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HYBE Shares Fall on YG Plus Sale, SM Entertainment Stock Slips After Failed EXO Mediation

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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. 

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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. 

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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%.

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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.

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Kendrick Lamar, Clipse & Doechii Show Rap Can Shine in Every Style With 2026 Grammy Noms

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On Friday (Nov. 7), the Recording Academy unveiled the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards, and as always, the hip-hop world has plenty to celebrate and debate. With everyone on pins and needles, this year’s lineup delivers no shortage of storylines, surprises and standout performances from rap’s elite.

For the second consecutive year, Kendrick Lamar leads all contenders with a staggering nine nominations, courtesy of his late-2024 masterclass, GNX. After last year’s dominant run, capped by him ultimately claiming song and record of the year for “Not Like Us” at the Grammys in February, Lamar is looking to go back-to-back, with “Luther” also recognized in both categories. Joining him in the Big Four categories are fellow rap titans Tyler, The Creator and the Clipse, both of whom are nominated for album of the year. Tyler’s Chromokopia flexed his creative range and unfiltered candor, while Clipse’s unapologetic return to their trademark druglord narratives with Let God Sort Em Out sparked a wave of critical acclaim and Grammy contention.

The women of hip-hop also showed out in this year’s nominations, further proving the genre’s depth. Doechii, Cardi B, and GloRilla each earned major recognition, underscoring why rap remains in a healthy, evolving place despite outside noise. Doechii, who claimed best rap album last year, scored six more nominations on the strength of her viral smash “Anxiety” and the enduring impact of Alligator Bites Never Heal. Likewise, GloRilla’s 2024 comeback has catapulted her back to the top of the food chain, marking a powerful redemption run.

See what else Billboard has to say about this year’s hip-hop nominees below.

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From The Weeknd to Gracie Abrams, Which Snubbed Artist Should’ve Gotten a 2026 Grammy Nod? Vote!

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Numerous artists are currently flying high after scoring 2026 Grammy nominations on Friday (Nov. 7) –but there are also several major contenders who didn’t get quite as lucky.

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Despite garnering major award buzz this past year, stars such as The Weeknd, Gracie Abrams and Alex Warren didn’t get recognized in certain categories, which were unveiled Friday morning in a livestream on the Grammy website. The absence of the artist born Abel Tesfaye from the nominations list was particularly noticeable, as he had just reconciled with the academy last year and dropped Billboard 200-topping album Hurry Up Tomorrow in February. But while Kendrick Lamar, Sabrina Carpenter and Bad Bunny got honors in the album of the year category, The Weeknd did not.

Both Abrams and Warren were also excluded from the major categories, with neither “That’s So True” nor “Ordinary” getting song or record of the year consideration, even though those were two of the biggest Billboard Hot 100-charting tracks of the year. Warren at least scored a nod for best new artist, but that category was also missing several big names, including Zach Top, Megan Moroney, Ella Langley and Ravyn Lenae.

The producer of the year, non classical category will turn heads for the second year in a row as well, as Jack Antonoff — who was notably excluded from the list in 2025 — once again did not make the cut. That comes in spite of his work on two album of theyear contenders, Lamar’s GNX and Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend, both of which spent time at No. 1 on the U.S. albums chart. Instead, Dan Auerbach, Cirkut, Dijon, Blake Mills and Sounwave will fight it out for the prize.

But while the academy’s word is final, it’s your turn to share how you feel about the outcome of the initial voting process this year. Have any strong feelings on which snubbed artist was the most deserving of recognition? We want to know.

Tell us who you think should have been nominated in a category they were shut out of by voting in the poll below.

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Pete Davidson Surprises on ‘SNL,’ Jokes About Ferry Boat He Bought With Colin Jost: Watch

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Pete Davidson returned to Saturday Night Live for a surprise appearance on Nov. 8.

The comedian and actor, who was an SNL cast member from 2014 to 2022, crashed the “Weekend Update” segment to poke fun at a recent article about a decommissioned Staten Island ferry he purchased with Colin Jost in 2022. The two had planned to transform the vessel into an upscale entertainment venue.

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The New York Times recently ran an article calling the Staten Island Ferry that I purchased with Pete Davidson a ‘money-losing fiasco.’ With more on this, is Pete Davidson,” Jost said in introducing The King of Staten Island star.

“Colin, you’re looking great as ever. [Michael] Che, starting to crack,” Davidson joked, mentioning his recent appearance at the 2025 Riyadh Comedy Festival and that he’s expecting his first child.

“So yeah, in case you’re wondering why I had to do a show in Saudi Arabia, we’re losing millions on this ferry,” he continued. “I assume that’s what the article says. I can’t spend $5 on a paywall when I got a kid on the way.”

Davidson and Jost then continued trading jokes about the 2,109-ton ferry, which they bought at a New York auction for $280,100.

“We even gave the boat a new name,” Davidson said. “We thought the Staten Island Ferry sounded too depressing, so now it’s called the Titanic 2.” Jost added, “That’s right, and it’s actually going very well. Recently, we got paid by Nike to put an ad on it for the New York City Marathon.”

Earlier on Saturday, Davidson told People that he’d “do anything” for SNL boss Lorne Michaels, saying he’d return to the show if asked.

“I had a great time hosting last time, and anytime you get that call, it’s an honor and a privilege,” the eight-season SNL vet said. “It’s always relevant, it’s a hot show. People look forward to it, and the cast is great.”

Saturday’s episode was hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, with singer-songwriter Sombr serving as the musical guest.

Watch SNL’s “Weekend Update” segment with Davidson below, and find all the ways to stream the full episode here.

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