BLACKPINK's Jisoo to make solo debut this year K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Jisoo / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentJisoo will become the last member of the top K-pop girl group BLACKPINK to debut as a soloist this year, the group's agency said Monday. "BLACKPINK's Jisoo is now stepping up work to record her solo album," YG Entertainment said in a release."She has been working on music from time to time and finished shooting for photos for the album's cover in order to keep her promise with fans while being under a tight schedule for the team's world tour. She will soon visit you with good news," it added.The three other members of the quartet ― Jennie, Rose and Lisa ― have debuted as soloists.BLACKPINK is currently on a large-scale world tour that's expected to attract some 1.5 million global fans. The group finished the North American and European legs of the tour last year, and will perform in Asia and Oceania in the first half of this year. (Yonhap)Jan 2, 2023
NewJeans release new single 'OMG' K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADORK-pop rookie NewJeans will put out a new single, titled "OMG," Monday after a successful debut year, the group's agency said.According to ADOR, "OMG" is a bouncy and exciting hip-hop RB song that mixes hip-hop drum and percussion sounds with UK garage and trap rhythmsIts lyrics depict a strange sense of distance, caution and unfamiliarity that coexists in a girl's mind with the desire to get close to her love interest, the agency said.K-pop girl group NewJeans / Courtesy of ADORThe five-piece multinational group debuted with its first EP, "New Jeans," in July and rose to stardom as "Attention" and "Hype Boy," two of the album's three main tracks, dominated local music charts."Ditto," a new song released last month, also topped charts of major music streaming services, including Melon. It also reached No. 17 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. and No. 36 on the Billboard Global 200.The song will be included in the upcoming single album set to be out at 6 p.m. (Yonhap)Jan 2, 2023
'Let's plant trees': SM Entertainment spearheads green movement in K-pop industry SM Entertainment Founder/Executive Producer Lee Soo-man speaks during the “SM Sustainability Forum,” Sunday. Courtesy of SM EntertainmentSM holds 'Sustainability Forum,' free online concert on the first day of 2023By Dong Sun-hwaUshering in 2023, K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment has vowed to tackle the climate crisis and ensure environmental sustainability in cooperation with its artists and their international fans. Its first step is to plant trees, according to the company's founder and executive producer Lee Soo-man.“A song can change one's life. In the same way, one tree can change the world,” Lee said during the “SM Sustainability Forum” that took place online, Sunday. This is the first time that a Korean entertainment company has organized such an event, which was livestreamed to some 470,000 people in 105 countries on YouTube.“Planting trees can reduce carbon emissions and prevent desertification,” he explained. “So the tree-planting movement led by K-pop and hallyu, or the Korean Wave, can become a catalyst for a better, Jan 1, 2023By Dong Sun-hwa
After BIGBANG, boy group iKON to leave YG Entertainment K-pop group iKON / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentAll six members of K-pop boy group iKON will leave YG Entertainment with the expiration of their seven-year contracts with the agency, the company said Friday."After a long discussion about their future activities with iKON members (Bobby, Jay, June, Song, DK and Chan), we have agreed to end the exclusive management contracts with them in respect of each other's opinions," YG Entertainment said in a press release.It expressed thanks to the band for being with the agency as its artist and said it will support the band's activities in various fields in the future.IKON debuted in 2015 as a seven-member group with the digital single "My Type" and has released hit songs, such as "Rhythm Ta," "Love Scenario" and "Killing Me." The team leader B.I, however, left the group over a drug scandal in 2019. In September last year, he was sentenced to three years of imprisonment, suspended for four years, for his purchase of marijuana and LSD in 2016. Bobby of K-pop boy group iKON / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentAlso in 2021, member Bobby puzzled fans by Dec 30, 2022
From 'Candy' to 'Monologue,' remakes of 1990s-2000s hits take music scene by storm K-pop boy band NCT DREAM / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaRemakes of the hits from the 1990s and 2000s are creating a splash in the K-pop scene, enthralling fans from all generations. K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment's boy band, NCT DREAM, put out a track titled, “Candy” on Dec. 16, which is a remake of boy group H.O.T.'s 1996 hit of the same name. H.O.T. was also created by SM in 1996 and the quintet ― comprised of Moon Hee-joon, Jang Woo-hyuk, Tony Ahn, Lee Jae-won and Kangta ― basked in immense popularity as a first-generation K-pop group, selling more than 6.4 million records during their five-year career. Upon its release, “Candy” ranked first on the Top 100 Chart of the major music streaming platforms including Melon. It is one of the most striking musical feats by a boy band this year, given that the majority of streaming charts here had been dominated by girl groups like NewJeans, IVE and Le Sserafim throughout the year.Just like the acts of yesteryear, NCT DREAM members also don oversized fur gloves and fur suspenders for their “CanDec 29, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
NCT 127 to appear on CNN's 'New Year's Eve Live' K-pop boy band NCT 127 / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentK-pop boy band NCT 127 will appear on U.S. broadcaster CNN's special live global coverage for New Year's Eve celebrations, the group's management agency said Wednesday.NCT 127 will join an interview with host Kristie Lu Stout during "New Year's Eve Live" slated for Saturday (local time) to send New Year's greetings to fans and share their plans for the next year, SM Entertainment said. The nine-member group debuted in 2016 as a subunit of the umbrella boy band NCT. While based in Seoul, it has also gained a large following overseas, especially in the United States. (Yonhap)Dec 28, 2022
BIGBANG members disperse, but will still be part of group K-pop boy group BIGBANG / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaTwo members of the iconic K-pop boy group BIGBANG have left their management company, YG Entertainment, but their fans will still be able to see them perform as a group. YG said Tuesday that member Daesung has terminated his contract with the company. The news about Daesung came only one day after another BIGBANG member, Taeyang, announced his departure from YG.“Daesung recently ended his contract with us and is looking for a fresh start,” YG said. “But he will still be part of BIGBANG and we will always support him and cooperate with him whenever needed.”Whether the 33-year-old has inked a contract with a new agency is unknown. YG added that it is still in negotiations with BIGBANG's frontman, G-DRAGON, over his contract as a soloist. If he renews his contract, G-DRAGON will be the only BIGBANG member under YG. On Monday, YG announced that Taeyang would join The Black Label, an associate company of YG helmed by acclaimed producer Teddy Park. Park is behind the success of numerous hits by YG'Dec 27, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS' RM surges to Billboard 200's No. 3 with 'Indigo' BTS rapper RM is seen in a concept photo for his solo debut album "Indigo.” Courtesy of Big Hit Music"Indigo," the first solo album of BTS leader RM, has surged to No. 3 on Billboard's main albums chart this week, making him the highest-charted K-pop soloist.Billboard said in an article on the preview of this week's charts Monday (U.S. time) that RM became the first BTS member with an album charted in the top 10 on Billboard 200.The chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical album sales and other digital sales records.Released digitally on Dec. 2, "Indigo" debuted at No. 15 on the chart dated Dec. 17 and was eliminated the following week. BTS member RM is seen in this concept photo for his first solo album "Indigo.” Courtesy of Big Hit MusicBut the album surged to No. 3 this week following the release of its CD version, scoring 83,000 equivalent album units, including 79,000 in physical sales, according to Billboard.It marks the highest ranking on the chart by a Korean solo artist. The previDec 27, 2022
BIGBANG's Taeyang signs with YG-affiliated label A photo of Taeyang, a member of K-pop boy group BIGBANG / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentTaeyang of boy group BIGBANG has signed a management contract with The Black Label headed by K-pop producer Teddy, his former agency said Monday."BIGBANG's Taeyang came to work as an artist of The Black Label affiliated with YG Entertainment," YG said in a press release.Founded by Teddy, who was the main producer of YG, in 2016, The Black Label is now home to Zion. T, Jeon Somi and R.Tee.Taeyang, a member of K-pop boy group BIGBANG, second from right, attends a listening session at HYBE's Yongsan building in Seoul, July 14. Korea Times file"We're truly happy to announce Taeyang's new start," YG said. "There is no change in his status as YG family and a member of BIGBANG. Since we know many people are waiting for the group's activities, we'll make efforts for this together."The group debuted as a five-member group in 2006 and has since released a number of hit songs, such as "Lies," "Last Farewell," "Fantastic Baby" and "Bang Bang Bang," standing at the forefront of an Asia-wide boom of Korean pop muDec 26, 2022
NCT 127 to drop repackaged album next month A photo of K-pop boy group NCT 127, provided by SM Entertainment / YonhapK-pop boy band NCT 127 will release "Ay-Yo," a repackaging of its fourth full-length album, next month, the group's management agency said Monday.The album will come out Jan. 30 and has 15 tracks, including three new songs, SM Entertainment said.The band's latest album, "2 Baddies," was released in September and debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.Ahead of the new release, the nine-member group will hold its second world tour in North American cities and Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.The group debuted in 2016 as a subunit of the umbrella boy band NCT. While based in Seoul, it has also gained a large following overseas, especially in the United States. (Yonhap)Dec 26, 2022
