After losing appeal in injunction against Ador, NewJeans must win main suit: legal experts

NewJeans appear to be losing ground in their prolonged legal dispute with their agency, Ador. The girl group filed an appeal Wednesday challenging the court’s decision on the same day to uphold its earlier injunction ruling in favor of Ador, which prohibits NewJeans from independently signing advertising contracts or pursuing separate music activities. The group had filed an objection to the ruling in March. In the initial injunction ruling, the court rejected all 11 claims submitted by NewJeans

April 17, 2025

Hybe America’s Big Machine Music wins publisher of the year at AIMP Nashville Awards

Big Machine Music, a label under Hybe America, was named publisher of the year at the 10th AIMP Nashville Awards, the company announced Thursday. The awards, hosted annually by the Association of Independent Music Publishers, recognize outstanding achievements by independent publishers and songwriters in the American country and pop music scene. Big Machine Music earned the honor for a second time, following its previous win in 2021. “This is an amazing honor, but being part of Nashville’s vibra

April 17, 2025

CJ ENM to launch new K-pop label in collaboration with global firm

CJ ENM, South Korea’s leading entertainment company, plans to establish a new global K-pop label this year. At a press conference held Tuesday at the CJ ENM Music Media Lounge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, CJ ENM Music Content Division Head Shin Hyung-kwan shared that the new label will be launched with a global partner, following in the footsteps of its affiliated labels WakeOne and Lapone Entertainment. "We plan to launch a new global artist label. More details will be revealed in the first half of th

April 16, 2025

BoyNextDoor to return with new EP 'No Genre' in May

BoyNextDoor, a boy group created by rapper Zico, is set to return May 13 with its fourth EP “No Genre,” the group’s agency KOZ Entertainment announced Tuesday. The new EP comes about eight months after its third EP “19.99,” and four months after the digital single “One and Only I Love You,” unveiled in January. With "19.99," BoyNextDoor entered the Billboard 200 at No. 40 and earned its first million-seller certification in Korea. The group’s momentum continued with “One and Only I Love You,” wh

April 16, 2025

Why Korean music charts still matter for K-pop artists

Korean music charts such as Melon, Genie, Bugs and FLO have become less of a priority for major K-pop agencies as fans increasingly focus on boosting their favorite idols’ presence on global platforms like Billboard and Spotify. BTS played a pivotal role in lowering the barrier for entry into the US music market, proving that K-pop idols can achieve high rankings on internationally recognized charts. As a result, many fans in Korea have shifted to using global platforms that contribute to chart

April 15, 2025

Blackpink’s Jennie returns to Coachella in two years, this time solo

Jennie of Blackpink returned to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on Sunday (local time), marking her third appearance at one of the world’s largest music festivals — and her first there as a solo act. Previously gracing the Coachella stage in 2019 and 2023 with Blackpink, Jennie took to the Outdoor Theatre this year, just two days after fellow bandmate Lisa made headlines with her own solo set at the Sahara Tent, Friday. Jennie's return attracted much attention,

April 14, 2025

Meovv to drop first EP in May

Rookie girl group Meovv returns next month with the release of its first EP. The Black Label, the group's agency, announced Monday that Meovv will release “My Eyes Open Vvide” May 12 at 6 p.m., following prerelease single, “Hands Up,” which drops April 28 at 6 p.m. The girl group’s return comes five months after its second single “Toxic” was released in November. The teaser video unveiled on social media shows a pair of glowing feline eyes emerging from stormy clouds against a night sky — a nod

April 14, 2025

More than a stage, Lisa’s Coachella show becomes a statement

Lisa of Blackpink proved just how comfortable she is on the global stage during her solo debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, Friday. Marking her third appearance at Coachella — following previous performances with Blackpink in 2019 and 2023 — Lisa made history as the first K-pop act to perform on the festival’s stage three times. Her 55-minute set, comprising 13 songs, showcased her musical versatility, commanding stage presence and fashion-forward artistr

April 13, 2025

Breathe, sip and spoon: 3 spots to recharge this weekend

If life gives you berries, try going for an acai bowl filled with fruit and your favorite toppings. Every weekend, a large crowd usually spills into the streets of Apgujeong Rodeo, a popular neighborhood in the posh Gangnam district of southern Seoul, which boasts streets full of luxury brands, curated shops and fine dining restaurants. In a small alley there, you can also find a dessert shop called A-ha Dosan that offers a frozen acai bowl with oats, honey, strawberries, bananas and choco loops

April 11, 2025

Girls’ Generation’s Sunny joins Lee Soo-man’s A2O

Sunny of Girls’ Generation has signed with A2O Entertainment, a new agency founded by her uncle and SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, the company confirmed Thursday. "(We) recently signed an exclusive contract with Sunny," A2O Entertainment said in a statement. "She is currently receiving production training under the guidance of producer Yoo Young-jin." “Sunny is also helping design training programs for our trainees, providing psychological care, and participating in content production, st

April 10, 2025