[Today’s K-pop] BTS nominated for 3 iHeartRadio awards

BTS became candidates for iHeartRadio Music Awards in three categories, according to a list that became public Friday. 　 The band is one of the nominees for best duo/group of the year, alongside Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers, Dan + Shay and twenty one pilots. It is also up for two socially voted categories: best music video for “Dynamite” and best fan army for its fandom called Army. The septet was the winner for both categories last year. 　 Its choreographer Son Sungdeuk also got a n

K-popApril 9, 2021

Video saved the K-pop stars: Brave Girls reborn via YouTube

GWACHEON (AFP) -- The Brave Girls were losing courage just weeks ago, on the verge of breaking up and abandoning their dreams of K-pop stardom after years of going nowhere. Then a pseudonymous YouTuber called Viditor uploaded a compilation of them performing on South Korean army bases -- and saved their careers. "Rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin'/I am waiting for you/Babe just only you," they chant, as wildly enthusiastic uniformed conscripts dance and wave glow-sticks. It went viral

K-popApril 9, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] EXO to release album to mark 9th anniversary

EXO is preparing to release a new album in the first half of the year, according to label SM Entertainment. 　 The company uploaded a clip of a cake with nine candles to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the band’s debut on Thursday. A piece of the cake is lifted to reveal a universe, and when the candles are blown out, the camera turns to focus on a planet. 　 Along with it came a teaser snippet, in which the bandmates gave a sneak peek of a music video. 　 “It’s a space ai

K-popApril 8, 2021

Boy band TXT to perform on Ellen DeGeneres show in latest global push

K-pop act Tomorrow X Together (TXT) is set to appear on the popular US show "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" as part of its latest global promotion drive, the group's agency said Thursday. The boy band will perform "We Lost the Summer," the main track of its third EP "Minisode 1: Blue Hour" on April 16 (US time), in its first-ever appearance on an American talk show, according to Big Hit Music. TXT made its first American television outing on cable music network MTV's &

K-popApril 8, 2021

'Fake Love' becomes 4th BTS video to top 900m views

The music video for the 2018 BTS hit "Fake Love" has earned 900 million views on YouTube, becoming the group's fourth song to reach the milestone, their agency said Thursday. "Fake Love," the main track for the seven-piece act's third full album "Love Yourself: Tear," hit 900 million views at 10:39 a.m. on Thursday, according to Big Hit Music. The album had stayed on Billboard's main albums chart for 15 consecutive weeks after peaking at No. 1, while "Fake Lo

K-popApril 8, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Z.flat sings of himself with new single

Z.flat discussed his new music in a showcase Wednesday, one day before the release of single “Day And Night.”   　 “I want fans to listen to it as a starting point to see what kind of music an artist named Z.flat wants to make from now on,” he said.   　 He stepped into the music scene about five months ago and instantly came into the spotlight as the son of late Choi Jinsil, one of the best-known actresses in Korea, and the late Cho Sungmin, a top baseball playe

K-popApril 7, 2021

New BTS song 'Film Out' tops Japan's Oricon weekly chart

A new Japanese single by global K-pop dynamite BTS has topped a weekly digital single chart in Japan, the band's agency said Wednesday. "Film Out" hit No. 1 on Oricon's weekly digital singles ranking compiled between March 29 and April 4, with 32,947 downloads, according to Big Hit Music. While the seven-piece act has reigned atop the Oricon's weekly digital album and streaming rankings, it marks its first No. 1 on the weekly digital singles chart. The Japanese single, released las

K-popApril 7, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Astro aims high with 2nd LP

  Astro held an online media conference in time for the release of its second studio album “All Yours” on Tuesday.   　 “We are coming out with a new full-length album for the first time in two years and three months. It has been so long since the first LP so we put a lot of effort into it,” said Jinjin.   　 It is the first time three songs written by different members are in one album, MJ said, adding that it was one of the challenges they undertook. Jinj

K-popApril 6, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Baekhyun tops iTunes charts in 60 regions

  Baekhyun of EXO swept across charts at home and abroad with his third EP “Bambi.” 　 The EP was unveiled Friday and landed at the top of all weekly and monthly charts in Korea. It also topped iTunes top albums chart in 60 regions, and the musician became the first K-pop male act to record double platinum, with sales over 2 million Chinese yuan, on China’s largest music site QQ Music. 　 His second solo EP “Delight” was a million seller and “Bambi”

K-popApril 5, 2021

K-pop songstress IU dominates music charts with new, old songs

K-pop songstress IU has swept major music charts here with her latest album and past releases, landing more than 15 songs in the top 100 simultaneously. The 28-year-old soloist placed 16 songs in the top 100 on the latest daily music charts by streaming services Melon and Genie Music, refreshed Saturday, including all 10 tracks of her new album "Lilac." "Lilac," the main track of her new studio album also titled "Lilac," topped both charts, followed by the pre-rel

K-popApril 5, 2021

SHINee's weekend online concert draws fans from 120 countries

K-pop boy band SHINee's livestream concert held on Sunday attracted some 130,000 fans from 120 countries, its agency said Monday. Fans from countries like the United States, Japan and Italy joined the online concert "Beyond Live - SHINEE: SHINee World" streamed worldwide via Naver V Live on Sunday, according to SM Entertainment. Hashtags like #SHINee and #SHINee_BeyondLive were top trending keywords among Twitter users in countries like Colombia, Canada and New Zealand during the con

K-popApril 5, 2021

New Japanese single by BTS tops iTunes charts in 97 countries

A new Japanese single by global K-pop sensation BTS has topped iTunes charts in 97 countries and regions, the group's agency said Sunday. According to Big Hit Music, "Film Out" also debuted at No. 1 on Oricon's daily digital singles chart in Japan, with 23,344 downloads. The single also reached the top of major Japanese streaming sites, such as Line Music, AWA and mora. "Film Out" was released last Friday, with its music video also uploaded on YouTube the same day. It garn

K-popApril 4, 2021

Busan's annual K-pop fest to kick off online next month

BUSAN -- The Busan One Asia Festival (BOF), a major annual K-pop event, will kick off online next month in this southeastern port city due to concerns over the new coronavirus pandemic, organizers said Sunday. According to the Busan Tourism Organization, BOF 2021 will be streamed online from May 6-9 from the second-biggest South Korean city, about 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to reach more fans amid the pandemic. The festival's three main events -- K-pop Concert, Park Concert and BOF Lan

K-popApril 4, 2021

EXO's Baekhyun to join military next month

Baekhyun, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, will join the military next month to fulfill his mandatory military service, his agency said Saturday. The 28-year-old singer is set to enlist on May 6, according to SM Entertainment. The agency did not elaborate further on the venue and schedule of the enlistment. Baekhyun released his third solo EP "Bambi" last week, following his million-seller "Delight" in 2020. He will be the sixth EXO member to enlist in the military after Xi

K-popApril 3, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids rocks stage on “Kingdom: Legendary War”

Stray Kids rocked out during the first episode of the Mnet boy band competition program “Kingdom: Legendary War” on Thursday. 　 The band was one of six groups -- along with iKON, BTOB, SF9, Ateez and first season winner The Boyz – competing in the second edition of the show. 　 In the first episode, each group was given 100 seconds of “face-to-face time” and a chance to perform their chart-toppers. Stray Kids chose a rearranged version of “Miroh,” i

K-popApril 2, 2021

K-pop boy band Seventeen shines in 1st performance on Ellen DeGeneres show

K-pop boy band Seventeen made its first appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Thursday (US time), giving a performance of its 2019 smash song "Hit." The 13-member group, in black leather outfits, delivered a pre-recorded performance of its EDM number on the popular American talk show. The segment, which Seventeen described as involving "the toughest choreography out of all its performances," was filmed at an outdoor sports stadium in South Korea. In an inte

K-popApril 2, 2021

Mnet’s ‘Kingdom: Legendary War’ to be a global K-pop festival amid COVID-19

Six K-pop boy bands will be vying for the final crown in Mnet’s new “Kingdom: Legendary War,” which is set to air its first episode at 7:50 p.m. Thursday. Program producers and participants conducted an online press conference ahead of its premiere that day. A male counterpart to Mnet’s 2019 female idol competition “Queendom,” “Kingdom: Legendary War” features six popular boy bands: BTOB, iKON, SF9, the Boyz, Stray Kids and Ateez. The Boyz won t

K-popApril 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Rose to unveil video for “Gone”

  Rose will float the video for “Gone” on April 5, announced label YG Entertainment with a poster on Thursday. 　 “Gone” is the second track from her solo debut record, “R,” and the 33-second teaser snippet surpassed 50 million views on YouTube. 　 The performer sings of the sadness of finally letting go of a person who has left her. She keeps the arrangement minimal and makes the most of her moving voice. 　 She performed “Gone” for the first

K-popApril 1, 2021

BTS becomes 1st Korean artist to be nominated for Brit Awards

K-pop sensation BTS has added another feat to its long list of accolades, becoming the first Korean artist to be nominated for the annual Brit Awards. The seven-piece act was nominated for the international group award, alongside musicians Fontaines D.C., four-time winner Foo Fighters, HAIM and Run the Jewels. Past winners in the category include prominent acts like Bon Jovi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2 and Daft Punk. This year's awards ceremony, which was postponed due to the pandemic, is sche

K-popApril 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee to unveil repackaged 7th LP

Shinee is putting out a repackaged version of its recently released seventh studio album “Atlantis,” SM Entertainment said Wednesday. 　 It will include nine tracks from the LP “Don’t Call Me” as well as three new songs: “Atlantis,” “Area” and “Days and Years.” 　 The veteran idol group came out with new music for the first time in 2 1/2 years and topped iTunes top albums chart in 47 regions. 　 It will host its first virtual conc

K-popMarch 31, 2021