aespa to Drive SM’s First-Half Growth Strategy with Expanded Global Tours

SM Entertainment has unveiled a strong lineup centered around aespa as its key growth strategy for the first half of 2026. In its financial report released on the 11th, SM reported consolidated sales of 319 billion won and operating profits of 54.6 billion won for the fourth quarter of 2025, representing increases of 16.6% in sales and 62.2% in operating profits compared to the same period last year — figures that surpassed market expectations. SM attributed these results to the success of expanding global tours for its core IPs such as NCT DREAM, aespa, RIIZE, and NCT WISH. Under the first-half plan, aespa is set to release a full-length album in the second quarter alongside Taeyong and NCT WISH. SM stated it will “strengthen both overall growth and profitability while enhancing the long-term competitiveness of its IPs by balancing the development of new IPs with global expansion strategies.” aespa’s global popularity was clearly evident in recent concert performances. The “2025 aespa LIVE TOUR -SYNK : aeXIS LINE” held at the Asia World Arena in Hong Kong from the 7th to the 8th saw all tickets sold out. During this concert, aespa performed new songs including the Title Track from their sixth mini-album, “Rich Man,” as well as tracks like “Drift,” “Angel #48,” and “To The Girls,” alongside a variety of solo songs by the members. A highlight of the show was the “I'm The Highlight” segment, which featured powerful performances of mega hits such as “Next Level,” “Supernova,” and “Whiplash,” drawing enthusiastic reactions from the audience. aespa will continue its world tour across Asia, with stops in Macau on March 7th and 8th and Jakarta on April 4th.