Ex-Sistar member Hyorin starts her own label ‘Brid3’

Hyorin, formerly of now-defunct K-pop act Sistar, has founded her own label “Brid3,” about two months after leaving her former agency Starship Entertainment. Hyorin announced the establishment of her agency Monday, saying that it will house video, choreography and producing professionals as well as creative directors, with whom she will produce a wide variety of musical projects. “Brid3” (bridge) was named in hopes that the company will be able to serve as a bridge between music and the public,

Nov. 13, 2017

2017 Asia Artist Awards to open with stellar lineup of artists

The 2017 Asia Artist Awards will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul. The awards ceremony honors the outstanding achievements and international contributions of Asian artists in film, television and music. The event will showcase some of the biggest names in K-pop, including EXO, Wanna One, Super Junior, Yoona of Girls’ Generation, VIXX, Mamamoo, Seventeen and Monsta X. Other singers performing at the award show include Zico of Block B, Hwang Chi-yeul, Ailee, Apink, Crush, NU’E

Nov. 13, 2017

Wanna One returns with toned down ‘Nothing Without You’

About three months ago, the emergence of K-pop act Wanna One breathed new life into K-pop. With the strong support of its loyal, die-hard fans, this 11-piece K-pop rookie has quickly carved out its niche, dominating both airwaves and commercials, as well as magazines and TV shows.  Wanna One poses during a press event for “1-1=0 (Nothing Without You),” a repackaged version of its debut EP “1X1=1 (To Be One)” in Seoul on Monday (Yonhap)Enjoying its heyday as one of the biggest hits in the current

Nov. 13, 2017

BTS sets date for Steve Aoki remix version of ‘Mic Drop’

Music fans who have eagerly waited for the collaboration among BTS, Steve Aoki and Desiigner will have to wait a little longer, as the boy band announced Monday that it will push back the release date for the remix version of “Mic Drop” to Nov. 24.The K-pop star’s release of the track -- originally included in its latest EP “Love Yourself Seung Her” -- was initially scheduled for Friday. (Big Hit Entertainment)“After discussing with our partners in the US, we thought it would be better for the s

Nov. 13, 2017

Lotte Duty Free taps BTS as new model

Lotte Duty Free, South Korea's top duty-free operator, said Monday it has tapped K-pop boy band BTS as its new model, as local retailers aim to attract more foreign customers amid a normalization of ties between Seoul and Beijing over a US missile defense system.Including BTS, Lotte Duty Free has 58 K-pop celebrities, including actor Lee Min-ho and K-pop girl group Twice, as its model, according to the company.  (Lotte Duty Free)The duty-free operator's move to expand its presence in the global

Nov. 13, 2017

Shawn Mendes wins best artist at MTV Europe Music Awards

LONDON (AFP) - Canadian teen singer Shawn Mendes on Sunday won best artist and best song at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) in London, pipping heavyweight competitors such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and Ed Sheeran.The awards ceremony at Wembley Arena, the first to be staged in the British capital in 20 years, were hosted by Rita Ora and featured performances by U2 and David Guetta.In a first for the EMAs, which were created in 1994, MTV announced categories stripped of gender in a bid to “br

Nov. 13, 2017

B1A4’s Gongchan apologizes for remarks regarding fans, bank account

B1A4’s Gongchan has apologized for his recent remarks regarding fans and VIXX member Hongbin’s bank account on Twitter. On Sunday, while talking to his close friend Hongbin of VIXX, Gongchan wrote on Twitter, “Fans want your bank account number. Try putting it on here for 0.5 seconds. Let’s leave fans (to) decide our travel and hotels here.” Gongchan of B1A4 (WM Entertainment)　His words caused a stir on social media. After netizens criticized Gongchan for his alleged intention to use fans’ money

Nov. 12, 2017

Block B to hold 1st solo concert in nearly 2 years

Boy band Block B will celebrate its recent release of the new EP “Montage” with a solo concert in Seoul.According to its agency Seven Seasons, the K-pop act will hold concerts on Jan. 27 and 28 at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The concerts will be titled “Block B Blockbuster ‘Montage,’” and will be its first solo concerts in about 21 months. A teaser image for Block B’s concert in January (Seven Seasons)The group’s agency on Sunday revealed the news along with a teaser image of the

Nov. 12, 2017

Twice riding high without a hitch

In the volatile world of K-pop, hundreds of acts rise and fade into obscurity each year. For every successful TVXQ and Girls’ Generation, there have been other groups like The Grace and M.I.L.K. Since entering the music scene two years ago, JYP Entertainment’s newest heavyweight Twice has stood tall and broken records with hits. The nine-piece group on Saturday once again topped the brand reputation chart based on monthly research by the Korea Reputation Center. Based on big data related to cert

Nov. 12, 2017

Super Junior to hold ‘Super Show 7’ next month

K-pop boy band Super Junior will hold its signature concert series “Super Show 7” on Dec. 16 and 17 at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul.It will be the group’s first concert in two years and five months since it wrapped up the encore concerts for “Super Junior World Tour Super Show 6” in July 2015. The members of the K-pop group also participated in the concert planning, the group’s agency S.M. Entertainment said. Ticket sales for the December concerts will open at 8 p.m. on Nov. 21 at ticket.yes24.com.

Nov. 10, 2017

Sooyoung of Girls' Generation signs with Daniel Henney's agency

Singer and actress Choi Soo-young, better known by her stage name Sooyoung from Girls' Generation, has found a new agency after leaving S.M. Entertainment last month.Echo Global Group, which manages, among others, Daniel Henney of "Criminal Minds," announced Friday it has signed a contract with the idol-turned-actress. The company said it won't spare any efforts to support her so that she can keep growing as an actor and a singer.Last month, she let her contract with the K-pop powerhouse lapse,

Nov. 10, 2017

Victon celebrates 1 year anniversary with EP

Victon is sending a thank-you message to fans, who stuck with the group through thick and thin, with the release of its fourth EP “From. VICTON” on Thursday.The boy band was to release the record at 6 p.m. in celebration of the one-year anniversary of its debut.“The record carries a message of gratitude toward fans, who have shown unwavering love (toward the group),” the group’s agency Plan A Entertainment said. The teaser for the music video of “Remember Me.” / Plan A EntertainmentThe lead trac

Nov. 9, 2017

Dating rumors swirl online over G-Dragon, Lee Ju-yeon

G-Dragon, the leader of K-pop boy band Big Bang, and actress Lee Ju-yeon, a former member of girl group After School, have become the talk of the town Thursday, as a video and photos suggest the two might be an item.The rumor started Oct. 30 when a Chinese video app circulated online showing the two making funny faces together. Then on Wednesday, an internet user compared several photos captured from the two stars' social media sites in a post on an online bulletin board.  (Kwai)Although the two

Nov. 9, 2017

[Album Review] Who calls Super Junior lackluster?

Super Junior“Play”Genie MusicFor those who grew up listening to Super Junior’s hits such as “Miracle” and “U,” the latest record of the boy band, self-dubbed the “Last Men Standing” in the K-pop scene, is a throwback to the group’s past, a work of self-reflection and a reunion with its old self. The act has been a constant presence in K-pop since the early 2000s, with its songs emanating from speakers in shops and its music becoming students’ all-time-favorite choice for school talent shows.Twel

Nov. 8, 2017

BTS to appear on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’

K-pop icon BTS will be featured on the popular US talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the boy band’s agency confirmed Wednesday. BTS will visit the US and take part in the shooting of the show later this month. It will also perform at the American Music Awards on Nov. 19.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)The show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel has been airing on ABC since 2003. It is a popular show in the US and has been nominated multiple times for Emmy Awards.BTS wrapped up the promotion of its latest release

Nov. 8, 2017

Psy to throw ‘overnight’ concerts in Seoul, Busan

K-pop sensation Psy will throw overnight concerts in Busan and Seoul, in turn, which are bound to make for the wildest year-end parties around.Each show of the two-weekend concert series, tiled “All Night Stand,” will begin at around midnight and continue into early the next day.Through his signature “All Night Stand” concert series, which has been held every year since 2003, Psy has established a reputation for his ability to get the crowd dancing all night.The first weekend of the shows will t

Nov. 7, 2017

Rain to release EP next month

K-pop star Rain will break his three-year hiatus from music with the release of a new EP on Dec. 1, his agency said Tuesday.According to Rain Company, the singer is putting the finishing touches to the record. “I think it’ll be a little hard for us to release it in November, so it’s probably going to be a Dec.1 release. For Rain, it marks the first time since 2014 that he is releasing a record, so he’s putting all his effort into it (EP),” said an official from the agency. Rain (Rain Company)Rai

Nov. 7, 2017

BTS works with American musician Steve Aoki for 'Mic Drop' remix

K-pop boy group BTS has worked with American musician and producer Steve Aoki in making the remix of a song from its latest album, its agency said Tuesday.Bit Hit Entertainment said the seven-member act will unveil worldwide on Nov. 17 the remix of "Mic Drop" that it put together in collaboration with Aoki, an electro house musician, DJ and record producer.The hip-hop number is one of the 11 tracks from "Love Yourself: Her" released on Sept. 18.The collaboration with the global artist, the agenc

Nov. 7, 2017

Seventeen’s new single ‘clap’ deserves round of applause

Leading the group into a new direction, Seventeen’s new single “clap,” a lead track off its second full-length album “Teen, Age,” was an announcement to the world that gone are the good old days of boyishness of the 13-piece group. Two years into its career, K-pop rookie Seventeen returned Monday with its second full-length album, where all 13 tracks were composed and written by the members. The group released its first full-length album “Love & Letter” in April last year. “Teen, Age,” which was

Nov. 6, 2017

Twice becomes fastest K-pop girl group to top 40m YouTube views

Twice’s music video for its song “Likey” on Monday topped 40 million views on YouTube, reaching the milestone faster than any other Korean girl group. The feat was accomplished around 11 a.m., a little over six days and 17 hours after the song was released. Twice (JYP Entertainment)“Likey” is part of Twice’s first full-length studio album “Twicetagram.”Since its debut in 2015, the K-pop act has been a powerhouse on YouTube. The music video for its debut song “Like Ohh-Ahh” became the first song

Nov. 6, 2017