JYP's new girl group to debut this month

Nmixx, a new girl group from JYP Entertainment, will debut this month, the K-pop agency said Thursday. The seven-member group will debut on Feb. 22 with its first single "Ad Mare," which translates as "toward the sea" in English, the agency said on social media. Its seven members are Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Jinni, Bae, Jiwoo and Kyujin. Except Lily, who is half Korean and half Australian, all members are South Korean. Nmixx has been gaining attention from in and out of the

K-popFeb. 3, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] NCT launches music project led by Mark

NCT will kick-start “NCT Lab,” a project to release a series of new songs written by its members, the group’s label SM Entertainment announced Friday. 　 Songs by the bandmates that have not been included in the band’s official albums will be put out through SM Station, the label’s digital music channel. 　 Mark will be the first to be featured, with a solo song titled “Child” on Feb. 4. It will be his first solo song and the musician co-wrote both the ly

K-popJan. 28, 2022

BTS wins eight prizes at 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards

K-pop boy group BTS swept the 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards with eight trophies for its successful album and songs released last year, along with the act’s immense popularity. At the annual music awards ceremony held at Jamsil Arena in eastern Seoul on Thursday, the seven-piece act won the most awards this year among all singers, including three trophies in the artist of the year -- digital music category and one in artist of the year -- physical album category. The awards are give

K-popJan. 27, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream will be back in March

    NCT Dream is gearing for its return in March, according to its label SM Entertainment Thursday. 　 The company said that the band is working on a new album, corroborating media reports. 　 The NCT subunit was formed in August 2016 with the debut release “Chewing Gum,” which was followed by “We Go Up,” “We Boom,” and “Reload.” 　 Last year, Mark, who “graduated” from the subunit upon turning 20, rejoined to help the gr

K-popJan. 27, 2022

[Today's K-pop] Pentagon tops iTunes chart in 30 regions

Pentagon’s new EP swept the charts at home and abroad, topping the iTunes top albums chart in 30 regions as well as a series of music charts in Korea. 　 The band’s 12th EP “In:vite U” came out on Monday, approximately 10 months since the previous album “Love or Take.” 　 Title track “Feelin’ Like” landed atop the iTunes top songs chart in 11 regions and the accompanying music video surpassed 10 million views on YouTube on Wednesday, only 33

K-popJan. 26, 2022

Enhyphen's new album debuts at No. 14 on Billboard 200

South Korean boy group Enhypen's latest album, "Dimension: Answer," has ranked 14th on the Billboard 200 main albums chart. "Dimension: Answer," a repackaged version of its first full-length album "Dimension: Dilemma" released in October, became the third album from the septet to make it onto the chart. Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical album sales and other digital

K-popJan. 26, 2022

'Kill This Love' becomes second BLACKPINK video to top 1.5 billion YouTube views

The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" has exceeded 1.5 billion views on YouTube, its management agency said Wednesday. The video hit the milestone at about 6 p.m. the previous day, becoming the second video from the group to do so after the 2018 hit song "Ddu-du Ddu-du," according to YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK is now the only K-pop group with more than one music video that has over 1.5 billion views. "Kill This Love" reached No. 41 of

K-popJan. 26, 2022

Kyuhyun colors frosty weather with last chapter of ‘Love Story’

Kyuhyun of boy band Super Junior bid farewell to the first month of the year by becoming the latest to hop into the January music melee with his new album. The singer-turned-soloist’s “Love Story,” released Tuesday evening, touches on the moods and melodies of the fall and winter ambience. The fall-winter-themed six-track package aims to talk about the little stories that happen in love and the moments that happen, as well as the emotions he feels while looking back at those

K-popJan. 25, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Treasure announces album title, member tests positive for COVID-19

    The title of Treasure’s upcoming first EP is “Jikjin,” announced label YG Entertainment on Tuesday. 　 No other details for the song have been given out yet but according to the label, it will be the most dynamic song the band has put out so far and the perfectly choreographed and powerful dance will captivate fans. 　 The boy band is releasing its first EP “The Second Step: Chapter One” on Feb. 15. The EP sold over 600,000 copies in preorders as o

K-popJan. 25, 2022

[Feature] Training to become a K-pop idol in the US

Christina Opie, 21, says she spends over 10 hours every day at the K-Pop Center in Los Angeles, California, honing not just her vocals and dancing, but familiarizing herself with Korean music production, language and culture. Opie is a part of the American K-pop institute’s 16-week audition preparation program, APP16, that runs specifically with the purpose of overcoming the high walls of South Korea’s entertainment agencies. According to Opie, she aspires to become an inspirationa

K-popJan. 25, 2022

[Herald Interview] Nature says it has more to show before going down

It is not easy for anyone to voice their deepest fears, and in the case of a K-pop idol group, this would be facing the end of their run together. Yet here is a girl group who not only chose to face their fears upfront, but went further to use it in promoting themselves. Nine-piece band Nature made a splash return into the K-pop scene Monday with the new single “Rica Rica,” amid raised anticipation not only from fans but also from general audiences, after declaring to the world: &

K-popJan. 24, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Pentagon’s new EP will pull you right in

Pentagon held a media showcase Monday to mark the release of its 12th EP “In:Vite U.” 　 The nine-member band is returning with new music about 10 months since “Love or Take” and as the title of the EP suggests, invites listeners to a new world. 　 Jinho, who has rejoined after 1 1/2 years having served his military duty, confided that he had to practice a lot after not singing and dancing for a long time. 　 “I gained as much as 10 kilograms because I ate so much i

K-popJan. 24, 2022

NCT 127 wins grand prize at 31st Seoul Music Awards

K-pop boy band NCT 127 achieved a landmark feat at the 31st Seoul Music Awards on Sunday, claiming its first grand prize in its six-year career. “We didn’t expect this (result), but we are deeply moved by receiving such a big award. ... I think the year 2021 was a year that we could shine because we were all together. I’m so proud of the members,” NCT 127 leader Taeyong said at the awards ceremony held in Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome. Another band member, Doyoung, sa

K-popJan. 24, 2022

[Herald Interview] After one-year hiatus, Grizzly found cheat code to music

Music is a vessel for singer-songwriter Grizzly to convey his thoughts, creeds and the moments he has captured in life. And after a one-year hiatus from music, the singer has finally found himself returning with a true work of art forged by emotions of love. ‘Beige coat’ Grizzly made his way back to the charts with his new single, “Beige coat,” released Jan. 5. This time, the singer returned with a love song that immerses listeners deep into their feelings

K-popJan. 24, 2022

WINNER's Lee Seung-hoon tests positive for coronavirus

Lee Seung-hoon, a member of K-pop boy group WINNER, tested positive for the new coronavirus Monday, the group's agency said. "WINNER's Lee Seung-hoon was confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 today," YG Entertainment said, adding the other three members -- Kang Seung-yoon, Kim Jin-woo and Song Min-ho -- have tested negative. Lee first received a positive test result from a self-diagnosis kit Sunday, which was conducted preemptively ahead of his personal filming schedule, acco

K-popJan. 24, 2022

3 members of iKON test positive for COVID-19

Three members of K-pop boy band iKON have tested positive for the coronavirus, their agency said Sunday. Kim Jin-hwan, Song Yun-heong and Kim Dong-hyuk were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 after showing cold symptoms the previous day, according to YG Entertainment. The other three members -- Bobby, Koo Jun-hoe and Jung Chan-woo -- have tested negative, it added. "We will fully cooperate with the health authorities' investigation and take all measures to prevent the spread o

K-popJan. 23, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ “DNA” music video surpasses 1.4b views

The music video for BTS’ “DNA” gathered 1.4 billion views on YouTube on Thursday, announced label Big Hit Music Friday. 　 This is the seven-member band’s second video to reach the milestone after the music video for “Boy With Luv (Feat. Halsey).” 　 “DNA” is the main track from its 2017 album “Love Yourself 承 ‘Her’” and entered Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 85 and climbed up to No. 67 while staying on the chart for four

K-popJan. 21, 2022

The 7-year jinx: K-pop bands with contracts expiring soon

No K-pop idol group stands exceptional to the concerns of the “seven-year jinx,” when they decide whether they will continue as a group. The phrase was coined as groups often disband or lose a member after seven years, the maximum period in which artists and agencies can sign a contract. Whether the members will get past the notorious seven-year mark is almost impossible to predict, even for the members themselves, as the decision influences the interests and situations of many peop

K-popJan. 21, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Wanna One’s album release might face hitch: report

The plans to release a new song from Wanna One may be rescheduled, according to local media reports on Thursday. 　 CJ ENM said that talks with all related management companies to put out “Beautiful Part 3” on Jan. 27 have been completed. However, there still are administrative procedures that need to be finalized, it acknowledged. 　 CJ ENM has been pushing for the band’s reunion and put all members, except for Lai Kuanlin who is in China, on the stage for 2021 Mnet Asia Music

K-popJan. 20, 2022

[Today’s K-pop] Lumious wants to console listeners with music

   　 Boy band Luminous held an online showcase to put out its second EP “Self n Ego” on Wednesday. 　 There are many artists coming out with new music this month, but they would rather not follow the trend that tends to be fancy or catchy, and base their music on solid ambience, said Woobin. This EP goes deeper than their debut EP, making listeners think, he added. 　 “When you are down, someone’s consolation or sympathy can give you great strength. Such feel

K-popJan. 19, 2022