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The 2024 Billboard K-Pop Artist 100

In the 15 years since K-pop’s early international pioneers BoA and the Wonder Girls made their respective marks on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 charts back in 2009, the Korean pop industry has made significant strides on the Billboard charts — and never has its crossover success been more apparent than now.

In 2023 alone, 35 different K-pop albums entered the Billboard 200, and five took the No. 1 spot. TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION hit the top spot in February, Stray Kids’ 5-STAR reigned for a week in June, NewJeans’ Get Up took over in August, Stray Kids scored a second No. 1 this year with ROCK-STAR in November, before ATEEZ snagged their first chart-topper with The World EP.Fin: Will in December.

Over on the Hot 100, Jimin of BTS opened a new chapter of K-pop history when he became the first South Korean solo artist to hit No. 1 on the chart with his solo single “Like Crazy.” His bandmate Jung Kook followed soon after when “Seven” (featuring Latto) debuted atop the Hot 100 and set the stage for the star to set a new record with three top five solo hits so far. Elsewhere, artists like BIGBANG’s Taeyang, NewJeans, FIFTY FIFTY, Stray Kids and Jennie of BLACKPINK all earned their first Hot 100 entries, while TWICE and BTS members J-Hope, Agust D and V all added additional entries to their Hot 100 collections.

Of course, many artists also spent time connecting with their global fans, thanks to massive tours across the globe. Acts like SEVENTEEN, ENHYPEN, NCT, TWICE, aespa, LE SSERAFIM, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, Agust D and more played the largest venues of their career, further displaying K-pop’s impact on the live market.

Ahead of the launch of Billboard Korea — with a kick-off event in Seoul set for May, where the artists on this list will be invited as the guests of honor, and the first issue, Billboard K Vol.1, scheduled for release in June — we’ve compiled the inaugural Billboard K-Pop Artist 100 list, with rankings based on activity on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Billboard Hot 100 songs chart and Billboard Boxscore (touring) data for the charts dated Jan. 7, 2023, through Dec. 30, 2023. (In most cases, group members are listed together, except for where notable solo activity separates the artists.)

Find our full 2024 list below:

Adele Postpones Las Vegas Residency Dates Due to Illness: ‘I’ll Miss You Like Mad’

Adele took to Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 27) to announce that due to an unspecified illness, she will be postponing the March dates of her popular Las Vegas residency.

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“Sadly I have to take a beat and pause my Vegas residency,” she wrote in a statement posted to the social media platform. “I was sick at the end of the last leg and all the way through my break. I hadn’t quite gotten the chance to get back to full health before shows resumed and now I’m sick again, and unfortunately it’s all taken a toll on my voice.”

She continued that her doctor recommended that she rest. “The remaining five weekends of this leg are being postponed to a later date,” the singer concluded. “We are already working out the details and you will be sent the information ASAP.”

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“I love you, I’ll miss you like mad and I’m sorry for the inconvenience,” Adele captioned the post.

The last batch of shows of the Weekends With Adele residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace began on Jan. 19 and stretches through June 15. “This residency, these shows have changed my life. I desperately needed to fall back in love with performing live again, and I have. I needed to reconnect with my songs and remember what they mean to me, and I have!” Adele tweeted when announcing the extension late last year. “Being on stage over the last year so up close and personal with an audience again after all these years has been a truly extraordinary restorative experience that I’ll never forget. All the hilarious, soulful, wild and heartbreaking interactions we’ve had are banked in my mind for life. The looks on your faces, seeing you laugh and cry together singing your hearts out and hoarding bags of confetti.”

See Adele’s full announcement below.

Michael Jackson Biopic Casts Its Jackson 5: See the Actors’ Photos

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic is officially in production, and Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International that eight actors have been cast to play the King of Pop’s brothers in the Jackson 5 – Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, and Jackie – to represent the group as they age in the film.

In the early years, Jermaine will be played by Jayden Harville, Marlon will be played by Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Tito will be played by Judah Edwards and Jackie will be played by Nathaniel Logan McIntyre. In the later years, Jermaine will be played by Jamal R. Henderson, Marlon will be played by Tre Horton, Tito will be played by Rhyan Hill and Jackie will be played by Joseph David-Jones.

“The truly epic nature of this film required a total of ten actors with the talent to portray the Jackson 5 through the years,” said the film’s producer Graham King in a press statement. “I’m thrilled to bring this extraordinary group of actors and performers to worldwide audiences in this film.”

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Jackson 5

Courtesy Photo

The film, titled Michael, will take on the musician’s life and career and will be produced by King (Bohemian Rhapsody) and John Branca and John McClain, who are the co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate. Titled Michael, the forthcoming biopic will be directed by Fuqua, the filmmaker behind 2001’s Oscar-winning Training Day and 2022’s Will Smith-starring Emancipation.

Jaafar Jackson will be portraying his late uncle Michael in the film alongside Nia Long, set to play Katherine Jackson, and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, who is set to play the controversial Jackson family patriarch, Joe Jackson. Nine-year-old actor Juliano Krue Valdi will portray Michael during his formative years in the Jackson 5.

Michael is currently scheduled for release on April 18, 2025.

One Queen to Another: Why Dolly Parton’s Co-Sign of Beyoncé’s Country Era Matters

Dolly has spoken!

Last week, Dolly Parton posted a message to social media congratulating Beyoncé for her first Hot Country Songs chart-topper with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” writing, “I’m a big fan of Beyoncé and very excited that she’s done a country album. So congratulations on your Billboard Hot Country number one single. Can’t wait to hear the full album! Love, Dolly.”

Parton is affectionately known as the Queen of Country, but she’s no stranger to crossing genre lines herself, from her pop music in the 1970s and ’80s to her most recent album Rockstar, which she made in response to her 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; the project topped Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Top Country Albums charts.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast (listen below), we’re talking about why Parton’s endorsement of Beyoncé’s country era is so significant — and so fitting.

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Also on the show, we’ve got chart news on how “Texas Hold ‘Em” lassos the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, marking Beyoncé’s ninth chart-topper. Plus, Doja Cat scores her eighth No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart as “Agora Hills” hits the top of the list, while Taylor Swift surpasses a Billboard 200 record long held by The Beatles.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard‘s weekly charts. You can always count on a lively discussion about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and folks from the world of pop. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard‘s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield every week on the podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast provider. (Click here to listen to the previous edition of the show on Billboard.com.)

Cardi B Teases Fiery New Track on Instagram

Cardi B’s new album era is seemingly upon us (finally!).

The rapper took to her Instagram Stories to re-share a fan’s post, in which a snippet of an upcoming song is teased. “I ain’t even got dressed / Any L that I took come after YS / Oh man, oh man, oh man, oh man,” she declares on the track. Check out the Instagram Story before it disappears here.

The teasers comes just a week after Cardi’s estranged husband Offset took to his own Stories to encourage the “Bodak Yellow” rapper to drop her new music. In the video, the Migos star is seen bobbing his head and loving the music with a satisfied stank face on, and since the video had no audio, viewers were left to their imagination in interpreting the caption. “Stop being scary and drop the album” it read, along with “s–t goes crazy [fire emoji],” he wrote.

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A new Cardi album would mark her first since 2018’s Invasion of Privacy. The album spawned two No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 singles, the diamond-certified “Bodak Yellow” and “I Like It.” She also won the Grammy for best rap album for Invasion of Privacy, topping Pusha T, Mac Miller, Travis Scott and Nipsey Hussle. 

Back in August, Cardi promised that she was not going to release any more collaborations until she dropped her next solo single. Of course, her hit collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos,” dropped a month later, but Cardi insisted that she’s focused on her sophomore project.

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“I’m going to put out my next solo single. Right now, I’m working on the cover art and ideas for the next record because it’s definitely coming up,” she said at the time. “Everyone always tells me I should put the record out now. They did when I released ‘WAP’ [with Megan Thee Stallion] and when I released ‘Up,’ but I always let them know I’m not going to wait long after all these singles. So stay tuned because it’s coming out very soon.”

Andy Reid Reveals Taylor Swift Baked Homemade Pop-Tarts for Kansas City Chiefs O-Line

This just in: The Kansas City Chiefs’ successful 2023-24 season was brought to you in part by Taylor Swift‘s baking skills.

In a recent interview, head coach Andy Reid revealed that the 34-year-old pop star baked Pop-Tarts (Taylor’s Version) for the team’s offensive line — which includes her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce. “Behind the scenes, she likes to cook, so she made the offensive linemen these homemade Pop-Tarts,” Big Red shared in a Tuesday (Feb. 27) clip from his appearance on Pro Football Talk.

Unfortunately for Reid, Kelce and his teammates apparently weren’t down to share Swift’s confections. “She didn’t give me one, and the offensive linemen definitely didn’t give me one,” the coach said, looking slightly miffed that he didn’t get to try one of the singer’s pastries.

The interview comes a couple of weeks after the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers at the 2024 Super Bowl, which Swift attended. After watching the game from a suite at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium with Blake Lively, Lana Del Rey, Ice Spice and Kelce’s family, she joined her beau on the field and celebrated his win with a passionate kiss.

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Soon afterward, the 14-time Grammy winner jetted off to Australia, where she recently completed a string of Eras Tour dates in Melbourne and Sydney. Kelce joined her in the latter city for a zoo date, after which he watched one of her shows alongside Katy Perry and Rita Ora and passed out guitar picks to fans in the crowd.

Leading up to the season’s end, Swift proved to bring in a huge boost in viewership for the NFL simply by attending the Chiefs games as frequently as she did September-February. Reid has been vocal about his admiration for the musician in the past and first met her and her family when he worked for the Philadelphia Eagles way back when.

“Since the queen has passed away, she might be the most famous woman in the world,” he said of Swift on Pro Football Talk. “She’s so grounded for who she is. I think it’s a great escape for her, where she can come [to games]. She sincerely enjoys the games.”

Watch Reid tell the story of Swift’s homemade Pop-Tarts below.

Watch DJ Khaled’s Security Guards Carry Him to Keep His J Balvin-Designed Air Jordans Clean

Sneakerheads know the importance of going the extra mile to keep footwear spotless. Some might wear bags over their kicks in the rain, while others will spray pairs with a protective sealant.

DJ Khaled was on his way to a Miami Beach performance over the weekend and before hopping out of his custom cream-colored Mercedes-Maybach, the We The Best mogul thought twice about having his unreleased Black solar J Balvin x Air Jordan Retro 3s touch the sand.

Khaled instructed his pair of security guards to pick him up and drop him into the back of a golf cart so he wouldn’t scuff his rare Jordans, which made for a hilarious visual and a situation that all sneakerheads could relate to.

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The mission was successful, as Khaled’s Jordans remained crisp and sand-free. He made sure to personally thank both members of his security team and shake their hands before taking the South Beach stage.

Being the ultimate hypeman for himself, Khaled didn’t waste a second and immediately warmed up the crowd with anthems like “All I Do Is Win.”

“Take care of them,” J Balvin wrote in DJ Khaled’s comments section regarding his sneakers.

The Air Jordan 3 “Rio” marks the Colombian superstar’s fourth collaboration with Jordan, which will reportedly hit Nike retailers and the company’s online shop May 22.

The sun-kissed sneakers are set to retail for $250. J Balvin’s 2-year-old son, Rio, inspired the design as the pair is named after him.

As for Khaled, he’s teasing a brand-new album in 2024, which will be his first since announcing his partnership with Def Jam Records last year.

Til Next Time is also slated to feature another pair of anthems with Drake, and Khaled hasn’t been shy about letting people know about his collabs with The Boy.

Watch the video of DJ Khaled being carried to the stage below.

Ariana Grande Says ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Tour Is ‘TBD,’ But She Does Have ‘The Itch’

Will Ariana Grande go on tour in support of her fast-approaching new album Eternal Sunshine? Even she doesn’t know for sure.

When asked during a Monday episode of The Zach Sang Show whether she plans to hit the road in support of her March 8-slated record, the 30-year-old pop star said her decision was “TBD.” “I would love to do shows, I miss being onstage,” she continued. “I miss my fans so much, that’s the honest-to-god truth.”

Grande hasn’t released an LP since 2020’s Positions, and her last trek was even longer ago: In 2019, she launched the Sweetener World Tour, which supported 2018’s Sweetener and 2019’s Thank U, Next albums. The four-month international run was documented in the “POV” singer’s Netflix film Excuse Me, I Love You.

This time around, Grande said her schedule is tied up with press commitments for the Wicked live-action films, in which she stars as Glinda opposite Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba. The Jon M. Chu-directed pair of films wrapped shooting earlier this year, and the first installment will arrive in theaters this Thanksgiving. (Check out the project’s first trailer, which aired during the 2024 Super Bowl broadcast, here.)

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“I had a really hard time emotionally on my last tour, but I think that’s because of where I was at,” Grande told Sang. “I’m excited to redefine my relationship to shows, when I’m ready. I do have a very busy year with this and with Wicked.

“[The tour] would obviously be shorter,” she added. “If anything, it would be a littler something. But I definitely do have the itch. I’m not ready to announce any sort of thing or get people too excited because I don’t want to disappoint.”

The Victorious alum covered a lot of ground during her 40-minute interview with Sang, which will soon be followed by a part 2. Not only did Grande call out the “thieves” who leaked her unreleased music on TikTok last year — “I’ll see you in jail, literally” she said at one point — but the vocalist also touched on her “frustration” with last year’s persistent tabloid rumors regarding her relationship with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater.

“We selectively remember that this is what the tabloids do to people, especially women, based upon if we like the person,” she said. “We don’t need to go into any specifics, but of course there’s an insatiable frustration, an inexplicable hellish feeling with watching people misunderstand the people you love, and you.”

Watch Grande on The Zach Sang Show above.

Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Snoop Dogg & More Declined Cameos in Jennifer Lopez’s ‘This Is Me… Now’ Film

Jennifer Lopez’s action-packed This Is Me … Now: A Love Story features a star-studded cast that includes Fat Joe, Post Malone, Keke Palmer, Trevor Noah, Kim Petras, Jane Fonda, Post Malone, Sofia Vergara, Jenifer Lewis, Jay Shetty, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Derek Hough, Paul Raci, Trevor Jackson, Ben Affleck and more. However, there were a few stars that didn’t join the team.

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In The Greatest Love Story Never Told, a behind-the-scenes documentary of the film streaming on Prime Video, fans get a look at some of the other names that were considered, according to Entertainment Weekly. Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge and Snoop Dogg were all among the celebrities that either declined to take part or were unavailable. Vanessa Hudgens was also pitched to play one of Lopez’s friends in the movie, though she was not cast, and Khloe Kardashian was also set to make a cameo.

“The casting director and the other producers came in and they were like, ‘How about this person? This person’s not available.’ And they started saying all these people,” Lopez explained to EW. “If you see me sitting there, that’s not what I want. What I want is people who represent a certain thing, who could understand what I’m trying to do here. And that’s what it took, because they needed to trust me, and at the end of the day. I think it was a big leap of faith for some of them.”

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Lopez teamed with director Dave Myers for the film, which arrived alongside the release her ninth studio album, This Is Me … Now. The movie is described by Amazon as a “narrative-driven cinematic odyssey, steeped in mythological storytelling and personal healing.”

This Is Me … Now: A Love Story dropped on Prime Video earlier this month, and Prime Members can stream it for free.  

Ahmed Saad Stars in the First Episode of ‘Jalsat Billboard Arabia’: Watch

After much anticipation and careful preparation, the “Jalsat Billboard Arabia” series has finally kicked off, featuring none other than star Ahmed Saad. In the premiere episode lasting 30 minutes, Saad treated viewers to four of his chart-topping hits on Billboard Arabia’s Hot 100 that have resonated across the Arab world in recent years.

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“Jalsat,” which translates to “sessions,” is a term used in the Arabic music community and refers to the gathering of musicians and a singer to perform in a unique and intimate setting. In this exclusive series, Billboard Arabia showcases intimate performances blending the raw authenticity of studio sessions with a vibrant set design, transforming music into an audio-visual masterpiece. In each episode, an established superstar or an emerging artist will deliver a stripped-down set, capturing the essence of their music through a production concept of their own choosing.

Renowned for his consistent presence among the top spots on the weekly list of Billboard Arabia’s Artist 100, Ahmed Saad stands as one of the foremost Arabic pop stars across the Middle East. This accolade is a testament to his enduring artistic journey spanning two decades, reaching its pinnacle in the past two years with the widespread acclaim of his hits across various music platforms.

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The session unfolds with Ahmed Saad delivering a powerhouse rendition of “Ekhtayaraty” (My Choices), the summer 2023 hit that captivated audiences far and wide. Originally featured in the Egyptian film Mr. Ex, the song soared to fame and transcended its cinematic roots to become a popular sensation, thanks to its witty lyrics by Menna Adli El Kiey and composition by Ahmed Tarek Yehia. Saad’s performance is uniquely infused with a Latin arrangement, courtesy of Spanish guitars, offering a fresh take on the original song.

Ahmed Saad transitions into “Aleky Eyoun” (You Have These Eyes), a ballad that marked his return to releasing music more frequently in early 2022. With lyrics by Mohamed Shafei, Saad personally composed the romantic melody to complement the heartfelt lyrics. However, during the session, Saad injects newfound energy and rhythm into the track, steering it in an entirely different direction.

Continuing to captivate, Saad performs “El Youm El Helw Dah” (What a Beautiful Day), originally featured in the film Their Uncle but earning recognition in its own right. Also written by Menna Adli El Kiey and composed by Ahmed Tarek Yehia, the song’s buoyant lyrics and unconventional expressions have endeared it to audiences across the region. In this rendition, the song is invigorated with lively guitar chords and dynamic instrumentation, infusing its cheerful melodies with fresh energy.

Closing the show with flair, Saad presents “Wasa’ Wasa’” (Move Out of the Way), a track that has achieved remarkable success on streaming platforms since its release in the summer of 2022. With lyrics by Mostafa Hadouta and production by Ehab Clopex, the song showcased a different side of Saad in terms of topics and lyrical approach, leaning toward the style embraced by hip-hop and festival artists.

All these selections, along with others from Saad’s repertoire, have maintained top positions on the Billboard Arabia Hot 100 chart since its release more than 10 weeks ago. By selecting these particular songs for the session, Saad underscores their significance in shaping his career trajectory and solidifying his status as a star.

With enticing arrangements and a fresh style, “Jalsat Billboard Arabia” provides the audience with an opportunity to rediscover these beloved songs. Backed by a talented ensemble including Sharif Hassanein on guitar, Badawy Badawy on bass, Mohamed Saad on piano and Ahmed El Sayed on percussion, Saad reaffirms during this session his versatility and confidence across various musical genres. Through a fusion of eastern melodies and western hues, they transform familiar songs into a fresh audio-visual experience that lingers in the memory.