Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADORNewJeans defies 'standardized K-pop formula'By Dong Sun-hwaFrom “phenomenon” to “game changer,” rookie K-pop girl group NewJeans has earned the types of monikers that all singers crave, shortly after making its debut last August. “Attention” and “Hype Boy,” the two lead singles of the quintet's self-titled debut EP, have surpassed 100 million and 200 million streams, respectively, on Spotify, the world's largest music streaming platform. “Cookie,” another lead track from the same EP, was named on The New York Times' Best Songs of 2022 list. On Jan. 17, the group also made it onto Billboard's main singles chart only about six months after bursting onto the music scene, becoming the fastest K-pop act to pull off the feat. “Ditto,” a tune featured in NewJeans' January EP, “OMG,” debuted at No. 96. A week later, “OMG,” the lead track from the EP of the same name, also landed on the same chart, grabbing the No. 91 spot. It even climbed up to No. 79 onFeb 6, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
TXT secures first No. 1 on Billboard 200 for 'Temptation' K-pop boy group Tomorrow X Together / YonhapBoy group Tomorrow X Together claimed the first No. 1 in its career on Billboard 200 as its latest album, "The Name Chapter: Temptation," debuted atop the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart.Billboard said Sunday (U.S. time) the Korean band topped the upcoming Billboard 200 chart for this week for the first time since its debut in March 2019.The EP earned 161,500 equivalent album units in the United States, largely driven by CD album sales, it said, citing data from Luminate.The chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the country, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical album sales and other digital sales records.TXT attends the 2022 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California in this Nov. 20, 2022 file photo. AFP-YonhapIt became the fifth K-pop act to achieve the feat, following BTS in 2018, SuperM in 2019, Stray Kids in 2022 and BLACKPINK in 2022.The achievement by TXT made its management agency, BigHit Music, the only K-pop agency to chart two or more teams that it manages on the BillboaFeb 6, 2023
'Hype Boy' by NewJeans reaches 200 mil. Spotify streams K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR "Hype Boy," one of the debut singles by newbie girl group NewJeans, has garnered 200 million streams on Spotify, the group's agency said Sunday.The song had hit 210,116,556 streams on the world's largest music streaming platform as of Friday, 186 days after its release in August, ADOR said.It added that two other NewJeans debut singles, "Attention" and "Ditto," have also garnered 100 million streams each on Spotify. (Yonhap)Feb 5, 2023
TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart K-pop groups TXT, top, and Le Sserafim topped Oricon weekly combined charts. Yonhap, Courtesy of Source MusicBy Lee Gyu-leeK-pop groups TXT and Le Sserafim have topped the Oricon weekly combined charts for albums and singles respectively. According to the chart by the Japanese music company, Oricon, released Friday, TXT landed No.1 on the weekly combined album chart for the last week of January ― from Jan. 23 to 29 ― with its fifth mini-album “The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION.” The combined chart evaluates an album's total performance from sales of the copy, digital downloads, and streaming counts to rank them. Since its Jan. 27 release, the record topped a separate weekly album chart earlier this week, becoming the first foreign artist to top the chart for seven consecutive times. Five-pieced girl group, Le Sserafim, has notched the first spot on its weekly combined singles chart with the Japanese debut single “FEARLESS,” the same week topping three times in the Weekly Singles and Daily Singles Charts. The group's Japanese language single sold about 222,000 copieFeb 4, 2023By Lee Gyu-lee
BTS' J-Hope tries long hair in photo book to be released this month J-Hope is seen in this promotional poster for his upcoming photo book, "All New Hope," provided by BigHit Music. YonhapK-pop megastars BTS will unveil a photo book this month featuring images of member J-Hope, the group's management agency said Thursday.The photo book, titled "All New Hope," will come out Feb. 17 as part of the septet's "Special 8 Photo-Folio" project launched in September to show off the group members' individual characters and new sides, BigHit Music said in a release.J-Hope also released a concept film for the forthcoming photo book on social media the same day, surprising fans with his long hairstyle in one of the images.Five other members ― Jungkook, RM, Jimin, Jin and V ― have published their individual photo books under the project. (Yonhap)Feb 2, 2023
Girl group NewJeans sweeps top 3 spots on Melon's monthly chart for Jan. K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADOR Three new songs from K-pop rookie NewJeans exploded onto the latest monthly chart of Melon, Korea's largest music streaming service. The girl group swept the top three spots, with "Ditto" debuting at No. 1, followed by "OMG" and "Hype Boy," according to the chart released Wednesday.The first two songs make up the group's first single, "OMG," released Jan. 2, while the third was from the quintet's debut EP, "New Jeans," released in August. Soloist Yoonha's "Event Horizon" debuted at No. 4 and "Antifragile" by girl group Le Sserafim came in fifth. NewJeans also launched "Attention," also off the debut EP, into the top 10 at No. 7.Out of the country, "OMG" ranked 79th and "Ditto" 89th on the latest Billboard Hot 100, making the quintet the third K-pop act to have two songs on the chart at the same time.In Britain, "Ditto" stayed for two consecutive weeks on the Official Singles Chart Top 100. (Yonhap)Feb 2, 2023
PULL UP: VIVIZ returns with new song about gossipers Members of K-pop trio VIVIZ pose during a press event at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Big Planet MadeVIVIZ rolls out 3rd mini-album 'VarioUS'By Dong Sun-hwaIn its new tune, “PULL UP,” K-pop trio VIVIZ sends a bold message to people who love talking behind its back, telling them it does not matter what they say. “In the music video for 'PULL UP,' we strike back at backstabbers in an adorable and delightful way,” member Eunha said during a press event at YES24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul's Gwangjin District, Tuesday. “I hope people can feel liberated after watching it. Personally speaking, I do not really mind what gossipers say.”Her bandmate Umji added, “Unlike Eunha, I actually do care about their words … I think 'PULL UP' can be helpful for those who find it hard to ignore the hurtful words of others, as its lyrics tell them to be bold and just walk their own path.” “PULL UP,” the lead single off VIVIZ's third mini-album, “VarioUS,” is a groovy song peppereFeb 1, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
TWICE becomes first K-pop group to win Billboard Women in Music award K-pop girl group TWICE / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaTWICE will receive the Breakthrough Artist award at the upcoming Billboard Women in Music Awards, becoming the first K-pop group to be honored at this annual event. This year's awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, March 1 (local time). The Billboard Women in Music Awards were established in 2007 to recognize rising female artists, creators, producers and executives who have made remarkable contributions to the music industry with their works and successes.In the case of the Breakthrough Artist award, it is given to those who have risen to prominence in the music scene after taking on a challenge. “Following in the footsteps of previous winners like Idina Menzel, Tori Kelly, Maren Morris and Camila Cabello, TWICE has demonstrated its global influence as a K-pop artist,” TWICE's management company JYP Entertainment said in a statement, Tuesday. In 2022, the nine-piece act, consisting of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, ChaeyoJan 31, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
Le Sserafim's first Japanese single tops Japan's weekly chart K-pop girl group Le Sserafim is seen in this photo provided by its entertainment agency, Source Music. YonhapK-pop girl group Le Sserafim's first Japanese-language single "Fearless" ranked No. 1 on Oricon's weekly singles chart, its agency, Source Music, said Tuesday.It is the first time in five years and three months that a foreign female artist has topped Japan's main music chart with its debut album. "Fearless" sold about 22,200 copies in the first week of its release, breaking the previous record high set by Korean-Japanese girl group IZ*ONE. Two IZ*ONE members, Chaewon and Sakura, joined LeSserafim, which debuted in May 2022.The K-pop quintet is one of the rising girl groups that has entered major music charts in the United States and Japan with its debut EP, "Fearless," and second EP, "Antifragile." (Yonhap)Jan 31, 2023
K-pop releases for February The teaser for BSS' upcoming release, “Second Wind” / Courtesy of Pledis EntertainmentBSS, Key, The Boyz to put out new music offerings By Dong Sun-hwaPicking up the baton from GOT the Beat, NewJeans and Monsta X ― which heated up the K-pop scene with their new music offerings in January ― a crop of other stars will electrify music fans with their fresh songs and albums in February. Included in the lineup are BSS, a sub-unit of K-pop act SEVENTEEN, Key of boy band SHINee and the 11-piece group, The Boyz. BSS is scheduled to put out its new release, “Second Wind,” on Feb. 6, according to its management company, Pledis Entertainment. BSS is the initials of the names of three SEVENTEEN members, who belong to this sub-unit: Boo Seung-kwan, Lee Seok-min (whose stage name is DK), and Kwon Soon-young (whose stage name is Hoshi). “'Second Wind' refers to a second breath or new vitality,” Pledis explained in a statement. “For its upcoming song, BSS will transform itself into a pep squad and bring laughter and energy to people, helping them get their sJan 30, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
