BTS to support Busan's bid to host 2030 World Expo In this file photo taken on May 20, 2018 Boy Band BTS attends the 2018 Billboard Music Awards 2018 at the MGM Grand Resort International in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP-YonhapK-pop superband BTS accepted the Busan city government's request to serve as promotional ambassadors for the city's bid to host the World Expo in 2030, the group's agency said Friday.Busan, the country's second largest city, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, has been pushing for its bid to host the 2030 World Expo. An official at Big Hit Music, the septet's label, said the group accepted the request recognizing the envisioned convention would be a "very significant event for the local community and for the country."The World Expo is one of the largest international festivals besides the World Cup and the Olympics. Hosting an expo is estimated to create economic effects worth 61 trillion won (US$49.1 billion), according to the Korean government.The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will announce the host city around November next year. (Yonhap)Jun 17, 2022
BTS' new album 'Proof' sells over 2.75 mil. copies in 1st week BTS perform onstage during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, April 3, in Las Vegas, Nevada. AFP-Yonhap K-pop supergroup BTS' new album "Proof" sold over 2.75 million copies in the first week of its release, a record for all K-pop albums released so far this year, its agency said Friday.The anthology album had sold a total of 2,752,496 copies as of Friday, just a week after it became available, Big Hit Music said, citing data from Hanteo Chart, a local album sales tracker.It was the highest first-week sales of any album released this year to date and the second-highest first-week sales for a BTS album after the group's fourth full-length album, "Map of the Soul: 7," moved 3.37 million copies in 2020."Proof" surpassed 2 million in 24 hours after it came out, making BTS the first K-pop group to secure a double million seller on the first day of an album's release.The three CD-album consists of 48 tracks, including the biggest hits from througJun 17, 2022
BTS' Jungkook to release collaborative single with US singer-songwriter K-pop boy band BTS and U.S. singer-songwriter Charlie Puth will stage a joint performance at the 2018 MGA, a local music award event to be held Nov. 6 at Namdong Gymnasium in Incheon. Courtesy of Live Nation Korea and Big Hit EntertainmentJungkook, a vocalist of K-pop giant BTS, will drop a collaborative single with U.S. singer-songwriter Charlie Puth next Friday.Puth unveiled a video of Jungkook and him humorously discussing their plans to release "Left and Right" on TikTok, Friday.The two sang a verse of the song from the left and right sides of the microphone in turn just like the song's title at the request of the American artist.Jungkook, a vocalist of K-pop giant BTS /Korea Times fileIn the video, Puth did not hide his big expectations for the collaboration project, saying, "This is gonna be crazy." The video came three days after the South Korean septet announced a plan to take a break from group activities to focus on solo projects.The two artists performed together on the stage of a local music awards show in 2018. (Yonhap)U.S. singer Charlie Puth performs during his “Jun 17, 2022
JYP becomes 1st entertainment company to join global initiative to use 100% renewable electricity JYP Entertainment CEO Jung Wook, third from left, and Korea Energy Agency Chairman Lee Sang-hoon, third from right, pose at JYP's headquarters in eastern Seoul after a certificate awards ceremony held to recognize JYP's use of renewable energy. Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaJYP has become the first Korean entertainment company to join K-RE100, the Korean version of RE100, the global initiative in which businesses use 100-percent renewable electricity to power their operations. The K-pop label, home to numerous A-list stars like TWICE and ITZY, recently received certification from the Korea Energy Agency for taking part in K-RE100. RE100 is led by non-profit organizations Climate Group and CDP ― formerly known as Carbon Disclosure Project ― and aims to facilitate the transition to zero-carbon electricity grids. “JYP's participation is meaningful, as it shows that the Korean entertainment industry is also seeking to use renewable energy like manufacturers,” the company said in a statement, Thursday, adding that a certificate awards ceremony was recently held aJun 17, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS announces hiatus to let members pursue personal growth RM of K-pop boy band BTS, center, speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., May 31. Courtesy of HybeJ-hope will be first BTS member to release official solo albumBy Dong Sun-hwaFor nearly a decade, the seven members of BTS had dedicated themselves to their group, which became the first K-pop act to top the Billboard main singles chart and receive two Grammy nominations. The septet seemed unstoppable when it sold more than 2 million copies of its latest anthology album, “Proof,” in just one day, shortly after meeting U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, May 31 (local time). But the group's huge success came at a price.Although each member had different tastes in music and beyond, they had to put those differences aside for their widely popular team, which is supported by millions of fans around the world. But from now on, BTS members will begin their solo ventures in various fields to restore their individual identities and seek personal growth. Although the septet's management company, Hybe, said the members will juggle their solo aJun 15, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS members says they are making time for solo projects From left, Jungkook, V, Jimin, Jin, RM, J-Hope and Suga of BTS perform during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in this file April 3 photo. AFP-YonhapGlobal superstars BTS said it is taking time to focus on solo projects, but the company behind the groundbreaking K-pop group said the members are not going on a hiatus.The seven-member group with hits such as ``Butter'' and ``Dynamite'' talked about their future in a video posted Tuesday celebrating the ninth anniversary of their debut release. BTS just released a three-disc anthology album, ``Proof,'' last week.Band member Suga asked the group if they should talk about why they were going on a hiatus as they sat down for a group dinner. They discussed having to deal with COVID-19 interrupting their touring plans and music releases, as well as what each one thought about their individual artistic goals.The group spoke in Korean, but the word ``hiatus'' was used in English subtitles included on the video.Boy band BTS poses in the press room with their awards during the 2019 Billboard MusicJun 15, 2022
Enhypen to release 3rd EP next month K-pop boy group Enhypen / Courtesy of Belift LabK-pop boy group Enhypen will put out its third EP, "Manifesto: Day 1," July 4, the band's agency Belift Lab said Tuesday.The EP marks the first release from the septet since "Dimension: Answer," the repackaged version of its full-length album, in January.Enhypen unveiled a logo trailer and lyrics video of "Walk the Line," a track on the upcoming album on YouTube earlier Tuesday.The rookie group's first full album, "Dimension: Dilemma," sold 1.13 million copies in the first month of its release in October. (Yonhap)Jun 14, 2022
Nearly 10 million K-pop albums sold in May K-pop boy group Seventeen sold 2.24 million copies of its latest album, “Face the Sun,” in May. Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment By Dong Sun-hwaIt's hard to spot anyone listening to CDs these days when streaming platforms have become the main medium for listening to music, but sales of K-pop albums keep growing thanks to the global expansion of K-pop fandom fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the latest data released by Hyundai Motor Securities, Sunday, some 9.96 million K-pop albums were sold in May solely, up 93 percent from the same period last year. The best-selling acts were boy groups Seventeen and Tomorrow X Together (TXT), which sold 2.24 million and 1.63 million albums, respectively. They accounted for 40 percent of total sales in May. Trailing behind were trot singer Lim Young-woong (1.14 million), boy band NCT Dream (670,000) and girl group Le Sserafim (410,000). Among them, Seventeen, TXT and Le Sserafim are represented by the labels under HybeJun 13, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
BTS' new album 'Proof' sold over 2 mil. on 1st day of release A fan of the South Korean boy band BTS poses for a picture inside a newly opened pop-up shop selling BTS merchandise in Manhattan in New York City, June 10, after the release of their new album "Proof". Reuters-Yonhap K-pop supergroup BTS' new album "Proof" sold over 2 million copies on the first day of its release, its agency said Saturday. A total of 2.15 million copies of the anthology album had been sold as of 11 p.m. Friday, just 10 hours after it became available on the market, according to Hanteo Chart, a South Korean music chart. Captured images from the BTS music video for "Yet to come." Yonhap It was the second time that the boy band's album sales surpassed 2 million on the first day, after its fourth album, "Map of the Soul: 7," in 2020.Its lead off song, "Yet To Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)," instantly topped real-time charts of majoJun 11, 2022
'Proof' is album of BTS' history K-pop boy group BTS released its new anthology album, “Proof,” Friday. Courtesy of Big Hit MusicK-pop giant releases anthology album with 3 new songsBy Dong Sun-hwaK-pop titan BTS is back. The seven-piece act dropped its new anthology album, “Proof,” Friday, in celebration of the ninth anniversary of its debut. The music video of its lead track, “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment),” has already exceeded 10 million views on YouTube as of 3 p.m. (KST) ― only two hours after its release. “'Proof' is an album of our history,” member Jin said through his management company, Big Hit Music, a few hours ahead of the album's release. “I think I will listen a lot to the songs in this album, as they remind me of the precious memories of the past nine years.” The 48-track album marks the end of the first chapter of BTS' career, according to its frontman, RM. “We poured a lot of effort into writing lyrics, so that we can convey our sincere messages to our fans,” he explained. “I am nervous as usual to showcase our Jun 10, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
