[Herald Interview] Why K-pop juggernaut Hybe invested millions into AI sound startup Supertone

In February, Hybe, the new name for megahit K-pop group BTS’ label Big Hit Entertainment, invested a hefty 4 billion won ($3.6 million) in artificial intelligence sound company Supertone. One of the first major moves taken by the K-pop powerhouse since going public in October 2020, the investment shed light on the new possibilities that AI has opened up. Supertone’s technology is about creating hyper-realistic voice that can sing. Simply put, Supertone’s system clones and syn

K-popApril 14, 2021

BTS enters Billboard Hot 100 with new Japanese single

K-pop dynamo BTS has done it again. After making it on the Billboard's main singles chart with its Korean and English songs, the group landed its new Japanese single on the Hot 100. "Film Out," the seven-piece act's Japanese single released on April 2, ranked No. 81 on the Hot 100 chart Billboard announced on Tuesday (US time). The song also topped the Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart and ranked No. 3 and No. 5 on the Billboard Global Excl. US and Billboard Global 200 charts, res

K-popApril 14, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Kang Daniel compares new album to diary

Kang Daniel talked about his third EP, “Yellow,” at a media conference held in southern Seoul on Tuesday. 　 It had only been two months since his single “Paranoia,” and he explained that the EP had been completed first but was so strong that he’d decided to put out the single first. 　 “(The EP) has been in the planning for a long time and is like a diary that holds things I’ve been wanting to say,” he said. 　 “Yellow” is the third a

K-popApril 13, 2021

BLACKPINK amasses 60m subscribers on YouTube: agency

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK now has more than 60 million subscribers around the world following its YouTube channel, the biggest account based in South Korea and the second largest among global artists, the band's agency said Tuesday. The number of subscribers for the four-piece act's YouTube channel passed the milestone at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, with cumulative views hitting more than 17 billion, according to YG Entertainment. The group's most-watched videos include the 2018 release "D

K-popApril 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT Dream to drop 1st LP in May

NCT Dream will return with its first studio album titled “Hot Sauce” on May 10, its label SM Entertainment announced Monday. 　 The album will consist of ten tracks and will span multiple genres. 　 The subunit of NCT originally debuted as a group of teenagers -- Mark, Renjun, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung. Mark left the team when he turned 20 in 2018, but SM Entertainment has since changed the group’s age requirement, and he will return for the LP. It will be the singer&

K-popApril 12, 2021

BLACKPINK's Rose sets 2 Guinness World Records with solo release

Rose, the main vocalist of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, has set two Guinness World Records (GWR) titles with her recent debut solo release. The singer, who debuted as a member of the four-piece group in 2016, released her first solo EP "R," featuring songs "On the Ground" and "Gone," in March. "On the Ground," the Korean-New Zealand singer's debut main track, was certified as the most-watched YouTube music video in its first 24 hours of release by a solo

K-popApril 12, 2021

BTS to stream concerts in weekend Bang Bang Con event

Global K-pop dynamite BTS is set to hold "Bang Bang Con 21," the latest in a series of streaming events for fans amid the ongoing pandemic, its management agency said Monday. The online event will be streamed on the seven-piece act's official YouTube channel Bangtan TV starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, according to Big Hit Music. The show will include clips of past concerts and fan events, including "2015 BTS Live Trilogy: Episode 1. BTS Begins," "BTS 5th Muster [Magic S

K-popApril 12, 2021

Mamamoo to hold online concert on British streaming platform next month

South Korean all-female group Mamamoo will perform for an online K-pop show series to be launched by a British music streaming service next month, its management agency said Monday. The quartet will hold a special online concert of their hit songs and also share behind-the-scenes moments on LIVENow's K-pop series on May 1, according to RBW. The show, titled "LIVENow K-pop Presents Mamamoo," will be streamed worldwide at different times according to regional time zones to reach more v

K-popApril 12, 2021

'MIC Drop' becomes 5th BTS video to top 900m views

The music video for a remix of the 2017 BTS hit "MIC Drop" has earned 900 million views on YouTube, becoming the group's fifth song to reach the milestone, its agency said Sunday. YouTube views for the "MIC Drop" remix, uploaded in November 2017, reached the milestone at around 9:21 a.m. Sunday, according to Big Hit Music. The record was reached only three days after the K-pop superstar's "Fake Love," the main track for the seven-piece act's third full album "

K-popApril 11, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] BTS nominated for 3 iHeartRadio awards

BTS became candidates for iHeartRadio Music Awards in three categories, according to a list that became public Friday. 　 The band is one of the nominees for best duo/group of the year, alongside Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers, Dan + Shay and twenty one pilots. It is also up for two socially voted categories: best music video for “Dynamite” and best fan army for its fandom called Army. The septet was the winner for both categories last year. 　 Its choreographer Son Sungdeuk also got a n

K-popApril 9, 2021

Video saved the K-pop stars: Brave Girls reborn via YouTube

GWACHEON (AFP) -- The Brave Girls were losing courage just weeks ago, on the verge of breaking up and abandoning their dreams of K-pop stardom after years of going nowhere. Then a pseudonymous YouTuber called Viditor uploaded a compilation of them performing on South Korean army bases -- and saved their careers. "Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'/I am waiting for you/Babe just only you," they chant, as wildly enthusiastic uniformed conscripts dance and wave glow-sticks. It went viral

K-popApril 9, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO to release album to mark 9th anniversary

EXO is preparing to release a new album in the first half of the year, according to label SM Entertainment. 　 The company uploaded a clip of a cake with nine candles to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the band’s debut on Thursday. A piece of the cake is lifted to reveal a universe, and when the candles are blown out, the camera turns to focus on a planet. 　 Along with it came a teaser snippet, in which the bandmates gave a sneak peek of a music video. 　 “It’s a space ai

K-popApril 8, 2021

Boy band TXT to perform on Ellen DeGeneres show in latest global push

K-pop act Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is set to appear on the popular US show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" as part of its latest global promotion drive, the group's agency said Thursday. The boy band will perform "We Lost the Summer," the main track of its third EP "Minisode 1: Blue Hour" on April 16 (US time), in its first-ever appearance on an American talk show, according to Big Hit Music. TXT made its first American television outing on cable music network MTV's &

K-popApril 8, 2021

'Fake Love' becomes 4th BTS video to top 900m views

The music video for the 2018 BTS hit "Fake Love" has earned 900 million views on YouTube, becoming the group's fourth song to reach the milestone, their agency said Thursday. "Fake Love," the main track for the seven-piece act's third full album "Love Yourself: Tear," hit 900 million views at 10:39 a.m. on Thursday, according to Big Hit Music. The album had stayed on Billboard's main albums chart for 15 consecutive weeks after peaking at No. 1, while "Fake Lo

K-popApril 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Z.flat sings of himself with new single

Z.flat discussed his new music in a showcase Wednesday, one day before the release of single “Day And Night.”   　 “I want fans to listen to it as a starting point to see what kind of music an artist named Z.flat wants to make from now on,” he said.   　 He stepped into the music scene about five months ago and instantly came into the spotlight as the son of late Choi Jinsil, one of the best-known actresses in Korea, and the late Cho Sungmin, a top baseball playe

K-popApril 7, 2021

New BTS song 'Film Out' tops Japan's Oricon weekly chart

A new Japanese single by global K-pop dynamite BTS has topped a weekly digital single chart in Japan, the band's agency said Wednesday. "Film Out" hit No. 1 on Oricon's weekly digital singles ranking compiled between March 29 and April 4, with 32,947 downloads, according to Big Hit Music. While the seven-piece act has reigned atop the Oricon's weekly digital album and streaming rankings, it marks its first No. 1 on the weekly digital singles chart. The Japanese single, released las

K-popApril 7, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Astro aims high with 2nd LP

  Astro held an online media conference in time for the release of its second studio album “All Yours” on Tuesday.   　 “We are coming out with a new full-length album for the first time in two years and three months. It has been so long since the first LP so we put a lot of effort into it,” said Jinjin.   　 It is the first time three songs written by different members are in one album, MJ said, adding that it was one of the challenges they undertook. Jinj

K-popApril 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Baekhyun tops iTunes charts in 60 regions

  Baekhyun of EXO swept across charts at home and abroad with his third EP “Bambi.” 　 The EP was unveiled Friday and landed at the top of all weekly and monthly charts in Korea. It also topped iTunes top albums chart in 60 regions, and the musician became the first K-pop male act to record double platinum, with sales over 2 million Chinese yuan, on China’s largest music site QQ Music. 　 His second solo EP “Delight” was a million seller and “Bambi”

K-popApril 5, 2021

K-pop songstress IU dominates music charts with new, old songs

K-pop songstress IU has swept major music charts here with her latest album and past releases, landing more than 15 songs in the top 100 simultaneously. The 28-year-old soloist placed 16 songs in the top 100 on the latest daily music charts by streaming services Melon and Genie Music, refreshed Saturday, including all 10 tracks of her new album "Lilac." "Lilac," the main track of her new studio album also titled "Lilac," topped both charts, followed by the pre-rel

K-popApril 5, 2021

SHINee's weekend online concert draws fans from 120 countries

K-pop boy band SHINee's livestream concert held on Sunday attracted some 130,000 fans from 120 countries, its agency said Monday. Fans from countries like the United States, Japan and Italy joined the online concert "Beyond Live - SHINEE: SHINee World" streamed worldwide via Naver V Live on Sunday, according to SM Entertainment. Hashtags like #SHINee and #SHINee_BeyondLive were top trending keywords among Twitter users in countries like Colombia, Canada and New Zealand during the con

K-popApril 5, 2021