In closing the event, Jeno said, “The subtitle for ‘Rainbow’ is ‘Bookmark.’ The last time the seven of us were together was with ‘We Go Up,’ and I feel we’ve bookmarked ourselves in that moment. We hope to show the exact same energy, chemistry (between members) and performance, but more mature than then. What’s most important is that we’re happy doing what we love doing the most.” Haechan added,...

By Choi Ji-won ( jwc@heraldcorp.com )

Speaking about their first on-site fan meetup in February, the band hoped for more chances to get together with fans this year. “We realized the gap between the energy from an online meeting and an offline meeting,” Jungwon said, adding, “that experience has become a driving force for us as we endure this period.” Jay said, “We’d had different expectations (about offline events) before we made ...

By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)

Lisa of girl group Blackpink is likely to make her solo debut in June. Rumors have been circulating for months that Lisa will be dropping her first solo album this year, and according to industry sources on Monday, the date has been set for June. An official from the group’s label YG Entertainment told the Korea Herald by phone that “Lisa is still working hard (on the album)” but declined to co...

“I’ve been making music thinking, ’What sounds good to me will sound good to others.‘ and I’ve tried to find a middle ground, which I think I finally discovered last year. I’ll continue challenging myself and hopefully find a way to satisfy listeners as well.” The 30-year-old singer-songwriter debuted as part of the four-piece band Cheeze in 2011 with their first single “Home Alone,” and went on...

“While we have real singers singing behind these characters right now, with our system, we can produce a completely new voice that matches these virtual characters’ appearances by mixing several artists’ voices,” Lee explained. Moreover, AI voices are not only expected to expand opportunities, but also relieve the companies and artists of the risk they hold. With the ever-rising popularity of K-...

TVXQ’s Changmin and Yunho had been booked to emcee the show together, due to controversies arising from personal issues Yunho was removed from the position. Expressing regret, producer Park explained Yunho will appear only until the third episode and Changmin will solely host from then on. A second-generation K-pop idol himself, Changmin said, “I think all idols are more talented than those of ...

As he prepares to enlist in the military next month, Baekhyun said his new album is a gift for his fans before he leaves. “I really ground myself into the album, but I feel like I’ve already been returned a gift from fans,” he said. “I received a huge love over the decade and my 20s were full of joy thanks to my fans. I really pushed myself because I felt like I wouldn’t be able to express how m...

She explained the design of the new corporate logo and how it embodies Hybe’s symbolization of connection, expansion and relationships, saying, “The staff that is compacted to form the horizontal line connects two bars that are the two vertical lines. It is not a typical stationary symbol, but has a role of flexibly changing and expanding, while at the same time, connects all things.” Hybe’s acc...

Despite not winning a Grammy, BTS made history with “Dynamite.” Upon its release Aug. 21, the all-English single debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first song from a Korean artist to top the American singles chart. After staying there for three weeks at its peak, “Dynamite” has repeatedly rebounded back up the chart and ranked within the top 50 for 28 nonconsecutive weeks. The video...

With the 63rd Grammy Awards finally taking place Saturday, pushed back from January due to the COVID-19 pandemic, anticipation on whether K-pop sensation BTS will grab a final win at the award show is rising high. Nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the megahit single “Dynamite,” the boy band is the first Korean act to grab a nod at the Grammys, considered the world’s most coveted m...

Despite her achievements, Sunmi said she is not free of the pressure to keep up with herself and the expectations put on her. “I wanted to give up many times. Even just 10 minutes ago, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to make it. I think I had put a limit on myself -- a limit that didn’t really exist and which I could easily break free from if I really wanted to. I realized at least I had to belie...

The last of IU’s age-oriented songs, “Eight,” made in collaboration with BTS member Suga, nostalgically explores the diverse emotions faced by the two 28-year-old artists. With “Eight,” IU and Suga made it to the top of Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart. Besides G-Dragon and Suga, IU has collaborated with some of the world’s best musicians, transcending genres and generations. They incl...

Big Hit Entertainment, the powerhouse of global K-pop sensation BTS, and the world’s biggest music corporation Universal Music Group is partnering up to expand their foothold in the global entertainment industry. The two firms announced on Thursday morning the establishment of a joint venture that will oversee the launching of a new K-pop boy band on the global stage. The group is set to debut t...