[비즈엔터 윤준필 기자]

▲NCT DREAM(SM Entertainment)

SM Entertainment (KOSDAQ 041510, hereafter referred to as SM) is gearing up for regional expansion by preparing multiple albums for the Japanese and American markets this year. They have particularly focused on concert hosting, which has led to a significant increase in sales.

In the first quarter, SM recorded sales of 220.1 billion KRW, a 7.9% increase compared to the same period last year. Among these, sales from performances and video content production amounted to 95.6 billion KRW, accounting for 43.4% of the total sales. In comparison, album/track sales were approximately 54.7 billion KRW (24.9% of total sales), making performances currently the most important source of income for SM. The sales structure for the second quarter is expected to be similar.

In the second half of this year, SM aims to expand its global fan base through large-scale tours by major artists like NCT DREAM and Aespa.

Starting in May, NCT DREAM held a dome tour in three Japanese cities—Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya—performing five times to a total of 235,000 attendees, with all shows sold out. This highlights NCT DREAM’s immense popularity and power in the local market.

NCT DREAM not only performed in the three major domes in Japan but also in significant venues across Asia, including Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium in Thailand, and Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. In August, they are set to perform at Japan’s largest music festival, Summer Sonic 2024.

In the second half of the year, NCT DREAM will hold over 20 global concerts in major cities across North America, South America, and Europe, expecting to attract approximately 400,000 attendees.

▲NCT DREAM(SM Entertainment)

Aespa opened their second world tour with concerts on June 29-30 at Seoul’s Jamsil Indoor Stadium. On July 3, they released their Japanese single “Hot Mess,” officially debuting in Japan.

Aespa will start an arena tour in Japan this month, beginning in Fukuoka and continuing through Nagoya, Saitama, Singapore, and Osaka. On August 17-18, they will perform at Tokyo Dome, with tickets for this concert already sold out.

Last year, Aespa’s first Japanese arena tour saw all ten shows in four cities sold out. They made their debut at Tokyo Dome in the shortest time for any foreign artist, even selling out seats with restricted views, proving their immense popularity even before their official debut in Japan.

After the Japanese arena tour, Aespa will continue their world tour in 14 regions across Asia and Australia, including Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Jakarta, Sydney in August, and Melbourne, Macau, Bangkok in September.

▲aespa(SM Entertainment)

RIIZE, despite being less than a year since their debut, shows significant fandom growth. They began their first fan concert tour in May, visiting 10 regions worldwide. In Seoul, they attracted about 10,000 attendees over two days.

Having completed performances in Tokyo, Mexico City, LA, Hong Kong, and Taipei, RIIZE will continue their fan concert tour this summer in Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta.

▲NCT WISH (SM Entertainment)

NCT WISH, who made a spectacular debut at Tokyo Dome in February, continues their momentum with the single “Songbird” released on July 1. This single surpassed 630,000 pre-orders in both Korea and Japan.

“Songbird” also set a new personal record for first-week sales, with the Korean version selling 537,998 copies according to Hanteo Chart. This is about double the first-week sales of their debut single “WISH,” released in March, and the highest first-week sales record for any K-pop artist debuting this year.

NCT WISH held a nationwide fan meeting tour in Korea in May and June, selling out all 13 performances in cities like Seoul, Busan, Jeonju, Daegu, and Cheongju, proving their strong ticket power. Moving forward, NCT WISH plans to expand their global fandom based on their solid popularity in both Korea and Japan.

▲EXO Suho(SM Entertainment)

Various global performances by SM solo artists are also planned. NCT’s Doyoung held three sold-out concerts in Yokohama and Osaka on June 24-25 and 26, respectively, and will continue his Japan tour in Nagoya and Tokyo in August.

Suho, who released his third mini album “1 to 3” in May, marking his 12th anniversary since debut, is currently on his first solo concert tour “SU: HOME.” Having successfully completed concerts in Seoul and Manila, Suho will meet global EXO-Ls (fan name) in 16 regions during the third quarter, including Hong Kong, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, London, Paris, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Warsaw, Dubai, Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

SHINee’s Key will embark on his first solo Asia tour starting this month. He will hold solo concerts in Tokyo on August 6-7 and in Kobe from August 10-12. He has also announced the release of a new single in line with the concerts. Additionally, he plans to meet fans in four Asian regions: Bangkok, Jakarta, Macau, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.