K-Town

Attention, ROSÉ stans — your No. 1 girl has a new solo single on the way.
As announced Tuesday (Nov. 19), the 27-year-old musician is dropping a song titled “Number One Girl” this Friday (Nov. 22). Sharing what appears to be the track’s cover art — a photo of ROSÉ staring wistfully off to the side while modeling a shirt with the song’s title printed on it — the BLACKPINK star wrote on Instagram, “this one’s for my number ones. ❤️”

“Number One Girl” will follow ROSÉ’s chart-topping duet with Bruno Mars, “APT.,” which has spent four weeks and counting at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200. Released in October, the track also debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the New Zealand native’s first top 10 solo hit.

Prior to “APT.,” ROSÉ announced her debut solo album, rosie, with a heartfelt post on Instagram. “I have poured my blood and tears into this album,” she wrote Oct. 1, two months ahead of the 12-track project’s Dec. 6 release date. “I cannot wait for you to listen to this little journal of mine. Rosie – is the name I allow my friends and family to call me. With this album, I hope you all feel that much closer to me.”

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At the time, ROSÉ also may have subtly teased the title of her new single by specifically thanking her “number ones” for their support. She did the same during her recent appearance on Hot Ones, closing the show by saying, “love you, number ones.”

The star isn’t the only member of BLACKPINK who’s been rolling out a solo era this year. LISA has also shared a slew of independent singles — “Rockstar,” “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)” and Rosalía duet “New Woman” — and announced her own solo album, Alter Ego, on the same day ROSÉ shared the news about “Number One Girl.”

The foursome — which also includes JENNIE and JISOO — is expected to reunite for full-band activities in 2025. But in the meantime, ROSÉ says she’s pursuing her solo efforts with advice from none other than Taylor Swift in mind.

“As soon as she met me, she’s like, ‘Spill, let me help you out,’” ROSÉ recalled of meeting the “Karma” artist recently. “I’m really grateful for her, because I was at a moment where I was drowning a little. She is literally the coolest, and she’s such a girl’s girl. She was telling me – ‘make sure to take care of this, this and this’ – like, logistics. She was trying to protect me.”

See ROSÉ’s “Number One Girl” announcement below.

BLINKs already know LISA — now get ready to meet her alter ego. After weeks of teasing, the BLACKPINK star has finally announced that her debut solo album is on its way, and it’s coming in just a few months.
On Tuesday (Nov. 19) — a date fans have been impatiently counting down to alongside a cryptic timer on LISA’s website — the 27-year-old performer shared that her first-ever LP independent from her famous girl group is titled Alter Ego and slated to arrive Feb. 28. She also unveiled the project’s cover art, which features a sleek photo of a hooded LISA showing off her spiky black nails and staring down the camera.

On her LLOUD YouTube channel, the Thai singer-rapper further hyped up fans by dropping a three-minute album trailer, which expands on the teaser she dropped a few days prior to the announcement. With her eyes changing colors through the landscapes, the video finds LISA traveling from a black rock structure to a cyberpunk outer-space catwalk, an enchanted garden, a green laser-beam motorcycle track and a volcanic red runway.

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According to the press release, the five locations represent the five characters LISA emulates on the LP, “each representing a unique personality.” “They are represented by the five points on a star, which has become a key emblem in the campaign,” the description adds.

Alter Ego will follow a run of three LISA singles in 2024, beginning with “Rockstar” — which reached No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and followed by “New Woman” with Rosalía and “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me).” The star has been prepping the album for months for a release ahead of BLACKPINK’s planned reunion in 2025, and in her Billboard cover story, she opened up about her perfectionism when it came to the project.

“I’m trying to figure it out, the tracklist and everything, what I can change in there,” she told Billboard. “Everything’s there. I think they’re going to be shocked at how capable I am [at] doing so many things.”

The star also gushed about her BLACKPINK bandmates ROSÉ — who has simultaneously been forging her own solo music era this year — JENNIE and JISOO in her cover story. “We know each other so well and know how much energy we have to put into every single project,” LISA said. “So we want to support and say, ‘You did really well!’ Like, JENNIE and Rosie just released their own songs, and we’re on texts, we’re on FaceTime. They’re like family.”

Watch the Alter Ego teaser and see the album cover below.

ROSÉ of BLACKPINK is gearing up to release her first-ever solo album Dec. 6, but before she takes the leap, the 27-year-old K-pop star says she got a little advice from one of the most successful pop soloists to ever do it: Taylor Swift. 
Just a couple weeks ahead of the arrival of Rosie — ROSÉ’s 12-track debut LP independent from her famous girl group — the performer opened up about the bond she forged with the 34-year-old “Anti-Hero” singer while at a New York City hangout in a cover story interview with I-D published Monday (Nov. 18). “I told her I’m such a huge fan, and I just had some questions,” she recalled of introducing herself to Swift. “As soon as she met me, she’s like, ‘Spill, let me help you out.’”

The “APT.” singer added that Swift “was so ready to help me” and even passed along her number as the two conversed during the gathering, which was hosted by producer Jack Antonoff at Electric Lady Studios. “Who does that? Like, you’re Taylor Swift!” ROSÉ gushed in retrospect.  

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“I’m really grateful for her, because I was at a moment where I was drowning a little,” the K-pop star added. “She is literally the coolest, and she’s such a girl’s girl. She was telling me – ‘make sure to take care of this, this and this’ – like, logistics. She was trying to protect me. Me becoming solo, being independent, it’s not an easy thing. There are a lot of things I should be careful with, and she gave me a rundown on all the things I have to look out for. That was the coolest part – she’s killed it in the game, and she was kind enough to walk me through.” 

The interview isn’t the first time ROSÉ has expressed her admiration for the 14-time Grammy winner, whose Eras Tour show she caught in Tokyo in February. Afterward, the girl group member shared a five-minute video of herself singing along to Swift’s performance of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” and wrote on TikTok, “Best 10 minutes in tokyo.” 

More than a year prior to that, Swift proved that she’s a BLINK by using BLACKPINK’s “Pink Venom” in a TikTok video while on her way to the 2022 VMAs, where the “Karma” artist would later announce her 10th studio album, Midnights. That night, the show’s cameras also captured Swift dancing along to the same track as it played over the speakers. 

See ROSÉ’s I-D cover and photos from the shoot below. 

BLINKs are counting down the days until BLACKPINK reunites in 2025 — and so is LISA. 
In her Billboard cover story published Thursday (Nov. 14), the 27-year-old K-pop superstar gushed about her plans with groupmates ROSÉ, JENNIE and JISOO to launch back into full-band activities next year after spending the past year and a half focusing on solo projects. “I can’t wait,” she excitedly told writer Nolan Feeney of the planned comeback.  

“We know each other so well and know how much energy we have to put into every single project,” she continued. “So we want to support and say, ‘You did really well!’ Like, JENNIE and Rosie just released their own songs, and we’re on texts, we’re on FaceTime. They’re like family. I’m just so happy that they’re releasing something. This is what we all wanted to do, so I just wanted to say that I really do love their songs.” 

Following the July 2023 conclusion of the group’s Born Pink World Tour — which supported Billboard 200-topping album Born Pink — LISA has spent the past couple of months releasing independent singles such as Billboard Hot 100 hits “Rockstar” and “New Woman” with Rosalía. Meanwhile, ROSÉ has been gearing up to release a solo album, rosie; JENNIE filmed The Weeknd’s The Idol last year and dropped a new single titled “Mantra” in October; and JISOO has been focusing on acting in Korean TV and film projects. 

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Their individual paths, however, will once again intertwine at some point in 2025, with YG Entertainment announcing as much earlier this year. The company also promised that the comeback would be paired with another world tour — but that’s where they might’ve lost LISA, who seemed a bit uncertain while speaking to Billboard. 

“That’s what they say?” she said — appearing slightly skeptical — of YG’s tour news. LLOUD’s Alice Kang added, “I don’t know … We’ll have to wait and see what YG confirms.” 

LISA’s cover story comes a little more than a month since her last single, “New Woman,” dropped in October. On Tuesday (Nov. 12), she posted a mysterious teaser video set to “Rockstar,” with a cryptic countdown appearing on her website around the same time. 

Fans were immediately hopeful that the latter was ticking down to an announcement related to her upcoming album, about which the Thai singer-rapper tells Billboard, “I’m trying to figure it out, the tracklist and everything, what I can change in there.” 

“Everything’s there,” she adds. “I think they’re going to be shocked at how capable I am [at] doing so many things.” 

Something LISA this way comes — but fans aren’t exactly sure what it is yet. That will all change soon, however, according to a mysterious untitled countdown that has appeared on the BLACKPINK star’s solo website. By Billboard‘s math, the clock will finish ticking down on Nov. 19 — the possible release date of new […]

More than 80 years after its release, Bing Crosby‘s beloved holiday hit “White Christmas” is getting a Bangtan boost from V of BTS.
As announced Wednesday (Nov. 6), the 28-year-old K-pop star will join the late legend on a remix of his 1942 smash arriving Dec. 6. Released in partnership with the Bing Crosby Estate, Primary Wave Music and Geffen Records, the project is described as an “era-bridging” collaboration and comes 47 years after Crosby’s last cross-generational duet: 1977’s “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy” with David Bowie.

“I’m so grateful to have had the chance to be featured in a song with my all-time favorite jazz artist, Bing Crosby,” V said of the track in a statement. “I grew up listening to his song ‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time’ countless times a day, and I feel incredibly fortunate and honored to have sung along on ‘White Christmas’ with the voice of someone I consider an idol.”

“Being a huge fan of his, I sang with the utmost sincerity and admiration for him,” continued the South Korean superstar, who previously covered “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” of which Crosby’s take peaked at No. 30 on the Holiday Streaming Songs, No. 8 on the Holiday Airplay and No. 14 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales charts. “I hope many people enjoy it as much as I enjoyed singing it. Lastly, I wish a lovely holiday season to everyone listening to the song.”

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Originally recorded for the 1942 film Holiday Inn and later heavily featured in the 1954 film White Christmas, Crosby’s enduring hit is widely renowned as the bestselling single of all time. It was released a full 16 years before the inception of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958, but premiered on the chart in December that same year and later reached a peak at No. 12 in 1962.

Crosby died in 1977. His daughter Mary Crosby said in a statement about her father’s new posthumous collaboration, “As a family, we are thrilled to have V and Dad singing together on this ultimate Christmas song. Their voices blend beautifully, capturing the holiday spirit in the best possible way.”

The legendary performer’s son Harry added, “We are happy that V will help share the joy of this timeless Christmas song.”

The holiday team-up will arrive about nine months after the release of V’s solo single “FRI(END)S,” which reached No. 65 on the Hot 100. Last December, he teamed up with Umi for a duet titled “Wherever U R.”

V is currently in the midst of his mandatory enlistment period in the South Korean military, as are four of his BTS bandmates: SUGA, RM, Jimin and Jung Kook. Earlier this year, Jin and J-Hope separately finished their service obligations, and full-band activities are expected to resume in 2025.

See the cover art for Bing Crosby and V’s “White Christmas” below.

When Jin named his new solo track “I’ll Be There,” he didn’t do so lightly. According to the BTS star, he genuinely wants to give his listeners comfort, starting with the lead single from his upcoming album Happy.
In a new video interview with Dolby Atmos shared exclusively with Billboard, the 31-year-old South Korean singer explains that he wrote his new song — which dropped Friday (Oct. 25) — with the hope of “providing happiness” to his fanbase. “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,” the performer continues. “I want our fans, our ARMY, to be happy.”

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The interview comes as part of Jin’s new partnership with Dolby Atmos in honor of his new solo music. The “Super Tuna” artist also filmed an alternative music video with the audio technology company — which Billboard exclusively premieres below — featuring Jin driving a convertible through swirling, colorful lights, performing “I’ll Be There” in a futuristic glass room, flirting with a few actresses on set and dancing with a group of people in an airport.

Jin also dropped a standard music video for “I’ll Be Alright” Friday, just a few weeks ahead of the Nov. 15 release of his debut solo album, Happy. In his new interview, the star revealed that — much like “I’ll Be Alright” — the songs on the six-track LP “have choruses that everyone can sing along to.”

“It’s a song that will put a smile on your face,” he added of his new single. “I hope to spread those feelings to my fans because they give me so much energy, laughter and joy.”

Jin’s album will make him the final member of BTS to release a solo LP, following previous projects from Jung Kook, Jimin, V, SUGA, RM and J-Hope. The group’s full-band activities are currently on pause as five of the members finish their mandatory military service, which Jin was the first to complete in June followed by RM earlier this month.

Watch Jin’s interview with Dolby Atmos above, and check out his alternative music video for “I’ll Be There” below.

LISA’s latest post on TikTok has some fans saying “please please please” to a possible collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. In a video posted Wednesday (Sept. 25), the BLACKPINK band member steps up to a microphone and sings the words “so kiss me,” blowing a smooch to the camera. The track that plays Sixpence None the […]

Megan Thee Stallion and RM of BTS aren’t messing around on their new single “Neva Play,” which dropped Friday (Sept. 6). Released just a week after the pair started teasing that they’d be joining forces on social media, the duet finds the Houston Hottie and K-pop phenomenon taking turns showing off their rap skills. “This […]