Coachella 2026 lineup features BIGBANG reunion, Taemin, KATSEYEK-pop's global footprint will extend further next year, with BIGBANG, SHINee's Taemin and multinational girl group KATSEYE all set to appear at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California in April. Launched in 1999 in the desert city of Indio, Coachella has grown into one of the most influential festivals in the United States, drawing more than 200,000 attendees annually with its wide-ranging lineup of rock, hip-hop, electronic and pop music. The 2026 festival is set to take place over two weekends: April 10-12 and April 17-19. Among the most anticipated appearances is BIGBANG, widely regarded as one of K-pop's defining second-generation boy bands. The group will return to the global stage as a three-member act — G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung — performing April 12 and 19 to mark its 20th anniversary. BIGBANG had been slated to play Coachella in 2020, which would have made it the first K-pop boy band on the bill, but the performance was canceled due to the pandemic. The Coachella appearance will mark BIGBANG's first official group activity since the release of their 2022Sep 18, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Rock ballad legend Yim Jae-beum finds his voice anew, 40 years inIn Korean music, few voices carry the weight of singer Yim Jae-beum's. For four decades, Yim, 62, has lived between the fire of rock and the ache of ballads, shaping the country's soundtrack with a voice so explosive and resonant that it set the bar for generations of Korean singers. Now, after almost three years away, the singer is back, celebrating his 40th anniversary with a new song, "Insa," and a nationwide tour that promises to remind audiences why he's been called a living legend. Yim first debuted in 1986 as the vocalist with hard rock outfit Sinawe, but it was his solo career that carved him into history. Songs like "Soaring" (1997), "Confession" (1998) and "For You" (2000) became generational rock ballad anthems in Korea, carried by his raw power and emotional depth. Now, his latest chapter begins with "Insa" — a Korean term which roughly translates to "salutation" or "greeting" — a pop-gospel track released Wednesday. The song arrives as the first of several singles that will roll out into his eighth studio album, whose full release date has yet to be confirmed. Just hoursSep 17, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
'Golden' tops Billboard Hot 100 for 5th week"Golden," a track from the animated U.S. film "KPop Demon Hunters," has topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the fifth week. Billboard said Monday (U.S. time) in a preview of its upcoming main singles chart that "Golden" retained its No. 1 position this week. "Golden" is performed by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as the fictional girl group Huntr/x in the film. Ejae, a composer who trained at SM Entertainment, and Rei Ami were both born in South Korea. Teddy and 24, known for their work with the major K-pop agency The Black Label, are among the song's co-producers. After debuting at No. 81, the song has climbed to No. 23, No. 6, No. 4, No. 2 and No. 1. It then slipped back to No. 2 before returning to the top three weeks ago. "Golden" earned 33.8 million streams (down 2 percent), 26.3 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 19 percent) and 8,000 copies sold (down 11 percent) in the U.S. from Sept. 5-11. In addition to "Golden," three more songs from the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack secured top 10 positions. "Your Idol" claimed the No. 4 spot, "Soda Pop"Sep 16, 2025By Yonhap
'Golden' from 'Kpop Demon Hunters' soundtrack tops British Official chart for 6th week"Golden," the smash hit single from the original soundtrack of the Netflix animation film "Kpop Demon Hunters," has topped the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for the sixth time. According to the chart unveiled Friday (local time), "Golden" held on to the No. 1 spot, just as it did the previous week, surpassing Olivia Dean's "Man I Need" and Sabrina Carpenter's "Tears." "Golden" is sung by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as the film's fictional girl group Huntr/x. Since it debuted on the chart at No. 93, the song first reached No. 1 on Aug. 1. It then slipped to No. 2 before reclaiming the top spot it has held for five consecutive weeks, including this week. The song has also topped the U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart for four weeks. Other songs from the soundtrack also performed high on the British chart, with "Soda Pop" and "Your Idol" ranking fourth and seventh, respectively. An alternate version of "Takedown" sung by Jeongyeon, Jihyo and Chaeyoung of K-pop girl group TWICE also came in at 24th. Released June 20, the animated sensation has officiSep 13, 2025By Yonhap
'Golden' tops Billboard Hot 100 for 3rd week"Golden," a track from the animated U.S. film "KPop Demon Hunters," has topped the Billboard's Hot 100 chart for a third week. Billboard said Tuesday (U.S. time) in a preview of its upcoming main singles chart that "Golden" retained its No. 1 position this week, keeping Alex Warren's "Ordinary" at No. 2 for the second week in a row. Earlier, Stray Kids' "Karma" took the top spot on the Billboard 200 main albums chart. With "Golden" holding onto No. 1 on the Hot 100 as well, the K-pop genre now dominates both the singles and albums charts this week. It marks the first time in about five years since December 2020, when BTS simultaneously topped the two charts with its album "Be" and its lead track "Life Goes On," that the genre has simultaneously dominated the two charts. The Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States across all genres, based on streaming, radio airplay and sales data. "Golden" earned 35.3 million streams (up 4 percent), 19.7 million radio airplay audience impressions (up 21 percent) and 9,000 copies sold (up 11 percent) in the U.S. from Aug. 22-28. "Golden" iSep 3, 2025By Yonhap
'Golden' unseats 'Ordinary' to recapture No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100"Golden," a track from the animated U.S. film "KPop Demon Hunters," has reclaimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100. Billboard said Monday (U.S. time) in a preview of its upcoming main singles chart that "Golden" edged out last week's leader, "Ordinary," by Alex Warren. "'KPop Demon Hunters' becomes just the fifth soundtrack with four Hot 100 top 10s at all, and the first since 'Waiting to Exhale' spun off a record five in 1995-96," it said. The return to the top follows another milestone from two weeks ago, when "Golden" made history by simultaneously topping the Billboard Hot 100 and the British Official Singles Top 100 on Aug. 1. The Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States across all genres, based on streaming, radio airplay and sales data. "Golden" earned 33.8 million streams during the latest chart tracking period, along with 16.2 million radio airplay audience impressions (a 39 percent increase) and 8,000 copies sold (up 11 percent) in the U.S. from Aug. 15-21. "Golden" is performed by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, who voice the fictionaAug 26, 2025By Yonhap
KNSO Academy students showcase talent in orchestral debutFor many, the Seoul Arts Center’s prestigious main concert hall feels like a space reserved for world-class musicians and orchestras — from pianist Lim Yun-chan to the Berlin Philharmonic. But that isn’t always the case. The venue also opens its stage to aspiring musicians, as demonstrated by Wednesday night’s "Colorful" concert, presented by students of the Korea National Symphony Orchestra (KNSO) Academy, to mark the midpoint of their program and showcase their training. About 50 musicians, dressed in formal wear, delivered a nearly two-hour performance with strong harmonies, demonstrating the discipline and professionalism that orchestral music demands. The program featured Saint-Saens’ Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, and the Asian premiere of Korean composer Kim Eun-sung’s "Kaleidoscope for Orchestra," commissioned by the KNSO. The evening was led by conductor Christoph Poppen, who currently directs the Cologne Chamber Orchestra in Germany and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Chinese American Violinist Kevin Zhu steppAug 21, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
InterviewCroatia's Jelusick joins forces with rock icon YB for epic 'Odyssey' projectWhen it comes to rock diplomacy, few pairings feel as unexpected and as electric as this one. Croatia's hard rock outfit Jelusick, fronted by powerhouse vocalist and keyboardist Dino Jelusick, has teamed up with Korea's legendary rock band YB, led by singer-songwriter Yoon Do-hyun, for a groundbreaking cross-cultural project. Formed in 2022, Jelusick is a four-piece band known for straddling rock, metal, funk and acoustic blues with equal ease. The band's debut album, "Follow the Blind Man," dropped in September 2023, and a follow-up album is slated for release on Sept. 19. Now, the rising European band is setting its sights on Korea. Its ongoing collaboration with YB, titled the "YB x Jelusick ODYSSEY Project," is more than just a concert series. Backed locally by the Korea Creative Content Agency, the initiative spans six shows across both countries and aims to spark broader cultural exchange through music, tourism and media. Confirmed stops include a recently concluded performance in Jeonju and Seoul, followed by Croatian dates at Spancirfest in Varazdin on Saturday and Valpovo on Aug.Aug 20, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min
Veteran pianist Paik Hae-sun reflects on Lim Yun-chan’s rise to stardomRenowned pianist Paik Hae-sun, 60, admitted Monday that sensational young pianist Lim Yun-chan possesses an indescribable energy on stage that captivates audiences and has elevated him to idol status. “Lim Yun-chan is certainly an idol in classical music … Yun-chan is completely crazy about music,” Paik said during a press conference with local journalists in Seoul. “As some jokingly say, it feels like he has a connection with an alien (when he plays the piano).” Lim studies at the New England Conservatory where Paik teaches piano — Lim studies under pianist Sohn Min-soo. Lim rose to international fame in 2022 after winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas. A video of his performance in the competition’s final round has since become one of the most-viewed classical music videos on YouTube. The pianist recalled a friend telling her that Lim’s playing was so compelling it made her stop washing dishes while watching him on YouTube. Paik herself attended three of Lim’s recitals, trying to make sense of his energy. Yet, Lim’s popularity reminds PaikAug 18, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
Oasis faces backlash in Korea over Rising Sun imagery ahead of Seoul concertBritish rock band Oasis has sparked outrage among Korean fans after releasing a promotional video featuring imagery reminiscent of the Japanese Rising Sun flag, a symbol widely regarded in Asia as representing Japan’s wartime aggression and colonial rule. On Aug. 8, the band posted a short clip on its official social media accounts with the caption, “Check out the brand new visualiser for ‘Morning Glory.’” The video, which visually reinterprets the cover art of their 1995 album, included a segment incorporating a design resembling the Rising Sun flag. The image drew immediate criticism, especially given the proximity to Korea’s Aug. 15 Liberation Day, which marks the end of Japanese colonial rule. The Rising Sun flag was used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and remains a potent reminder of historical trauma for countries that endured Japan’s invasions and occupation, such as Korea and China. Korean fans flooded the comment section with remarks such as, “Do you realize you’re coming to Korea?” and “Take down the video and apologize,” urging the baAug 14, 2025By Hankookilbo
