(G)I-dle uploaded an artwork Thursday to share the news that it will put out its first studio album on March 14.

The teaser image themed after a shooting target spelled out “I Never Die.”

It has been over a year since the group released its fourth EP “I Burn.” It also is the first new album since it reorganized into a five-member act since Soojin left following a bullying rumor when she was in school.

In the meantime, claims were made online that Yuqi was dating Jackson of GOT7. Without much evidence, they said Yuqi checked in at a hotel in Beijing and got in a car driven by Jackson’s driver and returned the next morning with a bouquet of flowers in her hand.

ITZY to drop Japanese single in April

ITZY will release its first single in Japan on April 6, it announced on Thursday.

The single is titled “Voltage” and will consist of four tracks: focus track of the same title and “Spice,” as well as instrumental versions of the two songs. The quintet declares in the focus track that it will move forward full of confidence punctuating the message with powerful rap and rock sounds.

The band officially debuted in Japan in December last year with a compilation album “It’s ITZY,” which ranked No. 3 on Japan iTunes albums chart.

Next month, the bandmates will meet their fans in person at its first official fan meet in Seoul.

Separately, its label JYP Entertainment announced earlier this month that it will strengthen its strategic partnership with Republic Records for the success of ITZY in the US.

Twice sets record as “Scientist” video tops 100m views

The music video of Twice’s “Scientist” reached 100 million views on YouTube on Wednesday, announced label JYP Entertainment on Thursday.

It has been about three months since the song, the main track from its third full album “Formula of Love: O+T=<3,” was released. The song charted No. 3 on Billboard 200 at the time.

The group now has 20 music videos with more than 100 million views, replacing the record number, from 19, of videos that reached the milestone by a female band.

Meanwhile, it is releasing its fourth best-of album in Japan “#Twice4” on March 16. It will include “Scientist,” “I Can’t Stop Me,” “Cry For Me” and “Alcohol Free” in Japanese and Korean.

On April 23-24, the nine-member group will perform live at Tokyo Dome.

The band is currently touring the US as part of its fourth international tour.

Enhypen tops Oricon chart with 2nd Japanese song

Enhypen ranked No. 1 on Oricon’s daily digital single chart with “Always,” according to the most recently tally announced on Wednesday.

The song is the band’s second in Japanese language, following “Forget Me Not” from its Japan debut single “Border: Hakanai.” It was chosen as the theme song for a NTV drama and will be included in its upcoming second Japanese single “Dimension: Senkou.”

The septet’s Japan debut single topped Oricon’s daily and weekly single charts. Its 1st LP “Dimension: Dilemma” and the repackage album “Dimension: Answer” also were No. 1 on both daily and weekly album charts.
According to a recent survey, the boy band’s repacked 1st LP recorded the best monthly sales at approximately 723,500 copies, contributing the most to the album sales in January 2022. The month saw the sales jump 67 percent from the same period last year to over 4.05 million units.

By Hwang You-mee
(glamazon@heraldcorp.com)