HYBE's new girl group Tuide to debut Aug. 24 with EP 'Tune & Play'HYBE's new girl group label ABD will debut its first act, Tuide, on Aug. 24 with the release of its debut EP, "Tune & Play," the agency said. The seven-member group — Seohee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah and Yi Hani — will release the mini album at 6 p.m. ABD said the title reflects the group's concept: tuning different musical languages into a single rhythm, then maximizing the joy found within that harmony. The label said the sound is meant to cross the boundaries of generation, culture and language and bring a new current to the global music scene. Tuide revealed its members' visuals Sunday through a set of introduction photos and a video titled "Introductions: WE TUIDE," posted to the group's official social media accounts. In the clip, the members chant the group's name in multiple languages over a minimalist beat that shifts between Korean, English, Japanese and French. The members come from Korea, the United States, Britain and Japan, and were all born between 2006 and 2011. ABD said the mix of backgrounds and personalities is meant to give Tuide a distinct group identityAug 3, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Jennie captivates Chicago with history-making Lollapalooza setUnder the glittering summer sky of Grant Park on Saturday night, BLACKPINK member and fashion icon Jennie entered the history books. Closing out the main Bud Light Stage at Lollapalooza Chicago, Jennie delivered an electrifying, hourlong headline set that solidified her standing as a global star, capping off the night with the surprise debut of an unreleased track. With this performance, Jennie became the first Korean female solo artist to headline North America’s premier music festival. The flagship stage she commanded is steeped in rock and pop royalty, having previously hosted legendary acts like Coldplay, The Cure and The Weeknd. Jennie met the historical weight of the moment with effortless swagger and full live-band backing, powering through an 18-song set list that reimagined her catalog for a festival crowd exceeding 100,000. The performance marked her first live appearance following the release of her hit single, "Less than a Lover." As the opening synth line echoed across the lawn, the crowd erupted into a thunderous sing-along, proving that her solo output resonates as deeAug 3, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Seventeen's Dino to debut alter ego 'Picheolin'Dino, the youngest member of K-pop boy band Seventeen, will drop his debut album as alter ego "Picheolin" on Monday, his agency Pledis Entertainment said. "Gilboard," the first EP from the persona, reinterprets 1990s Korean street music culture through a blend of EDM trap, city pop and new jack swing genres, infusing the tracks with a distinctively Korean sense of "heung" — a term denoting spirited fun, according to the agency. The EP's name combines the Chinese character for auspicious, "gil," and the English word "board" from the U.S. Billboard music chart. It refers to a tacit '90s music ranking based on how often street vendors selling bootleg cassette tapes blasted a song through large speakers to attract passersby. The grassroots ranking was considered a much more accurate indicator of a track's actual popularity than official broadcast rankings or album sales. "Picheolin" is portrayed as an enthusiastic '90s-style producer and the CEO of a fictional K-pop agency, Bong. The character has been developed through Dino's various content and performances. The lead track, "Norabose" (LAug 3, 2026By Yonhap
Grammys removes BTS' videos following boycottThe Recording Academy, the host of the Grammy Awards, has sparked backlash after removing historic performance videos of BTS from its official website, shortly after the superstar K-pop band announced it would not submit its music to the music awards for next year. On the official Grammys website, live recordings of the group’s hit songs "Dynamite" from 2021 and "Butter" from 2022 were no longer accessible. While these videos can still be viewed on the group's official channels, their absence from the Grammys site has raised questions among fans. The Recording Academy has not commented on the change. The quiet video removals came immediately after all seven members of BTS issued a joint statement on July 29 confirming they will not submit any music for the 69th Grammy Awards, set for Feb. 7, 2027. "We decided not to submit our work for the upcoming Grammy Awards," the group said. "We hope that music can be appreciated and loved for what it is, without being divided by region or language." The group’s boycott is widely seen as a protest against the Recording Academy’s newly establishAug 2, 2026By Baek Byung-yeul
Jimin's 'Who' hits 2.5 bil. streams on SpotifyBTS member Jimin's solo track "Who" has officially surpassed 2.5 billion streams on Spotify, his agency said Saturday. Released in July 2024 as the lead track from his second solo album, "Muse," the song reached the milestone on Thursday, becoming his most-streamed track, according to BigHit Music. The track, which blends hip-hop and R&B genres, explores the longing and uncertainty of searching for someone the narrator has yet to meet. "Who" debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, before climbing to a peak of No. 12 the following week, and spent a total of 33 weeks on the chart.Aug 1, 2026By Yonhap
BTS' 'Aliens' sweeps iTunes charts worldwide after Grammy withdrawalBTS' "Aliens," a B-side from the boy band's fifth studio album "ARIRANG," has topped iTunes Top Songs charts in 78 regions, propelled by fans rallying behind the septet's decision to withdraw from next year's Grammy Awards. The seven members announced their withdrawal Wednesday through identical statements posted to their individual Instagram accounts, saying they hope their music "can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language." Within hours, the group's official fandom, ARMY, launched a coordinated streaming campaign, sending the track to No. 1 in countries including the U.S., the U.K., France, Brazil, India and Australia. The Korean-language song, which likens the group's journey through the global pop industry to aliens landing on Earth, reflects the identity struggles the members have faced as Korean artists in Western markets. Its lyrics are now being reread as a pointed rebuke of what critics call the Grammys' attempt to place K-pop in a separate "Asian pop" lane. Support has also poured in from within the U.S. industry. Mike WiLL Made-It, tJul 31, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Seolhyun channels her AOA days in latest summer lookFormer AOA member Seolhyun is beating the summer heat in style. On Wednesday, the singer and actor shared a series of photos on Instagram, captioning the post, “Take that, muggy summer.” In the snaps, Seolhyun enjoys a laid-back afternoon at an outdoor cafe, posing with a book and flashing a playful peace sign. She wore a blue short-sleeved top paired with a knee-length dress, creating a summer look that is both breezy and adorable. With light makeup letting her features shine, the former K-pop idol shows off the same radiant beauty fans remember from her AOA days. The star will next appear in Netflix’s “Tantara,” set to premiere later this year. This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.Jul 31, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS spent years chasing Grammys; Now tables have turnedFor years, BTS spoke openly of the Grammys as a goal. On Wednesday, the group walked away from them at the very moment it appeared likeliest to finally win. In a joint statement posted to their individual Instagram accounts Wednesday, the seven BTS members said they have decided not to submit anything to the Grammys this year, adding that they hope music "can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language." The announcement came just over a month after the Recording Academy unveiled five new categories for the 69th Grammy Awards, among them Best Asian Pop Music Performance, a prize for performances rooted in Asian markets that make "meaningful use" of one or more Asian languages. The statement did not name the category, but has been widely read as a response to it. The decision carries the weight of history. Between 2021 and 2023, BTS collected five Grammy nominations without a win for "Dynamite," "Butter," "My Universe" or "Yet to Come" and the group's credited work on Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres." Each cycle, the members described the Grammys asJul 30, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Grammys defend new Asian pop category after BTS boycottThe U.S. Recording Academy has defended its creation of a new Asian pop category after K-pop supergroup BTS announced it will not compete at the upcoming Grammy Awards in an apparent protest against the move. Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, issued a statement on Wednesday (U.S. time) expressing sadness over the group's decision while respecting its choice. "I am saddened to hear that BTS has chosen not to participate in the Grammy Awards process this year, but as a music creator, I understand and respect their decision," he said in a statement posted on the Grammys' Instagram account. The academy's response came a day after the K-pop septet declined to submit their music for consideration at the 69th Grammy Awards slated for February 2027, voicing hope that music could be "heard and loved for what it is, rather than categorized by region or language." The band did not explicitly mention the reason for skipping the ceremony, but the move was widely seen as a protest against the creation of the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category that critics say risks segregating nonJul 30, 2026By Yonhap
BTS' 'Idol' music video tops 1.4 bil. YouTube viewsThe music video for K-pop supergroup BTS' 2018 hit "Idol" has surpassed 1.4 billion views on YouTube. The video hit the milestone at about 9:20 p.m., becoming the band's fifth music video with more than 1.4 billion views, according to the group's agency, BigHit Music. "Idol" is the lead track off "Love Yourself: Answer," the repackaged version of the group's third full-length album, "Love Yourself: Tear," released in August 2018. The song blends South African house beats with traditional Korean rhythmic patterns and call-and-response chants known as "chuimsae," typically shouted by audiences in traditional Korean performances to encourage performers. In "Idol," the group incorporates these chants as part of the lyrics themselves, creating a fusion that resonated globally while retaining a distinctly Korean identity The song is also included in the setlist of BTS' ongoing "ARIRANG" world tour, which began in April.Jul 30, 2026By Yonhap
