The Boyz broadcast a live media showcase Monday as they rolled out their sixth EP, “Thrill-ing.” 　 The bandmates acknowledged that they couldn’t believe it had been almost a year since their previous EP, saying they were even happier and more excited after all this time. It is also the first album from the band since it came in second in “Kingdom: Legendary War,” a contest for boy bands that ended in June. 　 “We’ve put on strong and narrative-heavy perf

K-pop Aug. 9, 2021

Twice is dropping its first single sung entirely in English, announced label JYP Entertainment on Friday. 　 The company uploaded an image that showed an envelope stamped with the band’s logo. When it opened, out came an invitation to a prom party. “Where are we going tonight?” the message read. 　 The nonet already has a strong presence around the world, having hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in June with its 10th EP, “Taste of Love.” It is the best showing so far f

K-pop Aug. 6, 2021

Xiumin of EXO tested positive for COVID-19, his label SM Entertainment said Thursday. 　 He took a preemptive PCR test last week before starting work for a musical and the results had come back negative. He took another test Wednesday after feeling unwell and was confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus. 　 All the other EXO bandmates as well as staffers in charge of them have taken tests and are in self-quarantine awaiting results, the company added.  He has immediately stoppe

K-pop Aug. 5, 2021

Blackpink hit No. 1 on Oricon’s daily album chart with its first studio album in Japanese, YG Entertainment announced Wednesday. 　 The band’s “The Album” also topped Japan’s iTunes’ top albums chart. 　 This is the Japanese version of Blackpink’s first LP that came out in October last year in Korea, which sold over 1.3 million copies and became the first million-selling album from a K-pop female group. It also ranked No. 2 on both the Billboard 200 and

K-pop Aug. 4, 2021

Astro landed atop the iTunes top songs chart in five regions with “After Midnight,” the title track from its eighth EP “Switch On” that came out on Monday. 　 It is the first time the six-member band hit No. 1 on the chart. 　 The song also was No. 1 on the iTunes K-pop songs chart in seven regions while the EP hit No. 1 on top albums chart in five and K-pop albums chart in 20 regions. 　 Meanwhile, Cha Eun-woo shared pictures taken between shooting the music video for th

K-pop Aug. 3, 2021

Astro dropped its eighth EP “Switch On” Monday and hosted an online media conference to introduce its latest release to fans and local media. 　 It has been only four months since the release of the group’s second studio album “All Yours” and the bandmates said that they came back with new music quickly in response to the popularity of the album. 　 The new EP contains the past, present and future of the band who has been together for six years. 　 “We’

K-pop Aug. 2, 2021

Girl group Dreamcatcher held an online media showcase Friday to promote its latest EP, “Summer Holiday.”  　 It has been six months since the band wrapped up its “Dystopia” series with “Dystopia: Road to Utopia,” and the musicians are enjoying a breather before they embark on a new narrative. 　 “We’ve prepared special new songs to let InSomnias all over the world feel cool just by listening to them,” said Gahyun, referring to the band&

K-pop July 30, 2021

All bandmates of Girls’ Generation will appear in a variety show in time for the group’s 14th anniversary, according to media reports Wednesday. 　 It has been four years since they were seen on an entertainment program although they have been seen together on each other’s social media and YouTube channels. 　 Producers of “You Quiz on the Block,” a show hosted by veteran comedian/emcee Yoo Jae-seok, confirmed their appearance saying that they are discussing the ti

K-pop July 28, 2021

The first solo album of EXO’s D.O. hit No. 1 on iTunes top albums chart in 59 regions.   　 The album came out Monday and swept all major music charts in Korea as well.   　 The eight-track album marks the debut of the veteran idol as a solo vocalist after almost 10 years of providing the main vocals of EXO.   　 It also is the first release since he returned after completing his mandatory military service in January, besides the band’s special album that came out in

K-pop July 27, 2021

D.O. of EXO discussed his first solo album, “Empathy,” which came out Monday. 　 “This is quite a new frame of mind,” he confided through a Q&A statement through his label SM Entertainment. Singing alone was difficult in a way but was a different and fun experience, said the performer, wondering how listeners would find the eight tracks from the album. 　 As for naming the album “Empathy,” he explained that he realized the sheer energy of the word, after

K-pop July 26, 2021

SM Entertainment girl group aespa has signed with the largest agency in the US, Creative Artists Agency, as the team gears up for the global stage. 　 The group will be represented overseas by the talent agency, according to their label on Friday. SM Entertainment boy bands NCT 127 and SuperM are signed to the agency as well. 　 The quartet debuted in November and has set multiple records since. The music video for its debut single “Black Mamba” reached 100 million views in about 51

K-pop July 23, 2021

BTS’ label Big Hit Music said in a statement on Thursday that “Butter” does not breach any copyrights.   　 “It remains unchanged that the right to the music belongs to ‘Butter,’” said the company, acknowledging that it is aware of the claims that the intro of the song may be plagiarized.   　 “The song has been finalized and released after a process of confirming with all copyright holders that there is no issue surrounding the song,&rd

K-pop July 22, 2021

D.O. of EXO participated in writing lyrics for two songs from his upcoming solo debut album, label SM Entertainment said on Wednesday. 　 The musician is putting out his first solo album “Empathy” on July 26 and co-authored words for two out of eight tracks. Six of the songs are new and two are bonus tracks including an English version of title track “Rose.” 　 “Rose” is an acoustic folk number and he sings of how one’s heart goes aflutter having fallen

K-pop July 21, 2021

BTS invited fans to participate in a dance challenge exclusive to YouTube Shorts.  From July 23 through to Aug. 14, participants can send in 15-second-long videos that cover the choreography from the band’s newest hit “Permission to Dance” on YouTube’s mobile app. It is the first global dance challenge on YouTube’s short-form video feature that was recently introduced. The bandmates will select some of their favorite entries and create a compilation video as

K-pop July 20, 2021

Tomorrow X Together will release a repackage of its second studio album on Aug. 17, it announced Monday. 　 The band will drop “The Chaos Chapter: Fight of Escape,” a rearrangement of “The Chaos Chapter: Freeze.” The original LP has remained in Billboard’s top 200 for five consecutive weeks, having entered the chart at No. 5. 　 The LP sold over 630,000 copies within a week of its release, the best record ever for a K-pop band in its third year. In Japan, the album

K-pop July 19, 2021