K-Pop
Page: 37
BTS‘ V is the latest member of the superstar K-pop group to announce a solo album. BIGHIT Music announced on Tuesday (Aug. 8) that V’s debut solo effort, Layover, will drop on Sept. 8. The collection will feature six tracks: “Rainy Days,” “Blue,” “Love Me Again,” “Slow Dancing,” For Us” and a bonus track piano version of “Slow Dancing.”
In a release announcing the collection, BIGHIT suggested that ARMY listen to the album’s tracks in order, from 1-5, noting that “Slow Dancing” is the focus track of the collection, describing it as a “1970s romantic soul style track [that] exudes a laid-back and free-spirited feeling.”
The announcement was accompanied by a 15-second visualizer in which a series of packages featuring the album float onto the balcony of an apartment building, ending with the album title in all-cap white letters — with the V rendered in purple — filling the screen.
“Love Me Again” is described as a “captivating R&B track that highlights V’s low pitch voice,” while “For Us,” is a “pop R&B track that serves as an epilogue, stirring up deep emotions with V’s vocals and unique lyrics.” All five album tracks will have official videos.
V worked with NewJeans creative director/ADOR president Hee Jin Min on the album, with BIGHIT revealing that Min oversaw the entire production of the collection, including music, choreography, design and promotion. V’s previous solo efforts include “Stigma,” “Singularity,” “Winter Bear” and “Inner Child”; his most recent original solo songs are 2021’s “Christmas Tree,” which was on the soundtrack of the Netflix K-drama Our Beloved Summer and last year’s version of the holiday classic “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.”
The announcement about V’s album comes just after BIGHIT confirmed that Suga has begun his military enlistment process, becoming the third member to enlist in South Korea’s mandatory military service, following Jin and J-Hope.
Check out the Layover teaser below.
HYBE’s growing roster of K-pop groups and a heavy touring schedule helped revenue improve 21.2% to 621 billion won ($472 million) in the second quarter of 2023, the South Korea company announced on Tuesday (Aug. 8). Revenue for the six-month period surpassed 1 trillion won ($760 million) for the first time in the company’s history.
Strong album sales by Seventeen and Tomorrow X Together led HYBE to 22.7 million albums in the first half of 2023 and put the entertainment business on pace to far surpass sales of 22.2 million and 15 million in calendar 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Seventeen’s 10th Mini Album ‘FML’ sold 3.99 million units globally on its first day of release and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart dated May 13. Nine years after Seventeen’s debut, the group’s fandom “is growing significantly, which is leading to selling out and reprinting of older albums as the group is attracting much attention,” CEO Ji-won Park said during the earnings call.
Tomorrow X Together sold 3.54 million albums in the quarter. NewJeans accounted for 2.1 million units and nabbed its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with the Get Up EP. Le Sserafim sold 1.9 million units and Enhypen moved 1.8 million units. HYBE’s sixth- and seventh-best-selling artists were solo members of BTS: Jimin sold 1.6 million units and Agust D sold 1.3 million units.
A revitalized global concert business and more artists on tour helped HYBE’s concert revenue improve 85.4% to 157.5 billion won ($120 million). Suga attracted 290,000 fans to 28 concerts in 10 cities across South Korea, the United States, Southeast Asia and Japan. HYBE plans to have 111 concerts by seven artists in 2023, almost double the 59 concerts by four artists in 2022.
Merchandise and licensing revenue improved 13.3% to 111.9 billion won ($85 million). Contents revenue dropped 28.1% to 50.8 billion won ($39 million) while fan clubs and other indirect revenue grew 29.4% to 21.8 billion won ($17 million).
Despite the strong demand for its artists’ albums and concerts, HYBE’s operating profit declined 7.9% to 88.3 billion won ($67 million), however, and operating margin as a percent of revenue dropped to 13.1% from 17.2% in the prior-year period. CFO Kyung-Jun Lee attributed the decline to expenses related to BTS’s Festa concert in June to celebrate the group’s tenth anniversary and “substantial investment” in Weverse Con festival, also in June. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization declined 1.2% to 106.4 billion won ($81 million).
Weverse, HYBE’s in-house social media platform, finished the second quarter with a record 9.5 million monthly active users, up 200,000 MAUs from 9.3 million in the first quarter and more than 50% greater than the 6 million MAUs in the second quarter of 2022. In the second quarter, Weverse launched a payment method called Jelly; Weverse DM, a subscription-based private chat service that allows fans to exchange messages with artists; and Fan Letter, a feature that allows fans to write and decorate messages to artists.
Shares of HYBE rose as much as 4.6% to 287,000 won ($218.03) on the South Korea Stock Exchange Tuesday morning. As of Monday’s closing price, HYBE’s share price had gained 58.2% year to date.
BLACKPINK is celebrating seven years as a group, and Rosé took to Instagram on Monday (Aug. 7) to honor the exciting anniversary. “Thank you, Blackpink for being such a blessing in my life. I have really been able to experience everything and more than what I have ever dreamed of growing up as an aspiring […]
BTS‘ Suga is about to become a military man. BigHit announced on Monday (Aug. 7) that Suga has begun the process initiate his mandatory military service in South Korea.
“We would like to inform our fans that SUGA has initiated the military enlistment process by applying for the termination of his enlistment postponement,” BigHit said in a statement posted to Weverse, promising to keep ARMY informed with any updates.
“We ask you for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his military service and safely returns,” the statement concluded. “Our company will spare no effort in providing support for our artist.”
South Korea had initially passed a bill in 2020 that allowed the members of BTS to postpone their mandatory service until they reached age 30. The country’s laws state that citizens are required to enlist between the ages of 18 and 28.
The announcement comes just one day after the K-pop star wrapped up the Asian leg of his Agust D-DAY tour in support of his solo album, D-DAY, which he released under his stage name Agust D. The trek ended with three shows — from Aug. 4 to 6 — at Seoul’s KSPO Dome.
After his performance, Suga appeared on Weverse live to chat with fans. “I came to say hi after my last concert,” he said. After showing off his tattoo at a fan’s request, the artist become a bit emotional when talking about the end of his trek.
“I think I had a fun tour the last couple of months. I really don’t cry,” he said before reflecting on the last decade. “Those past 10 years went by like a film. I started crying from then.”
As his live chat came to an end, he seemed to hint at his upcoming enlistment, though he did not specifically talk about it. “I think it’s a lie if I say ‘soon,’” he told viewers. “Let’s see each other in 2025, OK? Please wait a little bit,” he concluded in his message to ARMY. “2025. See you then!”
BigHit initially announced in October 2022 that the members of BTS — which also includes RM, V, Jin, Jung Kook, J-Hope and Jimin — would be unable to perform together as a whole group until 2025 as the individual members complete their mandated military service. Jin was first to enlist, followed by J-Hope.
LE SSERAFIM is adding another collaboration to its list. The K-pop group — which consists of members Sakura, Kim Chae-won, Huh Yun-jin, Kazuha and Hong Eun-chae — is releasing an English version of its single “Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard’s Wife” featuring Demi Lovato, the group announced on Thursday (Aug. 3). The news was revealed […]
Jisoo is a lovesick girl no longer, as the 28-year-old BLACKPINK star is dating actor Ahn Bo-hyun.
The news follows local media reports that the new couple was spotted together in Seoul. Ahn’s team also confirmed the relationship, telling CNN, “The two are in a stage where they are getting to know each other slowly with good feelings. We would appreciate if you could watch the couple with a warm gaze.”
According to the news network, BLACKPINK’s label YG Entertainment provided a similar statement to South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Jisoo becomes the only BLACKPINK band member to be in a confirmed relationship, though rumors regarding the love lives of Rosé, Jennie and Lisa frequently swirl. For instance, Jennie was thought by some to be dating BTS’ V as recently as May of this year.
The “FLOWER” singer’s new beau has a few years on her; at 35 years old, Ahn has been in dozens of movies and TV shows. After getting his start as a model, the Busan native made his acting debut in 2014 and is known for his roles in K-dramas such as Itaewon Class, Yumi’s Cells and Descendants of the Sun.
When she isn’t putting in hours with one of the world’s biggest girl groups, Jisoo also acts. Most recently, she starred opposite Jung Hae-in in the television series Snowdrop.
Jisoo and her bandmates are currently approaching the end of their Born Pink World Tour, which launched in October in support of BLACKPINK’s 2022 sophomore album, Born Pink. The record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking the girls’ first project to top the chart, and spawned two No. 1 singles on the Global 200 chart: “Pink Venom” and “Shut Down.”
Reflecting on BLACKPINK’s success, Jisoo recently shared her thoughts on whether the quartet has earned credit for being “trailblazers” of K-pop. “Maybe half and half?” she mused to Elle Korea, the cover of which she graced in July. “We also walked the path that others have made, but I think there are parts that we pioneered, as we debuted at a time when the platform was expanding and accessibility to K-pop was increasing.”
“Just as there was a part where we walked on a polished road, I hope we can help make the path of those who will come after us smoother,” she added. “It would be nice if they could pioneer their own thing and connect with each other. Anyway, that’s a nice expression.”
It’s right there in the name: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. So, given that said bony-shelled reptiles are right in the demo, it’s fitting that in a new promo for the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie that is out on Wednesday (Aug. 2), Leo, Raph, Don and Mikey are unabashed members of the ARMY.
“This is it, guys,” Raphael laments in the 20-second clip in which the foursome are lashed to a giant bomb-like device that seems to spell their demise. “Oh, so many regrets,” he groans. “I just wish I could see BTS IRL,” says Donatello.
Leonardo, of course, has a creative idea, offering, “We could do some of the songs for you,” he says, with Michelangelo adding that he’d be down for a few bars. Leo then gets the gang started, singing the first lines of BTS’ global No. 1 smash “Butter,” while encouraging the others to join in. But, given their predicament — they are lashed to a wall by their wrists and ankles — the song comes out as more of a cry than a croon.
It’s all a bit sad, honestly and Don complains that they don’t even really know the words. To be fair, the tweet of the clip had a very stark warning message: “Jung Kook please don’t watch this.”
In addition to the four turtles (voiced by Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu and Brady Noon), the film also features the voices of Rogen, Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Paul Rudd and Maya Rudolph; Rogen and producing partner Evan Goldberg co-wrote and co-produced the film directed by Jeff Rowe.
Watch the trailer below.
Jung Kook please don’t watch this. Get tickets now for the best reviewed comedy of the year – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: #MutantMayhem is in theatres everywhere Wednesday. #TMNTMovie— TMNT (@TMNTMovie) July 28, 2023
NMIXX had fans getting to know them a little better when they played TMI with Billboard this week. The six-piece girl group gave their “too much information” confessions in a TikTok, starting off with Jiwoo, whose TMI was that she ate a sandwich earlier in the day. A few more of the girls had food […]
Singer/songwriter Jon Bellion is currently soaking up the success of Jung Kook‘s solo hit “Seven.” The track sits at No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, making Jung Kook the second solo BTS member to top the chart after his bandmate Jimin’s “Like Crazy.” But Bellion tells Billboard News in a new interview that […]
It’s undeniable that BLACKPINK is one of the biggest bands in the world, past and present. And in a new interview, Jisoo — one fourth of the K-pop girl group — was candid about the impact she and fellow members Lisa, Rosé and Jennie have had on their genre. Sitting down with Elle Korea for […]