Seventeen’s top 30 tracks, ranked

Since their debut in 2015, boy band Seventeen has shown strong and steady growth. And with their latest seventh EP “Heng:garae,” the act again set a new record -- the release sold over one million copies in its first week. This figure, while impressive on its own, is even more oustanding considering the unfavorable market conditions due to the ongoing pandemic. Let us celebrate the group’s remarkable feat with these top 30 tracks from the band over the past five years. 30

K-popJuly 9, 2020

BLACKPINK's new song debuts at No. 33 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart

BLACKPINK landed at No. 33 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart with its latest single "How You Like That," according to the American music trade publication Tuesday, setting a new record for K-pop girl groups. Billboard's official Twitter account announced that "How You Like That" will debut at No. 33 on this week's Hot 100 chart, and at No. 1 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. BLACKPINK beat its previous record as the highest-charting K-pop girl group with "Kill

K-popJuly 7, 2020

Bang shares his formula behind BTS’ success

In a recent paper published by Harvard Business School, Big Hit Entertainment Chairman Bang Si-hyuk shared how global sensation BTS deviates from the typical K-pop idol system and has more autonomy than other K-pop bands. During his interview with the authors of “Big Hit Entertainment and Blockbuster Band BTS: K-Pop Goes Global,” Bang said the band’s contract renegotiations -- a period when many stories of conflict arise among K-pop artists -- took place without the interventi

K-popJuly 7, 2020

With 'Heng:garae,' Seventeen earns astounding feat after Big Hit integration

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to hamper the global music and entertainment industry-at-large, the K-pop scene has proven time and time again its resilience and nimbleness in audience outreach and commercial viability. BTS is estimated to have earned nearly $20 million through its one-off virtual concert, "Bang Bang Con: The Live," in mid-June, drawing a global audience of some 756,000. BLACKPINK has also proven that demand for K-pop's girl power remains high, with its new sin

K-popJuly 6, 2020

K-pop stars expose personal conflict in social media

More and more previous and current members of K-pop groups are revealing conflict with other members on social media. FNC Entertainment announced late Saturday night that Jimin, leader of AOA, will be leaving the group and will quit all activity following former bandmate Mina’s exposure of Jimin’s harsh actions. “The company also feels responsible for the entire situation and will do everything possible to take care of its artists. We are once again sorry for causing worry f

K-popJuly 5, 2020

K-pop labels call for fair profit-sharing rules for TV show clips

Entertainment labels are no longer willing to tolerate broadcasters that release and sell unaired behind-the-scene clips or “fancams” of their artists without permission. The Korea Music Content Association, Korea Management Federation and Korea Entertainment Producers’ Association on Wednesday filed a petition to the nation’s Fair Trade Commission calling for a revision to the current unfair contract practices with TV stations. In Korea, pop artists appear in music sh

K-popJuly 2, 2020

Blackpink’s winning formula: from ‘Boombayah’ to ‘How You Like That’

For this piece, we spoke to Azodi, a music producer who specializes in K-pop and J-pop and has a YouTube channel where he analyzes the production of K-pop songs. In recent years, Blackpink has become one of the biggest girl groups in the world, dominating the music scene with their signature powerful trap anthems. The group debuted in the summer of 2016 with the double-sided single “Square One” featuring “Boombayah” and “Whistle.” Through their journey to g

K-popJuly 2, 2020

BLACKPINK wins 5 Guinness World Record titles with 'How You Like That'

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK has set five new Guinness World Record titles with the music video for its latest song "How You Like That." The video won three titles from the Guinness World Records by racking up 86.3 million views within 24 hours of its release at 6 p.m. last Friday, according to the Guinness World Records website Thursday. It was certified as the most viewed video, music video and K-pop video on YouTube in 24 hours. A separate live premiere video for "How You Li

K-popJuly 2, 2020

Sunmi embraces girl power, praises Hwasa and Chung Ha

Sunmi is tackling city pop in her new single “pporappippam” which is slated for release Monday. While known for her dance-pop sound, the new song -- which translates to purple night in Korean -- sees the singer incorporate elements of city pop into her signature upbeat pop sound -- a subset of pop music originated in Japan in the ’70s. “Imagine a breeze that cools you down on a summer day at sunset after a hot day and you are looking up to the sky at a café terra

K-popJune 29, 2020

BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' becomes fastest video ever to top 100 million YouTube views

The music video of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's latest song "How You Like That" racked in over 100 million views on YouTube at the fastest pace ever, its management agency said Sunday. The 100 million views were reached at around 2:23 a.m. Sunday, about 32 hours after the music video was released, according to YG Entertainment. The previous record was set by BTS in April 2019 with "Boy With Luv," the main track off its album titled "Map of the Soul: Persona."

K-popJune 28, 2020

Blackpink says they want to spread positive energy with 'How You Like That'

The members of Blackpink say they want to spread positive energy with their new single, “How You Like That.” It is the group’s first single since “Kill This Love,” which came out in April 2019. Ahead of the song’s release Friday, the bandmates discussed the experience of recording their first full-length album and collaborating with Lady Gaga during a livestreamed press conference. “This may sound a little bit grand. We really tried to give people a

K-popJune 26, 2020

Twice’s 30 best tracks, ranked

30. “Firework” (2020) Songs on Twice’s latest album “More & More” have a more mature sound and “Firework” is no exception. With Latin guitar melodies sprinkled all over, the rhythmic tune conjures up images of fireworks on a summer night. 29. “Chillax” (2018) As bright and cheerful beats open the song, the group’s warm vocals sing in harmony, “Chill and chill and relax-lax” as the song talks of wanting to go on a holi

K-popJune 25, 2020

How Trump and K-pop ended up in the same headline

After fans of South Korean pop music enjoyed weeks of media attention as an emerging political force, the conversation is now turning partisan in the US. On Monday’s episode of Fox News’ weekly “Fox & Friends,” one host explained the low turnout at US President Donald Trump’s rally on Saturday, then added, “And there were these reports that teenagers on TikTok and fans of the group K-pop took credit because they reserved a bunch of tickets never intending

K-popJune 24, 2020

Seventeen is back and they are fearless

Seventeen released their seventh mini-album “Heng:garae,” with “Left & Right” as its lead track, on Monday. The record, featuring six tracks, comes about nine months after their third full album “An Ode.” While the previous album focused on the concept of fear, the new album carries a much more upbeat and optimistic theme. In fact, the first song is called “Fearless.” Speaking to the press during a livestreamed press showcase, the bandmates

K-popJune 23, 2020

K-pop powerhouses ask for financial support from government

K-pop powerhouses on Friday participated in a roundtable meeting with Culture Minister Park Yang-woo, discussing the financial difficulties they face due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The meeting, hosted by the Culture Ministry, in addition to listening to the challenges entertainment companies face, was intended to set the agenda for expanding the Korean Wave in the post-coronavirus era. Eight senior executives of K-pop companies including S.M. Entertainment, JYP Entertainment, Big Hit

K-popJune 21, 2020

SM Entertainment expresses support for US Black Lives Matter movement

SM Entertainment, one of South Korea's oldest and most influential K-pop entertainment companies, on Friday expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. "We stand with our Black collaborators, friends and fans and all who are speaking out to insist that Black Lives Matter," SM said in an English-language statement shared on its @SMTOWNGLOBAL Twitter account. The K-pop powerhouse behind such top-billed acts as EXO, NCT 127, TVXQ, SHINee and Girls' Gene

K-popJune 19, 2020

BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' becomes No. 1 sold album in Japan during H1

K-pop group BTS was the biggest seller of music in album format in Japan during the first half of 2020, according to Japan's main music sales tracker Friday. "Map of the Soul: 7," the septet's studio album released in February, has sold 429,009 copies in Japan to date to become the best-selling album so far in 2020, Oricon reported. BTS was trailed by Japanese acts, King Gnu and Johnny's West, selling 389,449 and 220,508 copies of albums, respectively. According to Big Hit Entertai

K-popJune 19, 2020

Is there a media double standard for K-pop?

When the sudden death of singer Yohan from boyband TST came to light this week, the group’s agency KJ Music Entertainment put out a statement pleading with the media to refrain from speculation over the cause of his death at his family’s request, which has yet to be revealed. As the local media at large reported on the sad news as a standalone incident, the news soon reached the other side of the world. The Daily Mail covered the story with a list titled “A year of tragedy a

K-popJune 18, 2020

[Herald Interview] Onewe still adapting to idol system, but have never been happier to do music

Many popular bands tell a story of how childhood friends from a same block or classmates who shared musical passion started out as an underground band. Onewe, a five-piece band under RBW Entertainment, also evolved from years of friendship, playing music together since middle school. After busking in streets and playing gigs on small stages countless times, the bandmates found a new musical nest at their current agency, which is also home to acts like Mamamoo and Oneus. “We always talk

K-popJune 18, 2020

Stray Kids cook up ‘God’s Menu’

Continuing to forge their own path, Stray Kids returned with “God’s Menu,” taking the group’s creative ethos to the next level. The new single was released Wednesday evening as the lead track of the band’s first full-length album “Go Live.” Produced by the band’s internal producing trio of Bang Chan, Han and Changbin, otherwise known as “3racha,” “God’s Menu” takes on a unique theme of cooking, likening the song to a

K-popJune 18, 2020