Success of TWICE, abolition of one-man control, propel JYP’s ascent to No.1 entertainment firm

JYP Entertainment, the home for top-rung girl band TWICE, beat its long-time rival SM Entertainment to emerge as the biggest entertainment firm by market capitalization for the first time in nearly two decades this week.　Following steady growth since early this year, shares of JYP finished at 31,300 won (US$28.20) on the tech-intensive KOSDAQ bourse on Thursday, up 2.29 percent from a day earlier.　The hike pushed up JYP’s market capitalization to 1.09 trillion won, surpassing SM‘s market capital

Aug. 30, 2018

BTS fastest in K-pop to 100m views with ‘Idol’

K-pop sensation BTS now holds yet another record after its “Idol” video hit 100 million views in less than five days.The video for the lead track off the new album “Love Yourself: Answer” had been watched more than 100 million times as of 5:20 p.m. Wednesday, the septet’s agency Big Hit Entertainment said.The record comes on the heels of the video’s “most watched in first 24 hours” title, which saw the group unseat American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift last week.(BTS' YouTube channel)“Idol” su

Aug. 30, 2018

What the return of Girls’ Generation means

Girls’ Generation announced Monday that it is set to re-emerge on the fall music scene, just over a year after releasing its 10th anniversary album, “Holiday Night,” last August.Though we won’t be seeing all eight members together this time, we will be treated to the next best thing: the subunit “OH! GG,” composed of Taeyeon, Yoona, Yuri, Hyoyeon and Sunny. The five are releasing a two-track album Sept. 5, and the lead single will be titled “Lil’ Touch.”  Girls` Generation (S.M. Entertainment)Fo

Aug. 29, 2018

[Album review] 20 years is just a number for Shinhwa

Shinhwa“Shinhwa Twenty Special Album ‘Heart’”Music & NewThere’s a saying that over 10 years, even the rivers and mountains change. In the 20 years since Shinhwa’s debut in 1998, the country has seen five different presidents in office, generations have shifted and fans have embraced a new definition of K-pop. So the 20-year anniversary album of Shinhwa, the longest-running K-pop act to date, is a nod to the band’s inexhaustible range of talent and passion. Titled “Heart,” the six-track album kic

Aug. 29, 2018

‘Step-Up,’ KNCDC features new works by local choreographers

The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company will introduce the new contemporary dance works of three young local artists from Sept. 6-9 at Seoul Arts Center’s Jayu Theater.The upcoming performances are part of the KNCDC’s “Step-Up” project, dedicated to finding, supporting and developing new works of local artists. Sixty-eight works were submitted for consideration, from which three works were selected: “Until Reaching a Blank” by Bae Hyo-sub, “Aboutdance Vol. 2: Told You So” by Lee Eun-kyung

Aug. 28, 2018

JYP Entertainment to hold auditions in North America

JYP Entertainment is holding its 2018 global auditions in the US and Canada in an effort to discover new talent to follow in the footsteps of stars such as Got7, Twice and Stray Kids. (JYP Entertainment)The first auditions will take place in Los Angeles on Oct. 13 and will then move to Toronto on Oct. 20, New York City on Oct. 27 and Hawaii on Nov. 3. They are open to anyone born between 1994 and 2007. Participants are asked to choose one category: vocals, rap, dance, acting or modeling. The suc

Aug. 28, 2018

US playwright, 'king of comedy' Neil Simon dead at 91

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Neil Simon, the prolific and Pulitzer Prize-winning US playwright celebrated as the king of comedy who won more Oscar and Tony nominations combined than any other showbiz writer, died on Sunday. He was 91.The brains behind more than 30 plays, 20 screenplays and five musicals, Time magazine dubbed him the "patron saint of laughter."Many of his works are classics of 20th century American theater and Simon has been credited with playing a seminal role -- along with film director W

Aug. 27, 2018

BTS’ ‘Love Yourself’ Seoul concert the culmination of its history

Even the clouds knew what to do for BTS’ Seoul concert. The gray skies erupted into a downpour that abated into a drizzle as the clock ticked toward 6:30 p.m., when the highly anticipated BTS’ concert in Seoul for “Love Yourself” kicked off at Olympic Stadium in Seoul. The ground was still wet, but more than 45,000 concertgoers hurried their steps to their seats to greet the boy band who has rewritten the history of K-pop. Amid ear-shattering screams and feverish chanting, BTS kicked off the set

Aug. 26, 2018

BTS sends message of carpe diem through festive mood of 'Idol'

As top K-pop stars BTS bring their "Love Yourself" album series to an end with their fourth and final record under the theme, the boy band wanted to send out the message of carpe diem through the festivities featured in the album's main track "Idol" and its music video, the septet said Sunday.The members defined the overriding theme of "Idol" and their ongoing world concert tour, "Love Yourself," as "festival" in a news conference held at Seoul Sports Complex ahead of their concert here. (Big Hi

Aug. 26, 2018

‘I used to blame myself a lot’: BTS Jimin

“Loving oneself is harder than loving others,” to quote a line from one of BTS’ new songs. And Jimin confessed that he has been struggling with self-love as well, sharing a few of the insights he’s gained over the past two years while promoting the group’s multiyear “Love Yourself” series. “What I realized from our narrative is that we’ve been failing to love ourselves while urging others to do so. I’ve contemplated whether I’m on the right track and what I’ve been living for,” said Jimin during

Aug. 26, 2018

For BTS, priority for new album is fun, not rankings

BTS may be at the peak of a record-breaking career, but the band says the focus of its new EP, “Love Yourself,” is having fun and being “festive” rather than topping the charts. “Literally, it’s about festivals. Setting records is important, of course, but for this album, we wanted to enjoy ourselves with fans. I think ‘Idol’ has a festive vibe as well,” said Suga during a press conference held in Seoul on Sunday to discuss the new album.  (Big Hit Entertainment)The 16-track repackaged album ove

Aug. 26, 2018

Nicki Minaj posts BTS tracks sweeping US chart

US rapper Nicki Minaj recently posted on her Instagram page a screenshot of BTS’ new album tracks sweeping the US iTunes Songs chart. (Instagram)The screenshot shows BTS’ title track, “Idol,” in first place. Fans can also see a special version of “Idol” featuring Minaj alongside the band.  (Instagram)“Congrats to (BTS) on a great new album. I’m honored to be a part of it,” Minaj wrote on her post.Since BTS released its repackaged album “Love Yourself: Answer” on Friday, its tracks are dominating

Aug. 26, 2018

BTS’ ‘Love Yourself: Answer’ rules local charts

Proving its unparalleled success in the K-pop scene once again, BTS ruled local charts with the new track “Idol” from its long-anticipated “Love Yourself: Answer” album. The song fronts the repackaged album that completes the act’s “Love Yourself” series that began last September with “Love Yourself: Her” and “Love Yourself: Tear.” It immediately topped major music charts in Korea including Melon, Mnet, Genie, Bugs, Naver and Soribada, as of Friday evening upon its release. (Big Hit Entertainmen

Aug. 24, 2018

BTS’ digital version of ‘Idol’ to feature pop star Nicki Minaj

BTS’ upcoming digital single “Idol” will feature world-class US musician Nicki Minaj. With the clock ticking toward BTS’ latest release, the act’s agency Big Hit Entertainment confirmed Friday that the award-winning singer-songwriter had joined forces with BTS for the special digital version of “Idol,” the lead track of the group’s upcoming “Love Yourself: Answer” album.  (YouTube)The special track, which will have a different vibe from the original song, will not be included in physical albums

Aug. 24, 2018

What we know so far about ‘Love Yourself: Answer’

Further details have been unveiled about new BTS album “Love Yourself: Answer,” which is to be released Friday.The group’s latest album wraps up their 2 1/2-year long “Love Yourself” series with the main message that the key to finding one’s self lies within.The repackaged album features 25 songs alongside remixes of “DNA” and “Fake Love.” (Big Hit Entertainment)Lead track “Idol” is a South African-style dance tune with elements of traditional Korean music.In a bold move, the group mixes African

Aug. 24, 2018

D-Day for BTS to drop ‘Love Yourself-Answer’

K-pop sensation BTS is set to release its new EP, “Love Yourself: Answer,” on Friday at 6 p.m. “Love Yourself: Answer” is the group’s third and final installment in the “Love Yourself” series. Previous albums “Love Yourself: Her” and “Love Yourself: Tear,” were megahits, catapulting the group to multiple Billboard music charts. (Big Hit Entertainment) (Big Hit Entertainment) (Big Hit Entertainment) (Big Hit Entertainment)The new EP is a repackaged album that brings together 18 previously release

Aug. 24, 2018

BTS embraces Korean roots in new ‘Idol’ teaser

BTS embraced its Korean roots in a new teaser clip for its song “Idol.”In the video for the upcoming repackaged album “Love Yourself: Answer,” which will be released Friday, members of the K-pop act wear traditional Korean clothing. A digitally constructed gold traditional building took center stage in the clip, with each bandmate striking a pose and walking around it. Members of BTS showcase a traditional Korean dance move. (YouTube)“Idol” is the second new track from “Love Yourself: Answer” to

Aug. 23, 2018

Highlight’s Yoon Doo-joon starts mandatory military service on Friday

Singer-actor Yoon Doo-joon is set to enlist in the military on Friday, Highlight’s agency Around Us Entertainment confirmed. Yoon took an exam in the hopes of serving as a conscripted police officer, but failed to meet the requirements and was subsequently informed that Friday was his enlistment date. His bandmate Yang Yo-sup passed the exam.  (Instagram)Yoon posted a handwritten letter to fans through the agency, telling them how surprised he was and that he was very sorry to have to share the

Aug. 22, 2018

[Album review] Loona’s debut EP was worth the wait

Loona++Vlending CoIt took Loona nearly two years to release a debut EP, and it was well worth the wait. Loona’s “++,” read as “plus plus,” the band’s first EP together, is full of catchy tracks that share sonic elements in common with trendy K-pop tunes. But the album may not live up to the “grand project” label that accompanied its extensive public relations campaign and its hefty production budget of 9.9 billion won ($8.8 million). If you’re looking for an album that presents a fresh kill, you

Aug. 22, 2018

BTS album charts on Billboard list for record 13th week

K-pop stars BTS' album "Love Yourself: Tear" was listed on the Billboard chart of the 200 most popular albums for the 13th week in a row Wednesday.The latest BTS album, released in May, ranked 84th on the weekly Billboard 200 chart, according to its website, the 13th consecutive week the album has hit the list.Within two weeks of its release on May 18, the album landed atop the key Billboard chart as the first ever Korean album. BTS (Big Hit EntertainmentAlso this week, the BTS album "Love Yours

Aug. 22, 2018