HYBE Expands Into India With New Headquarters in Mumbai

The Mumbai office joins HYBE’s other international headquarters in Japan, America, Latin America, and China. Its location in India’s entertainment capital places HYBE right in the middle of Bollywood’s creative ecosystem.

This expansion came just five months after HYBE opened its subsidiary in China, marking another step in the company’s global growth.

In its official statement on September 23, HYBE said India’s music streaming market, with nearly 185 million users, is the second-largest in the world. That scale made India the perfect place to extend the company’s global strategy.

HYBE added that the rising popularity of K-pop in India signals the country’s potential to become a major global music hub.

The Indian subsidiary will bring HYBE’s artist training and development (T&D) system to the region. Plans include auditions, training programs, and talent discovery, all adapted to fit local culture.

Through HYBE’s global distribution network, Indian artists discovered here will also have a chance to connect with international audiences.

HYBE described the move as part of its “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy, which focuses on developing businesses that respect local cultures while maintaining global reach.

A spokesperson earlier explained that the decision aligns with Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s vision to adapt the K-pop business model for other regions and genres.

India, with a population of over 1.42 billion, is currently the 15th largest recorded music market by revenue (IFPI). HYBE sees this as a major opportunity to reshape the global music scene, which has long been dominated by the “Big 3” companies.

Bang Si-hyuk himself predicted that securing strong local footholds in global music markets could significantly change industry dynamics in the coming years.

HYBE has already been pushing its global vision. The US debut of girl group KATSEYE—created with Universal Music Group’s Geffen Records—was a major milestone. The group, which includes Indian-American member Lara Raj, recently won MTV Push Performance of the Year for their track Touch at the 2025 MTV VMAs.

Meanwhile, HYBE and Geffen are currently auditioning for a new girl group project, building on the momentum of their 2023 Dream Academy competition.

The company has also been active in Latin America. Earlier this month, HYBE Latin America’s Medellín Music Lab in Colombia held auditions for over 400 aspiring artists, narrowing them down for its incubator program.