BTS members dominate charts, award shows despite military service

Despite most members of BTS serving their mandatory military duty, the group continues to dominate music charts and year-end award ceremonies, with its members achieving remarkable individual successes. Jungkook, the last member in the group to join the army, took home three trophies at the 2024 Melon Music Awards (MMA) held at Inspire Arena in Incheon, Saturday. He was honored in the main prize, the Top 10 category, as well as best solo – male, and Millions Top 10. Jungkook has now won al

K-popDec. 1, 2024

'Winter Ahead' by BTS' V tops iTunes charts in 75 countries

Singer V of K-pop superband BTS has topped Apple iTunes charts in 75 countries with his latest release, "Winter Ahead," his agency said Saturday. The duet song with K-pop artist Park Hyo-sin, released on Friday, claimed the No. 1 spot on iTunes' Top Songs charts across various nations, including Britain, Germany and Japan, as of 6 a.m., according to BigHit Music. The romantic jazz track also ranked first in Worldwide iTunes Song and European iTunes Song charts. Its music video top

K-popNov. 30, 2024

V releases digital single with Park Hyo-shin

BTS’ V dropped a digital single, “Winter Ahead (with Park Hyo-shin)," on Friday at 2 p.m.. Park Hyo-shin is a renowned ballad singer and musical actor. “Winter Ahead (with Park Hyo-shin)” is a track that reflects V's deep love for jazz music. “The song features saxophone, trumpet and piano to create a cozy atmosphere,” said Big Hit Music in a press release on Friday. The song’s romantic lyrics and melody are beautifully complemented by V and Pa

K-popNov. 29, 2024

‘NewJeans are no longer under Ador,’ says legal expert

With Ador likely gearing up to start a legal battle, its now-former K-pop girl group NewJeans appears ready to move forward with their activities, signaling the start of what could be a long legal fight over rights and compensation. NewJeans' members announced the termination of their exclusive contracts with Ador Thursday, citing breaches of contract by the agency. The quintet asserted during the press conference in Seoul that they owe no penalties or compensation. Still, questions about t

K-popNov. 29, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS' 'Butter' hits 1b views on YouTube

BTS added another video to the list of its visuals with more than 1 billion views on YouTube, as “Butter” reached the milestone late Thursday. The music video for the 2021 mega hit joined the list of “Dynamite,” “Boy With Luv,” “DNA,” “Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix),” “Idol” and “Fake Love.” The video earned the septet four Guinness World Records upon release. The synth pop tune made a hotshot debut on Billboard&rsq

K-popNov. 29, 2024

NewJeans leave for Japan shows day after unilaterally terminating contract with Ador

NewJeans took an early flight to Tokyo on Friday, marking the girl group's first activity since unilaterally terminating their exclusive contract with Ador. The group is set to appear on Nihon TV’s “Best Artist 2024,” Saturday, and Fuji TV’s “2024 FNS Music Festival,” on Dec. 4. At Gimpo International Airport, in Gyeonggi Province, the group briefly bowed to the press before proceeding to the departure gate without commenting on the ongoing dispute. The t

K-popNov. 29, 2024

Will Min Hee-jin reunite with NewJeans?

With all five members of NewJeans having expressed their desire to continue working with Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador and producer, during their press conference on Thursday, all eyes are on whether the reunion will happen. Min’s first public appearance after NewJeans’ press conference will be on Dec. 6 as she is scheduled to speak at a talk concert hosted by Hanwha General Insurance and Folin to talk about her experience as a K-pop producer. Min is in a legal battle with the K-po

K-popNov. 29, 2024

Ador claims exclusive contracts with NewJeans still valid

Ador, Hybe’s sublabel, claimed Thursday that its exclusive contracts with the members of the K-pop girl group NewJeans are still effective. “The exclusive contracts signed between Ador and NewJeans members are still valid. Therefore, we ask that you (NewJeans) continue to work with Ador for future engagements, just as you have been doing,” said Ador in a press release. This came soon after the group announced the termination of their exclusive contracts with their agency Ador a

K-popNov. 29, 2024

NewJeans terminates contract with Ador, embarks on new journey

NewJeans has unilaterally terminated its exclusive contract with Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, and announced plans to embark on a new journey outside the company, during a press conference held in Seoul, Thursday. "Our contract will be terminated as of midnight, today. It was Ador and Hybe that violated the contract, so we are ending it," member Minji said. "Moreover, we have never breached our exclusive contract and have always given our best efforts. There is no reason for us to p

K-popNov. 28, 2024

NewJeans to terminate contract with Ador

Popular K-pop girl group NewJeans has announced plans to terminate its exclusive contract with Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe, its PR agency confirmed Thursday. The group is set to hold a press conference at 8:30 p.m. Thursday to address the decision.

K-popNov. 28, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen tops Oricon chart with 4th Japan single

Seventeen's fourth Japanese single album headed straight to the top of Oricon’s Daily Single Ranking, said agency Pledis Entertainment Thursday citing the Japanese tally. “Shohikigen” is led by a ballad tune of the same title, which has been used as a theme song for NHK drama “Me and Future Me!?” that started airing last month. On Friday, the 13-member act will launch its dome tour in Japan, starting in Aichi before heading to Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka. The gr

K-popNov. 28, 2024

Crush to introduce vinyl ‘Dip Cuts Vol.1’ filled with new singles

Singer-songwriter Crush is wrapping up the year by releasing a vinyl album, “Dip Cuts Vol. 1,” carrying new singles. The vinyl will be sold at three days of concerts, called “Crush Hour: O,” to be held at the KSPO Dome in Seoul Dec. 20-22. The vinyl carries seven tracks-- “intro (240321),” “may I be your may,” “life is a circle,” “Red Day,” “O,” “deep dive into dipcuts” and “far-sighted,”

K-popNov. 28, 2024

[Herald Interview] Meet 1VERSE, first K-pop boy band to feature North Korean defectors

The four members of 1VERSE – Hyuk, Seok, Aito and Kenny – are about to achieve the first milestone that countless K-pop trainees dream of: an official debut with an album and showcases. This group, tirelessly honing their skills with the goal of debuting by the end of this year, has one special distinction. It is the first K-pop group featuring North Korean defectors. When 24-year-old Hyuk and Seok, who escaped North Korea and arrived in South Korea 10 years and 5 years ago, respectively, make t

K-popNov. 28, 2024

‘VCHA, Katseye and Dear Alice are not K-pop groups,’ industry experts say

The emergence of K-pop powerhouses’ “localized” groups such as VCHA, Katseye, and Dear Alice has sparked debates over whether they can be called K-pop acts. Despite their association with prominent K-pop agencies, industry experts largely agree that they fall outside the traditional definition of K-pop. Major players in the K-pop industry, including Hybe, JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment, have identified localization as the next step in the genre’s evolution. This s

K-popNov. 28, 2024

Kyuhyun marks 10th solo debut anniversary with first LP ‘Colors’

Kyuhyun, known for his multifaceted persona as a member of veteran boy band Super Junior, a beloved ballad soloist, a musical actor and an entertainer, has embraced all these identities in his first studio album, "Colors," marking the 10th anniversary of his solo debut. The album features 10 tracks spanning various genres, from featured track “Unending Days,” in the singer's signature sentimental ballad style, to dance-pop track “Bring It On,” Kyuhyun&rsquo

K-popNov. 28, 2024

Ador calls for Belift Lab’s ‘sincerity’ in Hanni workplace harassment case

NewJeans' agency Ador, on Wednesday, called on its sister company Belift Lab to demonstrate a sincere and respectful approach to the recent workplace harassment allegations involving member Hanni. The demand came just one day before the deadline for NewJeans’ ultimatum that Ador “rectify all major contract violations within 14 days” or they will terminate their exclusive contracts with the agency. Among the conditions listed in NewJeans’ certification of contents sen

K-popNov. 27, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Stray Kids add dates to world tour

Stray Kids confirmed that it will perform two more times in the US for its ongoing international tour dominATE, label JYP Entertainment said Wednesday. The decision comes after tickets for its concerts, in Los Angeles and New York, sold out as soon as they became available last week. The tour now will be held across 32 regions and will be made up of 44 live shows in total. The eight members will carry on with their tour in Macao on Friday and visit four more cities in Asia until January next yea

K-popNov. 27, 2024