HYBE Corporation has built one of the most sprawling entertainment empires in K-pop, a network of specialized labels that operate with creative independence while sharing the parent company’s resources, global platforms, and strategic muscle. Yet at the latest award ceremony, the spotlight fell almost exclusively on artists from its original flagship label.
Big Hit Music Reigns Supreme at KMA 2026
Big Hit Music — the powerhouse label that gave us global sensations BTS and the genre-bending TXT — absolutely dominated the KMA 2026 (KM Chart Awards). Held on July 25 at Hwajung Gymnasium on the Korea University campus in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, the prestigious event, hosted by KM Chart and KM Chart World and organized by the KMA Organizing Committee and UPICK, was broadcast live on HelloLive and Japan’s AbemaTV, with a delayed airing on MBC M.
The four coveted Grand Prizes (Daesangs) painted a clear picture of Big Hit Music’s unparalleled success:
Artist of the Year: Tomorrow X Together (TXT)
Album of the Year: BTS’s fifth studio album ARIRANG
Song of the Year: Hwasa’s “Good Goodbye”
Record of the Year: CORTIS’s second mini-album GREENGREEN
With BTS, TXT, and rookie group CORTIS all proudly signed under Big Hit Music, the label truly had a night to remember. Adding to the label’s glory, rookie sensation CORTIS, Big Hit Music’s first new boy group in six years since TXT, secured the Record of the Year Daesang. This five-member group (James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho), who debuted in August 2025, proved their rapid ascent is no fluke, cementing Big Hit Music’s legendary knack for developing mega-stars.
HYBE’s Multi-Label Vision vs. Awards Night Reality
HYBE’s deliberate multi-label structure is well-known, a strategic evolution after rebranding from Big Hit Entertainment in 2021. The company spun its original music operations into Big Hit Music while simultaneously acquiring or launching other imprints. This extensive family includes Belift Lab (home to ENHYPEN and ILLIT), Source Music (LE SSERAFIM), Pledis Entertainment (SEVENTEEN, TWS and related units), KOZ Entertainment (BOYNEXTDOOR), and ADOR (NewJeans), among others. Each label maintains its own unique management and artistic identity under the broader HYBE umbrella, fostering a diverse ecosystem of K-pop talent.
Illit in January 2026 at Damiana Event
Despite this rich diversity across the HYBE ecosystem, the highest honors at KMA 2026 heavily favored Big Hit Music’s stellar lineup. While the broader “Ultimate 12” nominees and several category winners celebrated talent from various companies (P1Harmony for Best Male Group, Hearts to Hearts for Best Female Group, rookies Longshot and AlphaDriveOne, and fan-voted honors for artists such as Winter, Eunice, and Young Tak), the Daesangs were a Big Hit Music showcase. TXT further cemented their popularity with multiple Fans’ Choice awards, including Best Popular Song and Best Popular Male Group, with member Yeonjun shining brightly as Best Popular Male Solo Singer.
The KMA 2026: A Modern Awards Show with Global Ambitions
The KMA 2026 itself was a dynamic affair, woven around three captivating chapters — “Before Sunrise,” “Chasing Dreams,” and “Rise Together” — designed to highlight growth across generations of K-pop artists. From the electrifying performances by established icons like Yeonjun, Hearts to Hearts, CORTIS, and TXT, to the vibrant stages of rising acts such as HiFi Unicorn, MODISE, NU’BEAT, BB-UP, AlphaDriveOne, 82Major, Kickflip, and P1Harmony, the night was a feast for K-Pop lovers. Newcomers Kang Tae-oh and Won Ji-an impressed as MCs, while veteran actor Byun Woo-seok added star power presenting a Grand Prize.
As a relatively young but rapidly expanding awards show, KMA (formerly Universal Superstar Awards) has quickly carved out its niche. Launched in 2024, it prides itself on embracing chart data, sales figures, music-show success, and crucial fan votes on a global scale. Unlike traditional events that prioritize critical acclaim (such as the Korean Music Awards, which date to 2004), KMA’s strength lies in its explicit connection to fan engagement and market performance, reflecting the evolving landscape of K-Pop. The 2026 edition’s three-hour runtime, multi-platform broadcast, and compelling mix of legacy artists with rookies showcased an industry that continues to push global boundaries while celebrating its vibrant domestic scene.
HYBE’s Dual Narrative: Flagship Power Amidst Diversification
For HYBE Corporation, the KMA 2026 results present a fascinating dual narrative. The company has painstakingly built a diverse portfolio of labels, strategically aiming to mitigate reliance on any single artist and capture various market segments. Yet, the overwhelming concentration of top honors – BTS’s highly anticipated ARIRANG, TXT’s Artist of the Year triumph, and CORTIS’s remarkable early success – undeniably underscores that Big Hit Music remains the undeniable engine of prestige and awards success. While the broader HYBE family continues to flourish and innovate, its original flagship still holds the brightest spotlight when it comes to the industry’s biggest trophies.
The night truly captured a snapshot of K-pop’s present: a powerful corporate group with many specialized arms, and one of those arms still claiming the largest share of the biggest trophies.
