Rain among star-studded lineup of presenters at Mnet Asian Music Awards

The star-studded presenter lineup of musicians, actors, dancers and comedians for the upcoming “2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards was unveiled Tuesday. Singer-actors Rain, Uhm Jung-hwa, Choi Soo-young, Super Junior’s Choi Si-won and singer Tiffany Young were confirmed as presenters. Lachica’s Gabee and Prowdmon’s Monika, who appeared on the hit TV program “Street Woman Fighter,” will also appear as presenters. Comedian and rapper Haha, actors Song Joong-ki, Ahn B

K-popDec. 7, 2021

Weird at first, addictive later; Xdinary Heroes says ‘Happy Death Day’ is their identity

In an industry where fluffy tunes often top the charts, making it big as a band is no easy task. But rookie boy band Xdinary Heroes believes they can make it to your next playlist. Produced by K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment, home to globetrotting acts like boy band 2PM and girl group Twice, the sextet threw their glitzy hats into the ring Monday evening hoping to follow in the footsteps of label mates Day6, the current pop-rock kings of K-pop. The band is made up of Gunil, who plays the

K-popDec. 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhypen to release new album in January: report

Enhypen is putting out a new album next month, according to a local media report Monday. 　 It has been only three months since it released their first studio album “Dimension: Dilemma” which sold over 1 million copies and ranked No. 11 on Billboard 200 -- a feat for a rookie band that debuted in November 2020. The LP also topped a number of Japan’s Oricon charts. 　 The band debuted on Billboard 200 with its second EP “Border: Carnival” that hit the chart at No. 18

K-popDec. 6, 2021

JYP unveils new boy band Xdinary Heroes

K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment on Monday revealed its much-anticipated first boy group in six years since the debut of Day6 in September 2015. Xdinary Heroes is to land in the highly competitive K-pop music scene, dropping its debut digital single titled "Happy Death Day" at 6 p.m. During a media showcase for the upcoming release, which was livestreamed from a music hall in Seoul, the band members said they are so thrilled to become finally able to make their debut. "I'm ne

K-popDec. 6, 2021

BTS members return home, loaded with honors in LA

Three members of the K-pop superband BTS returned home Monday from Los Angeles where it secured a top music honor and had four sold-out live concerts. Jimin, Jin and Jungkook arrived amid a flurry of camera flashes from their fans and journalists at Incheon International Airport at about 5 a.m. and returned home after undergoing a quarantine procedure. BTS took home the artist of the year, considered the top honor, at this year's American Music Awards, one of the three major music awards in

K-popDec. 6, 2021

BTS song 'Butter' picked as Record of the Year by Variety magazine

K-pop superstar BTS' mega-hit single "Butter" has been selected as the Record of the Year by US magazine Variety, the label behind the group said Sunday. BTS won the award for its second English-language single "Butter" during Variety's Hitmakers event held in Los Angeles on Saturday (local time). "The song 'Butter' holds a special place in our heart," BTS said in a video speech. "We shared the song with everyone in hopes of lifting spirits, and the energy a

K-popDec. 5, 2021

[Video] Why you should watch this if you went to (or wanted to go to!!) BTS PTD ON STAGE

Watch this video if you've been to (or wanted to go to!!!) BTS Permission To Dance On Stage concert! BTS held its first offline concert in two years at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles this week, gathering more than 200,000 ARMYs in LA. Eager to find out what BTS said during #PTDONSTAGE ?! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konnect_kh/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@konnect_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/konnect_kh By Team Konnect Kim Min-jung (minjung.kim@heraldcorp.com) Jung Ji-eun

K-popDec. 3, 2021

BTS tops 9 of Billboard's year-end charts for 2021

K-pop superband BTS has topped nine of Billboard's year-end charts for 2021, including the year's top duo/group category. According to Billboard on Friday, BTS ranked No. 1 on the lists of Top Artists - Duo/Group, Hot 100 Artists - Duo/Group, Billboard 200 Artists - Duo/Group, Billboard Global Excl. US Artists, Digital Song Sales Artists and World Albums Artists. The band's 2020 hit song "Dynamite" led the year-end Billboard Global Excl. US chart, while "Butter" stood atop

K-popDec. 3, 2021

BTS members sell W10b worth of Hybe shares

Three members of K-pop sensation BTS have sold shares in their management agency Hybe, realizing profits worth around 10 billion won ($8.49 million) in the last two months, according to the company’s announcement on DART, the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure board, Thursday. Jin, J-Hope and RM dumped a total of 9.95 billion won-worth of stocks during regular trading sessions, which were gifted from the agency ahead of its market debut on South Korea’s mai

K-popDec. 2, 2021

[Herald Interview] EPEX talks about teenage love in ‘Do 4 You’

Being in love is like walking a thin line between the utmost happiness and constant anxiety, and rookie boy band EPEX talks about such roller-coaster of emotions in their new album “Bipolar Pt. 2: Prelude of Love.” Back with a vibrant and quirky title song “Do 4 U,” the eight members were more hyped up than four months ago when they first met with The Korea Herald for an interview following their debut with “Bipolar Pt. 1: Prelude of Anxiety.” Running the e

K-popDec. 2, 2021

CJ ENM says K-pop is ‘just beginning’

CJ ENM, the entertainment arm of conglomerate CJ Group, conducted a panel on the future of K-pop and laid out the company’s blueprint in the US during a countdown event to 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Los Angeles. The event, held on Tuesday in CGV theater in LA, was attended by CJ ENM America CEO, Angela Killoren, CJ ENM director of US music business, Jake Hong, Apple Music’s radio host, Brooke Reese, and Twitter’s managing director of K-content, Kim Yeon-jeong, and hosted

K-popDec. 2, 2021

BTS to be absent from MAMAs due to self-quarantine for all overseas arrivals

K-pop supergroup BTS will be unable to attend the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMAs) scheduled for next week as the members have to go through COVID-19 isolation upon arrival from the United States due to tightened quarantine rules. The government decided to place all overseas arrivals under a 10-day quarantine for two weeks starting Friday, regardless of their nationalities and vaccination status, to tackle the omicron variant. The septet is currently in Los Angeles for its first in-person

K-popDec. 2, 2021

Rookie girl group Ive ready to make a splash with ‘Eleven’

In the cutthroat K-pop industry, making one’s mark as a singer is no easy feat. But rookie girl group Ive believes they can make it. Produced by K-pop powerhouse Starship Entertainment, which houses globetrotting acts like boy band Monsta X, the sextet threw their glitzy hats into the ring Wednesday evening with an ambition to follow the footsteps of now-disbanded Sistar and girl group WJSN. The six members -- Yujin, Gaeul, Won-young, Liz, and Leeseo, who are Koreans, and Rei from Jap

K-popDec. 1, 2021

Hybe’s new music label kicks off global audition to incubate BTS wannabes

An independent music label under Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind boy band BTS, announced a plan Wednesday to hold its first global audition aimed at launching next-generation boy bands and girl groups. According to All Doors One Room (ADOR), anyone born between 2002 and 2010 can apply for an audition from Wednesday to Jan. 10, regardless of their nationality and country of residence. Since the audition is set to take place online, applicants are required to submit applications along with t

K-popDec. 1, 2021

Sweet like peach, Kai aims to send message of love through “Peaches”

After rumors about Kai of boy band EXO’s second solo album circulated last month, he answered questions to the anticipation by stretching his solo legs. The singer sent fans abuzz with excitement by releasing his new EP, “Peaches,” which dropped Tuesday evening. In a press conference earlier Tuesday, the singer said his second EP consists of six tracks spanning across genres, adding that the expansion in his musical taste will be worth the listen. The virtuoso’s new

K-popNov. 30, 2021

[Herald Interview] Just like ‘Would You Run,’ Tri.be wishes to run higher

In an industry where idol bands are still burgeoning, it’s a tough place for rookie groups to make it. But for Tri.be, they knew they had the potential to rise in the competitive landscape. Produced by famous K-pop songwriter Sinsadong Tiger and global entertainment giant Universal Music Group’s Korean leg, Tri.be threw their glitzy hats into the ring in February. Being the label’s first quadrilingual band, the seven members -- Song-sun, Jin-ha, So-eun and Hyun-bin, who are

K-popNov. 30, 2021

SoFi Review: BTS brings moments of magic, surprises in emotional reunion with ARMYs

LOS ANGELES – Witnessing the emotional reunion of K-pop titans BTS with their fans in Los Angeles, it was clear that the two years apart left their bond not just completely unscathed, but stronger than ever. “I really wanted to say I missed you, and we know how hard things were for you, how thankful I am. In Korea, we didn’t have any fans and performed in front of the camera. I really shouldn’t feel this way, but the first time I saw you in two years, honestly it was a

K-popNov. 30, 2021

[Herald Interview] Sewing fantasy on to fashion

One of the main distinctions of K-pop idol artists is the magnificent visuals on the stage. Star-studded with shining jewels and elaborate patterns eliciting those of middle age royals, the stage outfits turn those singer-performers into “idols,” and their presence becomes a fantasy for fans to cherish and indulge. But K-pop idol singers, once considered just a young trend in the Korean music scene, were not always so spruced up with luxury, and it would not be a stretch to say the

K-popNov. 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez to return next month with “Turbulence”

Ateez announced the name of the focus track from its upcoming EP, “Zero: Fever Epilogue,” with a poster on Monday. 　 In the black-and-white photograph that is fashioned after a graduation picture, the bandmates stand in front of what looks like their school, a recurring setting that appeared in “Inception” from the first installment of the “Fever” series, “Zero: Fever Part 1,” which came out in July 2020. 　 They are wearing mortarboard hats for

K-popNov. 29, 2021

BTS unafraid of overcoming barriers, including the wall of Grammys

K-pop sensation BTS conducted a global press conference at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, after opening the curtains to the “Permission to Dance on Stage” concert series the previous night. The seven bandmates -- RM, V, Jimin, Suga, Jungkook, Jin and J-Hope -- shared their emotions and thoughts after reuniting with their global fans, known collectively as Army, in person for the first time in two years, and shared plans for the future. “For the past two years, &lsqu

K-popNov. 29, 2021