Photo Credit: Weverse
Hybe’s social platform Weverse saw a 19% increase in users in 2024, thanks to superstars like Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Hybe’s social platform for superfans, Weverse, has already been crushing it in the K-pop space, but 2024 saw an impressive uptick in use in North America. That’s in no small part due to artists like Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion, and Conan Gray, who joined the platform last year.
The platform saw a 19% increase in users in 2024 as a result, as well as a 13% increase in physical and digital merchandise transactions. Users in both the US and Canada increased by 16%, with strong growth elsewhere too — Brazil (21%), Mexico (14%), Japan (22%), and Taiwan (54%). The growth follows Hybe’s global expansion, branching outside K-pop groups.
According to Joon Choi, Weverse President, 2024 was a “transformative year” for the company, expanding the platform’s artist communities, fan engagement, and commerce activities. “Weverse remains committed to innovating its services to meet the evolving needs of artists and fans, solidifying its position as the center of global fandom culture,” said Choi.
Weverse launched in 2019 as a platform for music industry superfans. Last year, it introduced a subscription tier to provide ad-free viewing, video downloads for offline access, high-quality streaming, and language translation. “Digital membership, we believe, is the very first cornerstone of the future evolution of Weverse,” the company told Billboard in December.
What sets Weverse apart from other social networks is its e-commerce solutions. Through its shop, Weverse sold 20.6 million pieces, a 13% increase from 2023. Physical merchandise like albums and collectibles saw a 10% increase, while digital merchandise like artist memberships and online content saw a 24% increase, with 3.4 million sold.
Aside from Weverse’s home market of South Korea, the US and Japan were the top markets for the platform in terms of merchandise. Top-selling digital items include artist memberships, such as BTS ARMY and SEVENTEEN’s CARAT memberships.