[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans ties Blackpink’s record on Billboard 200

NewJeans’ second EP ranked No. 197 on Billboard 200, extending its stay on the main albums chart to 26 weeks, said agency Ador on Wednesday. This ties the record streak Blackpink set with first full album “The Album,” and is bested only by BTS. The rookie group’s EP “Get Up” debuted atop Billboard 200 in August and “Super Shy,” one of the three focus tracks, enjoyed an eight-week stay on Billboard’s Hot 100, peaking at No. 48. The single is

K-popJan. 24, 2024

Inspire Arena aims for paradigm shift in live concert experience

YEONGJONGDO, Incheon -- Inspire Arena, the first multipurpose arena in South Korea created and managed by Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, aims to offer a whole new experience for concerts, festivals and sporting events. That begins with visitors buying tickets indoors and waiting in the lobby that can accommodate up to 6,000 for the event to start. Making the wait less tedious is the lobby's kinetic chandelier, or Rotunda. Three main gates at the arena help divert traffic and the aren

K-popJan. 24, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Mamamoo’s Moonbyul to release 1st solo LP

     Moonbyul of Mamamoo is set to drop her first solo studio album on Feb. 20, announced agency RBW Entertainment on Tuesday. A motion logo for the LP “Starlit of Muse” accompanied the news, featuring a slew of symbols – from flowers to a turtle – that represent nine muses of music and art from Greek and Roman mythology. The songstress launched an official fan club as a solo act last week, over nine years since she debuted as a member of Mamamoo. She

K-popJan. 23, 2024

TWS hopes to spread positive energy through music, performances

TWS, the much-anticipated boy group from Pledis Entertainment, made its debut Monday with the release of its first EP, “Sparkling Blue.” TWS is the first K-pop boy group to debut in nine years under Pledis Entertainment, the agency that houses K-pop sensation Seventeen. “We’ve worked hard to accomplish this dream of debuting as a K-pop act. We will continue to do our best to shine even brighter,” said member Dohoon during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. &ldqu

K-popJan. 23, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] EXO’s Baekhyun to tour Asia alone

Baekhyun of EXO is planning to visit 13 cities across Asia as a solo act starting March, announced agency INB100 on Monday. Tour “Lonsdaleite” is his first in-person solo concert since he debuted as a member of the veteran idol band 12 years ago. His first-ever solo concert, “Baekhyun: Light,” was held online in January 2021 due to COVID-19. The tour, named after a kind of diamond, will begin with a two-day concert in Seoul slated to be held on March 16-17 and will take

K-popJan. 22, 2024

Le Sserafim to return with 3rd EP, ‘Easy,’ next month

K-pop girl group Le Sserafim will release its third EP, “Easy,” on Feb. 19. Le Sserafim announced its comeback on the fan community platform Weverse on Monday. The upcoming album is about the anxiety and worries that exist behind the group’s confident appearance, according to Source Music. This is the first time that the group will sing about their insecurities, as all their past releases have been about being fearless. Le Sserafim’s return with a new album in Korea comes

K-popJan. 22, 2024

[Herald Interview] Evnne shows off vulnerabilities as 'rascals' in 'Un: SEEN’

Behind every stage beaming with blinding lights are hours spent in the dark, getting ready for that moment in the limelight. The road to debuting as a K-pop artist is likewise a difficult and exacting one. It is a journey that Evnne sings about in its second EP, “Un: SEEN,” released Monday. “We tried to talk about our hidden scars in this album. Such scars represent the difficult journey we’ve been through trying to debut as a K-pop act. As you know, our group consist

K-popJan. 22, 2024

IU renames new single ‘Love Wins All’ in response to queerbaiting allegations

K-pop artist IU has changed the title of her upcoming single from “Love Wins” to “Love Wins All” after a backlash from sexual minorities and fans alleging queerbaiting. “We recognized that the original title of the single could blur the message of the song. We would like to respect and support everyone who loves and lives in various ways,” said Edam Entertainment, the agency representing IU, in a press release on Friday. The agency revealed on Thursday the IU&

K-popJan. 21, 2024

Final NCT subunit, NCT Wish, to debut in February

NCT Wish, the last NCT subunit, will debut in February, SM Entertainment confirmed Thursday. The new team was created through the audition program “NCT Universe: Lastart,” organized by the entertainment agency to select new NCT members. The show aired from July to September 2023. The six-member group, consisting of Korean members Sion and Jaehee, and Japanese members Riku, Yushi, Ryo and Sakuya, will mainly perform in Korea and Japan. "Wish" in the subunit's name stand

K-popJan. 20, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Riize to drop Japanese-language version of ‘Love 119’

Riize will sing its recent hit “Love 119” in Japanese, according to label SM Entertainment on Friday. The Japanese-language version will be released online on Jan. 24. The dreamy song comparing one's first love to an emergency was originally dropped on Jan. 5 and topped the real-time Top 100 chart of LINE Music, the largest music chart in Japan. It also topped iTunes' top songs chart in nine regions, ranking among the top 10 in 16 regions. The single earned the rookie boy band its f

K-popJan. 19, 2024

Super Junior to meet global fans on Asia tour

Legendary boy band Super Junior will hold an Asia tour. The group, celebrating 19 year since its debut, will hold an Asia concert tour titled "2024 Super Junior Super Show Spin-off: Halftime." The tour begins with a concert in Seoul in June, according to the band's agency SM Entertainment. After the Seoul concert, the group will visit Bangkok and Singapore in July, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Taipei, Taiwan in August, Hong Kong and Jakarta, Indonesia in September. Detailed informat

PerformanceJan. 19, 2024

ATBO to hold first Japan fan meeting

ATBO will meet with Japanese fans for the first time in February. According to the group's agency IST Entertainment, ATBO will hold the "2024 ATBO First Japan Fanmeeting Home Party" twice, at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo on Feb. 29 and Oval Hall in Osaka on March 2. As this is the group's first event to be held in Japan since debuting, the bandmates are reportedly making every effort to prepare satisfying performances. The seven-member group will present different shows in each city,

PerformanceJan. 19, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ive drops 1st English-language single

Ive will put out its first English-language single, “All Night,” on Friday, according to an announcement by agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday. A teaser trailer for the music video was uploaded on the day set against an office scattered with document papers and confetti. The six members, dressed up for a girls’ night out, can be seen having a blast at the office with American singer and rapper Saweetie. Saweetie was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2022 as Best New

K-popJan. 18, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez to join Coachella festival, 1st for K-pop boy band

Ateez will make its debut appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival which is slated to be held in California in April, according to KQ Entertainment on Wednesday. It is the first K-pop boy band to join the lineup for the international music festival that began in 1999. This year’s lineup also includes fellow K-pop act Le Sserafim, as well as American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey and rapper Doja Cat. The eight-piece act’s second studio album, “The World E

K-popJan. 17, 2024

Le Sserafim, Ateez to perform at Coachella

K-pop groups Le Sserafim and Ateez will perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year. Le Sserafim will take the stage on April 13 and April 20, while Ateez will perform on April 12 and April 19. The festival will take place on April 12-21 at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California, according to the festival’s promoter Goldenvoice, Tuesday. Le Sserafim is the only K-pop girl group in the lineup for Coachella this year. The group’s performance at Coachella com

K-popJan. 17, 2024

Hui of Pentagon sets off solo on ‘Whu Is Me: Complex’

Hui of K-pop boy band Pentagon has now begun his solo career, releasing his first official solo album, “Whu Is Me: Complex,” on Tuesday. The artist opted for a self-explanatory title for his first EP. “I asked myself ‘Who am I?’ while working on this album. I concluded that Hui is just who I am, me. I added the word ‘complex’ because it was my complex that led me to work hard on overcoming the things that I do not like about myself,” Hui said durin

K-popJan. 17, 2024

IU to hold first world tour in 5 years

Singer and actor IU will hold a world tour for the first time in five years. IU is set to perform four times at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on March 2-3 and March 9-10, kicking off the "IU H.E.R. World Tour Concert," according to IU's agency, EDAM Entertainment on Wednesday. The meaning of the concert title will be revealed later, the agency said. IU will tour 18 cities in 12 countries including Seoul; Yokohama, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Jakarta, Indonesia; Hong Kong; Manila, t

K-popJan. 17, 2024

Seven K-pop albums among the top 10 CD sales in US in 2023

Seven of the top 10-selling pop music CDs in the US in 2023 were K-pop albums, with the other three albums all coming from pop superstar Taylor Swift. Swift's "Taylor's Version" topped the list with a total of 800,000 sales, according to an annual report for 2023 released by Luminate, an American music and entertainment industry data research firm. The singer's 10th studio album, "Midnights" and "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)," both sold about 260

K-popJan. 16, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Pentagon’s Hui goes solo

Hui of Pentagon held a media showcase for his new solo album in Seoul on Tuesday and talked about debuting as a solo musician, after eight years as the leader and main vocalist of the band. Introducing himself as a “solo rookie artist,” he said that everything still feels surreal. “I’ve put quite a long time into this and thinking that I get to unveil (this) today has made me shake since yesterday,” said the singer and songwriter, who has fully devoted himself to p

K-popJan. 16, 2024

FT Island to go on Asia tour

FT Island is embarking on an Asia tour, “2024 FT Island Live ‘Hey Day’ in Asia,” this month to meet with its fans abroad. The band’s first stop is Macao on Jan. 27, followed by Bangkok on Feb. 3, Taipei on Feb. 18, Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 24, Hong Kong on March 2, Jakarta on March 16 and Singapore on March 22, according to FNC Entertainment. Tickets to the shows in Taipei and Kuala Lumpur are already sold out. FT Island is preparing a setlist that includes a solo drum

K-popJan. 16, 2024