New BTS song 'Butter' makes splash on Billboard, Oricon charts

K-pop supergroup BTS' new single "Butter" has stormed major music charts in the United States and Japan following its release last week, the band's agency said Wednesday. The English-language single debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard's pop airplay chart, which measures airplay of pop songs at some 160 key US radio stations from every Monday to Sunday. The song's debut ranking is higher than the band's 2020 smash hit "Dynamite," which debuted at No. 30 on the same chart. &q

K-popMay 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM writes song for TXT

RM of BTS participated in writing the lyrics for a song on Tomorrow X Together’s upcoming album, according to a song list that Bit Hit Music shared Tuesday. 　 TXT’s second studio album, “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze,” goes on sale May 31. RM co-authored the words for lead track “0X1=Lovesong,” about a boy who firmly believes in his love despite the chaos he has tumbled into. 　 It is a collaborative effort by a score of songwriters, including Hybe Chairman Bang

K-popMay 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO floats teasers for special album

EXO shared teaser photos of Xiumin and Dio for its forthcoming special album on Monday. 　 The band is rolling out “Don’t Fight the Feeling” on June 7 and its label, S.M. Entertainment, dropped the first batch of photographs of the two since they returned to the music scene after serving their military duty. It is the first album the two performers have taken part in since 2018.  　 Although Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Suho and Chen would not be able to join the promotional

K-popMay 24, 2021

BTS pop-up stores to additionally open in Asian cities

K-pop superstar BTS has opened or will open additional offline pop-up stores in four Asian cities to meet rising demands for merchandise among the group's fans in the populous continent, its management agency said Monday. A BTS Pop-up: Map of the Soul store, which offers products themed around the seven-piece band's 2020 hit album "Map of the Soul: 7," already opened in Bangkok on May 1 to run through July 25, according to Hybe IP, an intellectual property arm of K-pop powerhouse Hybe

K-popMay 24, 2021

BTS scoops up four Billboard Awards

K-pop boy band BTS has won four prizes, including the major title of Top Selling Song, at this year's Billboard Music Awards (BBMA), the most for the group at the event ever. The septet was awarded Top Selling Song, Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist and the fan-voted Top Social Artist during the BBMA ceremony that was aired live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday (US time). It is the first time the band has won more than two titles at the BBMA. In 2019, it took home the Top

K-popMay 24, 2021

New BTS song 'Butter' sweeps iTunes charts in 101 regions

K-pop dynamo BTS has topped more than 100 regional iTunes chart with its latest single "Butter," its management agency said Saturday. The vibrant pop-dance number, released at 1 p.m. on Friday here, debuted at No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs chart in 101 regions, including the United States, Canada, Britain and Germany, according to Big Hit Music. The music video for the song has also made a splash around the world. It broke 10 million views on the septet's official YouTube channel in just

K-popMay 22, 2021

Back with ‘Butter,’ BTS talks new English single, power of music and eighth anniversary

After breaking record after record with “Dynamite” last year, BTS is ready make another big splash with the brand-new summer bop “Butter.” The group’s second English-language single, “Butter” is an upbeat dance pop anthem with a seasonal vibe, peppered with dazzling synths and an infectious hook. The seven-piece act held an offline global press conference in Seoul on Friday evening, right after the song’s release, where the musicians talked about

K-popMay 21, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ ‘Butter’ video storms past 10m views in 13 minutes

The video for BTS’ newest single, “Butter,” drew 10 million views on YouTube within 13 minutes of its release on Friday. 　 This tops the record set by the band’s megahit from last summer, “Dynamite,” which reached that number in 20 minutes. “Dynamite” also garnered 101.1 million views in 24 hours, the highest figure in YouTube’s history. 　 The septet rolled out the digital single with a showcase in southern Seoul on Friday and will put out

K-popMay 21, 2021

Members of BTS fan group Army react to new single, ‘Butter’

K-pop powerhouse BTS’ new single landed well with fans Friday. Fans are brimming with excitement and pride as the song melts into their hearts. Here is a little sneak peek into how members of the BTS fandom community, Army, are reacting to the globe-trotting group’s digital single. One fan wrote, “BTS’ music video clip has our hearts!” The tweet garnered more than 680 likes and around 2,000 retweets in 30 minutes. Another fan tweeted, “BTS is insane for t

K-popMay 21, 2021

[Photo News] BTS holds global press conference for new single ‘Butter’

K-pop supergroup BTS holds a global press conference for its much-awaited digital single “Butter” in Seoul, Friday. (Photos: Yonhap) By Yoon Chae-won (choenayoon@heraldcorp.com)

K-popMay 21, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] 2AM to reunite after seven years: report

The four bandmates of 2AM are considering reuniting after seven years, media reports said Thursday. 　 The quartet debuted in 2008 with “This Song” and gained a huge fandom with a series of hits including “Never Let You Go,” “One Spring Day,” “You Wouldn’t Answer My Calls,” “What Should I Do?” and “I Was Wrong.” 　 The band released its third studio album, “Let’s Talk,” in 2014, but three of its member

K-popMay 20, 2021

K-pop act GFriend bids farewell to fans after 6 years

Gfriend, known for its powerful performances and formerly school girl concept, bid farewell to fans after its longtime agency announced the termination of its contract. Source Music, which had represented the six-piece group since its debut in 2015, on Tuesday announced their contract will end Saturday. While the label, which was acquired by K-pop powerhouse Hybe in 2019, did not officially use the term "disbandment," it said in a statement that the group has agreed to walk "sep

K-popMay 20, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee’s Taemin hopes new EP will comfort fans

Taemin of Shinee and SuperM said he hoped his third solo EP, “Advice,” would console his fans during his absence for military service. 　 The new EP reflects how he tackled new challenges, such as singing rap for the title track. 　 “I’ve tried many things I haven’t done before,” said the veteran idol, adding that the title track would show a different side of him. He also collaborated with Taeyeon, a senior colleague from S.M. Entertainment, on a duet called

K-popMay 18, 2021

BTS to perform on 'Good Morning America' summer concert series

K-pop supergroup BTS is set to appear as the first performer on a summer concert series hosted by the popular American TV show "Good Morning America." The seven-piece act is among a lineup of more than 20 musicians who will be performing at this year's series that will run through August. BTS will perform on May 28. BTS is not a new comer to the annual summer concert series. In 2019, the group put on a live performance of two hit tracks, "Boy with Luv" and "Fire,"

K-popMay 18, 2021

Rocket Punch promotes newtro-themed ‘Ring Ring’

Rookie girl group Rocket Punch marked the start of summer with the retro-inspired “Ring Ring.” Eight months after the six-piece group released its third mini-album, “Blue Punch,” it held a press conference in Seoul on Monday ahead of the new album’s release at 6 p.m. that day. The album is part of the “newtro” trend that continues to sweep the nation, the music scene being no exception. (The word is a combination of “new” and “retro.

K-popMay 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream’s 1st LP becomes million-seller

NCT Dream’s first studio album, “Hot Sauce,” sold over 1 million copies, a first for the boy band, according to label S.M. Entertainment on Monday. 　 The LP went on sale May 10 and reached the milestone in a week. It was the highest first-week sales figure among all the albums released this year. 　 This is the septet’s first million-selling album and the third for the NCT family, after NCT 127’s second LP, “Neo Zone,” and NCT’s second full-length

K-popMay 17, 2021

IU donates W500m for underprivileged on her birthday

Singer-actress IU has donated 500 million won ($441,350) to charity groups in aid to the underprivileged, her management agency said Monday. The money was delivered to five groups, including the Korea Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the Korea Unwed Mothers Families Association, on Sunday, which was her birthday, according to Edam Entertainment. "IU wished to do something good in the name of her fan club on her last birthday in her 20s to return some of the love she has received from peop

K-popMay 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS graces cover of Rolling Stone

BTS made cover of Rolling Stone’s June issue, becoming the first all-Asian band to appear on the front of the magazine. 　 The 54-year-old magazine declared it “iconic,” dramatically announcing: “Attention ARMY: after years of asking for it, BTS have finally landed on the cover of Rolling Stone.” 　 The media will roll out a collector’s edition box set that will feature eight collectible BTS covers, the newsstand cover with all seven members as well as seven

K-popMay 14, 2021

BTS becomes first all-Asian act to front Rolling Stone in magazine's history

K-pop sensation BTS is featured on the cover of the latest issue of US popular culture magazine Rolling Stone. "BTS appears on our June cover," the magazine tweeted Thursday (local time), posting an interview with the septet as the cover story on its website. The magazine said it is the first time that an all-Asian act has fronted the magazine in its 54-year history. The cover story, titled "The Triumph of BTS," features the birth of the seven-member boy band -- RM, Jin,

K-popMay 14, 2021

BTS to make guest appearance on 'Friends' special

K-pop superstars BTS will make a guest appearance on a reunion special of the popular American sitcom "Friends" later this month, according to Billboard. The seven-piece act will join the original cast of the '90s comedy and other top stars in the special to air May 27 on streaming service HBO Max, the US magazine said on its website Thursday (local time). Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and David Beckham will be among the others to be featured on the show. The reunion special comes 17 yea

K-popMay 14, 2021