BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' achieves record high 52nd consecutive week on Billboard 200

"Map of the Soul: 7," an album by global superstar BTS, has stayed on the Billboard main albums chart for almost one straight year this week, recording another piece of history for K-pop. According to the latest Billboard chart results updated Tuesday (US time), the mega-hit album released in February 2020, came in at 108th on the Billboard 200 chart. This marks the album's 52nd consecutive week on the highly competitive chart since it debuted atop the list in the first week of March

K-popFeb. 24, 2021

Agency refuses to confirm report Jennie, G-Dragon are dating

The management agency of K-pop stars Jennie of BLACKPINK and G-Dragon of BIGBANG on Wednesday refused to confirm a report that they are secretly dating. Dispatch, an entertainment news outlet, reported on the same day that the two popular singer-rappers have been in a relationship for about a year. YG Entertainment immediately issued a statement, saying it cannot confirm anything about its artists' private lives. G-Dragon, 32, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, debuted in 2006 as the leader of

K-popFeb. 24, 2021

Sunmi returns with a bold swing of ‘Tail’

Channeling her inner feline, Sunmi has returned with a transformation into a seductive yet innocent, cat-like woman in her new single “Tail” released Tuesday. “It’s completely different from my previous song ‘pporappippam’ and also strays far from my other songs released so far,” Sunmi said during a live-streamed press conference about the title song of her new digital single. “Tail,” as the title implies, is an embodiment of the instincti

K-popFeb. 23, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee tops iTunes chart in 45 regions

Shinee demonstrated their star power sweeping across the world with their new album “Don’t Call Me.”   　 The band’s seventh studio album that came out Monday -- its first in 2 1/2 years -- landed at the top of iTunes’ top albums chart in 45 regions, including the US, UK, Germany and Canada, according to management company SM Entertainment on Tuesday. It also topped multiple charts in Korea as well as those in China and Japan.   　 The four-piece act will

K-popFeb. 23, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee returns stronger than ever

Shinee discussed their new album “Don’t Call Me” at an online media conference on Monday.  The quartet is returning as a whole -- after 2 and a 1/2 years -- with its seventh studio album as three of the members completed their military duties.  “I was nervous and full of worries resuming my career after such a break,” confided leader Onew. “We’ve prepared as much to make up so please keep up your expectations,” he went on, “and

K-popFeb. 22, 2021

BTS most tweeted about musician in US in 2020

K-pop sensation BTS was the most tweeted about musician in the United States last year, the band's agency said Monday. In a recent survey by Twitter, BTS topped the list of 2020 most tweeted about musicians in the US, followed by Kanye West, Beyonce and Drake, according to Big Hit Entertainment. Other South Korean bands, ATEEZ, NCT and EXO, also made the top 10, along with Megan Thee Stallion, Harry Styles and Bad Bunny. BTS made a splash in the US music scene last year as its first English-l

K-popFeb. 22, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] GOT7’s Yugyeom signs with AOMG

  Yugyeom of GOT7 marked the opening of a new chapter under his new agency, AOMG, with a dance clip. 　 Uploaded at midnight Friday on the company’s YouTube and social networks, the video showed the main dancer of the seven-piece act performing to “Franchise,” a hip-hop number by Travis Scott featuring Young Thug and M.I.A. 　 Set against the backdrop of a grand construction site, Yugyeom demonstrated his dance skills alongside a crew. 　 The video confirmed earlier report

K-popFeb. 19, 2021

A look back on IU’s 13-year music career

“I want to say this to those people who were born rough yet special, including my friend. You’re not strange but stellar.” IU’s latest single, “Celebrity,” embodies that message -- for her friend, for herself and for everyone who finds it hard to love themselves, as the singer wrote in her introduction to the song. The song’s lyrics started off as a letter to a friend who is often considered odd by others. Writing down the words, IU realized they wer

K-popFeb. 19, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT’s Doyoung to star in a drama

  Doyoung of NCT will be the male lead in a television drama that will air on Friday. 　 In his first serious acting role, the singer will play a good-looking straight-A high school student who has found a way to take a peek at the future while looking for his mother. Titled “Midnight Cafe Season 3 - The Curious Stalker,” this is the third season of an ongoing drama series that featured Bora, of the now-disbanded Sistar, in the second season. 　 Set at a café in Busan th

K-popFeb. 18, 2021

[FULL TRANSCRIPT] Big Hit-Universal Music Group launches strategic partnership

Big Hit Entertainment, the powerhouse of global K-pop sensation BTS, and the world’s biggest music corporation Universal Music Group is partnering up to expand their foothold in the global entertainment industry. The two firms announced on Thursday morning the establishment of a joint venture that will oversee the launching of a new K-pop boy band on the global stage. The group is set to debut through an audition program set to be aired globally in 2022. UMG CEO Lucian Grainge, UMG affi

K-popFeb. 18, 2021

NCT 127 tops Oricon daily albums chart with new Japanese EP

NCT 127, a sub-unit of the popular K-pop boy band NCT, topped the Japanese Oricon daily music chart Thursday with its latest EP released in Japan. "Loveholic," the group's first new Japanese album in two years, ranked No. 1 on the daily albums chart just a day after its release on Wednesday, with more than 97,000 unit sales in the country. It marks the second album by the K-pop act to reach top spot on the Oricon's daily chart, following "Chain," its debut in Japan. The si

K-popFeb. 18, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Rose lands 40 million views with teaser

 Rose of Blackpink is demonstrating her global presence, with the teaser clip for her solo debut having surpassed 40 million views on YouTube in just three weeks. 　 The 33-second trailer is said to be a part of the video for “Gone,” a song from her solo debut album. She performed it for the first time Jan. 31 at Blackpink’s first livestreamed concert, “The Show.” 　 Rose, who turned 25 last week, will be the second band member to have a solo project. She has

K-popFeb. 17, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Monsta X to meet fans in person

Monsta X announced Tuesday that the band will meet its fans online and offline in March. 　 Via its official social media channels, the band’s company, Starship Entertainment, said it will host a two-day fan meet and concert March 6-7 at a venue in Seoul. The event will be held offline and broadcast live through the band’s channel on Naver’s V Live. 　 Seating arrangements will comply with the government’s COVID-19 guidelines and may need to be adjusted if the social di

K-popFeb. 16, 2021

Chungha comes out fiercer in her first studio album ‘Querencia’

Chungha has finally dropped her first studio album “Querencia” on Monday, four years since her solo debut in 2017. “The fans and I have been waiting just too long. It feels all very unrealistic,” Chungha said on Monday during a press conference held in Seoul ahead of the release that afternoon. The singer seemed very calm, even slightly cautious, as she spoke on the stage. Her comeback, a year and eight months since she released the EP “Flourishing” in 201

K-popFeb. 16, 2021

Global K-pop fest KCON to again open online next month amid pandemic

KCON, a major K-pop and Korean culture festival that draws millions of viewers each season, will be held online again next month amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, its organizer said Tuesday. The third season of the online event, titled "KCON:TACT," will stream from March 20-28 through YouTube and the Mnet K-pop channel for global fans and on local over-the-top service Tving for domestic fans, according to South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM. It marks the third time CJ ENM

K-popFeb. 16, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] NCT 127 drops prerelease from 2nd Japanese EP

  NCT 127 unveiled the focus track from its forthcoming Japanese EP on Monday. 　 The song, titled “Gimme Gimme,” is a progressive hip-hop number and a direct statement from a guy in love. The video for “Gimme Gimme” will come out at 6 p.m. via the band’s YouTube channel, and the band will perform the song onstage for the first time at 10 p.m. Monday on the TBS music program “CDTV Live! Live!” 　 The EP, “Loveholic,” consists of six tra

K-popFeb. 15, 2021

SHINee, 2PM among boy bands poised to return to stage after military service

  In a country where enlisting in the military for two years is mandatory for all able-bodied men, the rule has long been an unavoidable hurdle for singers and actors in their 20s who are flourishing in their career heyday.    In that sense, having completed the two-year service can be an advantage for entertainers who are now eligible to plan long-term career goals. In the music industry, some major K-pop acts are set to return to the stage after members have successfully serve

K-popFeb. 13, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Rose gears up for solo gig

  Rose of Blackpink’s solo debut is likely to happen very soon, according to a local media on Wednesday. She has been signaling for a solo gig since last year and she unveiled “Gone,” thought to be the sub-title track from her upcoming own album, at the band’s first online streaming concert on Jan. 31.  Her company YG Entertainment confirmed that the musician has already finished shooting the music video for the title song from the album. It has spent one of t

K-popFeb. 10, 2021

BLACKPINK's debut full album rebounds to No. 59 on Billboard 200

K-pop megastar BLACKPINK's debut studio album has rebounded big on Billboard's main albums chart this week following its first online concert held late last month. "The Album" has resurged to No. 59 on the Billboard 200 chart updated Tuesday (US time), ascending 89 notches from a week before. It marks the 18th consecutive week the four-member band has stayed on the chart with its album since debuting at No. 2 in October, making history as a South Korean girl group. The album also sw

K-popFeb. 10, 2021

[Newsmaker] Big Hit, YG, UMG, Kiswe eye global market with online concert platform VenewLive

YG Entertainment and Universal Music Group have joined hands with Big Hit Entertainment and Kiswe to grow VenewLive into a global-scale digital livestreaming platform. YG Entertainment and Universal Music Group announced Wednesday that they had invested an undisclosed amount in KBYK Live, a joint venture founded last year by Big Hit Entertainment and Kiswe. KBYK Live created digital livestreaming concert service platform VenewLive last year, to much success, emphasizing the use of cutting-edge

K-popFeb. 10, 2021