[Today’s K-pop] Rose’s dance video storms past 10 million views

Rose of Blackpink is taking the world by storm with her solo work. 　 The dance video for “On the Ground” from her solo debut album, “R,” surpassed 10 million views just two days after release, said label YG Entertainment on Thursday. 　 The music video went on to amass over 116 million views on YouTube, raising expectations that it could reach the 200 million milestone in record time for a K-pop female solo artist. It was the most watched music video in the world over

K-popMarch 25, 2021

K-pop act Brave Girls extends winning streak on music charts

Brave Girls, the K-pop act that made a fairy tale comeback after four years thanks to social media, has reached No. 1 on more music charts with its 2017 single "Rollin'." The upbeat dance track topped Gaon's latest weekly digital and streaming charts, run by the Korea Music Content Association. The song sat atop the streaming chart for two straight weeks and reached its first No. 1 on the digital chart. "Rollin'" also swept Billboard's latest K-pop 100 chart, ousting K-pop

K-popMarch 25, 2021

Blood Sweat & Tears: BTS talks about trainee life, fame, goals on Korean TV show

The K-pop juggernauts that have taken the world by storm got personal in the latest episode of a popular Korean TV show, talking about the blood, sweat and tears they put into their career and how they feel about being a contemporary music icon. BTS appeared on the 99th episode of the talk show "You Quiz on the Block," hosted by comedians Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho -- aptly titled "Blood Sweat & Tears" -- late Wednesday. The 100-minute show, filmed at the traditional setti

K-popMarch 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Baekhyun sings of love on new album

Baekhyun of EXO will croon love-themed songs on “Bambi,” his upcoming EP. 　 He revealed the list of all six tracks from the R&B-based EP, his third. In the title track, he sings about mature love to the tune of poetic guitar sounds. “Love Scene” describes the feeling of a person who falls in love as if they were experiencing a scene from a movie. Rising American R&B singer-songwriter Tone Stith wrote the heartwarming melody for “All I Got,” and SM E

K-popMarch 24, 2021

BTS hit 'Dynamite' rebounds to No. 34 on Billboard Hot 100

The megahit BTS single "Dynamite" resurged to the 34th spot on Billboard's main singles chart, following the K-pop act's recent performance of the song at the Grammy Awards. The disco-pop number, released in August, jumped nine notches in just one week to No. 34 on the Hot 100 chart, refreshed Tuesday (US time). The ascent comes after the seven-piece act put on a stellar performance of "Dynamite" during the 63rd Grammy Awards, where it was nominated for the best pop duo/gro

K-popMarch 24, 2021

Red Velvet's Wendy to release debut solo material in April

Wendy, a member of K-pop girl group Red Velvet, is set to release her first solo material next month, her agency said Wednesday. The singer's debut solo album, "Like Water," will drop on April 5, with pre-orders set to start Wednesday, according to SM Entertainment. The upcoming album carries five tracks that capture "a genuine message and warm sentiment," the agency added. In addition to being the main vocalist of the five-piece act, the singer has taken part in several o

K-popMarch 24, 2021

K-pop agency JYP to ink partnership with China's Tencent

JYP Entertainment, the K-pop agency that manages acts like TWICE and 2PM, on Wednesday announced it will sign a strategic partnership with Chinese technology giant Tencent. Under the deal between JYP and Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME), JYP will provide music to TME's platforms, like QQ Music, Kugou Music, Kuwo Music and WeSing, according to the company. The two companies will also cooperate on joint marketing and promotional events. "We are happy to join hands with JYP to create

K-popMarch 24, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream hails April music release

  NCT Dream is coming out with new music almost a year after it released its fourth EP, “Reload,” label SM Entertainment confirmed Tuesday. 　 Fans will be even more delighted to hear that Mark is returning as a member. The company changed the rules, which previously forced singers over 20 to leave the band. Although the seven members performed a new song together last year -- “Deja Vu” from NCT’s second studio album, “Resonance” -- the last time the

K-popMarch 23, 2021

Rose hits No. 70 on Billboard with debut single 'On the Ground'

BLACKPINK's Rose saw her debut solo release reach No. 70 on Billboard's main singles chart in the highest ranking for a K-pop female soloist. "On the Ground," the title track of her double-track solo release "R," hit No. 70 on the latest version of the Billboard's Hot 100 updated weekly. This is the second time a K-pop female soloist has made it on the Billboard's main singles chart. In 2016, CL of 2NE1 hit No. 94 with the song "Lifted." The track, entirely sung

K-popMarch 23, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] ITZY to release new music in April

ITZY took fans by surprise on Sunday when a poster announcing that it will put out a new album titled “Guess Who” on April 30 was uploaded to social media. 　 It has been eight months since the group’s last EP, “Not Shy.” 　 “Keep up your expectations as our new music will be a series of surprises for you,” the band said in a recent interview with Forbes. 　 The quintet held a live fan meet event over the weekend and presented “Midzy,” a so

K-popMarch 22, 2021

KBS apologizes for controversial questions given to Brave Girls

Producers at broadcaster KBS apologized to fans on Friday for controversial questions asked to K-pop girl group Brave Girls in a YouTube video, but stopped short of apologizing to Brave Girls. The producers of the online program “Sketchbook Without You Heeyeol” uploaded a preview of the group before their appearance on “You Heeyeol’s Sketchbook” on Friday. In the video, the four members of Brave Girls read and answered a number of questions posted on Instagram. The

K-popMarch 21, 2021

2PM's Junho discharged from military

Junho, a member of K-pop boy band 2PM, has successfully completed his mandatory military service and was officially discharged Saturday. The singer, whose full name is Lee Jun-ho, was discharged after completing his alternative military service, according to JYP Entertainment. Junho, who enlisted in May 2019, is the last 2PM member to complete military service. By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must carry out military service for about two years. The multinational boy band consisting

K-popMarch 20, 2021

BLACKPINK vocalist Rose's solo single debuts at No. 43 on Official Charts

BLACKPINK's Rose saw her debut solo release hit No. 43 on the Official Charts, becoming the first K-pop female soloist to chart on the British music ranking. "On the Ground," the BLACKPINK member's new release, reached No. 43 on the latest version of the Official Singles Top 100 updated weekly. As a group, BLACKPINK had landed on the British music chart a number of times, peaking at No. 20 with the 2020 megahit "How You Like That." Rose released her first solo material on

K-popMarch 20, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids unveils first international collab

Stray Kids recently joined forces with international musicians to put out a mobile game song. 　 The band teamed up with Swedish producer Alesso and DJ Corsak, who hails from China, and will release a Korean version of “Going Dumb,” part of the soundtrack for Battle Ground, which will come out Friday at midnight.  Alesso is a hit EDM artist with a multi-platinum record. Corsak, who created the original version, is reaching out to a wider audience. It was rearranged to add Ko

K-popMarch 19, 2021

[Newsmaker] Big Hit Entertainment to change name to Hybe

South Korea’s entertainment powerhouse Big Hit Entertainment, home to global K-pop sensation BTS, is set to start on a new journey under the name, Hybe. The company on Friday released the “New Brand Presentation” video on their YouTube channel, introducing changes to its name and organization, as well as the revelation of its new office building to mark its rebranding into an entertainment lifestyle platform company. According to chairman Bang Si-hyuk, the new brand name Hy

K-popMarch 19, 2021

BTS agency announces name change to Hybe, bigger biz plans

Big Hit Entertainment, the K-pop powerhouse behind global sensation BTS, on Friday unveiled a plan to change its name to Hybe and ambitions to become what it called an "entertainment lifestyle platform." "What we think of as variation of music is that of the indefinite realm and I think the name Big Hit Entertainment cannot fully capture this concept," Big Hit founder and chief executive Bang Si-hyuk said in an online session explaining the transition. "I thought we ne

K-popMarch 19, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Kang Daniel hails surprise release

Kang Daniel signaled an upcoming music release with a surprise teaser on Thursday. 　 He floated a “Coming Soon” poster and said he would come out with new music April 13. 　 2021 will be a turning point for the singer, he promised, saying he was putting his plan into action on the heels of the success of his previous single, “Paranoia.” 　 “Paranoia” came out last month, and within only two weeks it swept charts and television music programs. The video set

K-popMarch 18, 2021

US trading card company under fire for violent caricature of BTS

Topps, a US trading card manufacturer, removed an illustration showing beaten-up members of BTS after it came under fire for releasing the product at a time when hate crimes against Asians are raising alarm bells. The New York-based company introduced the sticker collection "The Shammy Awards" on Tuesday (US time) following the 63rd Grammy Awards earlier in the week. The Grammy-themed merchandise featured performers BTS, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion and Harry Style

K-popMarch 18, 2021

BTS earns double platinum in US with megahit 'Dynamite'

The BTS megahit "Dynamite" has become a double platinum certified single in the United States in the latest record-breaking streak for the K-pop juggernauts. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced Wednesday (US time) that the septet's digital single "Dynamite" released in August has earned double platinum. A song gets platinum certification with at least 1 million equivalent units, including sales, downloads and streams. A double platinum certificati

K-popMarch 18, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Jessi discusses pressure to outdo herself

Jessi held an online showcase to mark the release of a digital single, “What Type of X,” Wednesday. 　 There wasn’t much time to produce the song and it took a toll on the singer, she confided, acknowledging with a bashful smile that she was trying not to get her hopes too high. 　 “We only had two days to shoot the music video, and it was the longest two days,” she went on, expressing her gratitude for Psy, the head of her label and collaborator on the song, for

K-popMarch 17, 2021