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Boy bands brace for chart war in May
Jin from K-pop juggernaut BTS, left, and five-member boy band TOMORROW X TOGETHER / Courtesy of BigHit Music
By Pyo Kyung-min
May is shaping up to be a massive month for K-pop boy bands, with high-profile comebacks, milestone albums and fast-rising rookies all crowding the calendar.
The return parade kicks off May 2 with TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), the polished five-member group under HYBE Labels.
The band first teased its comeback during a set at Mexico's AXE Ceremonia festival, where they thrilled fans with a surprise date reveal. The group then confirmed this week that a digital single titled "Love Language" is officially on the way.
The track is described as "a breezy love song powered by the group's signature energy," according to BigHit Music, TXT's label.
K-pop boy group BOYNEXTDOOR / Courtesy of KOZ Entertainment
From there, two of the scene's buzziest rookie groups — SM Entertainment's RIIZE and BOYNEXTDOOR from KOZ Entertainment, a HYBE subsidiary — are set for a head-to-head clash in May.
RIIZE is preparing its first full-length album for release later in May. While the title and release date remain under wraps, the album will mark the group's first new release in 11 months, following the popular June 2024 drop, "RIIZING."
BOYNEXTDOOR will also return with its fourth mini album, "No Genre," set for release on May 13. The six-member group has steadily gained traction since debuting under KOZ, with its January single, "IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU," charting locally and building momentum for its upcoming release.
Thirteen-piece K-pop act Seventeen / Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment
K-pop juggernaut BTS is also partially reentering the spotlight.
Jin, the band's eldest member, will release his second solo EP, "Echo," on May 16. The album includes seven tracks built around band sounds and genre-blending styles, promising an expansive sonic palette from the BTS vocalist.
Jin will also hit the road in June, starting with a two-night fan concert on June 28 and 29 at Goyang Sports Complex, west of Seoul. The tour will include 18 stops across Japan, the U.S., the U.K. and other countries, bringing the star's solo stage to fans worldwide.
Another global heavyweight, Seventeen, will be marking a major milestone next month. On May 26 — the band's 10th debut anniversary — the 13-member group will release its fifth studio album, "HAPPY BURSTDAY."
Eleven members will participate in the comeback, with Wonwoo and Jeonghan currently on military duty.
JYP Entertainment's newest boy band KickFlip / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
Also entering the fray is KickFlip, the newest addition to JYP Entertainment's boy band roster after Stray Kids. Since its debut in January, the boy band announced its return in late May with a follow-up release, with further details yet to be disclosed.
Joining the crowded slate is P1Harmony, a five-year veteran group from FNC Entertainment. The group will release its eighth mini album, "DUH!," on May 8, marking its return eight months after their last single, "SAD SONG."