K-pop groups dominate US CD sales in 2024

K-pop groups, such as Stray Kids, Enhypen and Ateez, dominated CD sales in the United States last year, according to a US music industry report. Seven K-pop albums ranked in the top 10 CD sales in the country for the year, the music data tracking company Luminate announced in its 2024 Year-End Music Report released Wednesday local time. Stray Kids led the K-pop charge with its album "Ate" selling 442,000 copies, securing the second-highest spot. The group's latest release, "Hop," also performed

Jan. 16, 2025

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin breaks own record on Spotify

Jimin of BTS amassed over 1.34 billion streams on Spotify with solo song “Who,” which b ecame the most played song from a K-pop solo singer on the platform, according to its latest data. “Who” is the lead single from his second solo EP, “Muse” and surpassed the record he himself set with “Like Crazy,” which fronted his first solo mini album, “Face,” and has garnered 1.32 billion hits. He is the only K-pop solo act to have two songs with over 1.3 billion streams on Spotify and has more than 6 bil

Jan. 16, 2025

New generation of K-pop artists set to debut with agencies likely to play safe

Music quality, genre, message key to standing out in saturated market Major K-pop agencies are set to launch new groups this year, with music critics predicting they will opt for a safer strategy of focusing on broadly appealing music and concepts rather than experimenting with unfamiliar ideas. While sticking to tried-and-true formulas, each agency is expected to add a unique spin. Girl groups are also predicted to enjoy a higher chance of success due to their strong visual appeal and greater m

Jan. 16, 2025

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen’s BSS sells half million copies of 2nd single

The second physical single from Seventeen subunit BSS sold close to 530,000 copies in its first week, agency Pledis Entertainment said Wednesday citing a local tally. The single “Teleparty” sold over half a million copies as did the trio’s previous single “Second Wind,” which holds a first-week sales record for the K-pop subunit at 610,000. The focus track from the new single “CBZ” topped the iTunes Top Songs Chart in eight regions and the accompanying music video claimed the No. 1 spot on YouTu

Jan. 15, 2025

[Exclusive] SM Entertainment will debut new boy band in second half of this year: source

K-pop fans speculate former Hybe trainee JJ may be one potential member SM Entertainment is preparing to launch a new boy band in the second half of this year, according to an industry source on Wednesday. “From what I know, a new boy band will debut under SM Entertainment this year. The exact date for their debut is unknown, but considering the preparation time, which usually takes about five months, there’s a strong possibility the group will debut in the second half,” the source told The Kore

Jan. 15, 2025

Annual Kyungrockjeol indie music festival to be held at Musinsa Garage and online

Crying Nut bassist Han Kyung-rok to host '2025 Kyungrockjeol: Come Together' The iconic indie music festival Kyungrockjeol will run offline and online for four days in February. Captain Rock Company announced that Crying Nut bassist Han Kyung-rok will host "2025 Kyungrockjeol: Come Together" from Feb. 4 to 7. This year's theme, "Come Together," celebrates both Crying Nut's 30th debut anniversary and 30 years of Korean indie music. The festival will kick off Feb. 4 to Feb. 5 with "2025 Kyugrockje

Jan. 15, 2025

GOT7 to hold first concert in 6 years

Following the release of new album, GOT7 celebrates 11th debut anniversary with concert GOT7 will reunite with fans through its first solo concert in six years. Kakao Entertainment announced Wednesday that GOT7 will hold its concert “NestFest” on Feb. 1 and 2 at the Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul. This marks the group’s first solo concert in approximately six years after the conclusion of its 2019 world tour “Keep Spinning” in Seoul. The performance also comes after the group's 11th debut a

Jan. 15, 2025

BB Girls pledge unbreakable bond

Now a trio, BBGirls returns with soothing winter track It's been a bumpy ride for BBGirls in the already testing K-pop industry. Though numerous member changes and a long period of obscurity preceded the trio's miraculous rise to fame, they now have their sights set on an even brighter future. The group’s new single “LOVE 2” marks both their first release in over a year and -- more importantly -- their "re-debut" under GLG Entertainment. Known for their vibrant, summery aesthetic, BBGirls return

Jan. 15, 2025

Bring your idols everywhere with sparkling photocards

K-pop fans' love for their singers goes well beyond the music they listen to and the concerts they attend. Loving a K-pop idol becomes a part of daily life. In the genre's ever-evolving fan culture, two key trends stand out on social media: photocard decorations and "yejeol-shot." Essential to this part of fandom is the photocard, now an indispensable piece of merchandise packed inside K-pop albums. The term yejeol-shot, combining the Korean word for “etiquette” (yejeol) and "shot," as in a phot

Jan. 15, 2025

SM Entertainment to release 30th-anniversary album next month

Album features 17 tracks, including new group song "Thank You” SM Entertainment is releasing a commemorative album entitled "2025 SM Town: The Culture, The Future” on Feb. 14 to celebrate its 30th anniversary, the company said Tuesday. This release comes two years and two months after the last SM Town album, "2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace,” was released in in December 2022. The new album includes 17 tracks, headlined "Thank You,” a group anthem performed by SM artists. The tracklist also feat

Jan. 14, 2025

Oneus returns with special album ‘Dear.M’ dedicated to fans

Boy group vows to navigate military service and contract renewal with focus on preserving the group Boy group Oneus returned Tuesday with the new album “Dear.M,” dedicated to their fandom, To Moon. The album includes 17 tracks, combining rerecordings of the group’s iconic hits and four new songs. Among the new tracks is the main song “IKUK” (I Know You Know), a reworked version of their final performance song on Mnet’s “Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace” last year. Known for its funky and groovy sound

Jan. 14, 2025

BTS tops record 2b Spotify streams with ‘Dynamite’

BTS amassed 2 billion streams on Spotify with “Dynamite,” said label Big Hit Music Tuesday citing the platform’s data from Saturday. The 2020 mega hit is the first K-pop song to achieve the feat. The digital single has set a series of records on the platform as a K-pop tune: debuting atop its Daily Top Songs Global and reaching the one-billion-mark for the first time, as well as generating the most plays on its day of release. With “Dynamite,” the band claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 1

Jan. 14, 2025

Jisoo to release Valentine's Day surprise

Jisoo of Blackpink announces release of second solo album Blackpink's Jisoo is set for her solo return with a new album, two years after her solo debut. According to her agency, Blissoo Entertainment, Tuesday, Jisoo will release her second solo album on Feb. 14, or Valentine’s Day. This marks her second solo project since her debut single, "Flower," released in March 2023. More information, including the album title, will be announced later. The upcoming album will be Jisoo’s first under her ind

Jan. 14, 2025

Rose's 'APT.' stays at No. 5 on Billboard Hot 100

Blackpink's Rose has maintained her position in the top five of the Billboard Hot 100 with "APT.," her collaborative single with US pop star Bruno Mars. According to the chart released Monday, the song remained at No. 5 this week, a week after soaring to the position. Released in October, "APT." debuted at No. 8 and climbed 29 spots to No. 5 last week following fluctuations in its chart performance. The fifth-place ranking marks the highest position ever achieved by a K-pop female artist on the

Jan. 14, 2025

Somebody's watching you: K-pop stars face closer scrutiny than ever

Agencies remind K-pop stars to be cautious in public as fan criticism of celebrities rises K-pop stars are finding themselves under growing scrutiny from ordinary citizens who have reported alleged misconduct or illegal activities. Some individuals are even stepping forward as witnesses in cases or providing evidence. Recently, Hanni of NewJeans was anonymously reported to the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission for allegedly lacking legal status to live and work here. In response, the Min

Jan. 13, 2025