The U.S. newsweekly Time on March 30 named Hybe, the management agency of K-pop sensation BTS, one of the world's "100 Most Influential Companies" and featured BTS and Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk on its front cover. (Time's Twitter)

By Lee Jihae

Hybe, the management agency of K-pop sensation BTS, is one of the world's "100 Most Influential Companies" as named by Time magazine of the U.S.

Time on March 30 announced this year's list and featured BTS and Hybe Chairman Bang Si-hyuk on the front cover.

Under the headline "HYBE and Bang Si-hyuk Are Transforming the Music Business—With a Little Help From BTS," the article called the boy band a "pop powerhouse."

Hybe made the list last year and was joined in this year's rankings by corporate giants like Apple, Pfizer, Disney, TikTok, Balenciaga and Spotify.

"HYBE is not just a record label or a management company," Time said.

The weekly added that the agency "has grown from a small artist incubator" to a company like Disney that owns and operates a range of intellectual properties.

Hybe acquired Ithaca Holdings, a U.S.-based media group that manages global stars such as Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, "scaled up business in Japan and the U.S.," and runs a social media fan community called "Weverse," Time said.

In December of 2020, the magazine put BTS on its cover after naming it "Entertainer of the Year," and in 2018, the group was again on the weekly's cover.

jihlee08@korea.kr