Stay prepared for anything with the Growatt Helios power station — now $400 off at Amazon
Entertainment14 hours ago
VENU Raises $86 Million Through Stock Offering
Politics6 months ago
SEND IN THE TROOPS! At Least 5 Dead, 10 Wounded So Far in Chicago Weekend Shootings
Business6 months ago
How I Paid Off My Mortgage 10 Years Early On A Teacher’s Salary
Politics6 months ago
Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle
-
Politics6 months agoSEND IN THE TROOPS! At Least 5 Dead, 10 Wounded So Far in Chicago Weekend Shootings
-
Business6 months ago
How I Paid Off My Mortgage 10 Years Early On A Teacher’s Salary
-
Politics6 months agoBlack Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle
-
Tech6 months agoGet a lifetime subscription to the “ChatGPT for investors” for under $60
-
Tech6 months agoReview: The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is the first wet/dry vacuum I liked
-
Business6 months ago
25 Low-Effort Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend
-
Business6 months ago
9 Ways to Command a Six-Figure Salary Without a Bachelor’s
-
Entertainment5 months agoFat Joe Recalls Bruno Mars Snapping on Him Over Question About Puerto Rican Roots: ‘Broke My Heart’