K-Pop
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In October, NewJeans starred in the first edition of Billboard Artist, a new series of collectible art books produced by Billboard Korea. The inaugural edition tells the girl group’s story through a visual lens, showcasing the members’ style and fashion while incorporating interview highlights as well. NewJeans was honored as Group of the Year at Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music awards show.Billboard Korea launched in August with a star-studded event in Seoul — the K-Power 100 — bringing together the leaders of all of South Korea’s major music companies and featuring performances by some of the region’s most exciting talent. Billboard Artist, an initiative led by Billboard Korea creative director Woo Lee, is available for purchase on Weverse and through various other retailers.
Below, Lee explains all about the new print series.
What is Billboard Artist?
Billboard Artist is a large-format, unbound visual art book designed for people to enjoy each page like a poster. This unique book showcases the inspiration and impact of musicians through photography, art, essays, and illustrations. Unlike traditional magazines, which have a limited life, Billboard Artist is a timeless collectible, featuring content in English and Korean. It is also available in select bookstores worldwide.
Why did you launch Billboard Artist?
In a pre-smartphone era, magazine titles like Hero, Muse, and Icon portrayed stars as distant, untouchable figures. The world once craved stars who exuded perfection and mystique — think of David Bowie or Prince. But now, stars openly share details of their everyday lives — who they travel with, what books they read, the ideologies they hold — making them more relatable to the public. Musicians express their creativity across multiple realms beyond music, including fashion, visual arts, documentaries, and acting. Their multifaceted creativity serves as a major source of inspiration for all of us. We wanted to capture this in a tangible art book that showcases their diverse artistry and impact.
Describe the way you work with artists to create these books.
We choose an act and use their sound, history, personality and aesthetic as a source of inspiration, while also drawing from social issues, history, politics, humanities, science or mythology of significance to the artists. This might result in a fashion collaboration, an essay or poetry collaboration with a writer, a visual art collaboration with a digital artist, a beauty portrait with beauty and scent, or a short film produced with a videographer. All of this is developed freely and flexibly in conversations with the featured artists — their participation and creativity is key to the process.
Will Billboard Artist exclusively feature K-pop musicians because it’s produced by Billboard Korea?
No. Billboard Artist does not limit its scope by nationality, language, or territory. Billboard’s 130-year legacy of credibility and influence has always transcended borders. But there’s a reason why this project began with Billboard Korea. The Korean music industry prizes powerful storytelling, visual impact and fan engagement, and has a symbiotic relationship with the fashion and beauty sectors. That unique Korean perspective informs our vision.
Why was NewJeans chosen for the first edition?
The first question for us is always: “Who is the most talked-about musician right now?” We wanted to feature an artist who resonates in the present while evoking the past and inspiring thoughts of the future. NewJeans was the perfect choice because their music, fashion, and aesthetics blend ’80s nostalgia with a modern, forward-looking appeal. This 56-page art book captures the group’s charm, fusing elements of 1980s Italian youth culture, traditional Korean hanok houses, and the symbolism of birds in contemporary art into a poetic visual narrative.
How often will new editions of Billboard Artist be released?
Unlike a magazine, Billboard Artist doesn’t follow a fixed release schedule. When an artist is selected, there could be two editions in a month or just one in two months. For this year, a single edition will be released as a year-end treat, with more editions planned for 2025.
Where can people currently purchase the NewJeans edition?
Online pre-orders have closed, and we’re now in the second print run. Starting in mid-November, it will also be available at select bookstores. Updates will be posted on Billboard Korea’s Instagram.
A version of this story appears in the Oct. 26, 2024, issue of Billboard.
Just after POW reached their first anniversary, the rock-inspired K-pop boy band dropped a new EP, Boyfriend, whose lead single title track paid homage to one of the scene’s favorite artists — pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne.
For “Boyfriend,” the quintet reinterpreted Avril’s 2007 single “Girlfriend,” the Canadian superstar’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and one of the year’s biggest tracks. POW kept the original’s stomping production and undeniably catchy chorus intact for the hybrid track with a new mix of Korean and English lyrics.
POW members Jungbin, Yorch, Hyunbin, Dongyeon and Hong tell Billboard that the superstar played a significant role in their musical backgrounds and made a song like “Boyfriend” happen.
“We’ve loved band sounds and Avril Lavigne’s songs were always on our playlist,” the group says. “We think she was the first to show how punk can be so appealing in pop music. We’re grateful she made it possible for us and so we’ve worked hard to release ‘Boyfriend.’”
“For this remake, I listened to all of Lavigne’s albums,” adds POW eldest member Yorch. “I was drawn to her timeless drum sounds and couldn’t get over the rawness and cool beat of the drums. I recently got an electric guitar and she’s opened my eyes to acoustic real sound. And, it’s something K-pop should also look out for.”
When honoring both the sound and aesthetics from Avril’s debut in 2002, the A&R for POW’s record label, GRID Entertainment, saw their work as helping connect K-pop more extensively to music culture today.
“We believe that youth culture is the essence of mainstream K-pop,” a representative from GRID’s A&R says. “Rebellious, grunge-like, and youthful innocence defines K-pop and POW’s music is grounded in real rock and band sounds. It still feels like the 2000s era, a period where analog and digital collide. That is why we find Avril Lavigne’s music relevant, powerful and resonating with people in their teens, 20s, and 30s. It’s her greatest strength and the reason her music inspires us for interpretation.”
From bands like POW, SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids to solo superstars like BoA and former LOONA members Yves and Heejin, here is a collection of K-pop stars who have expressed their admiration for Avril Lavigne.
POW
Image Credit: Courtesy Grid Entertainment
Min Hee-jin’s mission to be reappointed as CEO of NewJeans’ label ADOR just hit another hurdle. On Tuesday (Oct. 29), a South Korean court dismissed the embattled executive’s application to be reinstated in the position, according to reports from Korea JoongAng Daily and Mael Business Newspaper.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the dismissal means the court ruled in favor of HYBE and terminated the case without a judgment on its merits — essentially not conceding or accepting Min’s filing to begin with.
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Min originally submitted her application for reappointment on Sept. 13. In it, she asked the court to order HYBE’s internal board to re-elect a “new” CEO (a.k.a. herself), arguing that she needed to be in the position in order for NewJeans to continue its activities. However, the court’s latest decision has weakened that argument, the source says. Should Min continue her push to be reinstated as CEO, she will likely need to use a different argument to have any chance of her case moving forward.
For the time being, Min is expected to stay on as an internal director of ADOR. She was replaced as CEO by Kim Ju-young, HYBE’s head HR officer, in August.
“We acknowledge and appreciate the court’s wise ruling,” a representative for HYBE tells Billboard in a statement. “In light of this decision, HYBE is dedicated to normalizing ADOR’s operations, improving our multi-label capabilities, and supporting the activities of our artists.”
The development is the latest event in Min and HYBE’s months-long power struggle over ADOR and its powerhouse act NewJeans that stretches back to April 2024. Following an internal audit of ADOR, HYBE — also home to acts like BTS, Seventeen and Le Sserafim — called for the immediate resignation of Min as CEO, accusing her of trying to hijack the label imprint as well as NewJeans. The conflict has since devolved into a tangled web of he-said-she-saids, multiple lawsuits, and ultimately, Min stepping down from her position on Aug. 27.
Throughout the process, the members of NewJeans have become increasingly involved in the conflict, publicly sharing their support for Min during live performances and in a since-deleted 27-minute YouTube video in which they alleged mistreatment and a toxic work environment at HYBE. Most recently, NewJeans member Hanni, 20, appeared in court to testify to South Korean lawmakers about alleged workplace harassment, saying, “I came to the realization that this wasn’t just a feeling. I was honestly convinced that the company hated us.” During her testimony, she cited instances when she felt HYBE undermined the band and senior managers of the company deliberately ignored her.
While Min hasn’t yet released an official statement regarding the latest court decision, she’s gone on the record to South Korean media saying that she plans to “go all the way” in her legal pursuit to be reinstated.
Following the court’s decision, ADOR’s internal board again voted against reinstating Min on Wednesday (Oct. 30).
If you were looking for a breezy break from the unrelenting torrent of news about the Nov. 5 presidential election, SEVENTEEN had just what you needed on Wednesday morning (Oct. 30). The 13-member K-pop boy band marked their debut performance on ABC’s Good Morning America by providing some musical caffeine via the first U.S. TV run-through of their new single, “LOVE, MONEY, FAME” from their 12th mini album, SPILL THE FEELS.
Though the song’s featured artist, DJ Khaled, was not on hand, S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINO, rocked the GMA stage with their signature mix of smooth vocal harmonies, rapping and intricate choreography as the members took turns in the spotlight for the English-language version of the song.
The performance came after the group racked up their sixth top 10-charting release on the Billboard 200 album chart with SPILL, which debuted at No. 5 with 66,000 equivalent album units earned for the week ending Oct. 24.
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The superstar group kicked off the U.S. leg of their [RIGHT HERE] world tour in Chicago last week, marking their first American dates in more than two years. The three-hour, 22-song show showcased tracks from across their four album, 12 EP catalog, including the debut live performance of “LOVE, MONEY, FAME.”
American CARATs can check them out next on Halloween night (Oct. 31) at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio (and again the next night), Oakland Arena in Oakland, CA (Nov. 5-6) and BMO Stadium in Los Angeles (Nov. 9-10); the latter will be their first U.S. stadium shows.
Watch SEVENTEEN perform “LOVE, MONEY, FAME” on GMA below.
HYBE CEO Lee Jae-Sang has shared a public apology following a partial leak of the company’s internal “Weekly Music Industry Report,” which boasted what some have called disparaging remarks about the K-pop industry, including some young artists.
The letter stemmed from a Thursday (Oct. 24) court hearing regarding the HYBE audit carried out by the South Korean National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee. The Korea Herald reported that Democratic Party representative Min Hyung-bae revealed the weekly document during the heart. Reportedly spanning around 18,000 pages, Rep. Min noted that the document contains unverified rumors and at times harsh commentary on very young artists, including minors, with alleged statements including, “They debuted at an age when they’re at their most unattractive” and “Surprisingly, none of them are pretty.”
In response to the leak, a letter by Lee that was posted on the company’s official website on Tuesday (Oct. 29) offers an apology “to the artists, industry stakeholders, and fans” who were upset the the revelations.
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“This document was created as part of a process to retrospectively gather various reactions and public opinions on industry trends and issues,” wrote Lee, clarifying that it was shared only with “a limited number of leaders.” However, he acknowledged that it was “highly inappropriate” for the document to feature “provocative and explicit expressions directed at K-pop artists,” adding, “As the representative of the company, I acknowledge all the mistakes and take full responsibility.”
Lee added that HYBE is “reaching out to each agency individually to offer our apologies directly” and continued, “I am also sincerely extending an official apology to all the artists of HYBE Music Group who have been subjected to criticism due to the company.”
Lee further promised “to establish guidelines and strengthen internal controls to prevent such issues from occurring again” and added that the company has halted the creation of such documents. Near the end, he emphasized HYBE’s dedication to the well-being of all artists and its respect of the fans, committing to reforms aimed at contributing positively to the K-pop industry.
Read the full statement (with translations provided by Soompi) below:
As the CEO of HYBE, I extend my sincere apologies regarding the HYBE monitoring document.
Regarding our monitoring document that was highlighted during the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee audit on October 24, I deeply apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, and fans.
This document was created as part of a process to retrospectively gather various reactions and public opinions on industry trends and issues. Although it was intended to be shared only with a limited number of leaders to understand market and fan sentiments, the content was highly inappropriate. The document contained provocative and explicit expressions directed at K-pop artists, included personal opinions and evaluations of the author, and was preserved in written form. As the representative of the company, I acknowledge all the mistakes and take full responsibility. I am particularly sorry and distressed about the unfounded suspicions of reverse viral marketing that are not true at all, causing misunderstandings and harm to innocent artists and individuals.
I formally and respectfully apologize to the external artists mentioned in the document who have suffered damage and distress. We are also reaching out to each agency individually to offer our apologies directly. Additionally, I am also sincerely extending an official apology to all the artists of HYBE Music Group who have been subjected to criticism due to the company.
I acknowledge the lack of awareness among the leadership who received the document and, as CEO, I have immediately halted the creation of such monitoring documents. I promise to establish guidelines and strengthen internal controls to prevent such issues from occurring again.
Once again, I apologize to the artists, industry stakeholders, fans, and everyone who loves and supports K-pop for the pain caused by this incident. As the company’s representative, I commit to thorough reflection and self-examination to rectify past mistakes and prioritize the rights of all K-pop artists and respect for fans. We will do our utmost to contribute to the healthy development of the K-pop industry.
Thank you. HYBE CEO Lee Jae-Sang
How was school today? The kids at an elementary school in Brooklyn got to tell their parents that they had a substitute teacher — one that really put them to work. BLACKPINK‘s LISA showed up at PS 282 and spent the day teaching a group of students some “Rockstar” moves. LISA’s day teaching is shown […]
Jin‘s “I’ll Be There” has topped this week’s new music poll that features artists in various genres of music.
Music fans voted in a poll published Friday (Oct. 25) on Billboard, choosing the BTS star’s rockin’ solo single as their favorite new music release of the past week.
“I’ll Be There” brought in nearly 95% of the vote on the poll, securing a notable edge ahead of new releases from Lady Gaga (“Disease”), Halsey (The Great Impersonator), Addison Rae (“Aquamarine”), Linkin Park (“Over Each Other”), and others.
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Jin’s effervescent bilingual tune with a rockabilly swing will be featured on the K-pop superstar’s debut solo album, Happy, which is scheduled for release on Nov. 15.
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In an exclusive video interview with Dolby Atmos shared with Billboard, the 31-year-old South Korean singer reveals that he wrote the new song to “provide happiness” to his fans. “When ARMY feel tired and lonely, I hope this song gives them strength,” Jin says in the clip. “I have a very clear idea of what kind of emotions I want to share with our fans,” he adds. “I want our fans, our ARMY, to be happy.”
Jin collaborated with American singer-songwriter MAX to produce “I’ll Be There.” In the music video, he channels rock star energy with an air guitar windmill move and strikes Elvis-inspired poses while confetti showers down around him. By the end of the clip, Jin is joyfully dancing solo in an abandoned parking lot, kicking up his heels as the sun sets behind the bridge.
Jin’s six-track Happy album will feature the focus song “Running Wild,” as well as “I’ll Be There,” “Another Level,” “Falling,” “Heart on the Window” (feat. WENDY)” and “I will come to you.” Jin collaborated with a number of other acts on the album, including Take That’s Gary Barlow, who co-produced and co-wrote “Running Wild.”
Trailing far behind Jin on this week’s poll is Lady Gaga’s “Disease,” which brought in nearly 3% of the vote. “Disease” is the lead single for the pop star and actress’ forthcoming studio album.
See the final results of this week’s poll below. Check out Billboard‘s Friday Music Guide to catch up with more must-hear releases from this week.
BTS fans got a jolt of fizzy energy in their ears on Friday (Oct. 25) with the release of Jin‘s pop rockin’ solo single, “I’ll Be There.” The effervescent tune with a rockabilly swing will be featured on the K-pop superstar’s upcoming debut solo album, Happy, due out on Nov. 15.
The bi-lingual tune that mixes 1960s bubblegum rock and modern dance pop — via Pharrell’s “Happy” and with a buzzy dash of early Hanson — is a joyous ode to devotion, with Jin promising on the chorus, “I swear that I will always sing for you/ Sing for you, oh-oh-oh/ I’ll be there for you.” In the video, Jin sings the tune in a parking lot under a bridge backed by a live band as skater boys and girls and other random fans pull up to check out the impromptu performance.
Dressed in jeans and a blue cardigan (over several other shirts) and rocking some stick-on jewels under his right eye, Jin strikes a series of smoldering rock star poses against the bright blue sky. According to a release, the track “conveys a sincere message, aiming to uplift those who feel downhearted and alone by delivering joy through Jin’s playful yet straightforward style.”
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Jin helped produce the track alongside American singer/songwriter MAX and in the video he channels rock star energy by doing an air guitar windmill move and striking some Elvis-adjacent poses as confetti rains down around him. By the end of the clip Jin is joyfully dancing with himself in the abandoned parking lot, kicking up his heels as the sun sets behind the bridge.
Jin’s upcoming six-track album will feature the focus track “Running Wild,” as well as “I’ll Be There,” “Another Level,” “Falling,” “Heart on the Window” (feat. WENDY)” and “I will come to you.” Jin collaborated with a number of other acts on the album, including Take That’s Gary Barlow, who co-produced and co-wrote “Running Wild.”
So far, Jin, the oldest member of BTS at 31, has released a number of solo tracks, including “Super Tuna,” “Yours,” “Abyss,” “Awake,” “Tonight,” “Epiphany” and “Moon,” as well as contributing to the soundtracks of a number of Korean TV shows and collaborating with Coldplay on his debut solo single, 2022’s “The Astronaut.” Jin was discharged from mandatory South Korean military duty in June and his solo debut comes as ARMY patiently wait for the rest of the band members to finish their required hitches in anticipation of BTS’ expected 2025 return.
Watch the “I’ll Be There” video below.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Calling all BLACKPINK fans! Celebrate the iconic girl group’s eighth anniversary of their debut along with their music documentary, BLACKPINK World […]
After recently scoring with her hit collab with Rosalía, “New Woman,” BLACKPINK’s LISA has already set her sights on her next potential woman power duet. In a chat with Audacy about her solo ventures, the 27-year-old rapper/singer said there were a “lot” of artists she would like to team up with on her future solo […]