BTS, TXT make splash on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart

BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT) -- both managed by K-pop powerhouse Big Hit Music -- have simultaneously landed on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart with their all-English tracks. BTS ranked No. 11 with "Butter" on the latest version of the radio chart, which reflects weekly data from around 160 U.S. radio stations. The chart, which counts the top 40 songs, is seen as a gauge of local popularity. The upbeat summer number, which has topped Billboard's main singles chart for the sixth st

K-popJuly 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids’ new single debuts at No. 1 on Billboard chart

Stray Kids’ new single “Mixtape: OH” hit Billboard’s world digital song sales chart at No. 1, the publication announced in a tweet Wednesday.   　 “It earns the group its 26th career entry on the chart and first No.1,” said the tweet.   　 The songwriting trio 3Racha -- Bang Chan, Changbin and Han -- co-authored the song that sings of how one feels like a child when faced with the feeling of love.   　 As a Forbes article pointed out, the fact

K-popJuly 7, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Girls' Generation Taeyeon puts out solo song

Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation returned with new song “Weekend” on Tuesday.  The songstress discussed her new song through her label SM Entertainment introducing it as one that you can listen to casually and that would lift up the mood.  “I’m happy to bring out an upbeat song after a long while,” she said. The lightheartedness let her work on it with smiles and she wants to share more good energy. She tried to be as relaxed as possible while recordi

K-popJuly 6, 2021

Rise of rookies and return of old school in K-pop

The return of group 2PM on Monday last week with their new album “Must” was special not just because they were officially reunited on the stage for the first time in five years, but also because the group managed to survive military service. It is often considered natural for K-pop groups to grow apart or disband after time as the members grow old and eventually leave the original agency when their contract expires. This was also the scenario some may have expected of 2

K-popJuly 6, 2021

K-pop powerhouse JYP opens pop-up store in Tokyo

JYP Entertainment, the K-pop agency-label that represents acts like TWICE, Itzy and Stray Kids, said Tuesday it has opened a pop-up store in Tokyo for fans there. The venue set up in the Ginza neighborhood of the Japanese capital opened Saturday and is set to run until Aug. 31, the company said. In addition to selling merchandise related to the agency's artists, an exhibition marking boy band 2PM's 10th debut anniversary in Japan is also taking place. The company said costumes that girl groups

K-popJuly 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] SF9 turns over new leaf

SF9 declared there is no limit for the band at a showcase held in Seoul on Monday.   　 The nine-piece act put out its ninth EP, “Turn Over,” a year following previous EP “9loryUS.”   　 “I feel nervous and excited at the same time coming up on the stage again after a year,” said Youngbin. The band is in high spirits, however, having built up confidence after participating in “Kingdom: Legendary War,” a contest show among boy bands, he a

K-popJuly 5, 2021

'DNA' becomes 1st BTS music video to break 1.3b views on YouTube

Global superstar BTS has set another record on YouTube, with its music video for the 2017 song "DNA" earning 1.3 billion views on YouTube, the band's agency said Saturday. YouTube views for "DNA," released in September 2017, topped 1.3 billion around midnight Friday, becoming the seven-piece act's first music video to reach the milestone, according to Big Hit Entertainment. It took just five months for the music video to add an extra 100 million views after it broke 1.2 b

K-popJuly 3, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS to discuss new music on talk show next week

BTS will appear in an online talk show to discuss new music on July 9 after the release of its single CD “Butter.” 　 In the special show titled “A Butterful Getaway with BTS,” the band will perform its new song “Permission to Dance” for the first time. It is another collaborative work with British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran. 　 The upcoming single CD consists of the new song as well as “Butter,” which has set multiple records, including staying

K-popJuly 2, 2021

BTS to drop new Ed Sheeran collaboration 'Permission to Dance' next week

K-pop juggernaut BTS will release a new song, "Permission to Dance," co-written by British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, next week, its agency said Friday. The tracklist of the upcoming physical CD version of "Butter," unveiled on the septet's official social media account, includes two songs -- "Butter," a summer number topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five straight weeks, and "Permission to Love" -- along with their instrumental versions. The ne

K-popJuly 2, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jennie sets record as solo

Jennie of Blackpink set another record as a solo musician, as her song “Solo” surpassed 300 million streams on Spotify, label YG Entertainment said on Thursday. 　 This is the first time a K-pop solo act’s song has reached the milestone. 　 The song came out in November 2018 as the band’s first solo project. Not only did it sweep every major music chart in Korea but also topped iTunes song charts in 40 regions. She became the first K-pop female musician to top the iTunes

K-popJuly 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice tops Japan charts with prerelease

Twice landed at the top of real-time charts in Japan with its new song “Perfect World,” which was released Wednesday in advance of the release of the same-titled album.   　 The song shot to No. 1 on real-time charts including that of Line Music. The main track, along with the music video, was unveiled before the group’s third full Japanese album set to come out on July 28.   　 In the music video, the bandmates appear charismatic and alluring, depicting the image of

K-popJune 30, 2021

An invitation to S.M. Entertainment’s futuristic cultural universe

S.M. Entertainment recently announced plans to augment its business portfolio and garner more fans to engage in the process. The label held an online YouTube event Tuesday morning to share its futuristic visions and strategies to lead the entertainment industry. SM Congress 2021 was the first event of its kind since the company was established in 1995. Lee Soo-man, the chief producer and founder of the label, said, “S.M. has been and is a content-based company. Our metaverse content

K-popJune 30, 2021

Mass K-pop concert to take place in person next month amid pandemic

In line with eased social distancing rules, a mass K-pop concert will be held in person here next month for the first time since the new coronavirus pandemic broke out early last year, organizers said Wednesday. "Together Again, K-pop Concert" will kick off at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in the Olympic Park in southeastern Seoul at 5 p.m. July 17, according to the Korea Management Federation (KMF). The long-awaited offline concert will be co-hosted by the KMF and Arirang TV, th

K-popJune 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ “Butter” video tops 400m views

The video for BTS’ historic hit “Butter” has surpassed 400 million views on YouTube. 　 It is the band’s 13th video to reach the milestone. 　 The video drew over 3.9 million concurrent viewers when it was released May 21, a record high. Within 24 hours, it drew over 108.2 million views on YouTube, the most for a music video on the platform in 24 hours. 　 The summer anthem of this year is rewriting history, having stayed at the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 for five co

K-popJune 29, 2021

BTS tops Billboard Hot 100 for 5th straight week with 'Butter'

Superband BTS retained the top spot on Billboard's main singles chart for the fifth straight week with its upbeat summer number "Butter," once again outpacing the group's chart record. "Butter" holds at No. 1 with 12.4 million US streams and 128,400 downloads sold (up 15 percent) in the week ending June 24. It also attracted 27.6 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 6 percent) in the week ending June 27," Billboard said Monday (US time) on its Twitter account.

K-popJune 29, 2021

2PM reunited after 5 years with new album ‘Must’

Boy band 2PM made a bit of K-pop history on Monday, when it staged the first return by a second-generation idol group after a five-year hiatus. It’s only been 100 days since Junho, the last of the members to serve the armed forces, was discharged from his compulsory military service. Dropping their seventh studio set “Must,” the group conducted an online press conference, first time in five years the six members stood officially in front of the media to introduce their mus

K-popJune 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] 2PM happy to keep promise with 7th LP

2PM returned after five years with its seventh full album “Must." 　 It is first time in almost five years since all six members put together an album since the fifth LP “Gentlemen’s Game.” 　 “Time has changed a lot. There are many who have been expecting us, and there also would be those who don’t know us,” said Jun K at the online media conference. 　 “I hope many would find out what appeal 2PM has and which color each of the member has,&r

K-popJune 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s DO to drop 1st solo album: report

DO of EXO is putting out his solo debut album at the end of July, media reports said Friday. 　 His label SM Entertainment confirmed the news following the report. 　 He has released solo songs, such as “It’s Okay” and “Crying Out,” which were on the original soundtrack for the movie “Cart,” but this will be the singer’s first solo album since his debut in 2012 as a member of EXO. 　 The main vocal of the veteran idol band has been equally successf

K-popJune 25, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez to release Japanese record

Ateez is launching its next record, “Dreamers,” in Japan next month, said agency KQ Entertainment on Thursday. 　 “Dreamers” consists of the title track and an acoustic version of “Still Here,” a song from its first Japanese full album, “Into the A to Z,” which came out in March. 　 In a 30-second teaser trailer the bandmates appear fresh and cool against the backdrop of Jeju Island. 　 The title track is full of positive energy as the band roots f

K-popJune 24, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] SF9 floats teaser for upcoming EP

SF9 shared a prologue clip on Tuesday for its ninth EP, which will be released next month. 　 The video snippet for the EP, titled “Turn Over,” begins with a golden snake, a recurring character from the band’s previous EP. It slithers into the roots of a tree that symbolizes the universe and the tree withers, losing its leaves and turning black. The bandmates, all clad in black, gaze up at the tree as the screen turns black and white. 　 The band’s ninth EP is the third

K-popJune 22, 2021