Treasure gears up for first studio album

After dropping three singles in the span of less than 100 days last year, Treasure is moving full steam ahead with their very first full-length album “The First Step: Treasure Effect” set to release next Monday. YG Entertainment’s 12-piece boy band on Monday revealed the names of the 12 tracks that will be on the physical version of the album, including three brand new songs -- “My Treasure,” “Be With Me” and “Slowmotion.” Kicking off the

K-popJan. 4, 2021

EXO member Baekhyun's online concert draws 110,000 viewers: agency

K-pop boy group EXO's Baekhyun attracted some 110,000 viewers from around the world in his first online concert held over the weekend, the singer's agency said Monday. "Beyond Live - Baekhyun : Light," livestreamed via Naver V Live on Sunday, drew some 110,000 viewers from 120 countries, according to SM Entertainment. The agency said the concert trended on Twitter as fans in countries like France, the Netherlands, Russia, Vietnam and Indonesia tweeted posts, including hashtags like #

K-popJan. 4, 2021

Over 35 million viewers watch SM Town Live on New Year’s Day

S.M. Entertainment’s livestreamed global music festival SM Town Live drew a record-breaking 35 million-plus viewers on New Year’s Day, the company said Saturday. Viewers in 186 countries streamed the concert, featuring the likes of Taeyeon, Taemin, Red Velvet, NCT 127, SuperM and aespa. Themed “culture humanity,” this year’s show was online only and free to watch on videostreaming platforms such as V Live, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. Taeyeon said she&r

K-popJan. 2, 2021

BTS wins special award at Japan Record Awards

BTS has become the inaugural winner of a special category at the Japan Record Awards hosted by Japanese broadcaster TBS, the band's agency said Thursday. The septet won the Special International Music Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards that was broadcasted live late Wednesday, according to Big Hit Entertainment. BTS, which was the sole overseas artist that won a trophy at this year's ceremony, performed its hit songs "Dynamite" and "Life Goes On." It was the group's firs

K-popDec. 31, 2020

[Graphic News] BTS 6th-most-tweeted-about people worldwide in 2020

　K-pop superstars BTS ranked as the sixth-most-tweeted-about people globally, data from Twitter showed, reflecting the seven-member group’s strong influence on the social media platform. 　While US President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden topped the list, BTS was one of two music acts to make the list of the 10 most-tweeted-about global figures. The other was American rapper Kanye West. 　BTS also topped Twitter’s list of the most-tweeted-about K-pop accounts globally

K-popDec. 31, 2020

[Herald Interview] Pop stars and ‘MORE’: Girl group K/DA comes ‘ALL OUT’ with first EP

Last month a girl group like no other, K/DA, dropped its first EP two years after its official debut. "ALL OUT” follows the smash single “POP/STARS,” released in November 2018. The group started with Ahri, a K-pop artist who made her debut in 2013 and shot to fame in less than three years. But like many artists, Ahri encountered troubles with her agency. Instead of going with the flow, she sought out and recruited current bandmates Kai’Sa, Evelynn and Akali so the

K-popDec. 29, 2020

[Herald Interview] How K/DA became the ultimate music fan experience, and beyond

The debut of K/DA, the virtual girl group of four characters from online arena game League of Legends, in 2018 could have ended as just a one-time gift for loyal fans of the game. But with the release of the group’s first single “POP/STARS” and their real-life stage performance at the 2018 World Championship Finals opening ceremony in South Korea that year, the song, along with the four members -- Ahri, Kai’Sa, Evelynn and Akali -- received acknowledgement even beyond t

K-popDec. 29, 2020

SM Entertainment to stream free online concert

SM Entertainment said Monday it will hold a free online concert on the first day of next year to give comfort to those fighting against the novel coronavirus pandemic across the world. The "SMTOWN Live" concert will be live streamed this Friday on social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter and Beyond Live, an online channel run by South Korea's Naver. Under the theme of "Culture Humanity," SM's top artists like TVXQ, Super Junior, Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, SHINee

K-popDec. 28, 2020

BTS' 'Dynamite' rebounds to top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 with drop of holiday remix

K-pop superstar BTS' megahit song "Dynamite" has resurged to the top 10 on Billboard's main singles chart this week. "Dynamite" ranked No. 9 on the Hot 100 chart to be refreshed Tuesday (US local time), up 15 notches from No. 24 last week, Billboard said Monday. The rebound came following the release of the song's holiday remix on Dec. 11. The song's sales jumped 227 percent to 40,000, while streams were up 7 percent to 8.5 million, it added. The holiday remix of the song

K-popDec. 22, 2020

'Dynamite' becomes 6th BTS music video to hit 700m YouTube views

The music video of "Dynamite," K-pop superstar BTS' 2020 megahit song, has racked up 700 million views on YouTube, its agency said Friday. The video surpassed the mark at around 9:41 p.m. Thursday, just four months after its release, according to Big Hit Entertainment. BTS now has six music videos that have more than 700 million views on the global video-sharing website, including "DNA," "Boy with Luv," "Fake Love," "MIC Drop (Steve Aoki Remix)&quo

K-popDec. 18, 2020

TWICE ranks No. 72 on Billboard 200 with its latest full-length album

K-pop girl group TWICE ranked No. 72 on the Billboard main albums chart this week, renewing its highest record on the US music publisher's ranking. "Eyes Wide Open," the group's second full-length album, took 72nd place on the Billboard 200 chart refreshed Tuesday (US time), seven weeks after its release in October. It is the second time that the nine-member group's album has landed on the chart since its ninth EP, "More & More," entered the chart at No. 200 in June. T

K-popDec. 16, 2020

BTS' 'Dynamite' makes top 5 on Billboard's Pop Songs radio chart

K-pop superstar BTS has hit the top five on a Billboard radio airplay chart for the first time with its mega-hit single "Dynamite." The band's first English-language song rose one notch to rank fifth this week on the Pop Songs radio chart updated Tuesday (US time), according to Billboard. The chart is one of the main radio airplay charts of Billboard, measuring total weekly plays of the top 40 songs on around 160 mainstream radio stations. It is the first time that BTS has made it t

K-popDec. 16, 2020

BTS gets festive with 'Dynamite' holiday remix

With just two weeks left until Christmas, BTS on Friday unveiled a holiday remix version of its upbeat chart-topping song "Dynamite." The remix version, released at 2 p.m., shows the band singing in front of a Christmas tree holding selfie sticks. The jolly ambience and Christmas bells in the background heighten the festive mood. "The BTS digital single 'Dynamite' made history throughout the second half of 2020 thanks to the incredible affection and support shown from all fans,&

K-popDec. 11, 2020

BTS named 'entertainer of year' by Time magazine

K-pop megastar BTS has been named the Time magazine "entertainer of the year," the US weekly said Thursday. BTS "isn't just the biggest K-pop act on the charts. They've become the biggest band in the world -- full stop," the influential magazine said in a Twitter post. "Between releasing multiple albums and breaking every type of record in 2020, BTS ascended to the zenith of pop stardom," it added. BTS had a record year with two of its songs -- "Dynamite&quo

K-popDec. 11, 2020

Big Hit Labels concert: The start of a new tradition, or a trend that’s getting trite?

Fifteen years after its launch as a small company by producer Bang Si-hyuk, Big Hit Entertainment is starting a new chapter of its history with its first “labels” concert, which brings together artists from the company’s now-expanded portfolio. Taking place on the very last day of the year, “2021 New Year’s Eve Live – presented by Weverse” is expected to feature K-pop sensation BTS and other Big Hit-affiliated K-pop idols such as Tomorrow X Together, E

K-popDec. 10, 2020

BTS' 6th most tweeted about people worldwide in 2020

K-pop superstar BTS ranked as the sixth most tweeted about people globally, data from Twitter Inc. showed Tuesday, in apparent proof of the seven-member group's strong influence in the social media platform. While US President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden topped the list, BTS was one of two musicians to be among the top 10 most tweeted about global figures, with the other being American rapper Kanye West. BTS also topped Twitter's list of the most tweeted about K-pop accounts glo

K-popDec. 8, 2020

Girl group TWICE tests negative for COVID-19: agency

Members of K-pop girl group TWICE have tested negative for the new coronavirus, their agency said Tuesday. "TWICE members, including Sana, and their manager have all tested negative for the new coronavirus," JYP Entertainment said in a statement sent through a text message. The agency added that Sana will go into home isolation until Dec. 18 in line with guidelines distributed by health authorities, while the remaining members will work as planned. Members of the nine-piece band got

K-popDec. 8, 2020

BTS becomes first S. Korean act to break into top 10 on Billboard's radio chart

BTS, one of the world's most popular pop groups, has become the first all-South Korean act to make it into the top 10 on Billboard's Radio Songs chart. The group's hit single "Dynamite" moved up a spot to rank No. 10 on the chart measuring radio airplay in the United States, Billboard reported on Monday (US time). The all-English track had earlier made history by becoming the first song by a Korean act to top Billboard's main singles chart, the Hot 100. "This week, it becomes BT

K-popDec. 8, 2020

Twice and other idols get tested for COVID-19

Every member of K-pop girl group Twice was tested for the new coronavirus on Monday, and so were all staff members who had come into contact with band member Sana recently. The singer Chungha tested positive Monday after she and Sana came into contact. Chungha was tested after coming into contact with another person who also tested positive. “Twice’s Sana, who came in contact recently with Chungha, as well as other members of Twice who worked with Sana and the staff, were tested t

K-popDec. 7, 2020

K-pop singer Chungha tests positive for coronavirus

Singer Chungha has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, her agency said Monday, as a huge wave of mass infections has been penetrating the K-pop industry. "After being aware that she has come into contact with a COVID-19 patient, Chungha got tested and received the positive result Monday," MNH Entertainment said in an announcement posted on a fansite. It said the singer has halted all schedules and gone into self-isolation, while her colleagues, staff members and other close co

K-popDec. 7, 2020