Girl group TWICE to release new Japanese single 'Fanfare' in July

K-pop sensation TWICE will release a new Japanese single, "Fanfare," in July, with the aim of making another megahit in the Japanese music scene. Uploading a video clip on its Japanese social media accounts Tuesday, the girl group broke the news of the album release. "We will release our sixth Japanese single, 'Fanfare,' on July 8," the members said in the video clip. "We can't wait to see you again. We hope you stay in good health until then," said the band mem

K-popMay 6, 2020

[Herald Interview] Designing cover of BTS’ ‘Map of the Soul: 7’

In February, BTS released the group’s fourth studio album “Map of the Soul: 7,” selling over 4 million copies within days of release. In numerous interviews, leader RM has said the No. 7 symbolizes both the number of bandmates and years they’ve spent together. “In a way, the biggest inspiration was the story of the BTS members and the seven years they spent together,” A Ji-hye, one half of graphic designer duo Sparks Edition, said in a recent interview wit

K-popMay 6, 2020

BTS joins Obamas, Lady Gaga in YouTube virtual commencement next month

K-pop band BTS will join ex-US President Barack Obama, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and American pop icon Lady Gaga in giving speeches during a virtual commencement event by YouTube next month, the band's agency said Wednesday. The streaming event, "Dear Class of 2020" set for June 6 (US time), is a virtual commencement celebration, bringing together inspirational leaders, celebrities and YouTube creators to celebrate graduates and their families online, according to

K-popMay 6, 2020

Monsta X postpones new album release due to member's injury

K-pop boy band Monsta X on Monday put off the release of a new album to late May due to member Shownu's back injury. "Ahead of the comeback, Shownu felt pain in his back while working on a choreography exercise, and the result of a medical test at a hospital prohibited him from fierce exercise or body movements, requiring him to receive treatment," the band's management agency, Starship Entertainment, said The release date of the upcoming album, "Fantasia X," will be moved

K-popMay 4, 2020

EXO's Suho temporarily leaves band to serve military term

Suho, the leader of the globally-loved K-pop boy band EXO, will temporarily leave the group to fulfill his military duty, the artist said Monday. The 29-year-old, whose legal name is Kim Jun-myeon, will begin his military term on May 14, he said in a hand-written letter uploaded on the fan community application, Lysn. "During the time, I think I may dearly miss you, EXO-L," Suho said, referring to the name of the EXO fandom. SM did not provide further details on his enlistment, inc

K-popMay 4, 2020

G-Dragon becomes 1st Korean artist to win Chinese ad deal since THAAD fallout: agency

G-Dragon became the first South Korean celebrity to sign a corporate endorsement deal with a Chinese company following Beijing's virtual ban on "hallyu," or South Korean pop culture, since 2016, the singer's agency said Monday. The singer-rapper of K-pop act BIGBANG recently signed a deal with Chinese bottled water giant Nongfu Spring Co. and will be featured in promotional material for the company's new tea drink brand, Chapai, YG Entertainment said. Online and social media marketi

K-popMay 4, 2020

BTS begins new journey for first self-produced album

Global band BTS has begun a new journey to produce an album, possibly the first self-produced album in the band's high-profile seven-year music career. Appearing on a live video log on YouTube last week, BTS member Jimin shared the news on the project, the band's new discographic journey that came as the coronavirus pandemic has put its globe-trotting concert tour on hold. "As our team's production of a new album has been assigned independently to ourselves, we named the project managers

K-popMay 4, 2020

EXO's Chen becomes father of daughter

Chen, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, became the father of a daughter Wednesday following his surprise marriage announcement in January. "Chen had a daughter born today as (reported)," EXO's management agency, SM Entertainment, said, confirming some media reports on the birth. The news came about three months after the 28-year-old, whose legal name is Kim Jong-dae, made a surprise marriage announcement in January in a handwritten letter. He said at that time that his fiancee was pr

K-popApril 29, 2020

Star-studded collaboration projects dazzle K-pop scene

In one of the highest-profile music collaboration projects to date in South Korea, female singer-songwriter IU and Suga of BTS are on course to hit the music scene with their collaboration song next week. "Eight," set for release next Wednesday, was jointly created by the K-pop queen and actress and the rapper from BTS, and comes with a rap part by the latter. The collaboration brings together the musical power of IU, arguably the country's most sought-after artist for music collabo

K-popApril 29, 2020

BTS to unveil documentary 'Break the Silence' next month

BTS will release next month a documentary series, "Break the Silence," which follows the band's globe-trotting 351-day concert journey last year, its management agency said Wednesday. According to Big Hit Entertainment, the seven-episode series will be unveiled exclusively on Weverse, a mobile application for the BTS fan community, at 9 p.m. on May 12. After the first two episodes are released on the day, each of the remaining five episodes will be available every Tuesday and Thursd

K-popApril 29, 2020

BTS to reschedule world tour amid coronavirus

BTS, a South Korean boy band, has decided to reschedule its upcoming world tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, its agency said Tuesday. Big Hit Entertainment announced the decision to indefinitely put off the BTS Map of the Soul Tour, saying it was made in "foremost consideration" of the health and safety of the artists and fans. In a notice posted on the fan community Weverse, the agency said it "will completely reschedule the tour and provide a new tour schedule to our fans

K-popApril 29, 2020

TWICE wants to send message of hope with upcoming YouTube original documentary

An upcoming YouTube original series documenting K-pop girl group TWICE's struggles before its debut up till its record-setting global ascent could give a message of hope, the band said Tuesday. The eight-episode documentary series, "TWICE: Seize the Light," will hit YouTube on Wednesday as the global video streaming service's first original program featuring a K-pop girl group. It will be available in 81 countries and territories. The series is a tribute to the nine-member multinati

K-popApril 28, 2020

Tomorrow X Together to return with new 'The Dream Chapter' album next month

Boy band Tomorrow X Together will drop a new album, "The Dream Chapter: Eternity," next month, returning to dazzle the K-pop scene, its management agency said Tuesday. "The Dream Chapter: Eternity," the band's second EP set for release on May 18, is the third album under the "The Dream Chapter" series following the second, "The Dream Chapter: Magic," a full-length album dropped in October. Continuing from the previous albums, "Eternity" will d

K-popApril 28, 2020

[Herald Interview] Stella Jang on her growth as singer-songwriter, co-writing BTS’ ‘Friends’

With an unbridled spirit, exceptional sound and dedication to music, Stella Jang is the kind of a musician who immediately attracts attention.  Reflecting her down-to-earth personality, her music used to revolve around ordinary topics people could easily relate to. Her lyrics were remarkably outspoken, creative and witty, so they almost felt like a diary written by the singer-songwriter herself. Having turned 30 this year in Korean age, Jang said that her music, however, inevitably had t

K-popApril 27, 2020

[Herald Interview] Katie releases future R&B track “Echo”

Katie has released her new single “Echo,” 11 months after her first EP “Log.” On the bass-heavy up-tempo track, she sings about “having a crush, sending a signal and hoping for the same response back,” the singer explained. Born out of a songwriting session in LA with the producers behind her hit single “Remember,” the new single is future R&B made out of sad minor chords juxtaposed against rhythmic verse, complete with bouncing distorted gui

K-popApril 24, 2020

K-pop queens return to dazzle music scene with glamorous albums

Three high-profile female soloists will dazzle the K-pop scene this spring as it tries to recover from the coronavirus fallout, dropping powerfully charged music albums. Solar from roaring girl band Mamamoo and Ha:tfelt, better known as Park Ye-eun, from Wonder Girls raised the curtain Thursday to unveil new albums. The two-track release, "Spit it Out," is Solar's first solo release in her six-year K-pop career with Mamamoo. Solar is the last of the four Mamamoo members to official

K-popApril 24, 2020

[Herald Interview] TOO hopes to spread wings with ‘Road to Kingdom’

In less than a month since it started, TOO may have become one of the busiest, must-watch rookie groups on the scene. After being created on Mnet audition program “To Be World Klass,” the 10-piece rookie group, whose name stands for “Ten Oriented Orchestra,” debuted with the “Reason for Being: Benevolence” EP and single “Magnolia” on April 1. Consisting of leader Jaeyun, Chihoon, Donggeon, Chan, Jisu, Minsu, J.You, Kyungho, Jerome and Woonggi, the

K-popApril 23, 2020

Blackpink emerges from the dark for collaboration with Lady Gaga

After weeks of speculation, Lady Gaga finally confirmed her highly anticipated collaboration with Blackpink on Thursday. The US pop star took to social media to unveil the track list for her upcoming sixth studio album, “Chromatica,” including the track “Sour Candy” with the South Korean girl group. “The collaboration came naturally as Blackpink and Lady Gaga listened to each other’s music and became fans of one another,” YG said in a statement. &ldqu

K-popApril 23, 2020

EXO’s 50 best album and solo tracks, ranked

EXO debuted in 2012 and in the next eight years they would go on to become one of the biggest boybands in the world. From electropop, EDM to hip-hop, here is a comprehensive look at the group’s backlog spanning six studio albums and six EPs as a whole as well as multiple records as soloists and units. 50. “Stay” From the get go, the song opens with a calm yet dramatic intro consisting of lingering piano riffs before the track catches speed and builds suspense. 49. &ld

K-popApril 23, 2020

BTS the new face of massage chair brand Bodyfriend

Global sensation boy band BTS has recently been named the new faces of Bodyfriend, the Seoul-based global wellness company that produces luxury massage chairs. Customers who rent or purchase massage chairs until May 20 will receive a poster of the band and seven signed photo cards of the individual members. The promotion is only available for domestic orders. Since the announcement of the partnership last week, the firm saw a twofold increase in sales over the weekend from the weekend before

K-popApril 21, 2020