'NCT 127: Limitless': first K-pop graphic novel to hit shelves in July Teaser for “NCT 127: Limitless” / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwa“NCT 127: Limitless,” the first graphic novel utilizing K-pop intellectual property (IP), will be released in July. According to NCT 127's management company, SM Entertainment, the upcoming graphic novel will center on the theme of “dream,” the keyword defining the musical universe of the K-pop group. Set in a concert venue in New York, “NCT 127: Limitless” portrays the members overcoming their fears in an enigmatic place where “dream and reality intersect.” SM has teamed up with New York-based graphic novel house Z2 Comics and global entertainment company Universal Music Group to launch NCT 127's graphic novel. According to U.S. media outlet Variety, Allison Goulet-Scott, Kayla Felty, 24X4 and Megan Huang have participated in the creative process. “NCT 127: Limitless” will be available in standard and deluxe hardcover editions. The latter will include the members' autographs on its cover as well as different art prints created by an illMar 16, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
'OMG' by NewJeans hits 200 mil. Spotify streams This image provided by K-pop label ADOR celebrates its girl group NewJeans topping 200 million streams on Spotify with "OMG," March 15. Yonhap"OMG," a hit song from rookie girl group NewJeans, has garnered 200 million streams on Spotify, the group's agency said Wednesday.The song had recorded 202,076,893 streams on the world's largest music streaming platform as of Monday, 70 days after its release on Jan. 2, ADOR said, citing data from the platform.This brought to three the number of the band's songs that have garnered more than 200 million streams, along with "Hype Boy," one of its debut singles, and "Ditto."The quintet's latest songs collected streams faster than the previous ones.It took 186 days for "Hype Boy" to reach 200 million streams but only 68 days for "Ditto," released in December, according to the agency.The group is expected to have all of its songs streamed more than 100 million times as "Attention" and "Cookie" have already hit the milestone and "Hurt," a track off the band's debut album "New Jeans," is on course to follow suit soon. (Yonhap)Mar 15, 2023
BTS' J-Hope ranks No. 60 on Billboard Hot 100 with 'on the street' A concept photo for BTS member J-Hope's digital solo single "on the street," provided by BigHit Music / Yonhap A new digital single from J-Hope of K-pop boy group BTS has debuted at 60th on the U.S. Billboard's main singles chart.According to the latest Billboard Hot 100 released Tuesday (U.S. time), J-Hope's "on the street" hit No. 60, becoming the highest-charting solo song from the dancer-rapper.It also marked his fourth entry to the chart with a solo piece, following "Chicken Noodle Soup," "MORE" and "Arson."Besides the Hot 100, "on the street" arrived at No. 2 on the Digital Song Sales chart, and No. 16 on both the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. chart this week.In Britain, the song debuted at No. 37 on the Official Singles Chart Top 100 for the week ending this Thursday.The BTS dancer-rapper dropped the tune featuring American rapper and producer J. Cole on March 3 as a surprise present to his fans ahead of his planned enlistment in the military.In Mar 15, 2023
NCT Dream to drop English version of 'Beatbox' this month K-pop boy group NCT Dream is seen in this photo provided by SM Entertainment. YonhapK-pop boy group NCT Dream will release an English language version of its 2022 song "Beatbox" this month, the group's agency said Tuesday.The new version will hit various music services in the world at 1 p.m. next Tuesday, SM Entertainment said."Beatbox," the original song, is the main single off the repackaged version of the septet's second full-length album released in May last year.The group will make the first live performance of the English version during its ongoing second world tour, "The Dream Show 2: In a Dream."The team is scheduled to return to Asia to perform in Hong Kong on March 24-25 after wrapping up the tour's European and American legs.Consisting of Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle and Jisung, NCT Dream debuted in 2016 with the song "Chewing Gum" as the third subunit of K-pop supergroup NCT. It has since released hit songs, such as "Glitch Mode," "Beatbox," "Hot Source," "Hello Future" and "We Go Up."The unit initially comprised members under the age of 20, but all seven mMar 14, 2023
REVIEW BoA dazzles fans in 'Musicality' concert unfazed by lingering cold K-pop diva BoA performs during the “THE BoA : Musicality” concert at Olympic Hall in southern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentSM Entertainment star celebrates 20th anniversary of debutBy Dong Sun-hwaJust like the title of her mega-hit, “No. 1” (2002), singer BoA proved that she is still one of the best players in the K-pop world during her concert at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul, Sunday. The SM Entertainment star was not in good shape due to a lingering cold. Her voice faltered and cracked during some of her performances, but this could not hinder the seasoned singer from boasting her vocal prowess. For BoA, taking the stage even though she was not in tip-top shape was a mission that she could handle with proficiency and composure. BoA, who debuted at the age of 13, is known as a trailblazer in promoting K-pop overseas. She is the first Korean to reign atop Oricon ― Japan's biggest pop chart ― with her first full-length album in Japan, “Listen to My Heart” (2002). In 2009, she became the first K-pop artist to make it onto BillboardMar 13, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
EXO's Kai to drop 'Rover' EP The cover image of EXO member Kai's upcoming EP, "Rover," released by SM Entertainment / YonhapKai, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, will put out a new individual EP, "Rover," on Monday.The EP slated to come out at 6 p.m. marks his first release as a soloist since his second EP, "Peaches," in November 2021.Kai, who debuted in 2012 as the main dancer of the nine-piece group managed by SM Entertainment, has gained popularity for his dance skills and solid performance. He is also the main dancer of SuperM, a project group managed by the same agency. He made his solo debut with his first EP, "Kai," in 2020.Unlike his previous EPs centered on groovy RB genre music, the upcoming one will show off his different musical colors as it contains songs of various genres, such as dance, hip-hop, RB and pop, SM said in a press release.EXO member Kai is seen in this concept photo for his third individual EP, "Rover," set to drop at 6 p.m. on March 13, provided by SM Entertainment. YonhapThe title track is a dance genre number featuring a heavy bass, marimba and bells and various other percussions. ItMar 13, 2023
BTS wins four medals at Japan Golden Disc Awards Members of K-pop boy band BTS pose for photographs during a news conference promoting their new album "BE(Deluxe Edition)" in Seoul, Korea, Nov. 20, 2020. Reuters-YonhapK-pop supergroup BTS has won four trophies at the 37th Japan Golden Disc Awards, BigHit Music, the group's agency, said Friday. The septet clinched Best Asian Artist presented by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for the fifth year in a row. It also grabbed Song of the Year by Download (Asia), Music Video of the Year (Asia) and one of the Best 3 Albums (Asia). BTS member Jungkook also won Song of the Year by Streaming (Western) for "Left and Right," a collaboration song with American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth. (Yonhap)Mar 10, 2023
BTS' RM featured in new song from Se So Neon leader Leader RM of K-pop supergroup BTS and So!YoOn! of indie rock band Se So Neon are seen in a teaser image for "Smoke Sprite," the main track of the latter's upcoming new solo album, provided by Magic Strawberry Sound. YonhapK-pop superstar RM participated in "Smoke Sprite," a new solo single from indie rock duo Se So Neon's leader So!YoOn!, as the featured artist, the band's agency said Thursday.Magic Strawberry Sound also unveiled a teaser image for the song's music video in which RM, leader of the K-pop septet BTS, and So!YoON! stand back-to-back. "Smoke Sprite" is the main track of her second individual full-length album, "Episode 1: Love," set to drop Tuesday at 6 p.m.The rapper also took part in composing the song and writing its lyrics with So!YoON!. (Yonhap)Mar 9, 2023
NewJeans songs surpass 1 bil. streams on Spotify This image provided by K-pop label ADOR celebrates its girl group NewJeans topping 1 million streams on Spotify with its six songs, March 9. YonhapK-pop rookie NewJeans' songs have exceeded more than 1 billion combined streams on Spotify, its management agency said Thursday.The girl group recorded 107,788,873 streams on the global music streaming service as of Tuesday with six songs that it has released since its debut in August, ADOR said.According to the agency, the quintet's latest songs collected streams faster than the previous ones.For instance, the agency said, it took 186 days for "Hype Boy," one of the group's debut singles, to reach 200 million streams but only 68 days for "Ditto," released in December. The group is expected to have all of its songs streamed more than 100 million times as "Hurt," a track off the band's debut album "New Jeans," is on course to hit the milestone soon. (Yonhap)Mar 9, 2023
TWICE secures largest preorders in career with 'Ready to Be' This photo provided by JYP Entertainment shows the online cover of K-pop girl group TWICE's upcoming EP "Ready to Be." YonhapK-pop girl group TWICE has broken its own album preorder records with upcoming EP "Ready to Be," the group's management agency said Wednesday."Ready to Be," the band's 12th EP set to drop Friday, surpassed 1.7 million copies in preorders as of Tuesday, heralding another million seller from the group after "Between 12" released in August, according to JYP Entertainment.The album's prereleased English-language single, "Moonlight Sunrise," reached No. 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 albums chart last month."Set Me Free," the main track of the album, is about a girl who falls in love, which makes her feel herself, and resolves to bet everything to protect her feeling of love, according to the agency.The nine-piece group will give the first live performance of the song in U.S. NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Thursday and hold a live performance in New York on Saturday to mark the album's release. In April, the band will kick off its fifth world tour thMar 8, 2023
