BTS producer Bang Si-hyuk makes Billboard's '2020 Indie Power Players' list

Bang Si-hyuk, head of BTS' management agency Big Hit Entertainment, was chosen by American music publication Billboard as one of the top leaders in the global independent record industry in 2020. Bang, 47, was included on Billboard's "2020 Indie Power Players" list published on Monday (local time), compiled by staff at the US music trade publication. "Multi-platinum albums, a global stadium tour, an army of fans -- BTS has achieved it all with Bang's independent Big Hit Enterta

K-popJune 16, 2020

[Herald Review] BTS’ Bang Bang Con The Live: Nothing short of real-life intimacy

Even for BTS, long accustomed to sold-out stadium tours, an online streaming concert using its own platform was a whole new level of experience. “Today, it’s even harder to perform than usual maybe because there’s no eye-to-eye contact, energy and screaming from you guys,” addressed band leader RM during Sunday’s “Bang Bang Con: The Live” concert livestreamed from a luxury hotel in Incheon. The absence of ear-splitting screams from fervent concertgoe

K-popJune 15, 2020

[Herald Interview] Meet the couple behind BTS and TXT’s latest hits

LA-based songwriter Melanie Fontana and producer Michel “Lindgren” Schulz have long produced hit tracks for leading groups such as Girls’ Generation and f(x). With their recent work with Big Hit Entertainment’s beloved bands BTS and TXT, the couple is further cementing their presence in K-pop and becoming a formidable duo. Their history with the label started when Fontana wrote “Euphoria” with her friends DJ Swivel and Candace Sosa, without knowing it woul

K-popJune 15, 2020

BTS' 'Bang Bang Con' becomes world's biggest paid online concert: company

A concert streamed by K-pop giant BTS on Sunday became the world's biggest paid online music event in terms of number of viewers, the band's management company said Monday. Big Hit Entertainment announced that "Bang Bang Con: The Live," which was streamed over around 100 minutes remotely from a studio in Seoul on Sunday, drew some 756,000 viewers from across the world. Fans from 107 countries or regions, including South Korea, United States, China, Britain and Japan, logged in to vi

K-popJune 15, 2020

K-pop fans: A diverse, underestimated and powerful force

Who are K-pop fans? It’s a question that not a lot of people bothered to ask until lately. But that seems to be changing in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests across the world: K pop fans flooded the Dallas Police Department’s iWatch Dallas app with fancams and took over the hashtag #WhiteLivesMatter on Twitter with anti-racist messages. BTS fans raised $1 million in just over a day for organizations that help black people. American actor and writer Jordan Peele said he &ldqu

K-popJune 12, 2020

[Video] A walk through K-pop paradise: SMTown and K-Star Road

The iconic picture of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr crossing Abbey Road turned 50 last year. The zebra crossing featured on the group’s 11th album is now the world’s most famous crosswalk. Similarly, the 1-kilometer-long K-Star Road features the Gangnamdol -- the name is a mixture of Gangnam, idol and doll -- which represent renowned K-pop groups. Hallyu Street, situated in this affluent district of Seoul, is modeled after the Walk of Fame in Hollywo

K-popJune 12, 2020

Video unveiled for BTS' autobiographical song 'We are Bulletproof: the Eternal'

K-pop giant BTS on Friday released a music video for "We are Bulletproof: the Eternal," off of its most recent album "Map of the Soul: 7," as part of the group's annual fan celebration event. The animated music video shared on YouTube features adorable versions of individual BTS members walking and running through a variety of locations. The seven later join one another to be launched above the clouds riding a whale. Included in "Map of the Soul: 7," released i

K-popJune 12, 2020

BTS to release 'Stay Gold' from upcoming Japanese album next week

K-pop superstar BTS will release "Stay Gold," the title track of its upcoming new Japanese full-length album, next week. The original Japanese song will be revealed to the public at 6 p.m. on June 19, according to an announcement posted on the website of the band's official Japanese fan club Thursday. "Stay Gold" is also a soundtrack of a Japanese TV series, "The Spiral Labyrinth-DNA Science Investigation." The drama was originally set to be aired in April, but i

K-popJune 11, 2020

BLACKPINK announces June release date for new single

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK on Wednesday announced the release date of their first new song in 14 months. The band's label-management agency, YG Entertainment, said the quartet will put out a new track on June 26. Other details, such as the title of the track, have not been shared. The song will be a track from their upcoming first studio album, which will be fully unveiled in September. YG has announced that the band's new album will be released under a three-tier scheme, with the first si

K-popJune 10, 2020

BTS' agency inks partnership with US streaming firm Kiswe

Big Hit Entertainment, the management company of K-pop super stars BTS, said Tuesday it has inked a deal with US streaming service provider Kiswe Mobile to cooperate in areas of real-time online concerts. Big Hit said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the American video technology startup on Monday. The deal was signed between Big Hit Global CEO Lenzo Yoon, and Kiwse Chairman Jeong Kim and Mike Schabel, Kiswe's CEO and president. Kiswe was co-founded by Kim, former president of Be

K-popJune 9, 2020

Daechwita: When traditional music meets K-pop

Suga’s solo track “Daechwita” under the alias Agust D in late May begins with a powerful burst from a taepyeongso -- a Korean wind instrument -- as the BTS member sits up from a throne in a period thriller-themed video reminiscent of Netflix’s zombie series Kingdom. “I sampled ‘Daechiwta,’ which is the music played for when a king was on the move,” the rapper said on the group’s YouTube channel. In a swirling pre-chorus, he sings, “Wh

K-popJune 8, 2020

[Herald Interview] Natty makes miraculous debut after six years

Natty is a super rookie in the K-pop world who debuted only a month ago with the single “Nineteen.” Among fans of the genre, however, her name is not unfamiliar. Having been an idol trainee for six years, Natty was a contestant on a JYP Entertainment and Mnet girl group competition in 2015 called “Sixteen” that created Twice. She was also on Mnet’s “Idol School” in 2017. While not able to make the final cut in the groups then, causing her to doubt he

K-popJune 8, 2020

20 songs from BTS Suga’s mixtapes

1. Moonlight Suga chronicles his music career from working in a small music studio located in his hometown of Daegu, releasing his first mixtape album to yielding success as BTS in the self-reflective track. The only thing that hasn’t changed throughout the roller coaster of years is the bright moonlight up in the sky. 2. Daechwita Incorporating Korean military traditional instruments and hip-hop sounds, this swaggering song identifies the rapper as a domineering king who comes fr

K-popJune 8, 2020

Despite success, BTS members say they are no different from ordinary youths

K-pop giants BTS is unquestionably one of the biggest stars in today's global entertainment, with international sell-out concerts and multiple chart-smashing records under its belt. But at heart, the seven members, all in their 20s, say they share more commonalities with an ordinary 20-something trying to get a grasp on life than meets the eye. "To be really, really frank, we still feel very unsure and unsettled as we speak. Just like that day we left the school gates for the last time on

K-popJune 8, 2020

BTS, Big Hit donate $1m to Black Lives Matter movement

K-pop superstars BTS and their label-management agency Big Hit Entertainment have donated $1 million to the cause of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States, according to a company representative Sunday. "It is true that a donation of $1 million was made in the name of BTS and Big Hit towards the Black Lives Matter cause," a representative at Big Hit told Yonhap News Agency. American entertainment publication Variety first reported Saturday (local time) that the K

K-popJune 7, 2020

BTS' Jungkook releases new solo track 'Still with You'

Jungkook, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, released a new solo song titled "Still with You" on Friday. The song was uploaded on the music sharing service Soundcloud and BTS' official blog and Twitter for free download. The BTS singer produced the song along with Big Hit Entertainment's producer Pdogg, according to BTS' Twitter. Starting with the sound of rain, "Sill with You" is a ballad about never-ending love, smoothed by a jazzy melody and Jungkook's silvery voice. Th

K-popJune 5, 2020

BTS expresses support for Black Lives Matter movement

K-pop superstars BTS on Thursday expressed support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States, joining the worldwide initiative in the music industry to protest against racism and violence. "We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together," the boy band wrote on its official Twitter account, with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The group's agency, Bit Hit Entertainment, said the

K-popJune 4, 2020

'Boy With Luv' by BTS gets over 800m YouTube views

The music video of K-pop band BTS' "Boy With Luv" racked in over 800 million on YouTube, according to the band's agency Thursday. The video for the main track on the album "Map of the Soul: Persona," released in April 2019, achieved the feat earlier Thursday, Big Hit Entertainment said. Featuring US pop singer Halsey, the colorful music video pays homage to the iconic 1952 American musical film "Singin' in the Rain," highlighted by a mass cadence dance near the e

K-popJune 4, 2020

BTS' agency Big Hit opens online global audition

Big Hit Entertainment, the record label and management agency of K-pop giants BTS, has opened an online global audition program for 2020, the company said Tuesday. Big Hit announced on its official website and social media accounts that it started receiving online applications on Monday for the 2020 Big Hit Global Audition aimed at creating a new boy band that will hopefully achieve the global fame of BTS. The company will receive applications until July 10, with the deadline for the United S

K-popJune 2, 2020

Twice sings deep longing for love in ‘More & More’

Set to continue a winning streak, Twice returned with the new single “More & More” on Monday. Released as the lead track of the group’s new album of the same title, “More & More” talks about the longing a person in love goes through. Like most of Twice’s romantic songs, the nine bandmates in the popular K-pop girl group show a bold attitude in winning the heart of their love interests. “You are gonna be mine again/Cause you know me know me/You&

K-popJune 1, 2020