Star-studded collaboration projects dazzle K-pop scene

In one of the highest-profile music collaboration projects to date in South Korea, female singer-songwriter IU and Suga of BTS are on course to hit the music scene with their collaboration song next week. "Eight," set for release next Wednesday, was jointly created by the K-pop queen and actress and the rapper from BTS, and comes with a rap part by the latter. The collaboration brings together the musical power of IU, arguably the country's most sought-after artist for music collabo

K-popApril 29, 2020

BTS to unveil documentary 'Break the Silence' next month

BTS will release next month a documentary series, "Break the Silence," which follows the band's globe-trotting 351-day concert journey last year, its management agency said Wednesday. According to Big Hit Entertainment, the seven-episode series will be unveiled exclusively on Weverse, a mobile application for the BTS fan community, at 9 p.m. on May 12. After the first two episodes are released on the day, each of the remaining five episodes will be available every Tuesday and Thursd

K-popApril 29, 2020

BTS to reschedule world tour amid coronavirus

BTS, a South Korean boy band, has decided to reschedule its upcoming world tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, its agency said Tuesday. Big Hit Entertainment announced the decision to indefinitely put off the BTS Map of the Soul Tour, saying it was made in "foremost consideration" of the health and safety of the artists and fans. In a notice posted on the fan community Weverse, the agency said it "will completely reschedule the tour and provide a new tour schedule to our fans

K-popApril 29, 2020

TWICE wants to send message of hope with upcoming YouTube original documentary

An upcoming YouTube original series documenting K-pop girl group TWICE's struggles before its debut up till its record-setting global ascent could give a message of hope, the band said Tuesday. The eight-episode documentary series, "TWICE: Seize the Light," will hit YouTube on Wednesday as the global video streaming service's first original program featuring a K-pop girl group. It will be available in 81 countries and territories. The series is a tribute to the nine-member multinati

K-popApril 28, 2020

Tomorrow X Together to return with new 'The Dream Chapter' album next month

Boy band Tomorrow X Together will drop a new album, "The Dream Chapter: Eternity," next month, returning to dazzle the K-pop scene, its management agency said Tuesday. "The Dream Chapter: Eternity," the band's second EP set for release on May 18, is the third album under the "The Dream Chapter" series following the second, "The Dream Chapter: Magic," a full-length album dropped in October. Continuing from the previous albums, "Eternity" will d

K-popApril 28, 2020

[Herald Interview] Stella Jang on her growth as singer-songwriter, co-writing BTS’ ‘Friends’

With an unbridled spirit, exceptional sound and dedication to music, Stella Jang is the kind of a musician who immediately attracts attention.  Reflecting her down-to-earth personality, her music used to revolve around ordinary topics people could easily relate to. Her lyrics were remarkably outspoken, creative and witty, so they almost felt like a diary written by the singer-songwriter herself. Having turned 30 this year in Korean age, Jang said that her music, however, inevitably had t

K-popApril 27, 2020

[Herald Interview] Katie releases future R&B track “Echo”

Katie has released her new single “Echo,” 11 months after her first EP “Log.” On the bass-heavy up-tempo track, she sings about “having a crush, sending a signal and hoping for the same response back,” the singer explained. Born out of a songwriting session in LA with the producers behind her hit single “Remember,” the new single is future R&B made out of sad minor chords juxtaposed against rhythmic verse, complete with bouncing distorted gui

K-popApril 24, 2020

K-pop queens return to dazzle music scene with glamorous albums

Three high-profile female soloists will dazzle the K-pop scene this spring as it tries to recover from the coronavirus fallout, dropping powerfully charged music albums. Solar from roaring girl band Mamamoo and Ha:tfelt, better known as Park Ye-eun, from Wonder Girls raised the curtain Thursday to unveil new albums. The two-track release, "Spit it Out," is Solar's first solo release in her six-year K-pop career with Mamamoo. Solar is the last of the four Mamamoo members to official

K-popApril 24, 2020

[Herald Interview] TOO hopes to spread wings with ‘Road to Kingdom’

In less than a month since it started, TOO may have become one of the busiest, must-watch rookie groups on the scene. After being created on Mnet audition program “To Be World Klass,” the 10-piece rookie group, whose name stands for “Ten Oriented Orchestra,” debuted with the “Reason for Being: Benevolence” EP and single “Magnolia” on April 1. Consisting of leader Jaeyun, Chihoon, Donggeon, Chan, Jisu, Minsu, J.You, Kyungho, Jerome and Woonggi, the

K-popApril 23, 2020

Blackpink emerges from the dark for collaboration with Lady Gaga

After weeks of speculation, Lady Gaga finally confirmed her highly anticipated collaboration with Blackpink on Thursday. The US pop star took to social media to unveil the track list for her upcoming sixth studio album, “Chromatica,” including the track “Sour Candy” with the South Korean girl group. “The collaboration came naturally as Blackpink and Lady Gaga listened to each other’s music and became fans of one another,” YG said in a statement. &ldqu

K-popApril 23, 2020

EXO’s 50 best album and solo tracks, ranked

EXO debuted in 2012 and in the next eight years they would go on to become one of the biggest boybands in the world. From electropop, EDM to hip-hop, here is a comprehensive look at the group’s backlog spanning six studio albums and six EPs as a whole as well as multiple records as soloists and units. 50. “Stay” From the get go, the song opens with a calm yet dramatic intro consisting of lingering piano riffs before the track catches speed and builds suspense. 49. &ld

K-popApril 23, 2020

BTS the new face of massage chair brand Bodyfriend

Global sensation boy band BTS has recently been named the new faces of Bodyfriend, the Seoul-based global wellness company that produces luxury massage chairs. Customers who rent or purchase massage chairs until May 20 will receive a poster of the band and seven signed photo cards of the individual members. The promotion is only available for domestic orders. Since the announcement of the partnership last week, the firm saw a twofold increase in sales over the weekend from the weekend before

K-popApril 21, 2020

BLACKPINK becomes only K-pop artists with 3 songs topping 800m YouTube views

With "Kill This Love" topping the milestone of 800 million YouTube views Monday, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop artists to have three songs with over 800 million views. The music video of BLACKPINK's latest hit song surpassed the 800 million YouTube mark early Monday morning, about one year after its release, the band's management agency YG Entertainment said. It is the quartet's third music video topping 800 million YouTube views, following "Ddu-du Ddu-du" and "B

K-popApril 20, 2020

Starship’s new boy band Cravity unveiled

Starship Entertainment’s new boy band Cravity made its grand debut Tuesday. The nine-piece act released the debut album “Hideout: Remember Who We Are” and held an online showcase that was livestreamed on Naver’s V Live. The debut album includes seven tracks, with “Break All the Rules” as the lead single. The hip-hop tune depicts the band’s bold aspirations and encourages us to break the limits and rules that we have locked ourselves under. The song w

K-popApril 16, 2020

SuperM to join online charity concert organized by Lady Gaga, WHO

Billboard-topping K-pop boy band SuperM will perform for "One World: Together At Home" this week, an all-star online charity concert co-organized by Lady Gaga and the World Health Organization to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, its agency said. SuperM will be the only South Korean musicians to join the lineup for the online concert on Saturday (US time), designed to celebrate and support health care workers on the COVID-19 front lines and raise funds to help overcome the pandemic.

K-popApril 16, 2020

SM Entertainment, Naver team up to launch concert streaming service

SM Entertainment and Naver are teaming up to launch a new concert streaming service, Beyond Live. The premiere, featuring SuperM, is to air April 26. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding in an effort to expand their presence in the global entertainment industry, SM said in a statement Tuesday. The concert streaming platform, which is set to launch sometime in mid-April, will first be available within V Live, Naver’s existing video platform. And as the name sugges

K-popApril 14, 2020

Previous live BTS concerts to be streamed on YouTube to entertain fans at home

A series of live concerts K-pop boy band BTS performed since 2014 will be shown for free on YouTube this weekend to entertain fans at home in this time of coronavirus self-quarantine. The band's management agency, Big Hit Entertainment, said a total of eight concerts and fan meeting events by the boy band will be broadcast on the BTS channel on YouTube, BANGTANTV, on Saturday and Sunday under the title "BTS Online Concert Weekend." The first set of four performances, including "

K-popApril 14, 2020

Apink celebrates 9th anniversary with new single

Apink released a new single, “Dumhdurum,” Monday. “Dumhdurum” leads “Look,” the group’s ninth EP since its start in 2011. The dance-driven song, which blends an Asian sound with a Spanish vibe, was written by famous K-pop producer duo Black Eyed Pilseung, the mastermind behind Apink’s previous hits “I’m So Sick” and “Eung Eung.”  Thriving on the addictive hook “Dumhdurum rumhdururum,” the song is abo

K-popApril 13, 2020

Revisiting BoA’s ‘No.1’ two decades on

In the fast changing K-pop industry, BoA has stood the test of time. Including her latest EP “Starry Night” in December and her debut at age 13 with “ID; Peace B” in 2000, she has sold millions of records and become a household name in South Korea. And then there was “No. 1.” Around two years into her career, she released her second studio album with the track on her home turf after her million-seller Japanese debut album “Listen to My Heart” t

K-popApril 13, 2020

WINNER's Lee Seung-hoon to start military service this week

Lee Seung-hoon, a member of K-pop boy band WINNER, will start his mandatory military service this week, the band's management agency said Monday. The 28-year-old is scheduled to start a four-week training program Thursday at an Army boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, as part of the fulfillment of the national defense duty. After the initial military training, he will start his two-year term as a public service worker at a public institution, according to YG Entertainment. Lee i

K-popApril 13, 2020