EXO sweeps iTunes albums chart in 85 regions

K-pop boy band EXO has topped the iTunes top album chart in 85 regions with its latest release "Don't Fight the Feeling," its management agency said Tuesday. The album, released Monday, ranked No. 1 in regional charts in countries such as the United States, Britain, France, Canada and Germany, according to SM Entertainment. The album also sat atop digital album charts compiled by Chinese music services, like QQ Music, Kugou Music and Kuwo Music, it added. On QQ Music, it earned a tri

K-popJune 8, 2021

BLACKPINK's 'Boombayah' breaks 1.2 billion YouTube views

K-pop act BLACKPINK has achieved another YouTube milestone, with the music video for its song "Boombayah" racking up 1.2 billion views on YouTube. The 2016 hit broke the milestone at 10:29 a.m. Tuesday, becoming the four-piece act's third music video to break the 1.2 billion mark, according to YG Entertainment. The record came nearly five years after the all-female band released its debut single album "Square One" with the two tracks "Boombayah" and "Whistle&

K-popJune 8, 2021

2PM to return with new album this month, ending 5-year military hiatus

All-male K-pop act 2PM will release a new album this month, coming back from a near five-year hiatus after its members completed their military service, the group's management agency said Tuesday. The six-member group's seventh full album, titled "Must," will drop on June 28, JYP Entertainment announced on its official social media accounts. Its most recent album was its sixth studio album, "Gentlemen's Game," released in September 2016. With the exception of Thai-America

K-popJune 8, 2021

BTS tops Billboard Hot 100 for 2nd straight week with 'Butter'

"Butter," the latest hit by boy band BTS, again ranked No. 1 on the Billboard's main singles chart in its second week after debuting. "BTS' 'Butter' adds a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, a week after it soared in at the summit, becoming the South Korean superstar group's fourth leader on the list," Billboard said Monday (US time), citing figures from MRC Data showing how the song drew 19.1 million US streams and logged 140,200 downloads in the wee

K-popJune 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s special album sells 1 million in preorders

EXO’s special album “Don’t Fight the Feeling” went on sale Monday and sold over 1.22 million in preorders, posting another million-seller for the band.   　 This is the highest number for the veteran idol band that boasts a record of having five back-to-back million-selling albums. The new album marks the ninth anniversary of the band’s debut.   　 It has been 1 1/2 years since the group’s sixth studio album “Obsession.” There are five tr

K-popJune 7, 2021

Former YG chief indicted for allegedly trying to cover up drug scandal

Yang Hyun-suk, former CEO of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment, will face a criminal trial for allegedly attempting to cover up a drug scandal involving a singer-rapper, judicial sources said Monday. According to the sources, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office indicted Yang on May 28 on charges of having threatened and coerced an informant who testified to police about drug suspicions surrounding B.I, the former songwriting leader of YG's boy band iKON, in August 2016. At the time,

K-popJune 7, 2021

Boy band TXT to perform 1st English song 'Magic' on US TV shows

K-pop act Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is set to appear on popular American TV shows to perform its first English-language song this month, the group's management agency said Monday. On Thursday, the five-member boy band will deliver its first performance of "Magic," along with an interview, on ABC's "Good Morning America," according to Big Hit Music. On June 15, the act will put on another performance of the song on the CBS program "The Late Late Show with James Corden.

K-popJune 7, 2021

RM of BTS unveils self-written solo song 'Bicycle'

RM, the leader of global dynamo BTS, has released a self-written solo song based on his experience of riding his bike across the South Korean capital. The 3 minute and 23 second song, uploaded on YouTube and SoundCloud, is a relaxed and comforting track in which RM raps and sings in Korean and English. RM, who has taken part in the songwriting for the seven-piece act's songs, including their latest hit "Butter," worked on his solo song with jazz singer-songwriter John Eun.  &n

K-popJune 7, 2021

[Herald Interview] Singer-songwriter Minsu returns with funky dance pop

Breaking away from her usual dainty, dreamy sound, South Korean singer-songwriter Minsu is attempting her first dance tune with “Healthy Food.” With her skin tanned and her hair tied back, the 25-year-old’s transformation was evident in her look too. “While preparing for this album, I thought the most about what I could do apart from singing,” Minsu said during an interview with The Korea Herald on May 24. “I love dancing, so I thought why not try that? And

K-popJune 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM gets stamp of approval as record producer

RM of supergroup BTS came in at No. 9 of Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers chart on Thursday, local time, highlighting his capabilities as not only a rapper, but a producer as well. 　 He was also ranked No. 3 in his first entry onto the Hot 100 Songwriters chart in December last year. 　 The leader of the band has been credited for all title tracks over the last eight years, from the debut song “No More Dream” to its most recent single “Butter.” He also co-wrote the l

K-popJune 4, 2021

K-pop companies rush to create spaces for fans

In a sign of the growing importance of K-pop fans, major agencies and labels here are launching venues dedicated to them at their corporate sites. While companies have temporarily operated pop-up stores and exhibitions for K-pop fans, the recent openings of these permanent venues mark a shift in how they view fans for business growth. Hybe, the company behind BTS, Seventeen and Tomorrow X Together, in May opened Hybe Insight at its new company headquarters in central Seoul. The 4,700-square m

K-popJune 4, 2021

BTS to drop 'Cooler,' 'Sweeter' remix of latest single 'Butter'

BTS is set to release a "Cooler" and "Sweeter" remix of its Billboard-topping single "Butter" later Friday, its label said. The "Cooler" version brings a guitar sound to the summery number, while the "Sweeter" remix adds some R&B vibe to the song, according to Big Hit Music. The release is scheduled for 1 p.m., exactly two weeks after the seven-piece act rolled out "Butter" globally on May 21. Last week, BTS also dropped the "

K-popJune 4, 2021

BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' sets new YouTube record with 1.6b views

The music video for all-female act BLACKPINK's song "Ddu-du Ddu-du" has broken 1.6 billion views on YouTube. The 2018 hit broke the milestone at 7:22 a.m. Friday, setting a new record for a K-pop act, its management agency YG Entertainment said. The record came roughly 19 months after it became the first music video by a K-pop group to surpass the 1 billion mark in November 2019. "Ddu-du Ddu-du," the main track of the four-member band's first EP, "Square Up," rel

K-popJune 4, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Ghost9 does about face with new music

Ghost9 held an online showcase to introduce its fourth EP “NOW: When we are in love” on Thursday. 　 “We’ve returned after three months,” said Son Junhyeong, admitting that he was nervous and excited at the same time. The band has gone for a strong and charismatic image since its debut but is taking a fresher and more boyish turn, he explained. 　 It was not easy going making such a dramatic change, they admitted. They tried to tune their voices to clearer sounds an

K-popJune 3, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Mamamoo brings out ballad-filled "WAW"

Mamamoo talked about the group’s new EP “WAW,” which came out Wednesday. 　 This is the first time the band is releasing an album that consists exclusively of ballads in its seven-year career. 　 “Since it is an all-ballad album, we paid extra attention to the vocals. So that each of the voices would complement each other, harmonize better,” they said. They are excited that the album would better show how they have grown, into better harmony and stronger chemistry,

K-popJune 2, 2021

With 'Butter,' BTS makes 3rd debut atop Billboard Hot 100

K-pop supergroup BTS has achieved another historic milestone, landing at No. 1 on the Billboard's main singles chart with its latest single, "Butter." "BTS' "Butter" bounds in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart," Billboard said Tuesday (US time), citing figures from MRC Data showing how the song drew 32.2 million streams and sold 242,800 downloads in the week ending May 27. These figures put the new single fourth on the Streaming Songs chart and No. 1 o

K-popJune 2, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Monsta X returns with 9th EP

The bandmates of Monsta X talked about their ninth EP “One of A Kind” on Tuesday. 　 “This album is a handiwork that shows the pure essence of Monsta X,” said Jooheon. He produced the title track “Gambler,” a first for the musician since he debuted six years ago. He wanted to make a song that would clearly show off the group, he added. 　 Calling himself a “witness” to how Jooheon poured himself into the song, Kihyun proudly declared it “per

K-popJune 1, 2021

Red Velvet's Joy goes retro in debut solo album

For her first solo album, Joy of K-pop girl group Red Velvet decided to travel back in time to the 1990s and 2000s, when K-pop was far from the glitzy empire it has become. The 24-year-old singer, who picked six songs, including one that was released in the year she was born, said singing these oldies but goodies was natural for her. "I really like the retro sentiment to the extent that I think I want to be born in that era," Joy said in a livestream news conference marking her debut

K-popJune 1, 2021

BTS megahit 'Dynamite' breaks 1.1b views on YouTube

The BTS megahit "Dynamite" has racked up 1.1 billion views on YouTube, becoming the band's third music video to reach the milestone. The seven-piece act's first English-language single hit the milestone at 3:46 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Big Hit Music. The feat comes roughly 10 months after the group released the upbeat disco-pop track on Aug. 21. The song earned BTS its first No. 1 debut on the Billboard's main singles chart as well as its first Grammy nomination. BTS now has th

K-popJune 1, 2021

TXT starts on new journey with 'The Chaos Chapter: Freeze'

Moving on from the first stage of their story, “The Dream Chapter,” boy band Tomorrow X Together, also known as TXT in short, turned the page to the next part with their second full-length album “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze.” Ahead of the release of their new album Monday, the five-piece act conducted a media showcase. Originally set to take place in person, the event was moved online after it was discovered the members may have come in contact with a COVID-19 patient. Al

K-popMay 31, 2021