BTS-Coldplay collaboration 'My Universe' debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

K-pop supergroup BTS made another No. 1 debut on Billboard's main singles chart with a collaboration single with British rock band Coldplay, Billboard said. "Coldplay and BTS rocket onto the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart at No. 1 with their collaborative new single 'My Universe'," Billboard said on its website Monday (US time). It marks BTS' sixth No. 1 debut and Coldplay's second on the Hot 100, one of the pop music industry's most influential music charts. Billboard said "My

K-popOct. 5, 2021

[Herald Review] TXT’s magical first concert, ‘Act: Boy’

Sitting through the two and half hours of Tomorrow X Together’s online concert on Sunday afternoon, it was breathtaking to watch how closely the five band members connected with their fans, the Moas, even with only a virtual presence. “Although I’ve heard screams so loud that they pierce through the in-ear headphones, it’s my first time hearing them come straight into my ears from the headphones,” said Taehyun during the concert, “Act: Boy,” on the di

K-popOct. 4, 2021

BTS-Coldplay collaboration 'My Universe' debuts at No. 3 on British Official Singles Chart

"My Universe," the collaboration single by K-pop sensation BTS and British rock band Coldplay, has debuted at No. 3 on the British Official Singles Chart Top 100, on par with two previous highest rankings for the South Korean group. The song, which was released Sept. 24, placed third on the chart dated Oct. 1-7, the Official Charts website said Friday (British time). "It's the week's biggest seller across both digital downloads and CD, notching up 27,000 pure sales over the last

K-popOct. 2, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Twice to mark 6th anniversary with LP, tour

Twice will release its third studio album next month followed by an international tour, after celebrating its sixth anniversary month with a week-long event. 　 The news came at the end of the music video for its first English-language single “The Feels” that was unveiled Friday. Some of the group’s songs -- including “More & More” from 9th EP, “I Can’t Stop Me” from 2nd LP, and digital single “Cry for Me” -- have English-language v

K-popOct. 1, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen shows off team spirit

The members of Seventeen gave fans a glimpse of their shared history divulging episodes from the last six years in a video uploaded on Friday. 　 Members of vocal unit -- Junghan, Joshua, Woozi, Dogyeom and Seungkwan -- were in the first part of the three-part series. 　 “There is no need to worry when we’re doing activities as units,” said Woozi, “I think we’re on the same wavelength.” 　 Every recording is a challenge, admitted Junghan. He almost thought abo

K-popSept. 30, 2021

E’last stages complete comeback with new single ‘Dark Dream’

The eight-piece boy band E’last returned on Wednesday as a complete group in 10 months with their single album “Dark Dream.” Member Wonjun, who had sat out during the promotional activities for the previous EP “Awake” to emcee television show “Boni, Hani,” has returned, rejoiced to be back with his bandmates. In an interview conducted ahead of their comeback, the group said via email, “E’last shines the brightest when all eight members ar

K-popSept. 29, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] CL drops 2nd single, “Lover Like Me"

CL unveiled the second single from her debut studio album in advance on Wednesday. 　 British singer/songwriter Anne-Marie co-wrote the song, titled “Lover Like Me,” which exudes confidence as the narrator coolly lets go of a partner who tried to cheat, saying the cheater will never meet anyone else like her. “Lover Like Me” highlights her vocals, while the previous single, “Spicy,” focused on her rapping and performance skills. 　 The first single from her u

K-popSept. 29, 2021

Ciipher welcomes love during autumn with ‘Blind’

As the days are shortening, the leaves are starting to change, people are pulling out their sweaters, and rookie boy band Ciipher is hoping to capture the mood of the season. The septet has returned with their second EP “Blind,” released Tuesday evening, a follow-up to their debut “I Like You” which dropped in March. The seven-member group said their title track, “Blind,” is a song about how a guy succeeds in confessing his love to his crush and how one cou

K-popSept. 28, 2021

[Herald Interview] CIX ready for new journey with first studio album

We know that a K-pop idol group is on the right track when they set the bar higher with every comeback. For quintet boy band CIX, the recent release of their first studio album “‘OK’ Prologue: Be OK” was more than enough to prove to the world and to themselves that they were heading the right way. One of K-pop’s up-and-coming boy bands, CIX made a splash with the 10-track album on Aug. 17, instantly placing five tracks on the top of Bugs’ real-time chart and

K-popSept. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Key tops iTunes chart in 32 regions

Key of SHINee landed atop iTunes top albums charts in 32 regions with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” which came out Monday. 　 The EP also topped a series of charts in Japan and China as well as at home. 　 The album consists of six tracks and he wrote the lyrics for two. “Hate That ...” featuring Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation was dropped in advance last month and topped iTunes top songs charts in 11 regions. 　 The title track was performed for the first time a day

K-popSept. 28, 2021

Documentary reveals joys, challenges of making BTS-Coldplay collab 'My Universe'

South Korean supergroup BTS has released a heartwarming documentary about its collaboration with British rock band Coldplay for their recent single "My Universe." The 13-minute video was posted on BTS' YouTube channel Sunday, two days after the song dropped amid high anticipation from fans worldwide. The documentary opens with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin relaying a story about how the high-profile collaboration began."About 18 months ago, I got a message from somebody. They s

K-popSept. 28, 2021

BTS to hold first in-person concerts in 2 years with events in LA

K-pop sensation BTS will hold a series of live in-person concerts in Los Angeles in November and December after two years away from such events due to the new coronavirus, the band's label said Tuesday. "BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA" will be held at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 27 and 28 and Dec. 1 and 2, according to Big Hit Music. They will be the septet's first live in-person concerts since 2019, when the group performed in Seoul. "The time is approaching when we can dance

K-popSept. 28, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] Shinee’s Key drops 1st EP “Bad Love”

Key of Shinee came out with his first solo EP, “Bad Love,” on Friday.   　 It has been 2 1/2 years since his previous solo album.   　 “It will be impossible to make an album that is perfect in every aspect but I am satisfied in that I’ve been able to have quite a say,” said the veteran idol. He was inspired by the combination of retro and space and the overall concept was based on that idea.   　 The title track boasts a powerful choreography all the

K-popSept. 27, 2021

'Kill This Love' becomes second BLACKPINK video to top 1.4 billion YouTube views

The music video for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's "Kill This Love" has exceeded 1.4 billion views on YouTube, its management agency said Sunday. The video hit the milestone at about 6 p.m. the previous day, becoming the second video from the group to do so after the 2018 hit song "Ddu-du Ddu-du," according to YG Entertainment. BLACKPINK is now the only K-pop group with more than one music video that has over 1.4 billion views. "Kill This Love" reached No. 41 of the B

K-popSept. 26, 2021

BTS performs from iconic Seoul gate for 'Global Citizen Live'

K-pop sensation BTS kicked off an international music festival Sunday with a performance of its hit song "Permission to Dance" from an iconic gate in Seoul. The septet opened "Global Citizen Live," a 24-hour concert featuring dozens of top artists from around the world, with a prerecorded performance filmed at night outside Sungnye Gate, South Korea's No. 1 national treasure. "Welcome to Seoul, Korea!" the band said in unison before starting the show. The seven memb

K-popSept. 26, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] ITZY hollers out that it’s “crazy in love”

The five members of ITZY talked about their first studio album “Crazy in Love” that came out on Friday through a Q&A statement released through their label JYP Entertainment. 　 The LP consists of 16 tracks and Ryujin admitted that it was not easy since it was the first time she recorded so many songs in such short time. 　 “But I am glad that we get to show a diverse range of new songs,” she said. The name of the lead track, “Loco,” is a slang for crazy

K-popSept. 24, 2021

BTS, Coldplay team up for ‘My Universe,’ full roll-out unveiled

After rumors of BTS and Coldplay teaming up for a song circulated months ago, two of the world’s biggest acts revealed the much-anticipation collaboration “My Universe” on Friday. The song talks about putting love first. It touches on the difficulties two people may face “because we come from different sides,” but provides hope by adding, “I just want to put you first,” likening the person to the singer‘s universe. Adding to the excitement, Par

K-popSept. 24, 2021

BTS returns home after visit to UN, New York

K-pop superstars BTS returned home Friday after a weeklong trip to New York as special presidential envoys for future generations and culture, their label said. During the week, the septet gave a speech at the opening of the Sustainable Development Goals Moment event at the 76th UN General Assembly, and joined President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook during interviews and a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. BTS also dropped by the Korean Cultural Center in New York, according

K-popSept. 24, 2021

[Feature] What it takes to be an idol: The academies that train K-pop wannabes

Seoul’s posh Gangnam district is known for its private educational institutes, called “hagwon.” Seeing students rushing to hagwon after school is nothing new for Seoulites. But the number of private academies that offer dance and vocal lessons has mushroomed as more youngsters aspire to K-pop stardom. Private training systems Lee Jae-won has run a dance academy in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul, for eight years, training young idol-wannabes. Lee’s institution system

K-popSept. 24, 2021

[Today’s K-pop] aespa ups the ante with teaser photos

Winter and Ningning of aespa signaled an even more dramatic return with teaser photographs that were released at midnight Thursday. 　 The two struck poses under the theme. The images carry on the narrative that weaves through their previous singles -- “Black Mamba” and “Next Level” -- and depict them in hallucinations induced by a Black Mamba that threatens the world and keeps the members of the group from connecting with their avatars. 　 The photographs are part of the

K-popSept. 23, 2021