Key of Shinee will be hosting an online concert on his own on Sept. 26 that will be livestreamed around the world via Naver’s V Live. 　 The concert, titled “Key: Groks in the Keyland,” will be his first standalone concert in about 2 1/2 years. Tickets to the show will be available for purchase from Sept. 1. 　 In the meantime, his prerelease single “Hate That ...” that came out on Monday hit No. 1 on iTunes’ top songs chart in 10 regions as well as several mu

K-pop Aug. 31, 2021

BTOB held an online media conference Monday and discussed the band’s new album. 　 Seo Eunkwang, Lee Minhyuk, Lee Changsub and Peniel came out with a special album titled “4U: Outside,” nine months after the band’s previous work. The four performers are functioning as a subunit because Yook Sungjae and Im Hyunsik are currently serving their military duty. 　 “My heart is all aflutter,” confided Seo, especially since it was the first new music the band had put

K-pop Aug. 30, 2021

Mamamoo is putting together a compilation album slated to be released in September, according to local media reports on Friday. 　 The album will chronicle the band’s seven-year career, with each track selected by the four bandmates, in addition to two songs that have not been released. 　 This is the quartet’s first album since its three members -- Solar, Moonbyeol and Hwasa -- renewed their contracts with management firm RBW Entertainment in June. Wheein decided not to sign with th

K-pop Aug. 27, 2021

BTS bounced back up to No. 1 on Billboard’s Artist 100, returning to the top after dropping to No. 2 last week, the publication revealed on Thursday in the US. 　 This is the 20th time the septet hit No. 1 on the chart that was launched in 2014. BTS is the first group to top the list for 20 weeks. Only three artists have stayed longer than the band, and all are solo musicians: Taylor Swift (48 weeks), Drake (32) and The Weeknd (22).  　 The Artist 100 combines a performer’s per

K-pop Aug. 26, 2021

Enhypen is coming out with a new album at the end of September, according to local media reports Wednesday.   　 The boy band will come back five months after its second EP, “Border: Carnival,” which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 18. In May, the band was named by Grammy.com as one of five K-pop artists -- along with StayC, Itzy, Ateez and Tomorrow X Together -- that “have the potential to dominate the global pop space.”   　 Its debut single in Japan, &ldquo

K-pop Aug. 25, 2021

Kwon Eunbi, of the now-disbanded IZ*ONE, made her debut as a solo artist on Tuesday at an online showcase for media. 　 “My role model is BoA. I want to be a cool solo singer that spans across a range of genres and concepts,” she said. 　 She is the first of the girl group to strike out on her own and she confidently introduced herself as a musician who can dance, sing and write songs. 　 Kwon co-wrote the lyrics for the swing-influenced “Door,” the lead track off of her

K-pop Aug. 24, 2021

Lisa of Blackpink signaled her solo debut with a teaser poster on Monday. 　 On the black poster that reads “Coming Soon,” the idol, albeit blurry, is seen sitting down in a red suit paired with high-heeled boots striking a confident pose, with hair dyed dark blonde. 　 She will be the third member of the quintet to put out a solo album, following Jennie and Rose, both of whom set multiple records both at home and abroad with their releases. 　 Lisa boasts the most followers among K

K-pop Aug. 23, 2021

San, Yoonho and Jongho of Ateez participated in Pentatonix’s newest song, which was unveiled Friday.   　 The three bandmates were the featured artists on the American a cappella group’s retake of “A Little Space.” The triple Grammy-winning quintet reached out to the boy band and the trio gladly accepted the idea to work together on a remix of the song that was originally released in February.   　 The collaborative work also will be included on Pentatonix&rsqu

K-pop Aug. 20, 2021

Cravity put out its first studio album Thursday and held an online showcase. 　 “It was on my bucket list as a singer to release a full album,” said Wonjin, “It is like doing up the first button and we’ve been so fastidious.” 　 The group rolled out “The Awakening: Written in the Stars,” about 16 months after its debut. Three EPs have come out in the intervening time. 　 “All albums under the name of Cravity are precious but a studio album certainly

K-pop Aug. 19, 2021

The bandmates of Winner all agreed to renew their contracts with label YG Entertainment, the company announced Wednesday.   　 They signed the contracts together for another five years, before the initial seven-year contract’s expiration and just in time for the seventh anniversary of their debut on Tuesday.   　 “We really want to tell Inner Circle, who has always been on our side and been there for us, that we respect them,” said the band through the management fir

K-pop Aug. 18, 2021

Tomorrow X Together held an online media showcase and rolled out “The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape,” a repackaged album of its second full-length album, on Tuesday. 　 The repack completes the “chaos” series and the title track “LO$ER=LO♡ER” is an emo-pop punk tune that carries on as another love song, following “0X1=LOVESONG.” 　 “It conveys the romantic feelings of a boy who says that he will fight against the world to save you, and even

K-pop Aug. 17, 2021

NCT Dream will celebrate its fifth anniversary with an online fan meet, label SM Entertainment announced Friday. 　 It will host a livestream, titled “Hot! Summer Dream,” that will be broadcast on Naver’s V Live on Aug. 25. The bandmates will talk, play games and perform their hit songs for fans from around the world. Tickets for the online event went on sale Friday. 　 The septet’s most recent album was its first full album “Hot Sauce” that came out in May. Th

K-pop Aug. 13, 2021

Park Jihoon held an online showcase on Thursday to introduce his fourth EP, “My Collection.” 　 It has been nine months since his last album. Since that time he starred in the television drama “At a Distance, Spring Is Green.” 　 “I wanted to show another me by transforming myself externally,” he said. “Acting, I believe, helps me a lot as it makes me more comfortable and freer in expressing myself onstage.” He also admitted that he always wishes he

K-pop Aug. 12, 2021

Tomorrow X Together shared a preview of its repackaged second studio album on Wednesday. 　 The video snippet included samples of three songs from the repackaged album titled “The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape” -- title track “LO$ER=LO♡ER,” “Exchange Diary” and “0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) feat. Seori (Emocore Mix).” 　 The focus track is about a boy who may look like a loser but hopes to love someone who means the world to him. “Excha

K-pop Aug. 11, 2021

The Boyz landed atop iTunes songs charts in 16 regions with “Thrill Ride” from its sixth EP, “Thrill-ing,” said agency Cre.ker Entertainment on Tuesday. 　 The song ranked high on major music charts, and the other five tracks from the EP all entered charts as well. 　 Sunwoo and Eric participated in writing the lyrics for the hip-hop number. “There already was a definitive theme and I participated only by coming up with a better idea within the frame,” said S

K-pop Aug. 10, 2021