[Today’s K-pop] NCT127’s 3rd LP sells over 2 million in preorders

NCT127 has already sold 2.12 million copies of its forthcoming third full-length album, “Sticker,” according to label SM Entertainment on Thursday.   　 The LP, due out Friday, topped 1.3 million in preorders on the first day.   　 The album consists of 11 tracks, including the title track, a hip-hop dance number that is said to feature catchy pipe sounds. The band will perform it for the first time on stage on CBS’ “The Late Late Show with James Corden” o

K-popSept. 16, 2021

[Photo News] BTS, Seventeen invite fans to find respite in nature

  As the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic continues to persist, opportunities to meet and greet fans across the globe in person have been shuttered. But Hybe, the company behind megastars like boy bands BTS and Seventeen, has come up with a pop-up event in the South Korean capital for fans who reside in the nation.  The pop-up retail shop is based on Hybe’s “In the SOOP” content, a reality program that allows the company‘s groups to unplug from their busy

K-popSept. 15, 2021

Idol bands pop-up in Seoul to put fans at ease amid pandemic

The amount of time K-pop entertainment giants get to greet fans has been ebbing as the coronavirus pandemic persists. But now, agency labels are reaching out to offline pop-up stores in and out of the country to garner more fans and customers. Earlier this year, K-pop superstar BTS has opened or will operate additional offline pop-up stores in four Asian cities: Bangkok, Manila, Taiwan capital Taipei and Singapore. The BTS Pop-up: Map of the Soul store offered products revolving around the

K-popSept. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS to host online concert next month

BTS is holding a digital concert on Oct. 24, the band announced Wednesday. 　 Titled “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage,” the show will broadcast live. 　 It has been about a year since the group’s previous concert, “BTS Map of the Soul ON:E,” which was livestreamed across the world and attracted 993,000 fans from 191 countries. 　 Meanwhile, the septet is leaving for New York on Saturday to attend the 76th United Nations General Assembly alongside South Korea Presi

K-popSept. 15, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] aespa to release 1st EP next month

Rookie girl group aespa will release its first EP, “Savage,” on Oct. 5, announced label SM Entertainment on Tuesday.   　 The EP will consist of six songs including the titular main track. It will be the first physical album for the band, which debuted in November last year. The four-member group stormed into the spotlight with the debut song “Black Mamba” and following single “Next Level” topping music charts at home and abroad. The music videos amassed

K-popSept. 14, 2021

President Moon meets BTS, officially appoints them as special diplomatic envoy

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday presented the members of K-pop sensation BTS with certificates of appointment as his special envoys and expressed gratitude for the band’s role in raising the nation’s global profile. Donning black masks and black suits, the septet attended a ceremony Tuesday morning at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, marking the start of their roles as “special presidential envoys for future generations and culture.” President Moon conferred a lette

K-popSept. 14, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez returns with 7th EP

Ateez came out with its seventh EP “Zero: Fever Part 3” on Monday and discussed new music at an online showcase.   　 “I’ve stayed up all night tingling with excitement,” said leader Hongjoong.   　 The new album deals with the fever and confusion surrounding the youth, he explained, comparing it to the color of blue. The color also is similar to that of the mysterious lights of dawn, just as the world is ready to be revealed, added Yeosang.   　 The

K-popSept. 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink has the most YouTube subscribers among artists

Blackpink became the artist or group with the most subscribers on YouTube around the world.   　 According to label YG Entertainment, subscribers to the girl group’s official channel surpassed 65.2 million Friday afternoon, surpassing Justin Bieber.   　 “It’s unbelievable. It is a moment of miracle made by Blink,” the bandmates said through their management firm, thanking their official fandom.   　 “This is a result achieved with our fans so we hop

K-popSept. 10, 2021

Lisa shows who she is through ‘Lalisa’

After rumors about Lisa’s first-ever solo album circulated months ago, she finally answered questions to the anticipation by stretching her solo legs. Lisa of Blackpink sent fans abuzz with excitement by releasing her first EP, “Lalisa,” which dropped Friday evening. The two-track package aims to talk about who Lisa is, as both the name for the album and its title track go by the singer’s real name, which is why her debut album gives her butterflies, she said during an

K-popSept. 10, 2021

K-pop girl group LOONA set for official debut in Japan next week

K-pop girl group LOONA will make its official debut in Japan with its first Japanese language songs next week, its management agency said Thursday. 　 　The 12-member group will pre-release four songs Wednesday, including double main tracks of its upcoming Japanese album -- “Hula Hoop” and “Starseed: Kakusei” -- according to Blockberry Creative. The group‘s first Japanese album will hit shelves on Oct. 20. 　 　K-pop producer Ryan Jhun co-composed “Hula Hoop,&rdq

K-popSept. 9, 2021

HyunA and Dawn say love is a riddle with ‘Ping Pong’

Soloist HyunA and singer-songwriter Dawn of P Nation released their first-ever duo album, “[1+1=1],” on Thursday, dazzling fans with their sizzling chemistry. The four-track album is packed with stories about love and talks about turning big dreams into reality, conveying their honest feelings, the two musicians said during an online press conference Thursday. Title track “Ping Pong” interweaves Moombahton, a rhythm originated from Dutch house and house music, with 8

K-popSept. 9, 2021

Impact of China’s crackdown on K-pop fandom limited as agencies diversify markets, business models

On Saturday, photos of a Jeju Air airplane featuring BTS’ Jimin on its exterior circulated on Weibo as part of a BTS fan club’s campaign to celebrate the K-pop star’s 26th birthday. K-pop fan clubs often celebrate the birthdays of their stars by buying advertisements in newspapers, on public transport or on subway billboards. But the photos sparked serious backlash in China, and Weibo banned the fan club-run social media account with over 1.1 million followers from posting f

K-popSept. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS gets 400m-plus views for another video

BTS now has as many as 14 music videos with more than 400 million views on YouTube. 　 The kinetic manifesto film for “ON” from its fourth full-length album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” logged 400 million views as of Wednesday. The video features over 30 dancers and a 12-piece marching band, manifesting the band’s energy and determination to accept fate and march forward without hesitation. 　 The septet’s fourth LP landed atop the Billboard 200 when it was released

K-popSept. 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to collaborate with Enhyphen

Tomorrow X Together turned out to be the the featured artist in Enhyphen’s soon-to-be-released album.  Taehyun and Huening Kai of TXT appeared in a late-night Japanese radio show hosted by Jay and Niki of Enhyphen on Monday and at the end of the program thanked the two for inviting them.  “It was fun doing this together with Enhyphen. Please have us again,” said Taehyun and Huening Kai. They also told listeners that their first Japanese EP “Chaotic Wonderland&

K-popSept. 7, 2021

[Herald Interview] DPR Live on striving for perfection

It’s often said that one’s life follows one’s name -- how we label ourselves can shape the attitude we take in life, affecting our decision-making, and in end, determining our destiny. And since forming in 2015, Dream Perfect Regime, an independent multi-genre music and video production label, has tried to do just that. “Our spirit was to set the goal as high as possible and just try our best to get the closest we could to it. The dream felt far-off at first, yet we ha

K-popSept. 7, 2021

StayC hopes to break cliches through ‘Stereotype’

StayC returned in nearly five months since they rose to fame with their second single album, “Staydom.” The up-and-coming K-pop rookie act dropped their first EP, “Stereotype,” on Monday evening, in a bid to launch their new songs onto the September music charts. Perky yet mature, the sextet aimed to take another fresh approach to the “teen fresh” genre, a coined term of “teenager” and “fresh,” which represents their unique identity i

K-popSept. 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to put out 1st EP in Japanese

Tomorrow X Together will launch its first Japanese EP on Nov. 10, label Big Hit Music announced Monday. 　 The EP, titled “Chaotic Wonderland,” will consist of four tracks including the Japanese version of “0X1=LOVE SONG (I Know I Love You)” and “MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari)” from the repackaged second LP “The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape,” as well as new songs. 　 The same-titled lead track will feature a yet-to-be-named artist. 　 The boy band

K-popSept. 6, 2021

Young K wishes to convey kaleidoscope of emotions through ‘Eternal’

Young K of boy band Day 6 welcomed autumn by hopping onto the September music chart craze with his first-ever solo album. The singer-turned-soloist’s album “Eternal,” which dropped Monday evening, touches on the different colors and melodies of music. The fall-themed seven-track package aims to talk about “Kang Young-hyun as a person,” referring to his real name, and “Young K as an artist,” the singer and bassist said during an online press conference

K-popSept. 6, 2021

BTS to appear on YouTube music show next week

South Korean superband BTS, along with Coldplay front man, Chris Martin, will appear on YouTube's weekly music show next week, the septet's agency said Saturday. The K-pop sensation and Martin are set to appear on a special episode of YouTube Originals' weekly music series "Released" that will air at 12:45 p.m. Friday, according to Big Hit Music, the group's agency. They are expected to share their experiences as musicians on the global stage and talk about a set of topics, such as

K-popSept. 4, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice gives glimpse of upcoming English-language single

Twice uploaded the first teaser photograph for its first English-language song, “The Feels,” Friday. 　 In the group photo, the nine band members are sitting together in a girly powder room, sporting preppy looks tweaked with trendy accessories. Jeongyeon is with her bandmates even though she is taking some time off, for the second time, due to panic and anxiety attacks since last month. 　 The band released English versions of “More & More,” “I Can’t Stop

K-popSept. 3, 2021