K-Pop
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LE SSERAFIM and (G)I-DLE each notch their first top 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart (dated Nov. 5) as ANTIFRAGILE and I Love: 5th Mini Album debut at Nos. 3 and 9, respectively.
Plus, Taylor Swift’s Midnights makes a spectacular debut at No. 1 with the largest sales week for any album since her own Reputation debuted in 2017, while the latest albums from Arctic Monkeys, Carly Rae Jepsen and Meghan Trainor arrive in the top 10.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album units and streaming equivalent album units. For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram.
Swift’s Midnights blasts in at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with 1.140 million copies sold in the U.S. in the week ending Oct. 27, according to Luminate. It’s the largest sales week for any album since Swift’s Reputation debuted atop the chart with 1.216 million sold in its first week (chart dated Dec. 2, 2017). (Read more on the full breakdown on Midnights’ first-week sales.)
Arctic Monkeys collect its highest charting effort yet, and fourth top 10, on Top Album Sales as the band’s latest album The Car drives in at No. 2 with 28,000 copies sold. Vinyl sales comprised a robust 19,000 of that sum, enabling the set’s debut at No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart.
LE SSERAFIM’s ANTIFRAGILE debuts at No. 3 on Top Album Sales, marking the first top 10 and chart entry for the South Korean girl group. The five-song set sold 20,000 copies in the week ending Oct. 27 – with CD album sales comprising nearly all of that sum and digital album downloads comprising a negligible number. Like many K-pop releases, the CD configuration of ANTIFRAGILE was issued in collectible deluxe packages (eight total, including a version exclusive to Target), each with a standard set of items and randomized elements (such as photocards, postcards and a poster). The set was not released in any other physical format, such as vinyl or cassette.
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city vaults from No. 52 to No. 4 with 15,000 sold (up 535%) – nearly all on vinyl – following the set’s 10th anniversary reissue on CD, cassette and five vinyl editions. The reissue does not contain any additional audio content, but boasts alternative artwork and color vinyl variants.
Stray Kids’ MAXIDENT falls 2-5 with 14,000 sold (down 44%).
Carly Rae Jepsen’s latest release The Loneliest Time enters at No. 6 on Top Album Sales with 12,000 sold – it’s her third top 10-charting effort on the list. If The Loneliest Time goes no higher on the tally, it will mark her third top 10 to debut and peak at No. 6.
Meghan Trainor’s Takin’ It Back bows at No. 7 with 11,000 sold. It’s the fourth top 10 for Trainor and her highest charting set since 2016’s Thank You debuted and peaked at No. 2.
Queens of the Stone Age’s self-titled debut album reaches the top 10 on Top Album Sales for the first time (re-entering at No. 8 with 10,000 sold; up from a negligible sum the previous week) following a new vinyl pressing for the album – its first vinyl release in a decade. The set, first released in 1998, was reissued on black vinyl and orange-colored vinyl on Oct. 21. Essentially all of the album’s sales for the week were on vinyl, enabling the title’s re-entry at No. 4 on Vinyl Albums.
South Korean pop group (G)I-DLE claims its first top 10 on Top Album Sales as I Love: 5th Mini Album debuts at No. 9 with 10,000 sold. Essentially all of the set’s sales were on CD, with a negligible sum on digital album download. The title was available in two collectible CD packages (including one exclusive to Target), each with a standard set of items (photobook, lyric paper, etc.) and randomized elements (such as photocards, bookmark and a poster). The set was not released in any other physical format, such as vinyl or cassette.
Rounding out the top 10 of the new Top Album Sales chart is Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Return of the Dream Canteen, which falls to No. 10 in its second week, with 9,000 sold (down 85%).
In the week ending Oct. 27, there were 2.794 million albums sold in the U.S. (up 66.3% compared to the previous week). Of that sum, physical albums (CDs, vinyl LPs, cassettes, etc.) comprised 2.290 million (up 73.4%) and digital albums comprised 504,000 (up 40.1%).
There were 998,000 CD albums sold in the week ending Oct. 27 (up 55% week-over-week) and 1.270 vinyl albums sold (up 90.7%). Year-to-date CD album sales stand at 28.401 million (down 6.6% compared to the same time frame a year ago) and year-to-date vinyl album sales total 31.968 million (up 4.1%).
Overall year-to-date album sales total 77.626 million (down 6.2% compared to the same year-to-date time frame a year ago). Year-to-date physical album sales stand at 60.812 million (down 1.1%) and digital album sales total 16.813 million (down 20.9%).
Warner Chappell Music Korea has renewed its global publishing deal with 153/Joombas Publishing, one of the top independent music publishers in the country. The two companies have been working together since 2018 and the partnership has entailed 153/Joombas’ entire catalog, including songs for aespa, BTS, EXO, (G)I-DLE, GOT7, ITZY, IU, Lim Young-woong, Monsta X, NCT DREAM, Red Velvet, SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, and Taeyeon. Founded by Hyuk Shin — a South Korean producer known for writing “One Less Lonely Girl” for Justin Bieber, “Growl” for EXO, and discovering Blackbear and DEAN — 153/Joombas Publishing has a roster of almost 100 writers whose work both defines K-pop and popular music worldwide. CJ Kim, general manager of Warner Chappell Music Korea, said: “Joining forces with 153/Joombas Publishing again will further strengthen and solidify our position as a leader in K-pop music. We are pleased to elevate our alliance to a new level, and can’t wait to take their incredible songwriters with us on our journey as we continue to maximise the opportunities and value for K-pop music in unprecedented ways.”
Afrojack, the Grammy-winning producer and DJ, has extended his worldwide publishing deal with BMG, including all the works written and produced by the Dutch talent since he signed with BMG in 2008, including hits like “Titanium,” “Take Over Control” and “Hey Mama.”
Spirit Music Nashville has signed a co-publishing agreement with Joy Williams, half of the long-defunct duo The Civil Wars. The deal also includes the acquisition of compositions from her various song catalogs, including but not limited to The Civil Wars, as well as some of her masters. Spirit will handle her publishing on a go-forward basis with the exception of Front Porch, her most recent release, which will also be included for administration.
Reservoir has acquired rights to the entire catalog and future works of Naughty By Nature member KayGee as well as distribution rights moving forward. Beyond his Grammy-earning work with the hip-hop trio, KayGee, aka Keir Lamont Gist, made a name for himself writing and producing for 50 Cent, Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Fat Joe, Luther Vandross, and Queen Latifah. he also founded his own label in the 1990s, Divine Mill, which represented artists like Zhané, Next, and Jaheim — all of whom he produced and wrote for as well.
Baby Queen has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing. A critical darling in U.K. pop music, Baby Queen, aka Bella Lathan, says of the deal she is “excited to be working with Sony and with a team that truly undersands who [she is] as a person and as an artist.”=
Page 1 Management, a writer-producer management firm founded by Ashley Page and led in the U.S. by A&R Danielle Middleton, has signed Travis Mendes. Known for his work as a writer, producer and engineer, Mendes has played a hand in making songs like “All Time Low” and “Guillotine” by Jon Bellion, “Fools Paradise” by Isaac Dunbar, “Love Me for Now” by Cheatcodes and more. He says of the deal “I’m so happy to join this beautiful, amazing family of creatives at Page 1, and I’m excited to continue to learn and craft more amazing music for the world to hear!”
Milk & Honey Music has launched the new Milk & Honey U.S. Scholarship, an initiative to develop and mentor Australia and New Zealand-based women in songwriting and production, and its inaugural recipient is Chelsea Warner, a Sydney native making R&B, pop and hip-hop. As part of the scholarship, Warner will be given a two month residency in Los Angeles, where she will receive mentorship from top songwriters Oak Felder and Jenna Andrews. Organized by Milk & Honey leaders Lucas Keller, Milly Petriella, and Peter Coquillard, Petriella says of the program, “Less than 20% of our industry is female and the number of women in production is considerably less, it’s time to create real experiences, connections, and provide financial support if we are to truly going to change the future landscape of the music industry.”
Warner Chappell Music France has signed Some 1ne and Machynist, the duo behind some of the country’s biggest hits. They are perhaps best known for composing “Djadja” and “Pookie” for Aya Nakamura and No Crari, the sophomore album from French rapper OBOY.
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) has won the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award. The annual award is presented to an ASCAP-affiliated musical theater composer that shows great promise at an early age. Previous recipients include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek & Paul, and David Hein & Irene Sankoff.
IMPF partnered with Music Publishers Canada to host Create Nordic Bridges, a songwriting camp that promotes publisher and songwriter collaboration between Nordic and Canadian talents. The camp took place in Toronto from Oct. 27-29 and brought together 12 songwriters, producers and artists from Canada, Estonia, Finland and Sweden.
Jin swung by the GQ offices to share the 10 things he can’t live without — including a BTS pajama set.
Showing off the “Good Day”-themed PJs, the K-pop star explained that the few possessions he requires when BTS hits the road are always the same: his computer, keyboard, mouse and the pajamas emblazoned with little cartoon angels, which he designed himself.
“When I planned to design pajamas, I just saw blue somewhere,” he said in Korean. “Or I saw something related to angels…I could’ve had a dream about angels, so I put angels into the design. Or maybe on my way to work, the color of the river was blue. So I use blue.
“I’m really bad at drawing,” the singer continued before admitting, “So I didn’t draw this myself. There are characters called TinyTAN. I thought, ‘What if we gave TinyTAN an angel look?’ Because they didn’t have that then. Should I have them be big on the clothes? Or I wondered if there should be a few small ones”
From there, Jin added the tiny harps and heart-shaped light sticks to his design. “All I did was give a lot of my opinions,” he insisted. “Big credit goes to the ones who helped make this.”
During the video, the idol also showed off his trusty Louis Vuitton bag with a Maplestory key ring featuring the character Pink Bean, a limited-edition Minions tennis bag and his Samsung Z Flip Thom Browne edition cell phone with BTS case — though Jin admitted he and his bandmates “don’t really text or call each other,” considering they see each other an estimated 360 days a year.
Jin just dropped “The Astronaut,” the emotional solo single he co-wrote with Coldplay, and its accompanying music video one week after surprise-releasing “Super Tuna,” “Abyss” and “Tonight” on streaming. Next, he’s set to be the first member of BTS to report for mandatory service in South Korea’s military.
Watch Jin gush over the 10 things he can’t live without below.
As the world and the Korean entertainment industry react to the crowd-crush tragedy in Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood in South Korea, AleXa took a moment of her tour to remember those lost.
At her concert Sunday at Los Angeles’ Avalon Hollywood, the final date in AleXa’s First Meet & Live Tour in U.S. tour, the star asked for a minute of silence to pay respect to the victims.
“I’m saddened and quite devastated to hear what happened in Itaewon recently in Korea,” the 25-year-old told the audience. “Many bright, young stars, many young lives were lost in this tragedy that will forever go down in history as one of the worst things to happen in modern times in Korea. It’s forever going to change the lives of people they knew, friends, family, and loved ones. I kindly ask that we altogether observe a minute of silence here together out of respect for all the victims and all the lives lost in the tragedy.”
The stage then went dark, minus a video screen with the phrase “Pray for Itaewon” glowing throughout the moment.
AleXa’s Korean record label ZB Label also announced on Sunday that they would temporarily postpone the planned promotional schedule for the singer’s forthcoming Girls Gone Vogue EP. Earlier this month, Billboard revealed that the new EP, along with the new single “Back in Vogue,” would be released on Nov. 10 as the first new music since the Oklahoma-raised star won the inaugural season of NBC’s American Song Contest. There’s no clear indication if the release date will change at press time, but ZB Label shared that “detailed schedule changes will be announced through a separate notice.” The company added, “our deepest condolences to the victims, bereaved families, and those affected by the heartbreaking tragedy.”
AleXa joins the likes of PSY, ENHYPEN, Jessi and more K-pop stars who have shared their condolences with victims of the tragedy that’s left more than 150 dead and led to a weeklong national mourning period in South Korea. AleXa and ZB Label are also joining the dozens of artists and labels opting to hold or cancel promotional plans and new music in light of the tragedy.
221030 ITAEWONAt ALEXA First Live in US, Alexa asked us to give a moment of silence for the tragedy that occured in Itaewon.The video is to show L.A. AI Troopers are with the victims and families of Itaewon and are with our hearts and never alone. #PRAYFORITAEWON pic.twitter.com/QGOSyDqUpm— K☆FAM Media (@KFAMMedia) October 31, 2022
Singer-actor Lee Jihan was among those who died in the Itaewon crowd crush tragedy in Seoul, South Korea. Two agencies representing the star, 935 Entertainment and 9Ato Entertainment, confirmed the news on Sunday (Oct. 30). He was 24.
Born on Aug. 3, 1998, Lee Jihan had made his first big move in the Korean entertainment industry by competing in the second season of the Korean singing competition Produce 101, where 101 K-pop hopefuls looked to land a spot in an 11-member boy band.
K-Pop Events, New Music Releases Canceled & Postponed in Light of Seoul Halloween Stampede
10/30/2022
Representing as a K-pop trainee from Pan Entertainment at the time, Lee originally auditioned on the show with a cover of EXO‘s “Overdose,” delivered a well-received group performance of INFINITE‘s “Be Mine” with castmates, and was ultimately eliminated in the fifth episode. The show produced Wanna One (who scored five entries on the World Albums chart during their one year together) and other breakout stars.
Former Produce 101 contestants Park Heeseok and Kim Dohyun expressed their condolences and shared funeral information for their former castmate via Instagram Stories.
Post-Produce, Lee moved into acting. In 2019, he starred in the Korean drama Today Was Another Namhyun Day. 935 Entertainment and 9Ato Entertainment agencies both represent a handful of different actors in South Korea.
Lee Jihan is one of at least 153 dead in Seoul’s crowd crush incident over the weekend. The Korean government has announced a period of national mourning that will last until Nov. 5. Several K-pop music releases and events have been canceled or postponed in light of the tragedy. Artists like PSY, ENHYPEN and more have expressed condolences.
Multiple K-pop-related events and new music releases have been canceled or postponed following a national tragedy in South Korea where more than 150 people, so far, have lost their lives in a crowd crush at Seoul’s Itaewon neighborhood during Halloween weekend.
The New York Times reports that officials do not know what caused the disaster that’s left dozens killed and injured. South Korean president Yoon Sukyeol declared a period of national mourning following the incident through Saturday, Nov. 5.
Since the tragedy, the Korean-pop industry has announced several cancelations of scheduled events and postponements of upcoming music releases.
Artists including BTS, Roy Kim, fromis_9, Oh My Girl, Tomorrow X Together, Stray Kids, Park Jihoon, The Boyz, Yuju, DKZ, Wonho, ENHYPEN, StayC, aespa, P1Harmony, CRAVITY, EPEX, Kwon Eunbi, Kep1er and more have announced postponements or cancelations of planned content like TV appearances, fan events, live streams, video premieres, streaming parties, photo reveals and more. Many of it was related to Halloween.
The 2022 Busan One Asia Festival concert set for Oct. 30 and scheduled to include artists like Brave Girls, Golden Child, MAMAMOO, Pentagon, (G)I-DLE, AB6IX, WEi and LE SSERAFIM has been canceled.
SM Entertainment — the K-pop label and management home to artists like Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, Red Velvet, NCT and aespa — deleted all announcements regarding its “SMTOWN WONDERLAND 2022” Halloween party that was planned for Oct. 30 and would have featured a live stream and red carpet event to feature its artists in costume.
New music releases by K-pop stars have been postponed including: the new EP Loner by Yong Junhyung (originally set for a 6 p.m. local time release in Korea on Oct. 30); a new single “Stay With Me” by girl group IRRIS and new music from girl group CRAXY (both originally set for a 12 a.m. local time release in Korea on Oct. 31); the new EP titled Last Scene by Chen of boy band EXO (originally set for a 6 p.m. release in Korea on Oct. 31); the full-length album Villain : The End from boy band DRIPPIN (set for a 6 p.m. release in Korea on Nov. 1); the new cover EP by Jeong Eunji of girl group Apink (set for a 6 p.m. release in Korea on Nov. 2); the new EP titled Overload by K-pop-rock band Xdinary Heroes (set for a 6 p.m. release in Korea on Nov. 4).
Weekly live K-pop music program Inkigayo, which airs on South Korea’s public SBS channel, announced it has canceled its Oct. 30 broadcast. The Show, which airs on cable channel SBS M, also announced it has canceled its upcoming Nov. 1 broadcast.
YG Entertainment — the K-pop label and management home to artists like BIGBANG, WINNER, AKMU, BLACKPINK and TREASURE — shared that they have decided to temporarily postpone the promotion schedule and content release dates for their artists.
HYBE — the label and management home to artists like BTS, Tomorrow X Together, SEVENTEEN, Zico, and NewJeans — postponed its 2022 “HYBE BRIEFING WITH THE COMMUNITY” scheduled for 10 a.m. local time in Korea on Nov. 4.
Jin‘s highly anticipated solo single “The Astronaut” has finally landed.
The BTS superstar revealed the stunning, nearly five-minute rock-pop track on Friday (Oct. 28), worldwide alongside its heartwarming music video.
While BTS had previously revealed that “The Astronaut” was co-written by Jin and Coldplay, the entire song reveals the stadium-sized rock sound that the British band is known for as a perfect bed for Jin’s steady, soothing vocals.
While Jin’s past solo songs like “Awake” and “Epiphany” have proven he can bring raw emotions to his ballads, “The Astronaut” is able to capture that same sentimental approach to a more upbeat, dynamic pop-rock song. If you listen closely, one can even hear Chris Martin seemingly harmonizing with Jin on a few notes.
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“The Astronaut” music video lets Jin embrace his actor side and tell a heartwarming story of an alien navigating Planet Earth, finding moments of wonder and joy throughout the journey, and ultimately deciding to call this planet his home. Jin looks cool and calm throughout the visual, which includes special cameos of his Coldplay collaborators and loving shoutouts to ARMY if one looks closely.
October is a major month for Jin’s music. Three of the star’s solo tracks hit worldwide streaming services for the first time on Oct. 21, and following the release of “The Astronaut” on Oct. 28, he’ll give the debut performance of the track alongside Coldplay less than 24 hours later at the band’s concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fans can watch the concert at River Plate stadium in a movie experience with more than 3,500 theaters in more than 70 countries “cinecasting” the show.
Previous to this single, all seven members of BTS teamed up with Coldplay on the single “My Universe” for the latter’s Music of the Spheres album. The track debuted atop the Hot 100, becoming the first Hot 100 No. 1 by two groups each sporting lead billing on a song.
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BLINKS, get ready! The latest BLACKPINK x Casetify collaboration is now live.
The limited collection dropped on Tuesday (Oct. 25) and invites fans to “become besties with their favorite K-pop girl group.”
The BLACKPINK x Casetify collection features six different designs, which includes a mirror case inspired by the group’s hit single “Pink Venom” and memo cases with pre-printed autographs from Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa. Fans can also customize the memo cases with their own unique message.
The collection retails for $28-$122 and features an assortment of phone and tech accessories for iPhone (including this sold-out iPhone 14 Pro Bundle Box) and select Samsung devices. BLINKS who signed up early at Casetify.com to get priority access were among the first to shop the collection.
BLACKPINK x Casetify Collection
The new collection will be the second time that Casetify and BLACKPINK have joined forces in a matter of months (their first sold-out collaboration was released in late 2021). Casetify has partnered with other recording artists, including BTS and Olivia Rodrigo.
BLACKPINK made history as the first K-pop quartet to top the Billboard Hot 100 with the release of their Born Pink album. In addition to releasing a new Casetify collection, the group kicked off the North American leg of their Born Pink world tour in Dallas on Oct. 25. Click here for details on how to buy tickets to the tour.
Want more BLACKPINK gear? Read our list of must-have BLACKPINK merch that K-pop fans won’t be able to resist. Shop items from the BLACKPINK x Casetify collection below.
Casetify
BLACKPINK I’m a blink case
$62
Casetify
BLACKPINK Diary Stickers Case (Samsung)
$68
Casetify
BLACKPINK Sticker AirPods Case
$38
Casetify
BLACKPINK Sticker Apple Watch Band
$52
Casetify
BLACKPINK Diary Stickers Case (iPhone)
$78
Casetify
BLACKPINK Phone Charm
$58
Casetify
Custom Your Own BLACKPINK Photo Frame Case
$72
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BLACKPINK PINK VENOM Case
$72
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BLACKPINK Sticker Grip Stand
$28
Casetify
BLACKPINK Sticker iPad Case
$82
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BLACKPINK Sticker Laptop Sleeve
$48
Critics already eyed it as one of the best songs on Stray Kids‘ new album Maxident, but now “Give Me Your TMI” gets a full music video from the chart-topping boy band.
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After being initially teased ahead of Maxident‘s release, the new visual sees Stray Kids going full-on secret agent to “get the TMI”—or, as the song’s lyrics detail, learn more about a crush. The cinematic video sees all eight of the Kids delivering their best action hero impersonations as Bang Chan throws out a slew of deceiving hand grenades, Han bats away incoming bullets with a frying pan, and Felix utilizes a two-in-one umbrella handgun. The video isn’t completely Hollywood heavy as fans can catch quick and cute candid moments when the members break character or laugh with one another. Also, look out for an adorable bunny rabbit co-star appearing alongside scenes with Lee Know—STAYs know that the singer-dancer’s representative animal is a rabbit.
The “Give Me Your TMI” video comes a week after Stray Kids’ Maxident ruled the Billboard 200 with the eight-track set marking their second No. 1 album this year. In its second week, Maxident is No. 11 on the Billboard 200 while spending a second week at No. 1 on World Albums.
Fans can still vote for “Give Me Your TMI,” or any other Maxident songs, as their all-time favorite here. Watch the new video now:
While K-pop performances are synonymous with coordinated choreography and flashy stage setups, singer-producer Lee Chanhyuk brought something entirely new — and shocking — to the live stage.
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See latest videos, charts and news
In support of his newly released album Error on Oct. 17, Chanhyuk took to the South Korean music television program Inkigayo to deliver one of the first performances of the LP’s lead single “Panorama.” But instead of bringing the synth-pop cut to life with a dramatic spotlight and onstage mirror like he did previously, the singer opened his performance sitting completely still in a chair and wouldn’t move until the cameras cut. With just the stand holding a microphone near his mouth, a barber wrapped a sedated Chanhyuk in a white sheet boasting the Error album title and began to buzz off his freshly bleached blonde hair as the star gave a pitch-perfect rendition of his new single.
Chanhyuk is one half of the beloved K-pop/folk duo AKMU with his younger sister Suhyun. The pair got their start on the Korean singing competition K-pop Star 2, before signing with YG Entertainment (the same label home as BLACKPINK and BIGBANG) in 2013 and becoming one of Korea’s most beloved and reliable chart-toppers. The primary producer and writer behind the team, Chanhyuk not only handles a majority of AKMU’s work but has lent his talents to write for K-pop legends like Lee Seungchul, Lee Hyori and IU.
Error marks the 26-year-old’s opportunity to share his unique musical style via listening and visual experiences.
The 11 tracks of Error are said to tell a story detailing someone’s reaction after being involved in an accident in the opening track “Eyewitness Account.” The story continues through song titles like “Siren,” “If I Can’t Go See You Right Now,” “Goodbye, Stay Well” (the album’s sole feature from K-pop soloist Chung Ha) and, ultimately, with “Funeral Hope.”
The accompanying music video for “Panorama” encapsulates the album’s story as Chanhyuk is seen on the brink of death after an accident and recalling his memories.
A theme throughout the album, and first shared on the “Eyewitness Account” track, is about a protagonist that’s fallen into a coma from an accident and can’t move. The record’s storyline likely plays into Chanhyuk’s head-shaving performance and why he chose not to speak during on-camera interviews for other shows like M Countdown.
Similar to how The Weeknd has embraced various characters, both physically and personality-wise, in his eras, Chanhyuk is taking his album persona seriously and creating all the more intrigue around his album. Written entirely by Chanhyuk, the throwback ’80s sounds throughout Error were already refreshing to the K-pop scene this year. Even as fans are holding debates around the promotional tactics, these slightly bizarre, excitingly artistic performances make the impressive LP all the more compelling.