[Today’s K-pop] Kep1er to return later this month

 　 Rookie girl group Kep1er has announced the release of a second EP, “Doublast,” on June 20.   　 The news came with a poster showing a glass of blue-tinged lemonade complete with a slice of lemon, signaling that the new EP as the perfect listen for the summer.   　 The nine bandmates were chosen through a TV competition series last year and debuted with the EP “First Impact” in January. The album set a record as the bestselling debut album from a K-pop gir

K-popJune 3, 2022

Blackpink gears up for comeback in 2 years, possible world tour

The world’s biggest K-pop girl group Blackpink is preparing to make its long-awaited return to the music scene within this year, or in a few months at the earliest. A few weeks after several local media outlets reported of the K-pop quartet’s possible new release this year, the bandmates confirmed of their comeback and a possible concert tour through a Rolling Stone interview published on May 26. Speaking about her health recovery following the band’s previous world tour th

K-popJune 3, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Aespa sets date for 1st Japan showcase

Aespa will host the group’s first showcase in Japan in August, according to SM Entertainment on Thursday.   　 The girl group will hold the showcase “Sync” at an arena in Yokohama on Aug. 6-7.   　 “We’re expecting a huge response since this is the first performance aespa is putting on in Japan,” said the management company.   　 Now in its third year of a successful career so far, the band is gearing up for a full-fledged entry into the wider

K-popJune 2, 2022

Jo Yu-ri dances waltz to convey ‘amour propre’ in first EP

As warmer days are quickly approaching, singer-songwriter Jo Yu-ri returned with her first EP, “Op. 22 Y-Waltz: in Major,” to make the soundtrack of the season and get playlists in order. This marks a return for the singer nearly eight months after her previous work, “Glassy,” a digital single released in October. And with the new album, the singer aims to broaden her musical horizon as an artist by showcasing various music styles. In a press conference Thursday, the

K-popJune 2, 2022

Weekly K-pop chart show to debut on US radio

A weekly K-pop chart program is set to air on US satellite radio and will be the first American countdown show dedicated exclusively to Korean music. “K-pop Radar” will be broadcast on SiriusXM, a satellite radio service in North America with about 35 million subscribers, according to local music startup Space Oddity on Thursday. Beginning this week, the hour-long show will air at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time every Thursday on SiriusXM’s 88rising channel. The program will be

K-popJune 2, 2022

Girl group ITZY to drop new EP next month

K-pop girl group ITZY will roll out a new EP next month, to be followed by the its first-ever US tour, the group's agency said Thursday. The five-member group will release the EP titled "Checkmate" at 1 p.m. on July 15, JYP Entertainment said. It marks the band's first album in about 10 months since its first full-length album "Crazy in Love" last September. ITZY will later hold its first-ever US tour with the new EP, according to the agency. After kicking off the t

K-popJune 2, 2022

Victon offers overcoming through 7th EP ‘Chaos’

As the summer season is approaching and music charts are ready to revel in new summer anthems, boy band Victon is hopping on the summer music craze with its seventh EP, “Chaos.” This marks a return from the septet just five months since its previous work, “Chronograph,” released in January. In a press conference Tuesday, Seung-sik said that “confusion” and “chaos” are the two terms that best delineate the six-song package. “Chaos”

K-popJune 1, 2022

K-pop group aespa signs partnership deal with Warner Records

South Korean girl group aespa has reached a global partnership deal with the US giant Warner Records, its South Korean management company said Wednesday, as the quartet looks to establish its presence in international markets. SM Entertainment said the deal with Warner covers music content distribution and marketing promotion. "We're thrilled to become a family of Warner Records, and we're grateful to start our new chapter with Warner," aespa said in a statement through SM En

K-popJune 1, 2022

BTS visits White House to discuss combating hate crime surge

WASHINGTON -- K-Pop sensation BTS visited the White House on Tuesday to talk with President Joe Biden about combating the rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans -- bringing superstar sizzle to an otherwise sad and scary topic. Band members J-Hope, RM, Suga, Jungkook, V, Jin and Jimin joined White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at her briefing with reporters on the final day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Jimin said the band had been "devastated by th

K-popJune 1, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Twice’s “Signal” music video tops 300m views

   The music video for Twice’s “Signal” amassed 300 million views on YouTube on Tuesday, according to label JYP Entertainment.   　 The band now has 14 music videos with more than 300 million views, the most for a girl group in the world.   　 “Signal” is the focus track from the group’s fourth EP that came out in 2017.   　 Meanwhile, Twice will release its fourth full album in Japan on July 27. The LP “Celebrate” marks the

K-popMay 31, 2022

K-pop pioneer Seo Taiji’s 30 years remembered in 30 hits

Referred to as the “culture president” of South Korean music, Seo Taiji is a living legend of K-pop who has paved the path in which the modern Korean music industry was built upon. Born Jeong Hyun-cheol in 1972, Seo kicked off his music career as part of a heavy metal band named Sinawe at the age of 17. In 1992 he formed Seo Taiji and Boys with members Yang Hyun-seok and Lee Juno and made his official debut with single “I Know” on March 23. The trio instantly shot to fa

K-popMay 31, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s “How You Like That” video tops 1.1b views

Blackpink’s music video for “How You Like That” surpassed 1.1 billion views on YouTube, announced label YG Entertainment on Monday. 　 The video became the band’s sixth to reach the milestone following the music video of “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love,” “Boombaya,” “As If It’s Your Last” as well as the performance video for “How You Like That.” 　 “How You Like That” is the main track from the

K-popMay 30, 2022

Seventeen hopes for Billboard No. 1 with 4th LP ‘Face the Sun’

Seven years is no short time when it comes to the lifespan of K-pop acts, especially if there are 13, or more, voices to mediate within the group. Seventeen, a 13-member boy band, passed the point with not a single hiccup, and has officially set off on its second chapter with a new full-length album, “Face the Sun.” Ahead of dropping the album on Friday afternoon, the band conducted a press conference at the Conrad Seoul hotel. “We’re returning with a full-length albu

K-popMay 27, 2022

BTS headed to White House on May 31

Global K-pop phenomenon BTS is headed to the White House next week to speak with US President Joe Biden on rising anti-Asian hate crimes. The US presidential office on Thursday made an official announcement that the K-pop boy band “will join President Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, and to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination which have become more prominent issues in recent years.” BTS’ visit to the White House will take place on Tuesday, t

K-popMay 27, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen marks 7th anniversary with donation to UNESCO

　 Seventeen made a donation to UNESCO to mark its seventh anniversary of debut, said the organization’s Korean National Commission on Thursday. 　 The contribution will help support underprivileged children and youths in Asia and Africa to receive education, through the commission’s global education program. 　 The band said through a statement that they were more than pleased to be able to participate in such a significant program in time for the anniversary, adding that it is a sma

K-popMay 26, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] GOT7 tops iTunes chart in 95 regions with namesake EP

GOT7 proved itself strong placing its eponymous EP on iTunes top albums chart in 95 regions. 　 It became the second K-pop artist ever to rank No. 1 on iTunes top albums chart in more than 90 regions. 　 Focus track “Nanana” landed atop the top songs chart in 71 regions. 　 The seven bandmates reunited to put together the album about 1 1/2 years since they split off into different agencies when their seven-year contract with JYP Entertainment expired. They, however, have insisted th

K-popMay 25, 2022

Lightsum returns as performance queens with first EP ‘Into the Light’

Eight-piece girl group Lightsum returned to the stage Tuesday with the act’s first EP “Into the Light,” ready to set the stage on fire with their upgraded performances. Lightsum, consisting of members Sangah, Chowon, Huiyeon, Nayoung, Yugeong, Hina, Jian and Juhyeon, conducted a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, several hours before dropping the album. Having debuted in July 2021 under Cube Entertainment amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the group’s first in-perso

K-popMay 24, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] TXT sets record on Oricon chart with 4th EP

Tomorrow X Together topped Oricon’s weekly album chart for next week with its fourth EP. 　 The boy band became the first international artist to put six consecutive albums on the chart, according to an Oricon report published Tuesday. 　 EP “minisode 2: Thursday’s Child” headed straight to the top of its daily album chart. It entered Billboard 200 at No. 4 and topped iTunes’ top albums chart in 43 regions. The EP also is the band’s first million-selling albu

K-popMay 24, 2022

[Herald Interview] Kassy says love has two meanings: affection and breakup

Love can mean different things to different people, according to singer-songwriter Kassy. “Love could mean two things for people according to what kind of relationship they are in. If they are really into someone, then you would gravitate toward love. But if your love has died, then love could mean breaking up,” the musician said, describing her latest digital double single album, “Love & Hate.” The two-song package released Thursday marks a return for the solois

K-popMay 24, 2022

K-pop agencies have a denial problem when it comes to bullying scandals: experts

Less than a month after making her debut, Kim Ga-ram of rookie girl group Le Sserafim halted all her activities as bullying allegations against her escalated. On May 20, the sextet’s management company Source Music announced the singer’s temporary suspension via the group’s fan community platform Weverse. “After discussing with Kim Ga-ram, she will take a break to ease her mind. ... Le Sserafim will continue its activities as a five-piece act until she returns,&rdquo

K-popMay 24, 2022