Girls' Generation under talks to extend contract with S.M.

K-pop group Girls' Generation is in negotiations with S.M. Entertainment on extending their contract, sources said Wednesday.According to the sources, most of the eight members recently extended exclusive contracts with the South Korean agency, with remaining members also positively reviewing the deal. Girls` Generation (S.M. Entertainment)Debuting in 2007 with "Into the New World," Girls' Generation has become one of the major K-pop girl groups with multiple hits including "Gee," "Genie" and "I

Aug. 16, 2017

Ariana Grande knocked for attitude problem after Seoul concert

The “Dangerous Woman” songstress’s first performance in Seoul would have been perfect, if the singer didn’t leave fans disappointed and upset at what they referred to as her “disrespectful” attitude. Despite pouring rain, some 20,000 people flocked to Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Tuesday, which was also Korean National Liberation Day, to see the American pop star who won hearts around the world by returning to the stage just three weeks after a suicide bomber attacked her concert in Manchester i

Aug. 16, 2017

Taeyang returns solo with ‘White Night,’ but roots remain with Big Bang

From “Hot” and “Solar” to “Rise,” the past album titles of Big Bang’s Taeyang describe the singer himself. Taeyang, whose stage name means “Sun” in Korean, returned with his third full-length solo album “White Night” on Wednesday, more than three years after his second full-length album “Rise” in 2014.(YG Entertainment)“I came up with the new album’s concept when I was working on my previous album ‘Rise.’ I didn’t want the sun to go down after it rose, and the image of ‘white night,’ a natural p

Aug. 16, 2017

Girls’ Generation tops Billboard world chart

Girls’ Generation is picking up right where it left off, topping charts with “Holiday Night.”The sixth studio album by the K-pop act took the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s world albums chart as of Wednesday, a little over 10 days after it was released on Aug. 4.  Girls' Generation (S.M. Entertainment)The album, which features the tracks “Holiday” and “All Night,” took the top spot on the iTunes album charts of 19 countries at one point. (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)

Aug. 16, 2017

BTS reveals highlight reel of ‘Love Yourself’ series

Bangtan Boys on Wednesday dropped a highlight video of its upcoming “Love Yourself” series, a collection of music under a single concept, which will be launched with its album in September. Uploaded via the official YouTube channel of the group’s agency Big Hit Entertainment, the video hints at how the series will unfold. Short love stories revolving around each of the seven members are featured. Excerpts from BTS’s highlight reel of the “Love Yourself” series (Big Hit Entertainment)“We were pla

Aug. 16, 2017

SHINee’s Onew to face probe over sexual harassment

Prosecutors will investigate Onew of boy band SHINee for allegedly touching a woman inappropriately at a club in Gangnam, Seoul, on Saturday. The singer was arrested at the club after a friend of the woman called the police. Onew denied the charges, saying that he has no memory of the alleged incident, as he was too drunk at that time.Police plan to send the case to the prosecutor’s office.  Onew of SHINee (Herald DB)SHINee’s agency S.M. Entertainment said the incident stemmed from “a misunderst

Aug. 15, 2017

K.A.R.D turns to world stage again

K-pop mixed gender rookie group K.A.R.D wrapped up its promotional activities in Korea for its latest track “Hola Hola” and will meet its overseas fans again. K.A.R.D will perform at the Summer Sonic 2017 rock festival in Japan on Saturday. It will then head to Los Angeles for KCON 2017, the annual Hallyu convention hosted by entertainment giant CJ E&M. In September, it will embark on another world tour in Europe, during which the group will visit five countries including the United Kingdom and

Aug. 15, 2017

BTS nabs best int’l artist at Teen Choice Awards

K-pop megastar BTS once again proved its global popularity, snagging the international artist prize at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards held in the US.　The seven-member act was announced the winner of the Choice International Artist Award on Sunday, local time, at the ceremony which took place at Galen Center in Los Angeles. 　The category included four K-pop nominees, including EXO, Seventeen and Monsta X, and Mexican group CD9 and Latin pop group CNCO. 　BTS has become the second K-pop group to win t

Aug. 15, 2017

Did Ariana Grande refuse to enter Korea? Speculations of terror fears ahead of concert

Pop star Ariana Grande, who is in Korea for her first concert here, is refraining from any contact with the media and fans before her performance, possibly out of fears of terrorism.Grande is believed to have arrived at Gimpo International Airport late Monday, without being greeted by a crowd of fans and the media as is the norm when megastars visit the country. This sparked a rumor that Grande had refused to enter Korea after seeing a flock of reporters at the airport. Ariana Grande (AP)Hyundai

Aug. 15, 2017

Incheon Pentaport Rock crowd size reaches 76,000: organizer

The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, a major summer music festival in South Korea, saw a slight drop in the number of visitors from last year, according to organizers Monday.Industry watchers attribute the drop to a growing competition from other music events held in the summer.   (Yescom Entertainment-Yonhap)The festival was held at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, from Friday to Sunday, featuring a total of 70 international and domestic artists, including

Aug. 15, 2017

HyunA to drop new album on Aug. 29: sources

HyunA, a former member of the now-disbanded girl group 4minute, will put out a new album late this month, sources in the music scene said Monday.The sources said the idol singer will release her sixth EP led by a song composed by Sinsadong Tiger on Aug. 29. It will be her first album after "A'wesome," her fifth EP out in August last year.HyunA had a "fan meeting" tour of Seoul and eight North American cities in February to mark the 10th anniversary of her debut as a 4minute member. In May, she f

Aug. 15, 2017

Bubble not to pop anytime soon

Has K-pop reached its peak? Or will it be able to keep climbing the ladder of global success? More than 20 years have passed since the first generation of K-pop boy groups H.O.T and Sechs Kies made waves within the Korean music scene in the ‘90s. In 2000, legendary dance music duo Clon went overseas and mesmerized fans in Taiwan, which heralded K-pop’s overseas popularity. Since then, the K-pop industry has never slowed down in rolling out K-pop acts that appeal to a global audience, ranging fro

Aug. 14, 2017

2017 Asia Song Festival to kick off next month

The 2017 Asia Song Festival, an annual Asian pop music festival, will take place in September, featuring a star-studded lineup of artists, according to its organizer Monday. Under the theme of “Asia is One,” the festival will be held from Sept. 22-24 at venues across Busan. The opening ceremony of the Asia Song Festival in 2016. (Busan-Yonhap)On its first day, music industry officials from 10 countries will gather for a conference at Nurimaru APEC house in Haeundae to discuss issues related to i

Aug. 14, 2017

Taeyang reveals teaser video for ‘Darling’

Taeyang of Big Bang on Monday revealed the teaser video for “Darling,” the title song for his upcoming album “White Night.”The video, uploaded on YG Entertainment‘s official blog www.yg-life.com, featuring the K-pop star alone on a glacier, atop a skyscraper, and running through a sandstorm. (YG Entertainment)“I had this song since four years ago, and I tried many variations with this. Couples would empathize with this song,” said Taeyang. Taeyang will drop the new album at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.(

Aug. 14, 2017

Gugudan to hold first overseas fan meeting

South Korea's rookie girl group Gugudan will hold its first-ever overseas fan meeting in Singapore next month, its star agency said Monday.The group will meet its international fans in the "Gugudan Live Show in Singapore 2017" at MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on Sept. 27, Jellyfish Entertainment said.  (Jellyfish Entertainment)Debuting last year, Gugudan has released two albums and recently launched its first sub-unit "Gugudan Ogu Ogu" with members Mina and Hyeyeon, backed

Aug. 14, 2017

Elvis: 40 years since the death of ‘the King’

MEMPHIS (AFP) - Elvis Presley, American icon and King of rock ‘n’ roll, transformed popular culture, sold over a billion records and is idolized as ever on the 40th anniversary of his tragic death. A fan takes a photo of herself at the Meditation Garden where Elvis Presley is buried alongside his parents and grandmother at his Graceland mansion on Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee. (AFP-Yonhap)His Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee -- the second most famous home in the United States after the

Aug. 14, 2017

'The War' becomes EXO's fourth million seller album

EXO's "The War" has sold more than 1 million copies in less than one month, becoming the boy band's fourth "million seller" record, its agency said Monday. The Korean and Chinese versions of EXO's fourth full-length album have sold a combined 1.01 million copies to date, according to S.M. Entertainment. (Yonhap)The group's three previous full-length albums -- "XOXO" (2013), "Exodus" (2015) and "Ex'Act" (2016) -- sold over 1 million copies when including sales numbers for the Korean, Chinese and

Aug. 14, 2017

Black Pink's 'Boombayah' hits 200 mln YouTube views

The music video for "Boombayah," K-pop band Black Pink's debut song, has reached over 200 million views on YouTube, according to the group's agency Monday.The song, released in August of last year, reached the milestone on Sunday evening, YG Entertainment said, marking the single-largest YouTube view count for a debut song by any K-pop artist. (YG Entertainment)Three other songs by Black Pink -- "Playing with Fire," "Whistle" and "As If It's Your Last" -- have also been viewed more than 100 mill

Aug. 14, 2017

Wanna One’s SNL appearance scores record ratings

Rookie boy band Wanna One once again demonstrated its status as the hottest new K-pop act in Korea with its appearance on the live variety show Saturday Night Live Korea. 　SNL Korea, in its ninth season and currently airing on tvN, scored its highest ratings of the season with Saturday’s episode, reaching 3.4 percent in viewership share.　The show kicked off with a performance of “Pick Me.” 　(tvN)(tvN)“There was intense competition to get seats for the live show,” said host Shin Dong-yup. “The nu

Aug. 13, 2017

[K-talk] Taeyang to perform in Asia in fall

K-pop group Big Bang’s Taeyang will perform in eight Asian cities this fall, following his North American tour.Taeyang will perform in Manila on Sept. 22, Hong Kong on Sept. 24, Bangkok on Sept. 30, Jakarta on Oct. 13, Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 15, Macau on Oct. 21, Singapore on Oct. 27 and Taipei on Oct. 29.The artist is resuming his Asia tour after two years, as part of his world tour. His concerts in Manila and Macau will be his first as a solo artist. Prior to the Asia tour, he performed in Japan

Aug. 11, 2017