IVE to release new song 'Looks Can Kill'K-pop girl group IVE will release a new song, "Looks Can Kill," on Monday, its agency, Starship Entertainment, said. "Looks Can Kill" serves as both the lead track and a prerelease song for IVE's upcoming EP of the same name, which is scheduled for release on Oct. 26. An electronic dance-pop track, "Looks Can Kill" delivers the message that anyone can be the protagonist and hero of their own life.Oct 19, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-NCT member sees opportunity in K-pop music for kidsK-pop songs have long rung out across Korean kindergartens and elementary school classrooms, but few of them were ever written with children in mind. Former NCT member Mark Lee says he wants to fill that gap himself with what he calls "kids-pop." The idea has taken shape through "Mark Lee & Kids-POP," a YouTube series launched in September on the channel for Upper Room, the label he founded after leaving boy band NCT and SM Entertainment in April. In each episode, the Canadian singer meets children, listens to their stories and looks for musical ideas in them. The gap he points to is a familiar one. iKON’s 2018 breakup song “Love Scenario” became a singalong staple among kindergartners, in addition to topping Korea’s year-end digital chart. Even “Golden,” the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper from Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters” that won over young viewers worldwide last year, was written as a pop anthem for a fictional idol group rather than as a children's song. So far, the industry's answer has largely been collaborations with children's brands, with some iOct 19, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
KATSEYE's 'Gabriela' reaches 1 bil. streams on Spotify"Gabriela" by KATSEYE, the global girl group formed by HYBE and Geffen Records, has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, becoming the group's first song to enter the platform's Billions Club. According to Spotify, the track reached the milestone Friday, about 16 months after its release on June 20, 2025. Released ahead of the group's second EP, "BEAUTIFUL CHAOS," "Gabriela" blends sleek pop production with Latin-tinged acoustic guitar. Its music video draws on Latin American telenovelas and features a surprise appearance by actress Jessica Alba. It had amassed more than 97.3 million views on YouTube as of Sunday. The song has also enjoyed a sustained run on major charts. It peaked at No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Jan. 17, marking the group's highest position at the time, and spent 28 weeks on the chart. It also reached No. 9 during a 26-week run on Billboard's Pop Airplay chart. On Spotify's Weekly Top Songs Global chart, "Gabriela" peaked at No. 10 and has logged 64 weeks. It also reached No. 38 on the U.K.'s Official Singles Chart. KATSEYE has continued that momentum with itsOct 18, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
BTS' Grammy boycott spreads to K-pop's biggest agenciesThe decision of BTS to boycott the Grammys amid the newly introduced Asian pop category appears to have grown into an industrywide stand, with artists from Korea's four biggest entertainment companies reportedly opting not to submit music for consideration. According to Grammy analysis site The Grammy Guru on Thursday, no artists represented by HYBE, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment or SM Entertainment submitted songs for the Best Asian Pop Music Performance category at the 69th Grammy Awards, scheduled for next year. The Recording Academy recently introduced the category to encompass Asian pop genres including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop. The move, however, has sparked debate over whether grouping Asian artists into a region-specific category could effectively separate them from broader Grammy competition rather than expand their recognition. BTS previously said it would not submit music for Grammy consideration in a move widely seen as a protest to the award show's new Asian pop category. "We hope music can be heard and loved for the music itself, rather than being divided by region or lOct 16, 2026By Xportsnews
Hearts2Hearts deepens fan connection with intimate live showcaseRookie K-pop girl group Hearts2Hearts is continuing its upward trajectory, offering fans an intimate look into their musical journey through a newly released live performance series and video podcast. The eight-member act — comprising Jiwoo, Carmen, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian and Ye-on — recently took the stage for their exclusive Spotify CLOSER event, becoming the first musical act featured in the platform's new series designed to spotlight promising Korean artists. During the intimate showcase, the group treated their fandom, known as S2U, to a mix of unreleased live stages and candid conversations, creating a personal space that bridged the distance between the artists and their audience. Official performance videos of the group's first-ever live renditions of "ICONIC HEART (Korean Version)," "Baby Steps" and a special acoustic arrangement of "Butterflies" were released online alongside a full video podcast of the evening's talk session. The podcast captures the members sharing behind-the-scenes studio anecdotes and personal stories. "Our name represents a promise to connect wiOct 16, 2026By Park Jin-hai
BTS becomes 1st group to top 10 bil. Spotify streams in single yearK-pop superband BTS has become the first group in the world to accumulate 10 billion streams on Spotify in a single year, the group's label said Friday. While solo acts such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Bad Bunny have achieved the milestone, it marks the first time for a group to top 10 billion streams on Spotify, according to BigHit Music. BTS saw Spotify streams for its songs more than double from 4.5 billion last year, driven by its fifth studio album, "ARIRANG," released in March. The album alone has racked up more than 5 billion streams since its release, becoming the most-streamed album on Spotify among albums released this year. "ARIRANG" has attracted major attention for being the first full-group project from the global K-pop sensation in nearly four years, released after all its members completed their mandatory military service and reunited. It surpassed 110 million streams on its release day on March 20. It also became the first album from a group to top the Billboard 200, the main U.S. albums chart, for three consecutive weeks since Mumford & Sons' "Babel" in 2012.Oct 16, 2026By Yonhap
BTS' 'Hooligan' music video tops 100 mil. YouTube viewsThe music video for “Hooligan,” a track from BTS’ fifth studio album “ARIRANG,” surpassed 100 million YouTube views at around 6:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to the group’s agency, BigHit Music, a label under HYBE. It is the third music video from the album to reach the milestone, following those for lead single “Swim” and “2.0.” The album, named after a traditional Korean folk song widely regarded as the country’s unofficial national anthem, was released March 20. The “Hooligan” video was unveiled April 8 on the HYBE LABELS YouTube channel. The video contrasts a moss-covered gray space with vivid red sets. The seven members, in black outerwear and sporting tooth gems, perform a hard-hitting synchronized dance with a large group of backup dancers. “Hooligan” serves as the opening number of the group’s “ARIRANG” world tour. The alternative hip-hop track reflects on BTS’ journey of carving out its own path around the world. Its intro layers the sound of clashing blades over sweeping strings, and the song pairs a blade-based rhythm with deep 808 bass, aOct 15, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Lee Soo-man's new girl group A2O Lite tops Melon chartA2O Lite, the first girl group produced by former SM Entertainment chief Lee Soo-man, reached No. 1 on Korea's largest music streaming platform shortly after releasing its debut single, before falling to sixth place hours later, data showed Thursday. The group's debut digital single, "Neon," had topped Melon's Top 100 chart by 11 p.m. on Wednesday, 29 hours after its release at 6 p.m. the previous day, according to music industry experts. It is unusual for a rookie group to top the chart within less than two days of a song's release, although it dropped to sixth place the following morning. As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Soyeon's "I'm Gonna Toesa (feat. Kian84)" returned to No. 1. A2O Lite is a nine-member group launched by A2O Entertainment, the company founded by Lee after he left SM Entertainment. Lee simultaneously introduced A2O Lite and 15-member boy group A2O Soul at a media showcase in Goyang, near Seoul, on Monday. He returned to the domestic K-pop market after a three-year non-compete agreement expired earlier this year. He agreed to the restriction when he sold his stake in SM EntertOct 15, 2026By Yonhap
Boy band DAILY:DIRECTION explores where love leads on 1st EPEight months after its debut, rookie boy band DAILY:DIRECTION is taking the idea behind its name — that everyday choices add up to a direction in life — and pointing it at a bigger question of which road leads to love. The six-member ODDWAVE act, made up of EN KIM, Kim Joo-hyoung, Lim Ji-hwan, E-VAN, Lee Won-woo and Jang Yoon-seok, dropped its first EP, "WHICH WAY," on Wednesday, presenting listeners with a record built around the question of where to go next on a journey together. The all-Korean group debuted in February with the single "FIRST:DELIVERY." The members met the press at a performance hall in Jung District, central Seoul, hours before the album's release, to talk about the making of the record. "While preparing, we thought a lot about how to show the six of us, each with a different charm, and how best to bring out a refreshing side," Lee said. The members stressed that the album traces the path toward love. EN KIM turned the question back to reporters, asking whether any particular love came to mind for them, before describing the record as one that "asks questions aboutOct 14, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
Rose to perform at LACMA's 2026 Art+Film GalaRose of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will perform at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's annual Art+Film Gala next month in Los Angeles, the museum announced. The singer is the musical guest of this year's edition honoring artist Vija Celmins and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, the museum said on its website Tuesday (U.S. time). Co-chaired by LACMA trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the gala will take place Nov. 7. Gucci is returning as the presenting sponsor, with Audi providing transportation and additional support. "The LACMA Art+Film Gala celebrates creative icons and the connections between all forms of creativity, all around the world," Chow said in a statement. "As a global pop superstar, Rose will amplify the spirit of the evening with her incomparable talent and style." Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the initiative to make film more central to the museum's curatorial programming and its broader mission, including exhibitions, acquisitions and educational programming.Oct 14, 2026By Yonhap
