NewJeans hits 1 bln streams mark on Spotify with debut album

South Korean girl group NewJeans has hit the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify with its namesake debut album, the group's management agency said Friday. The accumulated streams generated by the album, "New Jeans," reached 1,000,760,129 on the streaming platform as of Thursday, 422 days after its release on Aug. 1, 2022, ADOR said. The agency said NewJeans is the first K-pop girl band that has achieved the feat with its debut album. It is particularly meaningful given the album has

K-popSept. 29, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink tops 1.5b views with ‘How You Like That’ dance video

The performance video for Blackpink’s “How You Like That” has reached 1.5 billion views on YouTube, label YG Entertainment announced Wednesday. It is the group’s fourth video to hit the milestone, following the music videos for “Ddu-du Ddu-du,” “Kill This Love” and “Boombayah,” and the first dance video from a K-pop act to do so. The music video for “How You Like That” has 1.2 billion views. “How You Like That”

K-popSept. 27, 2023

XG storms back with 'New DNA'

Japanese K-pop band XG returned to the music scene on Wednesday with its first EP "New DNA." The latest release by the seven-piece girl group comes nine months after the launch of the third single "Shooting Star" in January. "New DNA" is a six-track package expanding on XG's sonic scape, weaving through multiple new genres the likes of UK Drill and Jersey Club to the group's essential hip-hop and R&B sound. The album is led by the title song "Puppet Show&qu

K-popSept. 27, 2023

NewJeans sings 2023 Lol World Championship anthem

K-pop girl group NewJeans will sing the anthem of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship, “Gods,” according to Riot Games. The anthem will be released on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. The game developer has worked with popular musical artists for the championship theme song for the past 10 years, such as Imagine Dragons, Zedd and Lil Nas X, but it is the first time it is collaborating with a K-pop artist. Sebastien Najand, the head music producer of Riot Games, and Mako who produced the or

K-popSept. 27, 2023

[Herald Interview] Forever is not impossible: Oneus aspires to global reach with 'La Dolce Vita'

Every Oneus album is a well-made package of music, story, artistry and performance. With its latest EP, "La Dolce Vita" released on Tuesday, the group once again takes listeners on an adventure of new wonders. In "La Dolce Vita," the quintet plunges into the depths of the ocean, like mermaids dancing with loved ones at night. The Latin pop texture of the album's title song "Baila Conmigo" was the first inspiration to the mermaid story, according to the members

K-popSept. 26, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen invites fans to Seoul for new EP

Seventeen beckons fans to join an offline event in Seoul to celebrate the release of its 11th EP, “Seventeenth Heaven,” said agency Pledis Entertainment on Tuesday. Dubbed “Seventeen Street in Seongsu,” the event will offer a range of experiences and merchandise to promote the upcoming album. It is the second time the band is hosting such an event. The previous event held in April drew about 150,000 visitors. The 13-piece team is set to make a comeback on Oct. 23 and has

K-popSept. 26, 2023

Will Kep1er disband? Project group eyes extension with 'Magic Hour'

Halfway through its 2 1/2-year stint, project girl group Kep1er voiced hopes it can keep on going through its new album "Magic Hour." Formed through Mnet's audition program "Girls Planet 999" in 2021, the nonet officially debuted in January 2022 as a project team set to terminate in July 2024. The nine-piece girl group on Monday released the album, its fifth EP, five months since putting out "Lovestruck!" in April. Since then, the girls held their first arena t

K-popSept. 26, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen takes down teaser for 11th EP

The teaser video for Seventeen’s 11th EP was brought down on Sunday, said agency Pledis Entertainment. The Beijing version of the trailer for “Svt Right Here,” one of the promotions for the EP “Seventeenth Heaven,” was uploaded on Saturday. It portrayed chamomile flowers bloom against the backdrop of the Great Wall of China. Some fans, however, pointed out that it was insensitive considering that China is strictly against content set against its cultural heritage.

K-popSept. 25, 2023

Jakarta lights up in pink with SMTown Live 2023

SM Entertainment, home to some of the biggest K-pop names like aespa, Red Velvet and NCT, covered Jakarta in pink -- the company's iconic color -- on Saturday with its label concert, "SMTown Live 2023." The star-studded event, officially titled "SMTown Live 2023 SMCU Palace @Jakarta with KB Bank," took place on Saturday evening at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium located in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The one-day gig is the latest edition of the company's joint label

K-popSept. 25, 2023

[Herald Interview] Love is what defines artist Dawn

Dawn opened a new chapter in his journey as a solo artist this year, coinciding with some meaningful changes in his life. His single “Dear My Light,” released early this year, opened listeners' hearts to a heartfelt message. It was his first release since the end of a long-term relationship, and after joining a new agency. “Entering my 30s next year, I wanted to start off anew and open a new chapter in my life. For that, I wanted to convey who the artist Dawn is through my

K-popSept. 25, 2023

[Herald Interview] Mimiirose hopes to make a name for itself

Rookie K-pop bands rarely remain off the radar for even a month after debuting, but Mimiirose stayed out of the limelight for over a year after it debuted in September 2022. After a yearlong break, the five-piece girl group said it felt more than ready to reintroduce itself as a brand new group. "There was a time when we felt anxious after having our comeback postponed several times, although we had just debuted. But every time, the members stayed together and encouraged each other," Y

K-popSept. 25, 2023

BTS' Jungkook to drop new single '3D'

BTS' Jungkook will be back with a new song, "3D," on Friday, his agency said Sunday. Big Hit Music announced the singer will unveil his second solo single at 1 p.m. on Friday. The new song will feature American rapper-singer Jack Harlow. The upcoming single is the latest release from Jungkook since he first came out solo in July with "Seven (feat. Latto)." The 26-year-old singer had a successful start then, with "Seven" nabbing the top place on Billboard's

K-popSept. 24, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen to hit 5 cities for 11th EP

  Seventeen dropped a hint about where it will conduct its promotional activities for 11th EP “Seventeenth Heaven.” Agency Pledis Entertainment uploaded a teaser video for one of the activities, “Svt Right Here,” on Friday, that spelled out five cities: Seoul, Tokyo, Paris, New York and Beijing. “Svt Right Here” conveys the band’s signature sound and along with the following phrase “@Everywhere,” set fans abuzz with expectations for the

K-popSept. 22, 2023

BTS' Suga begins military service

Suga of BTS began his mandatory military service on Friday. He will be fulfilling his compulsory military service by doing alternative service after receiving basic training for the first few weeks during boot camp. “I was able to come this far thanks to you ARMY (the name of BTS' fan community). Now it’s time for me (to begin my mandatory military service). I will do my utmost to fulfill my national duty. Stay warm as the weather is getting cold. Stay healthy and let’s me

K-popSept. 22, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Rose only one to renew with label: report

Of the four members of Blackpink, only Rose renewed her contract with label YG Entertainment, according to a local media report on Thursday. The rest of the foursome will find new agencies but are likely to set aside six months out of a year for group activities, it added. The management firm denied reports that it is still in discussion with all four members. The quartet’s exclusive contract with YG expired in early August. Although fans have been awaiting confirmation on whether the sup

K-popSept. 21, 2023

Fantasy Boys look forward to 'new tomorrow' with debut album

Fantasy Boys embarked on its journey as K-pop artists with its debut album “New Tomorrow” on Thursday. The group consists of 11 members who are among the top 12 finalists from MBC’s idol survival program “Fantasy Boys.” “Because our fans have supported us through the program up until now, we were able to introduce our debut album. With this album, we want to show that each of our members is talented in their own way,” said member Hong Sungmin during a pr

K-popSept. 21, 2023

2023 MAMA Awards to be held at Tokyo Dome in November

The MAMA Awards, hosted by CJ ENM, will be held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Nov. 28-29. This is the first time a Korean award ceremony will be held at the Tokyo Dome, CJ ENM said Thursday. The MAMA Awards has been working toward the globalization of K-pop by hosting the event in various Asian countries in the past, including Macao, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Japan. This will the second time that the event is being held in Japan, which is the second biggest importer of K-pop. The annual

K-popSept. 21, 2023

BTS renews exclusive contract with Big Hit Music

All members of the K-pop sensation BTS have decided to renew their exclusive contract with Big Hit Music, according to a press release on Wednesday. This means that all members will continue making new music as a full unit after they each complete their mandatory military duties. “Our board of directors reached a conclusion over the renewal of the exclusive contract with the seven members of BTS,” Hybe said in the press release. This is the group’s second contract renewal with

K-popSept. 21, 2023

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa logs 1b Spotify streams with ‘Money’

    Lisa of Blackpink garnered 1 billion plays with solo song “Money,” according to the music platform on Wednesday. It is the first song from a K-pop female musician to achieve the feat. “Money,” the B-side track from her first solo album “Lalisa,” is the most streamed song from a K-pop solo artist on the platform, as is the album for a K-pop solo album. The performance video for “Money” surpassed 900 million views on YouTube as of

K-popSept. 20, 2023

Seventeen to drop 'Seventeenth Heaven' on Oct. 23

Boy band Seventeen is set for a grand finale to a busy year with its 11th EP "Seventeenth Heaven," its agency announced Wednesday. Pledis Entertainment said the group's next release would be "Seventeenth Heaven" on Oct. 23. The agency unveiled a poster that showed a red festival wristband with Seventeen's name and the new album title written around it. "Seventeenth Heaven" will be the group's first release since its record-setting album "FML"

K-popSept. 20, 2023