2025 is turning out to be a news-packed year for superfan platforms in the K-Pop world.
Hybe is continuing to invest in its Weverse service, including attracting international artists, while Kakao Entertainment has launched a rival platform called Berriz. Now another South Korean music firm, SM Entertainment, is stepping up its superfans strategy.
It has increased its stake in DearU, which runs a superfan platform called Bubble offering messaging and K-Pop artist livestreams.
MBW reported that a financial filing by SM revealed that it had acquired an additional 11.42% stake in DearU for KRW 135.6bn – $92.6m at current exchange rates – valuing the latter company at around $811m.
SM now has a 45.1% stake in DearU, which also owns a karaoke app called Everysing. In a recent financial filing, it revealed plans for a “full-scale entry into the global market” including Japan, China and the US, as well as attracting actors and sports stars to Bubble as well as K-Pop artists.
Related Stories
