HYBE's Bang Si Hyuk and UMG's Sir Lucian Grainge share their views on the music industry

HYBE hosted a Town Hall featuring the company’s Chairman Bang Si Hyuk and Universal Music Group (UMG)’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sir Lucian Grainge, where they shared leadership philosophies and views on the music industry.

The discussion offered HYBE employees across global offices an opportunity to hear directly from two leaders who have helped shape today's global music business.

During the discussion, Bang and Grainge reflected on the experiences that first drew them to music and continue to influence their leadership today. Bang spoke about HYBE's mission to create meaningful value for fans through music, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded in the company's core purpose as the industry continues to evolve. Grainge emphasized that while AI will unlock new opportunities, great music and great people will remain at the center of every successful music company.

The conversation also explored the foundations of the partnership between HYBE and UMG. Bang and Grainge emphasized the importance of trust, complementary strengths and long-term thinking in building a relationship rooted in shared values and a commitment to supporting artists.

“Many leaders work to build successful companies, but Sir Lucian has consistently worked to move the music industry forward,” said Bang Si Hyuk. “Throughout decades of change, he has repeatedly introduced new ideas and solutions that helped shape the future of the industry. I have long admired his leadership and continue to learn from the way he approaches change and innovation.”

“Bang has built a truly unique company and creative culture,” said Grainge. “What HYBE has achieved across its artists, platforms and global business is extraordinary. The vision, determination and creativity behind that success are exceptionally rare. It has been a privilege to build this partnership together.”

The two companies first collaborated in 2017 through a distribution partnership for BTS releases in Japan and broadened their relationship with a strategic partnership in 2021. The collaboration led to several joint initiatives, including the addition of UMG artists to Weverse and the launch of HYBE x Geffen. In 2024, HYBE and UMG further strengthened their relationship through a new 10-year agreement encompassing global music distribution and broader strategic collaboration.