---
title: Have boy bands peaked?
description: With BTS going on hiatus, there’s a chance the best days of the boy band genre are behind us.
---

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# [Have boy bands peaked?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/07072022-boy-bands)

 Written by [Rob Litterst](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/rob-litterst) | Jul 7, 2022 11:35:27 AM

Boy bands have come a long way since Justin Timberlake fronted NSYNC with bleach blonde curls.

But with K-pop sensation BTS recently going on hiatus, there’s a chance the musical format has reached its economic pinnacle.

#### **BTS…**

… is signed to Big Hit Music, a record label owned by the Hybe Corporation. Hybe [went public](https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracechung/2020/10/14/agency-behind-k-pop-phenomenon-bts-goes-public-in-blockbuster-ipo-and-mints-new-billionaire/?sh=3ac2912295b3) on the Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI index in October 2020, and quickly became the country’s most profitable entertainment agency.

Hybe Corporation:

- **Derives** ~90% of its revenue from BTS, which means its valuation is a fairly accurate estimation of BTS’ market cap
- **Reached** a peak valuation of $13B in November 2021
- **Lost** $1.7B in market cap after the band [announced](https://www.ft.com/content/f0ea4175-1fc6-4df6-8239-ab4c00ae2ca0) its hiatus earlier this month

Despite its recent losses, the company is still worth ~$4.5B.

#### **But how does that translate to wealth for BTS members?**

Not as well as you’d think. In 2022, the group’s collective net worth was estimated at ~$100m (~$14m per member). For comparison’s sake:

- **One Direction** reportedly had a [collective net worth](https://moneynation.com/one-direction-net-worth/) of ~$398m before splitting in 2015 (~$80m per member)
- **The Jonas Brothers** are [reportedly worth](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/singers/jonas-brothers-net-worth/) a collective $150m (~$50m per member)

While it’s harder to pin down a reliable net worth for the early-aughts boy band elite in their heyday, it’s clear members of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys have [done well for themselves](https://www.yahoo.com/video/richest-boy-bands-beatles-bts-223138753.html).

#### **But BTS may not be done**

When the group announced its hiatus, they promised to return to making music together at some point (something Hybe Corporation must be pretty excited about).

While being in a boy band certainly offers a lucrative financial opportunity, the lifestyle isn’t without its faults. When looking back at his NSYNC days, Timberlake [says](https://www.today.com/news/justin-timberlake-i-looked-moron-when-i-was-n-sync-751914), “I looked like a moron.”

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/07072022-boy-bands)

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