Netflix documentary on BLACKPINK to premier Oct. 14

Netflix plans to next month release a documentary chronicling BLACKPINK's four-year journey from talented trainees to K-pop superstars. The streaming giant and YG Entertainment, the band's agency, said Wednesday "BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky," the first Netflix film about a South Korean music band, will premiere Oct. 14. It is the fourth Netflix original documentary featuring female artists, after "Gaga: Five Foot Two" on Lady Gaga, "Homecoming" on Beyonce and &qu

K-popSept. 9, 2020

Everything you need to know about Big Hit IPO

Next month, Big Hit Entertainment will begin its long-awaited initial public offering process. There has been plenty of excitement among investors and fans, as the label is home to global sensation BTS and boasts a valuation higher than the combined value of S.M. Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment, the country’s three major entertainment companies. Going public is not an easy step for a company to take, and difficult for many who don’t follow the stock market c

K-popSept. 8, 2020

BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' tops 500m YouTube views at record speed

The music video of South Korean girl group BLACKPINK's hit song "How You Like That" exceeded 500 million YouTube views in the shortest time in K-pop history, the band's agency said Tuesday. The music video surpassed the 500 million mark around 3:50 a.m. Tuesday, 73 days after its release in June, according to BLACKPINK's management agency, YG Entertainment. The feat was achieved some 40 days earlier than the previous record of 111 days held by the quartet's 2019 megahit song "K

K-popSept. 8, 2020

BTS' Billboard win expected to create economic effect worth 1.7tr won: report

An estimated 1.7 trillion won ($1.43 billion) worth of economic effect is expected to be created by K-pop sensation BTS' conquest of the Billboard Hot 100 chart last week, government data showed Monday. Last week, BTS debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's main singles chart with its latest English-language single "Dynamite," becoming the first South Korean singer or group to achieve the feat. According to a report co-published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affilia

K-popSept. 7, 2020

[Herald Interview] Meet Big Hit’s creatives behind BTS-inspired TinyTAN

Ever since Big Hit Entertainment launched the BTS-inspired animated characters called TinyTAN about a month ago, the characters seem like they haven’t had a day of rest. With their looks, behaviors and good-hearted influence modeled after the septet, the characters were recently featured in an advertisement for the fabric softener product Downy. They also released a music video called “Magic Door,” where they sang and danced to “Mic Drop,” as well as launched an

K-popSept. 4, 2020

[Newsmaker] Discussion over BTS members' military service reignited

K-pop sensation BTS becoming the first Korean act to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart with its recently released single has reignited a debate over the seven members’ military service. Under the current law, all able-bodied South Korean men are obliged to serve in the military for 18 to 22 months. The band’s eldest member Jin, whose legal name is Kim Seok-jin, has to start military service before the end of next year, according to Big Hit Entertainment. Jin was set to begin his m

K-popSept. 4, 2020

Pre-orders for BLACKPINK's upcoming album top 800,000 units

BLACKPINK is poised to potentially make the biggest South Korean girl group album debut next month, with retail pre-orders for its inaugural studio record reaching 800,000 units worldwide, according to the band's agency Friday. The number of pre-orders for the record titled "The Album" reached over 530,000 copies in South Korea, according to YG Entertainment. Combined pre-orders from the United States and Europe amounted to around 270,000 units, YG added. YG began accepting global

K-popSept. 4, 2020

K-pop artists hop online to meet their fans

As the pandemic continues to persist, K-pop artists are increasingly going online to meet and communicate with their fans. Most recently, boy band Seventeen hosted their fourth annual fan meeting “Seventeen in Carat Land” on Sunday via fan community platform Weverse. It was a tightly-packed four-hour show that offered a variety of entertainment, from stage performances of the band’s iconic songs to themed acts where members pretended they were newscasters or athletes compet

K-popSept. 4, 2020

[FULL TRANSCRIPT] BTS shares thoughts on Billboard victory

Global sensation BTS broke another record Tuesday by becoming the first South Korean act to land at No. 1 on Billboard’s main singles chart with its newest track, “Dynamite.”  Only one other Asian musician, Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto, has ever made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and that was back in 1963. Korean soloist Psy got close in 2012 with “Gangnam Style,” peaking at No. 2.  To celebrate the historic win, the septet hosted a surprise me

K-popSept. 2, 2020

BTS talks topping Billboard Hot 100 win, thanks fans and sets eyes on Grammys

The moment it was announed that BTS’ stellar smash “Dynamite” reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100, during the wee hours in Korea, the bandmates were wide awake, pinching themselves to make sure that they weren’t dreaming. Tuesday marked a big day for both BTS and their fans worldwide, as the seven-piece group became the first Korean act to top the chart with its recently released single. It was the culmination of seven years of hard work and continual growth in the

K-popSept. 2, 2020

Release of new BTS movie postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19

The release of a documentary film on K-pop group BTS has been postponed in South Korea amid a surge in new coronavirus cases across the country since mid-August, the band's agency announced Wednesday. Big Hit Entertainment said the opening date for "Break The Silence: The Movie," originally planned for Sept. 10, has been postponed indefinitely, citing the rise in virus transmissions nationwide. The company said that overseas openings will be held according to schedules previously a

K-popSept. 2, 2020

[News Focus] BTS rewrites K-pop history with song that wasn't even supposed to happen

It's hard to fathom, but for global K-pop super group BTS, the band's biggest goal once was to enter not the top 10 or top 40 but just land on the Hot 100, the main singles chart of Billboard for the top 100 popular songs in the United States, period. "My personal goal this year is making it to the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Making it onto that chart is every artists' dream," member V of the South Korean septet said during a press conference in Seoul on Feb. 18, 2017 before its "W

K-popSept. 1, 2020

With 'Dynamite,' BTS becomes 1st S. Korean artist to top Billboard Hot 100

BTS became the first South Korean artist to land at No. 1 on Billboard's main singles chart in the United States on Monday. "BTS achieves its first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as 'Dynamite' debuts at the summit," Billboard reported Monday, one day before its chart will be refreshed. Previously, the highest-charting South Korean artist ever on the Hot 100 was soloist PSY with his 2012 viral hit "Gangnam Style," which peaked at the No. 2 spot. The only Asian

K-popSept. 1, 2020

BTS wins 4 awards at MTV VMAs, performs 'Dynamite'

K-pop band BTS picked up four awards at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards held in the United States on Sunday (US time), while putting on its first television performance of its hit single "Dynamite" on the American TV network. The South Korean septet won in the categories of best pop, best group, best K-pop and best choreography with "ON," the lead song off the band's studio album "Map of The Soul: 7" released in February, at the awards show held in New York City wi

K-popAug. 31, 2020

Blackpink teams up with Selena Gomez to chill summer heat with ‘Ice Cream’

One of the most high-profile music collaborations of this year, Blackpink has teamed up with US pop star Selena Gomez for the group’s long-awaited new single “Ice Cream.” The sugary song was dropped on Friday at 1 p.m. along with a pastel-tinged music video featuring Gomez herself. “When we first heard the song, we had a feeling of sweetness filling up our mouth. We thought ‘Ice Cream’ would offer some chilling time for those suffering from this late summer

K-popAug. 28, 2020

[Herald Interview] Back with ‘Boca,’ Dreamcatcher proves global prominence

One of the most distinct K-pop acts on the scene, Dreamcatcher has been solidifying its status more than ever despite the pandemic era. Having returned with its new moombahton-rock “Boca,” the seven-piece act appeared in a recent live broadcast with The Korea Herald held via Naver’s V Live. The hourlong session was also jointly hosted by Christian Burgos, a popular Mexican entertainer based in Seoul. Chinese member Handong, who’s been staying in China, couldn’t ta

K-popAug. 27, 2020

[Herald Interview] Cherry Bullet talks love for music, innermost dreams

Just like its new summery pop tune “Aloha Oe,” Cherry Bullet was full of shiny energy, brimming smiles and -- especially -- love for music. “When we first heard the new song, me and Yuju actually cried, saying, ‘This is the song we were waiting for!’” said Bora during the group’s recent interview held via V Live broadcast. The hourlong session was also jointly hosted by Christian Burgos, a popular Mexican TV personality based in Seoul. “There w

K-popAug. 24, 2020

BTS' 'Dynamite' tops Global Top 50 on Spotify

The hit song "Dynamite" by K-pop superstars BTS has topped Spotify's main chart, making the band the first K-pop act to achieve the feat, the group's agency said Sunday. The K-pop septet's EP garnered 7,778,950 streaming hits on Friday (Korea time) on the Global Top 50 chart compiled by music streaming service provider Spotify. It marks the highest streaming record by a K-pop song on Spotify on the day of release this year, Big Hit Entertainment said. The song beat the previous rec

K-popAug. 23, 2020

BTS takes on new challenge with ‘Dynamite’

Global sensation BTS surprised fans Friday by releasing a digital single, “Dynamite,” ahead of its next album later this year.  The track is all in English -- something the band had never tried before in the seven years since its debut.  During an online media showcase, band leader RM explained that the unprecedented step had indeed presented a challenge for the band.  “We never released a song before the official album release or in English, and frankly, it w

K-popAug. 21, 2020

[Herald Interview] Back from ‘Road to Kingdom,’ Oneus seeks big leap with ‘Lived’

Having recently returned from a fierce competition show, Oneus had a bagful of rich stories to share. From enduring nerve-racking moments together to struggling with missions for each show, the group’s time on Mnet’s “Road to Kingdom” was definitely a big leap in the group’s nearly two-year career. “After the show, what changed the most was that we saw infinite potential in ourselves,” recalled Keonhee during a recent interview with The Korea Herald. &

K-popAug. 19, 2020