With BIGBANG, BTS on course to return, K-pop scene to present dream team lineup

With two K-pop sensations, BTS and BIGBANG, warming up to release new albums, the K-pop community is on course to host a unprecedentedly star-studded lineup of artists coming back to rock the music scene this year. Breaking out of its more than two-year hiatus due to members' military service, boy band BIGBANG is scheduled to drop new music this year, the band's first release since "Flower Road" in March 2018, according its management, YG Entertainment. The exact date of the new mus

K-popMay 13, 2020

How Chung Ha’s house-inspired ‘Stay Tonight’ came to life

Chung Ha’s latest single, “Stay Tonight,” came as somewhat of a surprise. To begin with, it was a pre-single before the upcoming release of her very first full-length studio album, which meant the singer wouldn’t promote the track the way she would a lead single. Despite the lack of media exposure, the song’s multilayered structure, stomping beats and voguing-inspired video propelled it into the top 10 on streaming service Melon’s weekly chart for the week

K-popMay 12, 2020

BIGBANG's 2nd documentary featuring Taeyang to hit YouTube next week

The second documentary film by iconic K-pop band BIGBANG will hit YouTube next week, featuring member Taeyang, in the runup to the band's upcoming music release, its agency said Monday. The first episode of the eight-part documentary, "White Night," will hit BIGBANG's official YouTube channel on May 18. Each of the rest of the shows will be released every Thursday and Monday for the duration of four weeks, according to YG Entertainment. The upcoming documentary featuring Taeyang, BI

K-popMay 11, 2020

Bang Si-hyuk named chairman of Big Hit

Big Hit Entertainment, home to the likes of BTS and TXT, announced Monday that founder and largest shareholder Bang Si-hyuk added the title of chairman of the company in a recent shareholders meeting. Bang, who also maintains the CEO title as chief producer, will be “leading the company from the forefront,” making decisions on core business projects and key issues as well as creative aspects including music production, the company said in a statement. The decision to elevate Bang&

K-popMay 11, 2020

Boy band NU'EST drops new alum 'The Nocturne'

Returning to the K-pop scene with a new album, "The Nocturne" Monday, five-member boy band NU'EST explores the thrill and fascination of nighttime with an homme fatale concept. The EP is NU'EST's first music release since "The Table" seven months ago. It marks a dramatic style change into alluring R&B pop from the previous album's breezy, uplifting sound. Member Baekho lent his talent to the composition and writing of five of the album's six tracks, including the lead

K-popMay 11, 2020

DAY6 temporarily suspends team activities

Five-piece boy band DAY6 will suspend all upcoming team activities, its label, JYP Entertainment, announced late last night via social media. “Recently, several members acknowledged suffering symptoms of psychological anxiety. We immediately conducted a medical examination and received professional medical advice that sufficient rest and psychological stability were essential,” read the statement. “For this reason, after an extensive discussion with the DAY6 members, we hav

K-popMay 11, 2020

BLACKPINK's 'Playing with Fire' tops 500m views

The video for BLACKPINK's 2016 song "Playing with Fire" topped the milestone of 500 million YouTube views Friday. The music video surpassed the threshold early in the day, becoming the group's fifth piece to achieve the feat following "Ddu-du Ddu-du," "Boombayah," "As If It's Your Last," and "Kill This Love," according to the K-pop band's management agency, YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK became the first K-pop girl band to have five music videos

K-popMay 8, 2020

Bol4 releases duet ‘Leo’ with EXO’s Baekhyun

Bol4 released the new single “Leo,” featuring Baekhyun of EXO, on Thursday. Released as one of two lead tracks from the one-man band’s upcoming “Youth Diary II” EP, “Leo” is a relaxing love song that fits this warm spring season. Balanced by jazz piano and string ensemble sounds, the mellifluous song teems with an array of instruments, adding layer to the lighthearted melody. Read as “Butterfly and Cat” by its Korean title, “Leo”

K-popMay 7, 2020

[Herald Review] Twice’s ‘Seize the Lights’ shows girl group as genuine as can be

Last year, Twice embarked on the girl group’s most monumental journey since debuting -- their first world tour: “Twicelights.” It was their longest tour yet, spanning almost a whole year, kicking off in Seoul on May 25, 2019, going around Southeast Asia and North America and closing in Japan just a couple of months ago. Their finale shows initially scheduled to be held in March at Tokyo Dome and KSPO Dome in Seoul were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This isn&rsquo

K-popMay 7, 2020

IU, Suga's collaboration song 'Eight' becomes chart sensation

Topping iTunes singles charts in 59 countries and territories Thursday, "Eight," a high-profile collaboration song between K-pop queen IU and BTS' Suga, became a chart sensation. Following its official release Wednesday evening, "Eight," a pop rock number, topped the iTunes singles chart in the United States, France, Singapore, New Zealand, Finland, Malaysia, the Philippines and 52 other countries and regions as of early Thursday, according to Edam Entertainment, the agency

K-popMay 7, 2020

IU drops collaboration single with BTS’ Suga

Ready to reign K-pop charts, IU’s new single “Eight,” featuring Suga of BTS, was released Wednesday evening. The much-anticipated song has been co-written and composed by the singer-songwriter and the BTS member, who’s not only served as a producer but also lent his vocal for the track. Its title refers to the age of the two musicians, as both are 28 (Korean age). “As musicians of the same age, the two singers could relate to one another and create their own uni

K-popMay 6, 2020

Girl group TWICE to release new Japanese single 'Fanfare' in July

K-pop sensation TWICE will release a new Japanese single, "Fanfare," in July, with the aim of making another megahit in the Japanese music scene. Uploading a video clip on its Japanese social media accounts Tuesday, the girl group broke the news of the album release. "We will release our sixth Japanese single, 'Fanfare,' on July 8," the members said in the video clip. "We can't wait to see you again. We hope you stay in good health until then," said the band mem

K-popMay 6, 2020

[Herald Interview] Designing cover of BTS’ ‘Map of the Soul: 7’

In February, BTS released the group’s fourth studio album “Map of the Soul: 7,” selling over 4 million copies within days of release. In numerous interviews, leader RM has said the No. 7 symbolizes both the number of bandmates and years they’ve spent together. “In a way, the biggest inspiration was the story of the BTS members and the seven years they spent together,” A Ji-hye, one half of graphic designer duo Sparks Edition, said in a recent interview wit

K-popMay 6, 2020

BTS joins Obamas, Lady Gaga in YouTube virtual commencement next month

K-pop band BTS will join ex-US President Barack Obama, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and American pop icon Lady Gaga in giving speeches during a virtual commencement event by YouTube next month, the band's agency said Wednesday. The streaming event, "Dear Class of 2020" set for June 6 (US time), is a virtual commencement celebration, bringing together inspirational leaders, celebrities and YouTube creators to celebrate graduates and their families online, according to

K-popMay 6, 2020

Monsta X postpones new album release due to member's injury

K-pop boy band Monsta X on Monday put off the release of a new album to late May due to member Shownu's back injury. "Ahead of the comeback, Shownu felt pain in his back while working on a choreography exercise, and the result of a medical test at a hospital prohibited him from fierce exercise or body movements, requiring him to receive treatment," the band's management agency, Starship Entertainment, said The release date of the upcoming album, "Fantasia X," will be moved

K-popMay 4, 2020

EXO's Suho temporarily leaves band to serve military term

Suho, the leader of the globally-loved K-pop boy band EXO, will temporarily leave the group to fulfill his military duty, the artist said Monday. The 29-year-old, whose legal name is Kim Jun-myeon, will begin his military term on May 14, he said in a hand-written letter uploaded on the fan community application, Lysn. "During the time, I think I may dearly miss you, EXO-L," Suho said, referring to the name of the EXO fandom. SM did not provide further details on his enlistment, inc

K-popMay 4, 2020

G-Dragon becomes 1st Korean artist to win Chinese ad deal since THAAD fallout: agency

G-Dragon became the first South Korean celebrity to sign a corporate endorsement deal with a Chinese company following Beijing's virtual ban on "hallyu," or South Korean pop culture, since 2016, the singer's agency said Monday. The singer-rapper of K-pop act BIGBANG recently signed a deal with Chinese bottled water giant Nongfu Spring Co. and will be featured in promotional material for the company's new tea drink brand, Chapai, YG Entertainment said. Online and social media marketi

K-popMay 4, 2020

BTS begins new journey for first self-produced album

Global band BTS has begun a new journey to produce an album, possibly the first self-produced album in the band's high-profile seven-year music career. Appearing on a live video log on YouTube last week, BTS member Jimin shared the news on the project, the band's new discographic journey that came as the coronavirus pandemic has put its globe-trotting concert tour on hold. "As our team's production of a new album has been assigned independently to ourselves, we named the project managers

K-popMay 4, 2020

EXO's Chen becomes father of daughter

Chen, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, became the father of a daughter Wednesday following his surprise marriage announcement in January. "Chen had a daughter born today as (reported)," EXO's management agency, SM Entertainment, said, confirming some media reports on the birth. The news came about three months after the 28-year-old, whose legal name is Kim Jong-dae, made a surprise marriage announcement in January in a handwritten letter. He said at that time that his fiancee was pr

K-popApril 29, 2020

Star-studded collaboration projects dazzle K-pop scene

In one of the highest-profile music collaboration projects to date in South Korea, female singer-songwriter IU and Suga of BTS are on course to hit the music scene with their collaboration song next week. "Eight," set for release next Wednesday, was jointly created by the K-pop queen and actress and the rapper from BTS, and comes with a rap part by the latter. The collaboration brings together the musical power of IU, arguably the country's most sought-after artist for music collabo

K-popApril 29, 2020