New Japanese single by BTS tops iTunes charts in 97 countries

A new Japanese single by global K-pop sensation BTS has topped iTunes charts in 97 countries and regions, the group's agency said Sunday. According to Big Hit Music, "Film Out" also debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's daily digital singles chart in Japan, with 23,344 downloads. The single also reached the top of major Japanese streaming sites, such as Line Music, AWA and mora. "Film Out" was released last Friday, with its music video also uploaded on YouTube the same day. It garn

K-popApril 4, 2021

Busan's annual K-pop fest to kick off online next month

BUSAN -- The Busan One Asia Festival (BOF), a major annual K-pop event, will kick off online next month in this southeastern port city due to concerns over the new coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Sunday. According to the Busan Tourism Organization, BOF 2021 will be streamed online from May 6-9 from the second-biggest South Korean city, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to reach more fans amid the pandemic. The festival's three main events -- K-pop Concert, Park Concert and BOF Lan

K-popApril 4, 2021

EXO's Baekhyun to join military next month

Baekhyun, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, will join the military next month to fulfill his mandatory military service, his agency said Saturday. The 28-year-old singer is set to enlist on May 6, according to SM Entertainment. The agency did not elaborate further on the venue and schedule of the enlistment. Baekhyun released his third solo EP "Bambi" last week, following his million-seller "Delight" in 2020. He will be the sixth EXO member to enlist in the military after Xi

K-popApril 3, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids rocks stage on “Kingdom: Legendary War”

Stray Kids rocked out during the first episode of the Mnet boy band competition program “Kingdom: Legendary War” on Thursday. 　 The band was one of six groups -- along with iKON, BTOB, SF9, Ateez and first season winner The Boyz – competing in the second edition of the show. 　 In the first episode, each group was given 100 seconds of “face-to-face time” and a chance to perform their chart-toppers. Stray Kids chose a rearranged version of “Miroh,” i

K-popApril 2, 2021

K-pop boy band Seventeen shines in 1st performance on Ellen DeGeneres show

K-pop boy band Seventeen made its first appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Thursday (US time), giving a performance of its 2019 smash song "Hit." The 13-member group, in black leather outfits, delivered a pre-recorded performance of its EDM number on the popular American talk show. The segment, which Seventeen described as involving "the toughest choreography out of all its performances," was filmed at an outdoor sports stadium in South Korea. In an inte

K-popApril 2, 2021

Mnet’s ‘Kingdom: Legendary War’ to be a global K-pop festival amid COVID-19

Six K-pop boy bands will be vying for the final crown in Mnet’s new “Kingdom: Legendary War,” which is set to air its first episode at 7:50 p.m. Thursday. Program producers and participants conducted an online press conference ahead of its premiere that day. A male counterpart to Mnet’s 2019 female idol competition “Queendom,” “Kingdom: Legendary War” features six popular boy bands: BTOB, iKON, SF9, the Boyz, Stray Kids and Ateez. The Boyz won t

K-popApril 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Rose to unveil video for “Gone”

  Rose will float the video for “Gone” on April 5, announced label YG Entertainment with a poster on Thursday. 　 “Gone” is the second track from her solo debut record, “R,” and the 33-second teaser snippet surpassed 50 million views on YouTube. 　 The performer sings of the sadness of finally letting go of a person who has left her. She keeps the arrangement minimal and makes the most of her moving voice. 　 She performed “Gone” for the first

K-popApril 1, 2021

BTS becomes 1st Korean artist to be nominated for Brit Awards

K-pop sensation BTS has added another feat to its long list of accolades, becoming the first Korean artist to be nominated for the annual Brit Awards. The seven-piece act was nominated for the international group award, alongside musicians Fontaines D.C., four-time winner Foo Fighters, HAIM and Run the Jewels. Past winners in the category include prominent acts like Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2 and Daft Punk. This year's awards ceremony, which was postponed due to the pandemic, is sche

K-popApril 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee to unveil repackaged 7th LP

Shinee is putting out a repackaged version of its recently released seventh studio album “Atlantis,” SM Entertainment said Wednesday. 　 It will include nine tracks from the LP “Don’t Call Me” as well as three new songs: “Atlantis,” “Area” and “Days and Years.” 　 The veteran idol group came out with new music for the first time in 2 1/2 years and topped iTunes top albums chart in 47 regions. 　 It will host its first virtual conc

K-popMarch 31, 2021

'Dynamite' ties 'Gangnam Style' for longest charting K-pop song on Billboard Hot 100

The megahit BTS single "Dynamite" has tied the 2012 viral sensation "Gangnam Style" for the longest charting song by a South Korean act on Billboard's main singles chart. The disco-pop number, released in August, jumped eight notches to No. 26 on the weekly Hot 100 chart, refreshed Tuesday (US time). This marks the song's 31st consecutive week on the chart, equaling the record set by singer-producer Psy's "Gangnam Style" in 2012. Since its release, the septet's f

K-popMarch 31, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Baekhyun discusses new record-setting EP

Baekhyun of EXO talked about his new EP, “Bambi,” at an online media conference Tuesday. 　 “Through ‘Bambi,’ you will be able to see that Baekhyun has grown from a boy into a young man,” said the artist, adding that fans would feel his maturity as a 30-year-old (Korean age). He agonized over how to be sexy without coming on too strong, he added. 　 The EP, his third as a soloist, consists of six R&B tracks. One, “Amusement Park,” was dropped

K-popMarch 30, 2021

Baekhyun gifts fans with R&B-packed ‘Bambi’

Baekhyun of boy band EXO is dropping a new solo album, “Bambi,” which is packed with relaxed yet emotional R&B chords. The artist attended a press conference Tuesday ahead of the album’s release later that day. Fellow EXO member Xiumin was master of ceremonies at the event, which was livestreamed online due to coronavirus concerns. According to Baekhyun, the title track is a fairytale-like song that tells a mature love story through groovy R&B sounds. “‘

K-popMarch 30, 2021

YouTube’s ‘K-Pop Evolution’ examines rise of K-pop, K-pop idol life

The new YouTube Originals series “K-Pop Evolution” will trace the rise of K-pop to global prominence. The seven-part English docuseries will kick off Wednesday at 10 p.m., and a new episode will be uploaded each week. The show chronicles the growth of the now 10 billion dollar K-pop industry from its birth with Seo Taiji and Boys in the 1990s to its current global popularity. K-pop idols from different generations -- SuperM, H.O.T., BoA, Super Junior, Kara, Ha:tfelt of Wonder Girls

K-popMarch 30, 2021

'We feel grief and anger,' BTS speaks out against anti-Asian racism

Joining the widening "Stop Asian Hate" movement, triggered by the recent deadly shootings in Atlanta, K-pop boy band BTS condemned racial discrimination and violence in a resolute Twitter message Tuesday. "We feel grief and anger," BTS said in a message posted both in Korean and English on its official Twitter account. "We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones," the band said, apparently referring to the bereaved families of the vic

K-popMarch 30, 2021

First stand-alone Grammy performance meaningful to BTS

K-pop sensation BTS has said its first stand-alone performance at this year's Grammy Awards was meaningful enough to offset their loss for one of the world's most coveted music honors. "There are many Grammy trophies up for grabs, but there were only 20 singers who had onstage performances during the ceremony. So we thought it would be better performing than winning," leader and rapper RM said during "Let's BTS," a self-branded talk show on KBS on Monday. "Nevertheless

K-popMarch 30, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s Hoshi to release 1st solo mixtape

  Hoshi of Seventeen floated two concept photos for his first solo gig at midnight on Monday. 　 Befitting the title of the mixtape, “Spider,” the idol struck a pose amid an entangled web, against a bold red backdrop. 　 He is coming out with his first solo mixtape on April 2 that will be rolled out on major music sites including iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music as well as global platform SoundCloud, said agency Pledis Entertainment. 　 Hoshi has been leading the performance team

K-popMarch 29, 2021

K-pop stars take to English podcasts, reach global audience

As more and more K-pop singers gain prominence on the global stage, the demand for English-language K-pop content is on the rise. Comments on many of the videos featuring K-pop stars contain requests for English subtitles. “I sometimes joke with my (BTS) Army friends that the biggest fear as international Army is not having subtitles for BTS videos,” a BTS fan living in the Philippines, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Korea Herald. Army is the band’s official

K-popMarch 28, 2021

Ballad singer Hwang Chi-yeul to release new album next month

South Korean ballad singer Hwang Chi-yeul will release an album next month, returning with new music after more than two years, his management agency said Sunday. Titled "Be My Reason," the EP will drop at 6 p.m. on Friday, according to Ten2 Entertainment. Hwang's most recent release was his second full-length Korean album, "The Four Seasons," released in January 2019. The six-track album will entirely consist of ballad songs, including the main track, "Two Letters,&qu

K-popMarch 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Kang Daniel reveals title of focus track

  Kang Daniel has announced the name of his title track from his upcoming EP - “Antidote.” 　 His agency Connect Entertainment posted a video snippet of his new EP “Yellow” at Friday midnight along with the title of the lead track. The musician participated in writing the lyrics for the alternative R&B number infused with rock, a signal that he is attempting to push the limits of his musical spectrum. 　 “It will be interesting to see how the story weaves in

K-popMarch 26, 2021

K-pop boy band Seventeen to appear on US TV show

K-pop boy band Seventeen will make its first appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" next month, its agency said Friday. The group is scheduled to hit the popular US daytime comedy talk show next Thursday and perform "HIT," the lead single from the band's third studio album, "An Ode," according to Pledis Entertainment. Released in 2019, "An Ode" reached No. 7 on the US Billboard World Albums chart. Several K-pop groups popular in the North American mar

K-popMarch 26, 2021