NCT127 says 4th LP ‘2 Baddies’ is a masterpiece

  NCT127 dropped its fourth full-length album “2 Baddies” on Friday, returning to the music scene after almost a year. Decked out in bright silver suits, the members of NCT127 appeared Friday morning at a press conference in Seoul just a few hours ahead of the album's release at 1 p.m. that day. This marks some 11 months since NCT127 dropped its third repackaged full-length album, “Favorite,” in October 2021. “We devoted ourselves to making a masterpiece with t

K-popSept. 16, 2022

[Album Review] Worth the wait: Diving into Blackpink’s ‘Born Pink’ like biting into trick candy

Blackpink is officially back in your area. The global K-pop sensation is back with its second LP, which dropped Friday. Aptly titled “Born Pink,” the eight-song set is born out of confidence, wildness, and slick, groovy and seasoned music. With YG Entertainment producer Teddy at the helm along with 24, Danny Chung, Bekuh Boom and R.Tee, it was clear why it took two years for Blackpink to return with "Born Pink" and why it was worth the wait. Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo and Rose, wh

K-popSept. 16, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s “Pink Venom” music video garners 300m views

The music video for Blackpink’s “Pink Venom” logged 300 million views on YouTube on Friday, according to YG Entertainment. This coincides with the full release of the group's second studio album, “Born Pink,” from which the single was prereleased. The video was unveiled on Aug. 19 and surpassed 90.4 million views on the platform in 24 hours, a record for a female artist. The single landed atop iTunes top songs chart in 75 regions and hit Billboard’s Hot 100 a

K-popSept. 16, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink adds more dates to US tour

Blackpink will perform three more times in North America, YG Entertainment announced Thursday. The quartet was originally planning to perform 10 times across seven cities for the North American leg of its world tour, but added three more concerts at fans' strong urging. The girl group will hit Dallas on Oct. 25 and go live in Los Angeles, the final destination of the leg, on Nov. 19. The ever-expanding tour is estimated to attract about 1.5 million concertgoers in total, and is likely to set a

K-popSept. 15, 2022

Blackpink begins new chapter with second LP ‘Born Pink’

As a new season is right around the corner, K-pop sensation Blackpink is returning with a new batch of songs to fill the soft breeze of fall. After a 23-month hiatus, girl group Blackpink is making grand return with its second LP, “Born Pink.” Ahead of the album's release on Friday, the four bandmates shared their thoughts and musical ideas that went into their upcoming music project via an official press release. Ji-soo says she's just as excited for fans to hear the new

K-popSept. 15, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] (G)I-dle will be back next month

   (G)I-dle will return with its fifth EP on Oct. 17, the group's agency Cube Entertainment announced on Wednesday. A poster for the “I Love” EP shows a lady in red top with a sweetheart neckline accentuated by hands clad in long black gloves. The EP comes about seven months after the group's first studio album “I Never Die” that topped iTunes top albums chart in 24 regions. It also ranked No. 58 on Billboard’s Global 200, while main track “Tomboy&rd

K-popSept. 14, 2022

Weki Meki’s Choi Yoo-jung kicks off solo career with debut single ‘Sunflower’

Choi Yoo-jung of K-pop girl group Weki Meki has opened a new chapter in her music career as a soloist with her new single “Sunflower,” aiming to show her passion for music and her fans like a sunflower. In a press showcase event held at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, ahead of the album’s online release at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Choi said her first solo EP is a new challenge for the artist to deliver a brand new side of herself, alongside her musicality to a wider range of l

K-popSept. 14, 2022

[Feature] What’s behind the ‘K’ in Korean popular music?

The first music video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube, the most-streamed group on global music platform Spotify and the bestselling foreign touring act in Japan -- these are feats achieved by K-pop stars Psy, BTS and TVXQ, respectfully. A handful of years ago, entering the Billboard charts was a tough milestone, especially for non-English-speaking artists or those outside the US market. But recently, Korean singers have created a space for themselves on the charts and in the world’s bi

K-popSept. 14, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s “Whistle” music video tops 800m views

The music video for Blackpink’s debut song “Whistle” reached 800 million views on YouTube on Monday, according to label YG Entertainment on Tuesday. It is the group’s eighth video to reach the milestone following the videos for songs including “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love” and “Boombayah.” “Whistle” is one of the group's double main tracks from its debut single “Square One” that came out in August 2016. The

K-popSept. 13, 2022

Seventh year into career, NCT Dream declares the start of its era

K-pop boy band NCT Dream held its two-day concert in Seoul and declared the start of the "NCT Dream era." Titled "The Dream Show 2 - In A Dream," the event kicked off on Thursday at the Olympic Stadium inside the sports complex in Jamsil, southern Seoul. It was the act's first in-person concert in two years and 10 months since their last show in 2019 at the Jangchung Arena in Seoul. The Seoul Sports Complex was painted in the act's symbolic color of lime green on Thursday a

K-popSept. 13, 2022

50 days into debut, NewJeans sets new records with ‘Attention’ on Spotify

Less than two months since its debut, NewJeans is taking the music world by storm with its namesake debut album, setting new records on Spotify, the world’s largest streaming platform. According to the music platform, the rookie band reached the highest number of monthly listeners on Spotify among fourth-generation K-pop bands, garnering more than 8.8 million listeners over the past 28 days. NewJeans also became the first K-pop act to log a debut track on the global music platform’s

K-popSept. 12, 2022

[Graphic News] Monthly K-pop album sales top 10m for first time

　Monthly sales of K-pop albums surpassed a combined 10 million for the first time in July thanks to the continued expansion of the global fandoms of idol groups, a market tracker said. 　According to Kim Jin-woo, head researcher of Circle Chart, which reports accumulated sales and streams, combined sales of the nation’s top 400 physical albums reached 10,827,324 copies in July, a 40.2 percent jump from the previous month. 　It marked the first time that monthly sales have topped 10 millio

K-popSept. 9, 2022

Yim Jae-beom puts behind 7 years of sorrow with new LP 'Seven,'

Legendary vocalist Yim Jae-beom is back with his first new album in seven years, his seventh full-length album "Seven," with which he is putting a comma after a painful period and moving on. Set for release Tuesday, "Seven," (read as "seven comma") is Yim's first album since he left the music scene after losing his wife to cancer in 2016. Yim's father also passed away soon after. The 13-track album is divided into three chapters that follow the journey of a man w

K-popSept. 8, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen to drop 1st EP in Japan in November

Seventeen will put out its first EP in Japan on Nov. 9, announced agency Pledis Entertainment on Wednesday. EP “Dream” will consist of four tracks – titular track and Japanese-language version of “Rock With You,” main track from ninth EP “Attacca” and “All My Love” from special album “;[Semicolon]” as well as a rearranged version of “Darl+ing” from fourth LP “Face The Sun.” Main track “Dream” w

K-popSept. 7, 2022

Closing their 7-year story, Dia says 'Rooting For You'

Ahead of officially marking an end to its seven-year journey together, Dia says "Rooting For You" to its fans and members with its last single. Pocketbol Studio on Tuesday announced Dia will drop its final single as a group on Sept. 15. The six-piece girl group is set to disband when its contract terminates on Sept. 14. The agency unveiled the cover image of the upcoming single, which showed a calendar page of when Dia debuted -- September 2015 -- marked with the act's memorable fir

K-popSept. 7, 2022

Blackpink ready to open new era with ‘Born Pink’

Global K-pop sensation Blackpink is ready to open a new era of K-pop with its second LP, “Born Pink,” which hits global music platforms on Sept. 16. On Wednesday, YG Entertainment released a poster emblazoned “Shut Down,” the title of its upcoming lead track. “There’s a special form of intuition in the track and it also gives a mysterious ambiance. As the term ‘shut down’ is synonymous with the act of stopping an operation or activity, it makes

K-popSept. 7, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids to return with 7th EP

   Stray Kids will make a comeback with its seventh EP on Oct. 7, said label JYP Entertainment on Tuesday. The songwriting trio within the band, 3Racha – which consists of Bang Chan, Changbin and Han -- will continue to be the main force in making music that builds up the eight-member act’s identity, the company added. The EP “Maxident” comes about seven months since its previous EP “Oddinary” that landed atop the Billboard 200, which made the band t

K-popSept. 6, 2022

Kim Jae-hwan paints his musical canvas blue with 'Empty Dream'

K-pop musician Kim Jae-hwan is back with his fifth EP "Empty Dream," and he hopes the package of self-made songs feels like a gift set for listeners ahead of the holidays. The 26-year-old singer held a media showcase on Monday afternoon in Seoul, a few hours ahead of the album’s release at 6 p.m. that day. The EP comes a month after the release of Kim’s single "Snail," and is his first album released since his fourth EP “The Letter” which came out nin

K-popSept. 5, 2022

Gravitate to what your heart says: Oneus on 8th EP ‘Malus’

Right in time for the autumn breeze and the changing of seasons, boy band Oneus hopped on the September music craze lineup with its eighth EP, “Malus,” released Monday evening. This marks a return for the K-pop act for the first time in four months since its last musical project, “Trickster,” released in May. “I believe it’s the first time showing our slinky and seductive side since our debut. I know how meaningful it is for us to be able to showcase our so

K-popSept. 5, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Twice lands at No. 3 on Billboard 200 with 11th EP

Twice hit the Billboard 200 at No. 3 with its 11th EP “Between 1＆2,” said label JYP Entertainment on Monday. This ties with the record of third studio album “Formula of Love: O+T=〈3” from November last year. The nonet made its first entry into the chart in June 2020 with ninth EP “More ＆ More” and has put a total of five albums on the chart so far, a record for a K-pop girl group. Nayeon’s first solo EP “Im Nayeon” from June ranked No. 7 on

K-popSept. 5, 2022