Solar of Mamamoo to return with solo album

Solar of the K-pop girl group Mamamoo is returning with a new solo album on April 30, according to her agency RBW. Solar announced her comeback by dropping a teaser clip in which she revealed the title of her upcoming second EP, “Colours.” This solo release is the first since her debut solo EP, “Face,” was released in March 2022. The upcoming album will cover diverse genres, showcasing Solar’s multifaceted musical talents, the agency said. Since making her solo debu

K-popApril 8, 2024

AKMU to mark 10th anniversary with concert

K-pop sibling duo AKMU will hold a concert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band's debut. According to YG Entertainment, AKMU will host the "AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert 10VE" on June 15-16 at the KSPO Dome. The venue, located at the Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, can accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators. The concert title, "10VE," combines the word "Love" with the number 10, symbolizing AKMU's 10th anniversary. The agency stated that AKM

PerformanceApril 7, 2024

New girl group ILLIT debuts on British Official Singles chart

Girl group ILLIT has made its debut on the British Official Singles chart with its first single "Magnetic." The song landed at No. 80 on the latest British Official Singles Top 100 unveiled Friday (British time), becoming the first debut song by a K-pop act to hit the prestigious chart. The milestone came just 11 days after the group debuted under Belift Lab, a subsidiary music label of K-pop giant Hybe, on March 25. "Magnetic" is the lead single of the group's first EP,

K-popApril 6, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Itzy to drop 3rd single in Japan next month

Itzy will release its third single in Japan on May 15, JYP Entertainment unannounced Friday. The single “Algorhythm” will consist of four tracks -- a title track and “No Biggie” as well as instrumental versions of both -- that will convey the group’s signature positive energy. Its last new release in the country was first studio album “Ringo,” which came out in October. The upcoming single will feature only four members of the quintet as Lia has been t

K-popApril 5, 2024

Chaeyoung of Twice and Zion.T are dating: agencies

Chaeyoung of Twice and singer-songwriter Zion.T confirmed that they are in a relationship. JYP Entertainment, which houses Twice, and The Black Label, which represents Zion.T, announced on Friday that “the two are in a relationship after growing to like each other” and that “they are supporting each other.” Earlier on Friday, a local media outlet reported that Chaeyoung and Zion.T have been dating for six months after they were first introduced to each other by acquaintan

K-popApril 5, 2024

Kakao Entertainment's co-CEOs stress enhancing competitiveness of content business

The co-CEOs of Kakao Entertainment, Kweon Ki-su and Joseph Chang, are planning organizational reform to create positive synergy between the company's music, media content and other intellectual property. This business plan was revealed during the first town hall meeting held after they took office on Thursday. Joseph Chang will establish and lead a team in charge of music IP and data-based music development, to help foster the team's role of producing and expanding music and artist IP.

K-popApril 5, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ive to bring out 2nd EP later this month

Ive will drop its second EP “Ive Switch” on April 29, announced agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday. A teaser trailer for the mini album began with a milky white book that had “Switch” written on the cover. A magic wand bearing a huge gemstone turned into a key when six different colored stones glow and the book pops open to reveal a castle. Sliding the key into the castle door turns the book silver, and then it starts to glow. The upcoming EP comes about six mont

K-popApril 4, 2024

NCT Doyoung to kick off solo journey

NCT's Doyoung is set to make his solo debut with the release of his first album. According to the singer's agency, SM Entertainment, Doyoung's first solo album, "Youth," will be released on April 22. The album's Korean title, "Youth's Bubble," is intended to reflect the emotions that youngsters experience, likening those feelings to bubbles created from the waves of youth. A total of 10 songs, full of honest feelings and emotions of Doyoung, will cons

K-popApril 4, 2024

Kim Woojin set to return with new album

Solo artist Kim Woojin is set to make a comeback on April 22 with his third mini-album. On Thursday, concept photos of the new album were released on Kim Woojin's official social media account and through Kustomade, a producing label under SM Entertainment's music publishing subsidiary KMR. In the photos, Kim Woojin is cutting his hair, symbolizing a fresh start by erasing his past self. According to KMR, the upcoming new album, dubbed "I Like The Way," marks the singer'

K-popApril 4, 2024

[Herald Interview] NCT Wish aims to live up to group name

It would be a lie for the bandmates of SM Entertainment rookie K-pop boy band NCT Wish to say they did not feel the pressure of their debut as a subunit of NCT. Yet, NCT Wish hopes to continue to do its best to live up to the group’s name. “Our seniors from the group NCT are outstanding live performers, so we try our best to live up to their name by practicing hard for our performance and monitoring our rehearsals meticulously for improvement. We still have a long way to go,” S

K-popApril 4, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Riize drops single before June comeback

Riize released performance single “Siren” on Wednesday raising expectations for its next album, which is due out in June. “Siren” was the background music for the rookie band’s minute-long pre-debut performance video that was unveiled in August. The new single harks back to the hip-hop sound of the 90’s, with an addictive rhythm and bass riff. The six-member act will drop prologue single “Impossible” on Apil 18 and three B-side tracks on April 29

K-popApril 3, 2024

Cube Entertainment’s new boy group Nowadays wants to be game changer

K-pop boy group Nowadays debuted Tuesday with its first single album, “Nowadays.” Consisting of five members -- Hyeon-bin, Yoon, Yeon-woo, Jin-hyuk and Si-yun -- Nowadays is Cube Entertainment's first new boy group in eight years. “We combined the words ‘Now’ and ‘Days’ for our name as we hope to make special memories with our fans now, at this present moment, and also in the days to come,” said Hyeon-bin during a press conference in Seoul on

K-popApril 3, 2024

aespa’s Karina, actor Lee Jae-wook go separate ways

Under heavy pressure from fans, Karina of aespa and actor Lee Jae-wook have parted ways, just five weeks after their relationship became public. “Actor Lee Jae-wook decided to break up with Karina to concentrate on work. The two of them will continue to support each other as colleagues working in the same industry," said Lee Jae-wook’s agency, CJes Studios, in a press release Tuesday. The breakup was confirmed by Karina's agency. “Karina and Lee Jae-wook have decided

K-popApril 2, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] TXT’s 6th EP is instant million-seller

Tomorrow X Together’s sixth EP “minisode 3: Tomorrow” sold over 1 million copies on its day of release, repeating the early success of its two previous albums, label Big Hit Music said Tuesday. The last two albums are fifth EP “The Name Chapter: Temptation” and third studio album “The Name Chapter: Freefall.” The former claimed the top spot on Billboard 200 and the latter No. 3. The mini album logged 1.18 million in sales and topped iTunes top albums cha

K-popApril 2, 2024

Super Junior-D&E to perform in Japan

K-pop boy group Super Junior’s duo, Donghae and Eunhyuk, also known as Super Junior-D&E, is set to tour Japan, according to Ode Entertainment. The duo's “Departure” tour kicks off with a concert in Osaka on April 12 followed by concerts in Tokyo, Shizuoka, Aichi, Saitama, Kanagawa, Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Hyogo for a total of 17 shows. The initial plan was to perform 13 shows but four more concerts were added as tickets sold out quickly. The duo is set to perform a setl

K-popApril 2, 2024

TXT sums up its five-year story with ‘minisode 3: TOMORROW’

Tomorrow X Together returned with its sixth mini album, "minisode 3: TOMORROW," which encompasses the stories of the albums they have released over the past five years. The quintet held a press conference at Korea University’s Hwajung Gymnasium on Monday. The new album is the first after the group’s 3rd full-length album, “The Name Chapter: Freefall,” released last October. "It's an album with outstanding completeness, and I believe listeners will be a

K-popApril 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] Babymonster sets out to target global listeners with YG ‘DNA’

Dropping the group's first EP, “Babymos7er,” Monday, YG Entertainment’s latest girl group, Babymonster, made its official debut. “We are announcing our new beginning as a group of seven with Ahyeon joining us for the promotion of this album,” said Rora of Babymonster during a group interview with local reporters on Monday. Babymonster previously debuted with a digital single, “Batter Up,” on Nov. 27, 2023 as a group of six -- Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ram

K-popApril 1, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook hits Spotify milestone in record time

Jungkook of BTS has reached 1.5 billion streams on Spotify with solo single “Seven (feat. Latto)” as of March 29. He is the first K-pop solo act to achieve the feat and did so in the shortest time for an Asian artist in the history of the platform, at 259 days. It is only bested by Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and Justin Bieber and The Kid Laroi’s collaboration, “Stay.” He has earned three Guinness World Records so far with the single: hitting 1 billi

K-popApril 1, 2024

[Herald Review] Lucy kicks off 1st world tour with dynamic performance

South Korean group Lucy delivered a thrilling and powerful performance to fans Sunday, successfully kicking off its first world tour. The Seoul performance of the group's first world tour, “Written by Flower,” took place at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in the Olympic Park in Seoul, on Saturday and Sunday. Audiences of over 10,000 people gathered at the concert hall over the two days. The four members appeared on the stage in white outfits -- which was the pre-set dress cod

PerformanceApril 1, 2024

[Herald Review] Seventeen announces 2 album releases this year during concert

Surrounded by some 28,000 people that had gathered at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on Sunday, all 13 members of Seventeen slowly descended towards the stage in lifts shaped like rectangular cuboids. Sporting glittering silver jackets, the K-pop sensations kicked off the last day of its two-day concert with “Super.” The group added a dance break to the song, during which fireworks exploded, ramping up the energy throughout the stadium. Fans were excited finally to see all 13 members

K-popApril 1, 2024