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[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Jisoo teams up with sibling: report

By Hwang You-mee

Published : Jan. 2, 2024 - 18:18

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(Credit: Blissoo) (Credit: Blissoo)

Jisoo of Blackpink will let her own brother oversee her individual activities, according to a local media report on Tuesday.

Her older brother runs Biomom, a small company that sells supplements for kids, and the firm recently posted recruitments for staff for Blissoo, a new affiliate for entertainment business.

Blackpink will let label YG Entertainment continue to handle its group activities but all four members decided not to renew their contracts, which came to terms last month, for individual careers. Jennie announced in November last year that she is establishing her own label, Odd Atelier, with her mother.

In the meantime, Jisoo’s solo debut song, “Flower,” was the most-streamed song by a K-pop solo female artist in 2023, from annual reports issued by Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and YouTube Music.

 

Stray Kids unveils plans for 2024

(Credit: JYP Entertainment) (Credit: JYP Entertainment)

Stray Kids will release two albums and tour the world for the third time this year, announced label JYP Entertainment on Tuesday.

The company uploaded video “Stray Kids ‘Step Out 2024’” at midnight to share the plans for throughout the new year that also included more concerts, fan meetups, and pop-up stores as well as original content.

It also looked back at year 2023, during which the eight members visited fans in 18 regions for 42 concerts in total for its second international tour, “Maniac.” They topped Billboard 200 twice and entered its Hot 100 chart with “Lalalala,” the lead single from EP “Rock-Star,” becoming the second K-pop boy band to make the chart, only after BTS.

Separately, the band is set to join charity concert Yellow Coin Concert in Paris later this month.

 

Billlie welcomes new year with digital single

(Credit: Mystic Story) (Credit: Mystic Story)

Billlie put out a digital single on Tuesday to mark year 2024, said agency Source Mystic Story.

Single “January 0 (a hope song)” is in line with the group’s hit song “Ring ma Bell,” and features retro band sounds led by piano. The modern rock tune sings of hope for listeners, perfect for the beginning of a new year.

The five members gave fans a sample of the single on Christmas through a live clip. It is the second installment of “the Billlie’s odditorium,” their series that weaves music and story.

Meanwhile, the group will bring out first EP in Japan, “Knock-on Effect,” next month. It will consist of five tracks and comes about nine months since its debut single, the Japanese-language version of “GingaMingaYo (the strange world).”

 

Chuu makes Billboard’s ‘best K-pop song’ list

(Credit: ATRP) (Credit: ATRP)

Chuu was the only K-pop solo female act to have her name on Billboard’s “The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2023.”

Her solo debut song, “Howl,” made the list at No. 18. It is the titular track from the Ex-Loona member’s first solo album that came out in October last year and topped iTunes' top albums chart in 15 regions.

The single “not only hits at some of the experimental electronic pop that helped fuel LOONA’s international adoration, but lets Chuu’s powerfully buoyant vocals deliver an empowering and comforting anthem that doubles as a message to the fans who stuck by her: 'Wolf shouts out ‘Mayday!’/Even when God turns his back on me/You’re there,'" wrote the article.

The singer wrapped up her first solo tour in the US last month. She visited six cities across the country.