[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jimin logs 1.2b streams on Spotify in record time

Jimin of BTS surpassed 1.2 billion plays on Spotify with solo “Who” on Monday. He achieved the feat in just 151 days -- the shortest time for both a K-pop artist and a male solo artist, beating the record previously set by Harry Styles' with “As It Was.” “Who” fronted Jimin's second solo album “Muse” and has spent 21 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 after entering it at No. 12. The hip-hop R&B tune ranked No. 43 on the chart dated

K-popDec. 18, 2024

2NE1 to celebrate 15th anniversary with limited-edition LP of hits

Legendary girl group 2NE1 is releasing a limited-edition LP in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of its debut. The 2NE1 "15th Anniversary Best LP" will feature some of the group’s most iconic tracks, starting with the debut song “Fire,” as well as hits like “I Don’t Care,” “Can’t Nobody,” “Go Away,” “Slow,” “I Am The Best,” “Ugly,” “Lonely” and “Missing You.&rdquo

K-popDec. 18, 2024

'Report IU to the CIA': Bizarre online trolling of celebs who support Yoon impeachment

Users of local websites with politically conservative inclinations are encouraging each other to file online reports to the US Central Intelligence Agency against K-pop star IU and other celebrities who publicly supported protests calling for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. The anonymous users have posted screenshots of their reports to the US federal agency that collects and analyzes foreign intelligence. "IU can't go to America now," read the title of an anonymous po

Social AffairsDec. 17, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ V enters Billboard’s Hot 100 with Bing Crosby 'collab'

V of BTS made Billboard’s Hot 100 for the third time this year as a solo act. His collaborative remix of Bing Crosby’s winter classic “White Christmas” debuted on the main songs chart at No. 93. He ranked No. 99 on the chart a week earlier with another winter solo single, “Winter Ahead,” featuring Park Hyoshin. In March, the artist placed digital single “Fri(end)s” at No. 65 on the chart and No. 2 on its Digital Song Sales Chart. “White Chris

K-popDec. 17, 2024

K-pop stars to broaden spectrum with world tours in 2025

As 2025 approaches, K-pop artists are setting their sights on global stages. SHINee’s Taemin will continue the momentum of his first solo world tour, “Ephemeral Gaze,” which began on Dec. 15 with sold-out shows, into early next year. According to his agency Big Planet Made Entertainment tickets for the US leg of the “Ephemeral Gaze” tour — covering New York, Chicago, Houston, Oakland and Los Angeles — sold out immediately. This follows previous sellouts

PerformanceDec. 17, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Rose hits Billboard 200 at record No. 3

Rose of Blackpink entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 with her first solo full album, according to the chart preview published Sunday in the US. It is the highest spot for a K-pop solo female singer on the main albums chart. She rolled out her LP “Rosie” on Dec. 6, and the album debuted on the UK’s Official Albums Chart Top 100 at No. 4. The main track “Toxic Till the End” ranked No. 72 on its Singles Chart Top 100 with the prerelease “APT.” still sitting

K-popDec. 16, 2024

K-pop stars shine on stage but miss major awards at 2024 Billboard Music Awards

At the 2024 Billboard Music Awards held Thursday in Las Vegas, artists like Stray Kids, Jungkook and Seventeen highlighted K-pop’s global popularity through performances but fell short of winning outside of K-pop categories. This year marked the second edition of K-pop-specific awards introduced by the BMAs, including Top Global K-pop Artist, Top K-pop Album and Top Global K-pop Song. Stray Kids, a boy group under JYP Entertainment, won the Top Global K-pop Artist award, adding to their tr

K-popDec. 16, 2024

[Herald Review] BoyNextDoor launches first tour with refreshing energy

BoyNextDoor held the group's first stand-alone concert “Knock On Vol.1” and announced a January comeback. The two shows at Inspire Arena in Incheon on Dec. 14-15 mark the group’s first solo concert since debuting in May 2023. The six members, dressed in blue jeans and black jackets, made a dramatic entrance by leaping up from the stage floor amid fireworks. They kicked off the show with “Earth, Wind and Fire,” followed by “Dangerous,” where the stag

PerformanceDec. 16, 2024

K-pop artists stand strong in Billboard Year-End Charts

Several K-pop artists, including Jungkook of BTS and boy group Stray Kids, showcased their global popularity by securing spots on Billboard’s Year-End charts. According to Billboard’s Year-End Chart, Jungkook ranked 60th on the Top Artists Chart, while Stray Kids secured No. 73. Billboard’s annual Year-End Charts highlight the trends and artists that defined the year in music, offering a retrospective look at the industry's biggest hits. The rankings of the Year-End Top Ar

K-popDec. 15, 2024

K-pop star IU supplies hot food for fans attending anti-Yoon rallies

K-pop superstar IU has arranged for hot food and drinks, as well as hot packs, to be provided to people attending a rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, her agency said Friday. Edam Entertainment, in an official fan cafe post, said the singer wanted to provide warmth to "Uena," or IU fans, who would be attending the protests in the cold weather. "We hope that the hands of Uaena, who brighten the surroundings, will be a little warmer,” the post re

K-popDec. 14, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] NewJeans logs 700m streams with ‘Ditto’

NewJeans has accumulated 700 million plays on Spotify with “Ditto,” according to agency Ador, citing the platform on Friday. The group repeated the feat it previously achieved with “OMG,” which reached the milestone in August. “Ditto” came out in December 2022 as a prerelease from single album “OMG,” and earned the rookie girl group that had debuted about half a year earlier spots on Billboard’s Hot 100 and UK’s Official Singles Chart T

K-popDec. 13, 2024

Petition demanding Assembly hearing on Hybe’s ‘misconduct’ gains momentum

A public petition calling for a National Assembly hearing to investigate alleged social misconduct by Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, has surpassed 50,000 signatures, qualifying it for a committee review. The petition, submitted on Nov. 15, argues for urgent action to address issues related to Hybe’s operations. The petitioner emphasized the need to address loopholes in existing laws revealed by Hybe’s actions, proposing both revisions to current regulations and the establishm

K-popDec. 13, 2024

K-pop’s global chart success: True milestone or outdated obsession?

As K-pop’s global influence expands, agencies have increasingly emphasized their artists' accomplishments on prestigious charts like the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. However, industry insiders argue that benchmarking traditional chart rankings reflects outdated thinking, as these once-iconic indicators have lost much of their relevance over the past decade due to a major shift in music consumption toward online streaming. Big Hit Music announced Tuesday that BTS member

K-popDec. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Babymonster to tour US next year

Babymonster uploaded a poster Thursday announcing the US stops for its first international tour Hello Monsters. The two concerts, in Newark, New Jersey, on Feb. 28 and in Los Angeles on March 2, will both be held in arenas -- a major feat for a rookie girl group. The group has already proved its potential, entering Billboard 200 at No. 149 with its first full album “Drip.” The album topped iTunes' Top Albums chart in 14 regions, while the music videos for focus tracks “Dri

K-popDec. 12, 2024

[Herald Interview] Indie band Daybreak marks 17th anniversary, continues evolution

The 17-year veteran band Daybreak has returned with a new album that captures the past, present, and future of the band, infused with their enduring passion. The band's 3rd mini album, “Semicolon,” is its first album since their 2016 full-length 4th album, “With.” In the interim, the band had been active through collaborations with other artists and the release of singles. The title “Semicolon” reflects the punctuation mark’s role in adding to a sen

K-popDec. 12, 2024

Deaf trio Big Ocean to hold first solo concert next year

Big Ocean, the world's first idol group composed of members with hearing impairments, is set to hold its first solo concert. The trio -- Chanyeon, Hyunjin and Jiseok -- announced via the group's official social media channels that they will hold the first solo concert under the banner of “Follow” on March 9, 2025, at the Toyota City Cultural Hall in Nagoya, Japan. “Follow” is also the name of Big Ocean’s first mini album. The group is preparing not only to

PerformanceDec. 12, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS' Jimin extends record streak on Billboard Hot 100

Jimin of BTS extended his stay on Billboard’s Hot 100 to 20 weeks in a row with his solo song “Who,” according to the chart published Tuesday in the US. This is the longest streak on the main songs chart for a K-pop solo singer in the last decade, and he achieved the feat while climbing back up nine rungs to No. 47. The single hit the chart at No. 12 while his second solo album “Muse” which it fronted debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 2. The album leaped back up 4

K-popDec. 11, 2024