[Today’s K-pop] TXT to return with 2nd LP on May 31

Tomorrow X Together is coming out with second full-length album on May 31, according to an announcement on Friday.  　 The album is named “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze” and hails the beginning of a new narrative. 　 Since the boy band’s debut, their work has centered on the concept of dreams, starting with their debut EP “The Dream Chapter: Star,” the first studio album “The Dream Chapter: Magic” and then the second EP “The Dream Chapter: Eterni

K-popApril 30, 2021

BTS wins 4 nominations at 2021 Billboard Music Awards

BTS has clinched nominations in four categories -- the most for the K-pop superstars -- in the upcoming 2021 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) set for next month. The seven-member act was nominated in the categories of Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Social Artist and Top Selling Song at this year's BBMAs, scheduled for May 23 (US time), according to Billboard. It marks the most nominations for BTS since the group was first named a candidate for Top Social Artist in 2017. This year, the

K-popApril 30, 2021

ITZY returns more daring with ‘Guess Who’

Girl group ITZY is returning more powerful and confident with the new album “Guess Who.” Ahead of the album‘s release, the group conducted an online press conference Thursday. The band’s fourth mini album, “Guess Who” is a six-track set led by “M.A.F.I.A. in the Morning.” “‘Guess Who’ refers to an unknown person. In this album, we manifest various visuals and emotions according to different times and places, becoming more wild

K-popApril 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] IZ*ONE's Japanese members bid farewell

The bandmates of IZ*ONE from Japan returned to their home boarding an airplane together Thursday.   　 Miyawaki Sakura, Honda Hitomi and Yabuki Nako eagerly greeted fans gathered at the airport, but upon hearing their warm parting words, turned solemn. Hitomi welled up with tears and the other two comforted her.   　 The group was disbanded Wednesday as its contract with CJ ENM expired, wrapping up the 2 1/2 year career. The Korean members will return to their original agencies except

K-popApril 29, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Hot Issue debuts triumphantly

  Seven-piece girl group Hot Issue debuted with a much-anticipated online showcase Wednesday.   　 The group came out with five-track EP “Issue Maker,” with its lead track “Gratata” that comes after machine gun sounds, as the group ambitiously aims to target the public like skilled snipers.   　 The debut of the new girl group has drawn extra attention, as it is the first band to come from S2 Entertainment, established by Hong Seungseong who has produced co

K-popApril 28, 2021

Streams of BTS hit 'Dynamite' surpass 300m in Japan: Oricon

Combined streaming of the BTS megahit "Dynamite" has reached more than 300 million in Japan, a music chart tracker in the Asian country showed Wednesday. The disco-pop track added 6.69 million streams in the latest weekly streaming chart compiled by Oricon between April 19 and 25, hitting 306.53 million streams in total, said Big Hit Music, the K-pop act's agency, citing the Japanese music chart. "Dynamite," which achieved the feat in 36 weeks, is the third song to break th

K-popApril 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen sets record with 3rd Japanese single

Seventeen ranked No. 1 on Oricon’s weekly singles chart with hits third Japanese single “Hitorijyanai” last week. 　 The single sold over 314,000 units in the first week of sales, repeating the feat of its second Japanese single from last year that also topped the weekly tally and sold over 300,000 units in seven days. 　 “Hitorijyanai” also made the boy band the first international male musicians to have three consecutive singles with over-200,000-unit sales in th

K-popApril 27, 2021

BTS to release 2nd English single 'Butter' on May 21

K-pop sensation BTS is ready to come back next month with the cheerful summer number "Butter," its agency said Tuesday. The "fun and upbeat summer song," which will be the seven-piece act's second English single following "Dynamite" released last year, will drop globally in a digital version at 1 p.m. on May 21, according to Big Hit Music. The physical version of the new single will be available this summer, the company added, without elaborating on a release date

K-popApril 27, 2021

Enhypen speaks of growth and pains through ‘Border: Carnival’

Big-name rookie group Enhypen has returned even bigger than before with the second EP “Border: Carnival,” which sings about the ferocious five months since the group’s debut. The seven-piece group held a media event in Seoul on Monday ahead of the album‘s release at 6 p.m. that day. Taking on the story from their first EP “Border: Day On,” which depicts a complication of emotions faced ahead of debut, “Border: Carnival” sings of another wave of

K-popApril 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Enhyphen rolls out 2nd EP

Enhyphen held a showcase in central Seoul on Monday to introduce its second EP, “Border: Carnival.”   　 “It’s been five months and I’m way more nervous than I thought,” confessed Jeongwon. The rest of the members agreed that they could not believe that it already is their second album. Debut album “Border: Day One” came out in November last year.   　 “Enhyphen is trying a variety of genres in every album,” said Jake, “a

K-popApril 26, 2021

BTS music video 'Idol' breaks 900m YouTube views

The music video for the 2018 BTS hit "Idol" has surpassed 900 million views on YouTube in the latest feat for the K-pop dynamo. "Idol," the main track of the seven-piece act's repackaged album "Love Yourself: Answer," hit the milestone at 5:59 a.m. on Sunday, according to Big Hit Music, the group's agency. When adding the views for another version of the song featuring Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj, total views exceed 1 billion, it added. "Idol&quo

K-popApril 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS joins hands with Louis Vuitton

BTS members have become the new faces of Louis Vuitton, label Bit Hit Music and the French fashion house announced on Friday. 　 The septet will serve as House Ambassadors for the French label. 　 “I am looking forward to this wonderful partnership which adds a modern chapter to the House, merging luxury and contemporary culture,” said Louis Vuitton men’s artistic director Virgil Abloh. 　 “I can’t wait to share all the very exciting projects we are working on,&rdqu

K-popApril 23, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS' V unveils part of self-written song

 V of BTS gave a taste of his self-composed song, uploading the snippet online at 4 a.m. Wednesday. 　 Par of the yet-to-be-titled song -- one minute and 48 seconds to be exact -- was accompanied with one word: “sleep,” he posted on the band’s Twitter. 　 The artist almost whispers of how one finally lumbers into sleep looking at clouds through the window, to the soft tunes of piano and strings. The rustling sounds of a blanket adds a final touch to the song that some migh

K-popApril 22, 2021

[Herald Interview] Rookie Ciipher hints of hidden charms to unlock

Rookies they may be, Ciipher’s name was already familiar to many K-pop fans thanks to their producer Jung Ji-hoon, also known as singer Rain, who has been earnestly promoting the group ahead of their debut last month. While Rain definitely has their back, the members promised of various hidden charms and talents for fans to decrypt. Comprising seven members -- Hyunbin, Tan, Hwi, Keita, Tag, Dohwan and Won -- Ciipher debuted on March 15 with their EP “I Like You (An Ggyulyeo)”

K-popApril 22, 2021

K-pop stars launch Kstars4Climate campaign to save Earth

Popular K-pop stars joined hands in a campaign to highlight the dangers of climate change and call for bolder action on the defining challenge of the age, marking the 41st Earth Day on Thursday. Some 31 members from seven K-pop groups including Oh My Girl, BTOB, Day6 and The Boyz shared their thoughts on climate change and encouraged their millions of fans around the globe to take part in climate action. In the first video, released Thursday on the campaign’s official website, the idol

K-popApril 22, 2021

Rose's first solo album 'R' sells over half a million copies

Rose, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has sold more than 500,000 units of her first solo album "R," becoming the first South Korean female soloist to breach the half-million sales mark in about 19 years, her management agency said Thursday. As of Tuesday, "R" had sold a total of 502,447 copies since its release on March 12, YG Entertainment said, citing data from the Hanteo music chart that provides real-time album sales statistics. The singer's first EP features t

K-popApril 22, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Super Junior’s Yesung to release solo record in May

Yesung of Super Junior will come out with a fourth solo EP in May, said label S.M. Entertainment on Wednesday. 　 Three images of the veteran idol hailing the new album, titled “Phantom Pain,” were uploaded on the band’s social media channel, showing him sitting on a sofa. The EP will roll out May 3, but the video will be unveiled Friday. 　 Super Junior’s main vocalist put out his first solo EP, “Here I Am,” in April 2016. It has been almost two years since

K-popApril 21, 2021

BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' extends longest streak on Billboard 200 by K-pop group to 60 weeks

"Map of the Soul: 7," an album by global superstar BTS, has remained on the Billboard 200 chart for the 60th consecutive week this week, extending its longest-streak record by a K-pop group or singer on the chart. According to the latest Billboard chart results updated Tuesday (US time), the album released in February 2020 came in at 113th on the US music publisher's main albums chart. This marks the album's 60th consecutive week on the highly competitive chart since it debuted atop

K-popApril 21, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] 2PM poised for summer return

2PM is gearing up to come out with new album in summer, according to media reports on Tuesday.  The band is preparing for a new album although specific dates are yet to be set, confirmed label JYP Entertainment following the reports.  The bandmates are writing songs on their own while choosing some from songwriters that spans across genres. The six-piece act’s last album together was its sixth studio album “Gentlemen’s Game” that was released in September 201

K-popApril 20, 2021

Girl group TWICE to perform on Kelly Clarkson show next week

K-pop girl group TWICE is set to appear on the US TV series "The Kelly Clarkson Show" next week, its management agency said Tuesday. The K-pop act will perform "Cry For Me," its latest single released in December, on the popular American daytime show on April 27 (US time), according to JYP Entertainment. The up-tempo dance number has topped iTunes charts in 20 countries and regions, including Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand, and peaked at No. 2 on the worldwide iTunes song c

K-popApril 20, 2021