BTS' V tops iTunes charts in 87 countries with new solo single

BTS member V topped the iTunes Top Song charts in 87 countries around the world with his new solo single, "FRI(END)S," on Saturday, less than 24 hours after its release, his agency, BigHit Music, said. The digital single was also at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes Song and European iTunes Song charts, respectively, as of 8 a.m. Released at 1 p.m. Friday (Korean time), the pop soul song is the artist's first solo project since "Layover," his debut solo album released in Sep

K-popMarch 16, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen to debut at Glastonbury

Seventeen will join the lineup for this year's Glastonbury Festival, becoming the first K-pop act to do so, according to Pledis Entertainment on Friday. The 13-member act will perform at one of the UK's largest music festivals along with the likes of Dua Lipa, Cold Play, SZA, LCD Soundsystem and Little Simz. The outdoor event will last for five days starting June 26. The band was also invited to headline Lollapalooza Berlin slated for September 7-8. In the meantime, Seventeen will ki

K-popMarch 15, 2024

Hwasa to hold first fan concert in April

Hwasa, who is continuing her music career both with girl group Mamamoo and as a solo artist, will hold her first stand-alone concert to meet fans. According to P Nation on Friday, Hwasa will host "Hwasa the 1st Fancon Tour 'Twits' in Seoul" at Sejong University's Daeyang Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on April 20. Through the event, Hwasa will showcase a variety of sections, ranging from games to talk segments, as well as colorful performances, the agency added. Along with t

K-popMarch 15, 2024

Stella Jang to hold stand-alone concert with four different personas

Singer-songwriter Stella Jang is set to hold a solo concert in April. The upcoming concert, dubbed "Interstellar Festival 2024," will be held at the Noduel Live House on Nodeul Island, Seoul, at 6 p.m. on April 13 and 5 p.m. on April 14. The poster, released through the singer's official social media, includes mysterious space-themed images. The concert will be a festival-style performance that will include various artists appearing on the stage. Stella Jang will deliver a unique

PerformanceMarch 15, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink hits 1b Spotify streams with ‘How You Like That’

Blackpink added another record under its belt as it reached 1 billion plays on Spotify with “How You Like That,” according to label YG Entertainment on Thursday. It is the first K-pop girl group -- and third female band, only after Fifth Harmony and Spice Girls – to hit the milestone with a single song and did so in the shortest time at three years and eight months. The group has amassed 12.6 billion streams on the platform so far and won a Guinness World Record last year as

K-popMarch 14, 2024

Lun8 sings about ‘youth’ in 2nd EP, ‘Buff’

K-pop rookies Lun8 returned with a new mini album, “Buff,” on Wednesday after seven months. “This album is about youth full of dreams and that we can make the dreams come true by creating a positive synergy when together,” said Chael of Lun8 during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. Lun8 consists of seven Korean members -- Chael, Jinsu, Junwoo, Dohyun, Ian, Eunho and Eunseop -- and one Japanese member, Takuma. The group debuted on June 15, 2023, with its first mini

K-popMarch 14, 2024

J-Hope to connect with dancers around the world to rediscover dancing

J-Hope released the main trailer of his upcoming documentary series, “Hope on the Street,” on Thursday. The six-episode documentary series shows J-Hope visiting Osaka, Paris, New York and his hometown of Gwangju in Korea to connect and dance with street dancers on the scene. “It all started with dancing. I am curious to look back at what genres of dance I used to work with and also to look back on my roots. I want to find an answer to what the future I dream of is,” said

K-popMarch 14, 2024

Seventeen to headline Lollapalooza Berlin

K-pop boy group Seventeen will headline Lollapalooza Berlin, scheduled to take place at the Olympiastadion and Olympiapark Berlin in Germany Sep. 7-8, according to Pledis Entertainment. Launched in 2015, Lollapalooza Berlin is one of the biggest music festivals in Europe. This is the first time that Seventeen is performing at a renowned music festival in Europe. They are also the only K-pop artist invited to the event this year. Other headliners performing at Lollapalooza Belin this year include

K-popMarch 14, 2024

[What to Play] Start spring with a little luck

Although it is the third month of the year, March can be a month of new beginnings, as sprouts poke through the ground and a gentle spring breeze shakes off the dust of a dark winter. Celebrating the beginning of a new semester and the warmth of spring, The Korea Herald presents some cheerful songs to wish for luck in the heart-throbbing season. Peppertones – “Good Luck to You” Peppertones, a duo of Shin Jae-pyung and Lee Jang-won, formed in 2003 after the two friends met

K-popMarch 14, 2024

AleXa to tour six American cities

Singer AleXa will kick off her American concert tour and visit six local cities. AleXa will begin her United States tour concert dubbed, "Sick of you US Tour," on March 29, local time. The tour will open in New York, move to Chicago, Atlanta and Tulsa, Texas, before ending in Los Angeles. Concert title "Sick of you" is an extension of AleXa's latest song title, "Sick," which was released in the US on Feb. 23. AleXa has prepared a "love and concern counseli

PerformanceMarch 14, 2024

[Herald Interview] YooA looks to break boundaries, fly high with new single album, ‘Borderline’

YooA of Oh My Girl hopes to show off her chic side in her first solo single album, “Borderline,” which is set to be released at 6 p.m., Thursday. “As a solo artist, I hope to showcase what I do best, one bit at a time. In this new album, I thought I could best demonstrate a mature, dark and chic feminine version of myself,” said YooA during a group interview with local reporters in Seoul on March 7. “Borderline” is led by the title track “Rooftop,”

K-popMarch 14, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ex-NCT Lucas to tour Asia for fan concerts

Lucas, formerly of NCT, will host a fan concert tour in Asia from April, according to label SM Entertainment on Wednesday. He will kick off tour Fiat Lux: 熙 in Hong Kong on April 13 and visit Jakarta, Taipei and Manila until mid-June. More cities will be added to the tour soon, said the firm. The performer is set to release first solo single “Renegade” on April 1, returning to the spotlight after a two-year hiatus. He confirmed the news of his solo debut last week, ending speculati

K-popMarch 13, 2024

K-pop song revitalizes sales of traditional jelly

"Bam Yang Gang (chestnut jelly)" by K-pop singer Bibi has become a sensation in South Korea, not just topping music charts but also dramatically boosting sales of the traditional jelly, yanggaeng. According to industry data, from the song’s release on Feb. 13 till March 6, major convenience store chains in South Korea, including CU, GS25, Seven Eleven, and Emart24, reported an increase of up to 100 percent in sales of Haitai Confectionery's “Yeon Yanggaeng." Craft

CompaniesMarch 13, 2024

K-pop artists win big at Japan Gold Disc Awards

Seventeen won six awards at the 38th Japan Gold Disc Awards, according to the Record Industry Association of Japan on Tuesday. Established in 1987, the Japan Gold Disc Awards are presented by the Recording Industry Association of Japan to reward Japanese and foreign artists based on net sales of CDs, music videos, singles, downloads and streaming. This year, Seventeen won Best Asian Artist for the first time since its debut, Album of the Year for its 10th EP, “FML,” and three of this

K-popMarch 13, 2024

Jungkook becomes longest-charting K-pop soloist on Billboard Hot 100 after Psy

Jungkook of K-pop juggernaut BTS has become the longest-charting K-pop solo artist on US Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart after Psy. According to the latest chart unveiled Tuesday, Jungkook's "Standing Next to You" stayed on the chart for 18 consecutive weeks, the second-longest run for any K-pop soloist in history, following Psy's record of 31 consecutive weeks with "Gangnam Style" in 2012. This week, the BTS vocalist ascended two spots to reach No. 85.

K-popMarch 13, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jungkook hits 5 billion Spotify streams

Jungkook of BTS reached 5 billion hits on Spotify, a first for a K-pop solo artist. He achieved the feat in 748 days since he opened his own account on the platform, setting a record for a K-pop act. The record is led by his first solo single, “Seven (feat. Latto),” that amassed 1.4 billion streams. The single garnered 1 billion plays in 108 days, the shortest time in Spotify history. Meanwhile, the music video for “Standing Next to You,” which fronted his solo album &l

K-popMarch 12, 2024

K-pop reality show ‘K-pop Dreams’ to launch in US

A K-pop reality show will be launched in the US through a partnership between Titan Content, a US-based K-pop label launched by former SM Entertainment CEO Han Se-min, and The Gurin Company, a Los Angeles-based entertainment studio. The show, titled "K-pop Dreams" is a 10-episode reality show that delves into Korean fashion, Korean beauty and Korean dance as well as look for the next K-pop stars who want to realize their “American K-pop dream,” Titan Content said. The show

K-popMarch 12, 2024

Seventeen's ‘Seventeenth Heaven’ tops Oricon chart

K-pop boy group Seventeen topped Oricon’s weekly album chart dated March 18 with its 11th EP, “Seventeenth Heaven.” This marks the third time the album has landed at No. 1 on the Japanese music industry standard album popularity chart. Seventeen is only the second artist to top Oricon’s weekly album chart three times with the same album following BTS. The EP “Seventeenth Heaven” was released on Oct. 23. Soon after its release, Seventeen made history by becomin

K-popMarch 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] TXT to kick off world tour in May

Tomorrow X Together will host its third international tour starting May, announced label Big Hit Music on Monday. The five-piece act will begin the tour, “Act : Promise,” with a three-day concert in Seoul from May 3 to May 5. All live shows will be broadcast online as well. The rest of the tour itinerary will be announced soon, added the firm. Meanwhile, the band will unveil its sixth EP “minisode 3: Tomorrow” on April 1 and will have a showcase in Seoul on the same day.

K-popMarch 11, 2024

Super Junior-D&E to release new album

Super Junior-D&E, a subunit of Super Junior, will return with its fifth mini-album. The upcoming album, “606,” will be released on March 26. Before the subunit's comeback, three concept photos, a tracklist, a pre-release song and music video teasers will be released one by one. The release marks the duo's first new album in two years and four months. Its first full-length album, "Countdown" was released in 2021. It is also the first album to be released by the

K-popMarch 11, 2024