CJ ENM’s 2024 MAMA Awards to kick off in US for first time

The 2024 MAMA Awards, the world’s largest K-pop awards ceremony, organized by CJ ENM, will kick off in the US for the first time in its history, the company said Thursday. The awards are to start at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Nov. 21, before moving to the Kyocera Dome Osaka in Japan on Nov. 22-23. This marks a significant step in expanding the reach of K-pop and connecting global fans across different time zones. The MAMA Awards, which have a 25-year legacy, have prev

K-popJuly 19, 2024

Stray Kids return with ‘ATE,' ambitious to broaden music

Stray Kids have returned with confidence and aspirations to reach a broader audience. The eight-member group dropped its 9th mini album, “ATE,” on Friday, expressing ambitions to broaden their musical spectrum. "This is our first album of the year. As our unique style has become more distinct, we've worked hard to prepare it, so please enjoy it," said leader Bang Chan during a press conference held at the Conrad Seoul in Yeongdengpo-gu, Seoul on Friday. The title track

K-popJuly 19, 2024

Jimin to showcase new song at Jimmy Fallon Show

BTS's Jimin set to perform "Who" from the upcoming solo album on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." Jimin will appear on the popular American NBC program at 12:35 p.m., Tuesday, Korean Standard Time, performing "Who" from his second solo album "Muse." The Jimmy Fallon Show announced Jimin's appearance on Thursday via a teaser video released on its official social media accounts. The teaser shows Jimmy Fallon drinking from a can labeled &qu

K-popJuly 18, 2024

No end in sight for Min's legal troubles

Despite Ador CEO Min Hee-jin’s wish to reconcile with Hybe, the parent company’s anger shows no signs of abating as its subsidiary labels continue to take legal measures against Min. On Monday, Source Music, the Hybe music label behind K-pop girl band Le Sserafim, filed a lawsuit against Min for defamation, obstruction of business and insult, seeking damages of around 5 billion won ($362,450). Source Music claimed that Min's comments have caused Le Sserafim to suffer from rumors

K-popJuly 18, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids renew contract with label

All eight members of Stray Kids agreed to stay with label JYP Entertainment and signed contract renewals, the company announced Thursday. Their exclusive contracts were due to expire in March next year, but were renewed in advance. The octet is set to bring out their ninth EP, “Ate,” on Friday, amid high expectations after the four previous albums – EPs “Oddinary,” “Maxident” and “Rockstar” as well as third LP “Five-Star” -- all d

K-popJuly 18, 2024

NewJeans to perform during halftime at Tottenham-Bayern match

K-pop sensation NewJeans will perform during the halftime at the big match between Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur. NewJeans will perform at the halftime show of the "2024 Coupang Play Series" match between Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Aug. 3 at Seoul World Cup Stadium, according to Ador, the group's agency. The "2024 Coupang Play Series" is a highly anticipated game that has local football fans excited about the prospect of seeing Tot

K-popJuly 18, 2024

6 K-pop albums among top 10-selling CD albums in US in 1st half

K-pop albums have accounted for six of the 10 most-sold CD albums in the United States in the first half of this year The six albums were from boy groups Tomorrow X Together, Ateez, Stray Kids, Enhypen, and Seventeen, plus girl group TWICE, according to the 2024 Midyear Music Report released Tuesday by Luminate, an American music and entertainment industry data research firm. Tomorrow X Together's sixth EP, "minisode 3: Tomorrow," was the second most-sold CD album, with 190,000 un

K-popJuly 18, 2024

KTO under fire for using NewJeans product created with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami

The Korea Tourism Organization has come under fire for offering a promotional product created by NewJeans, its honorary ambassadors, in collaboration with Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami as part of its tourism event that launched July 11. Although the merchandise itself is not tied to any political issue, critics contend that the organization should promote products related to Korean culture, given its role in representing the country’s tourism interests. The controversy involves the

K-popJuly 17, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Ateez to drop 4th single in Japan

Ateez will release its fourth single in Japan “Birthday” on Oct. 2, agency KQ Entertainment announced Wednesday. It will consist of six tracks including the lead track of the same title. The upcoming single album comes about seven months after the previous Japanese single “Not Okay,” which topped Oricon’s daily single and weekly combined single rankings before earning platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan in February. The band also

K-popJuly 17, 2024

Price of stardom?

Behind K-pop's rapid growth and immense popularity, there is a persistent, chronic problem that follows fame: Stalkers, often called "sasaeng" in Korea. "I am not sasaeng. I am just a genuine fan who really loves NCT," said an 18-year-old girl who wished to remain anonymous. She claims that all her actions are out of sincere support and love -- taking taxis to follow her favorite singer as he goes about his day and waiting for hours at the airport to take photos of the g

K-popJuly 17, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin crowns band with iTunes record

Jimin of BTS swept the iTunes Top Songs chart in all 119 regions with the solo track “Filter.” The track is off the band’s fourth studio album “Map of the Soul: 7” which was rolled out in February 2020, making BTS the first group to top the chart in all regions. The artist already has three more songs of his own that did so – “Like Crazy,” “Closer Than This” and “With You.” “Like Crazy” is the main track from hi

K-popJuly 16, 2024

K-pop boy bands losing allure as career choice

Becoming a K-pop star was once among the top dreams for boys and girls in Korea. While many girls still aspire to this dream, however, boys are increasingly turning away from the aspiration, as they become more aware of the hard reality of becoming a K-pop star. Trainees often undergo three to five years of rigorous training and must compete fiercely for a slim chance to debut. Even if they achieve stardom, they often lose their personal lives in the process. K-pop agencies report difficulties i

K-popJuly 16, 2024

Kara unveils new song ‘Hello’ featuring all six members

Legendary K-pop girl group Kara dropped a new song, “Hello,” on Tuesday. The song is a Side-B track from its upcoming digital single album, “I Do I Do,” set for release on July 24. “Hello” is a ballad number that sings about the happiness people experience when meeting new someone new and the sadness of bidding farewell. “This song was supposed to be included in the group’s fourth LP, ‘Full Bloom,’ released in September 2013. But we are

K-popJuly 16, 2024

[Herald Review] Infinite hints at new album at fan meeting

Veteran boy band Infinite held emotionally charged fan meetings Saturday and Sunday, the first in seven years. "Infinite Rally 4," two standalone fan meetings, took place over the weekend at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. Fan meetings are similar to regular concerts but include more interaction between the artists and the audience. The meetings were the first in which all six members of the group took part in seven years. Across two days, about 20,000 seats were sold out. The perf

PerformanceJuly 16, 2024

Taeyang to hold first concert in 7 years

Singer Taeyang will be holding his first solo concerts in seven years in August. The singer's agency, The Black Label, revealed the poster for Taeyang's solo concert, "Taeyang 2024 Tour The Light Year in Seoul," through its official social media channels. The upcoming concert will be held Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at the Olympic Hall in Olympic Park. The solo concert marks Taeyang's first concert in about seven years since his second world tour, "White Night," in 201

K-popJuly 16, 2024

Viral short-form videos help Hallyu-related brands expand overseas: TikTok white paper

The Hallyu market formed with Korean Wave-influenced products and services is forecast to grow to $143 billion in the US, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam by 2030 with additional unrealized headroom of $55 billion, according to TikTok. The forecast represents an 87 percent growth from the current $76 billion spent on Korean products and services in those four countries. TikTok Korea held a press conference Monday in Seoul to review its white paper entitled “Hallyu in the Digital Age: Short

K-popJuly 15, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Taeyang to host solo concert after 7 years

Taeyang announced Monday that he will hold a solo concert in Seoul on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 via agency The Black Label. It will be his first standalone gig in seven years and the Seoul show will be followed by a tour in Asia. The veteran musician brought out his second solo EP “Down to Earth” last year which included “Vibe,” “Shoong!” and “Seed.” “Vibe” was a collaboration with Jimin of BTS and hit Billboard’s Hot 100 at No. 76 and

K-popJuly 15, 2024

Former Japanese K-pop idol apologizes for working at cabaret

Haru, a Japanese performer formerly of K-pop girl group Nature, apologized Sunday for causing worry among her fans. The apology came after news broke in April that she was working as a "kyabajo," or a host at a cabaret in Japan. In a handwritten letter posted on her social media account, Haru expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging the heartbreak the news might have caused for Nature’s fan club, known as Leaf. "At 18, I came to Korea alone without knowing the language and de

K-popJuly 15, 2024

Ador rejected Grammy Museum's offer of 'prime spot' for NewJeans: report

The uneasy relationship between Hybe and Min Hee-jin, the CEO of its subsidiary Ador, continues with the agency behind popular K-pop group NewJeans reported to have rejected the Grammy Museum’s offer of the "best spot" at the upcoming Hybe exhibition in Los Angeles running from Aug. 2 to Sept. 15. The Grammy Museum, an institution devoted to the history and winners of the Grammy Awards, offered Ador a prime spot for NewJeans in March, according to local media Monday. The organize

K-popJuly 15, 2024

RM's second studio album named ‘Best K-Pop Album of 2024’ by Billboard staff

"Right Place, Wrong Person," the second album of RM, the leader of BTS, was named the “Best K-Pop Album of 2024 (So Far)” by Billboard, according to Hybe on Saturday, highlighting RM's ongoing success and influence as a solo artist. Released in May, "Right Place, Wrong Person" debuted at No.5 on the Billboard 200, making RM the first K-pop solo artist to have two consecutive albums in the Top 5. The album reached No.37 on the UK Official Albums Chart, setting

K-popJuly 14, 2024