Rose's 'APT.' tops IFPI's 2025 chart for global singlesRose's "APT." has topped the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Single Chart 2025, the organization representing the global recording industry said Friday. According to the chart unveiled Sunday (U.S. time), the global hit by the BLACKPINK member and Bruno Mars was the biggest-selling single of last year. "It is the first time the IFPI Global Single Chart has been topped by an artist outside of North America or Europe," it said on its website, adding it is also "the first time a winning single has featured non-English lyrics, reflecting the increasingly global nature of recorded music and the role of labels in breaking language and market barriers." The song is closely followed by "Golden" from Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters." The IFPI Global Single Chart calculates global consumption of a song, taking into account single-track downloads as well as streams on both free and paid platforms.Feb 20, 2026By Yonhap
Legal victory opens new chapter for Min Hee-jin as HYBE, NewJeans face next testA Seoul court’s ruling ordering K-pop conglomerate HYBE Labels to pay former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin about 25.5 billion won ($17.5 million) in a put option dispute has begun reshaping the next phase of one of K-pop’s biggest corporate battles. While the Feb. 12 decision clarified key legal questions surrounding Min’s shareholder agreement and creative autonomy, it also left a complex web of appeals, ongoing lawsuits and artist negotiations unresolved, placing renewed focus on how Min, HYBE and girl group NewJeans will navigate the months ahead. What court decided The central question in the case was whether Min had committed a substantial breach of her shareholder agreement with HYBE that would allow the company to terminate the contract and block her put option. HYBE argued that Min’s conduct, including efforts to pursue independence for sub-label Ador and her public remarks tied to internal disputes, amounted to a “serious violation” that destroyed mutual trust. Min countered that her put option was valid under the contract terms and that her actions did not meet the legal thrFeb 19, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
'Designed by me': BLACKPINK’s Lisa shocks fans with sheer dress photoshootBLACKPINK’s Lisa has ignited global fan buzz after unveiling a daring photoshoot featuring a sheer dress she personally designed. On Wednesday, Lisa shared multiple images on social media with the caption “Designed by me.” The photos come from a fashion editorial created in collaboration with a brand, highlighting outfits she took part in designing. The garments accentuate Lisa’s silhouette, with one black sheer dress drawing particular attention. The full-length look reveals the contours of her body beneath translucent fabric, prompting surprise and admiration across fan communities. Online reactions ranged from “Amazing” and “So lovely” to “A true fashion icon,” as fans praised both the bold styling and Lisa’s creative involvement. The reveal also fed ongoing interest in idol-led fashion design, a growing trend among K-pop stars expanding into creative direction and brand collaborations. BLACKPINK recently concluded its “DEADLINE” world tour and is set to return as a full group with the mini-album “DEADLINE” on Feb. 27. This article from Xportsnews is adaptFeb 19, 2026By Xportsnews
BTS’ RM surprises fans with first driving video after licenseBTS leader RM has drawn buzz online after posting his first-ever driving clip — despite previously saying he had no plans to own a car. On Wednesday, RM uploaded a short video with the caption, “Let’s keep smiling and hype it up,” showing himself behind the wheel. The post quickly spread across fan communities and social media, where viewers focused on his visibly tense posture and cautious driving style. RM recently revealed that he had obtained a driver’s license, and this marked the first time he publicly showed himself driving. Acknowledging his awkwardness, he added, “I’m funny too,” poking fun at his own stiffness in the seat. The BTS member also shared the backstory behind his decision to learn to drive. “I don’t plan to buy my own car,” he said, explaining that he pursued the license mainly to overcome a personal trauma rather than for everyday mobility. Fans reacted with amusement and support, with many saying the clip felt relatable and “unexpectedly cute,” contrasting RM’s well-known intellectual image with a beginner driver moment. BTS is scheduledFeb 19, 2026By Xportsnews
Stray Kids ranks second on IFPI's 2025 chart for top global artistsK-pop boy group Stray Kids has ranked second on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's (IFPI) Global Artist Chart 2025, the organization representing the global recording industry announced. The ranking marks the fourth consecutive year the Korean group has appeared on the chart since its debut at No. 7 in 2022. For 2025, it reached a new peak at No. 2, trailing only Taylor Swift, according to the IFPI on Wednesday (U.S. time). The IFPI Global Artist Chart calculates worldwide consumption across all formats and includes an artist's entire discography rather than focusing solely on releases from the previous year. Other Korean acts featured on the list include Seventeen, which ranked 14th. It marks the fifth consecutive year the group has appeared on the chart since 2021.Feb 19, 2026By Yonhap
Ateez's new album claims No. 3 on Billboard 200K-pop boy group Ateez's latest album, "Golden Hour: Part. 4," has debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 main albums chart. The band's 13th EP amassed 200,000 album-equivalent units, including 195,000 album sales, in the United States during the charting period, Billboard said Sunday (U.S. time). It marked the eight-member act's eighth entry into the chart's top 10. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. measured by equivalent album units, comprising conventional album sales, streaming and digital sales. The new album, released Feb. 6, is the fourth installment in the band's "Golden Hour" album series, which captures its most radiant moments of youth, according to the group's agency, KQ Entertainment. The new EP features five tracks, including the main "Adrenaline," for which members Hongjoong and Mingi participated in penning lyrics, "Ghost," "NASA," "On the Road" and "Choose."Feb 16, 2026By Yonhap
How K-pop turned lore into production systemIn K-pop, idols can be superheroes, werewolves, vampires and pirates, all inside elaborate fictional worlds rich with their own lore. These self-made universes showcased the genre’s imagination, framing each comeback within a larger narrative that stretched across music videos, lyrics and visuals. Albums started feeling less like isolated releases and more like chapters in a continuing story, with cryptic teaser films and hidden clues turning world-building into one of K-pop’s most playful creative endeavors. Over time, however, that lore grew into something bigger than just storytelling. What began as a fun narrative layer expanded into a production framework linking music with webtoons, games and wider branding strategies. As labels positioned idol groups as long-term intellectual properties (IPs), world-building became more systematic — even as a new wave of artists began stepping away from overt storylines to keep the focus on the music itself, reflecting K-pop’s ongoing evolution as a comprehensive art form. Birth of lore The roots of fictional universes in K-pop trace back tFeb 16, 2026By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop icons incorporate national heritage into comeback projectsGlobal K-pop icons BTS and BLACKPINK are tapping into national heritage for their major new projects, collaborating with historic landmarks and national institutions to spotlight traditional Korean culture on the global stage. BLACKPINK will team up with the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul to mark the Feb. 27 release of its new EP, "Deadline." The quartet became the first K-pop act to launch a large-scale collaboration with the national museum. The "National Museum of Korea X BLACKPINK" project will begin Feb. 26 for an 11-day run in partnership with the museum and the global music streaming platform Spotify, according to YG Entertainment, the group's agency, Thursday. "Deadline" will mark the band's first full-group project in three years and five months since "Born Pink" in September 2022. The girl group will provide voice commentary on eight of the museum's signature artifacts, allowing visitors to hear descriptions of Korea's historical treasures in the members' voices. The museum's exterior will be illuminated in the group's signature color of pink to mark the release. A lisFeb 15, 2026By Yonhap
BTS graces GQ magazine cover in 15 markets ahead of new album releaseK-pop group BTS has graced the cover of GQ magazine's latest edition in 15 international markets ahead of the release of its fifth full-length album next month, its agency said Saturday. According to BigHit Music, BTS has been selected as the cover model for the March issue of the men's fashion magazine in 15 countries and regions, including Korea, the United States, Britain, Japan, Mexico, Germany and Thailand. The agency said it marked the first time a Korean artist has simultaneously appeared on such a number of regional covers of GQ. In an interview with GQ, the members shared their thoughts on preparing the new album, emphasizing their commitment to the group while expressing their affection for BTS' international fandom, known as ARMY. The group's upcoming album, "Arirang," will be BTS' first release since "Proof" in June 2022 and the first since all members completed their mandatory military service. It is scheduled to be released March 20, followed by a world tour by the seven-member group starting in April.Feb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Concerns mount over historic BTS 'Arirang' concert readiness at GwanghwamunBTS will mark its return as a full group after a three-year and nine-month hiatus with a historic performance at Gwanghwamun Square, potentially entering the stage via Seoul’s royal ceremonial path. The K-pop juggernaut is scheduled to hold "BTS Comeback Live: ARIRANG" at 8 p.m. on March 21 to celebrate the release of the group's new studio album, "Arirang." It will be the first solo concert by a pop act in the history of the square, a space traditionally reserved for political or national events. BigHit Music said the location was chosen to reflect the album’s themes. "The new album 'Arirang' captures BTS' origins, identity and the emotions they wish to convey right now," the agency said in a statement. "Given the symbolism of the word 'Arirang,' we wanted to stage their first postmilitary performance in the space that best represents Korea." The group is currently negotiating a dramatic entrance with the National Heritage Administration and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. According to the permit application, members would process through the "King’s Road" — moving from GeunjFeb 13, 2026By Hankookilbo
