K-pop agencies hop on the virtual artist bandwagon

The entertainment industry continues to be captivated by the virtual K-pop artist phenomenon, despite initial skepticism that it would fade into obscurity like the once-popular notions of the metaverse and NFTs. As virtual idols are increasingly being recognized beyond the niche market, major K-pop agencies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe are entering the virtual artist market, aiming to replicate the success of virtual groups like Vlast's Plave. Jumping on the bandwagon SM Entertainment

K-popSept. 4, 2024

Is Ador moving to isolate Min Hee-jin?

Ador may be taking steps to distance NewJeans from the influence of former CEO Min Hee-jin, as her close associate and director behind the music videos for “ETA” and “Ditto,” Shin Woo-seok, announced Monday that he would cease collaboration with the group. In May, Shin had submitted a petition opposing Min's dismissal as Ador's CEO. Shin revealed that the Hybe-owned label recently requested that he remove all NewJeans-related content from his production company

K-popSept. 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ Jin hits 100m views with ‘Super Tuna’ dance video

The performance video for “Supertuna,” a solo song from Jin of BTS, surpassed the 100 million milestone on YouTube as of Monday, according to label Big Hit Music on Tuesday. The artist uploaded the video in December 2021 to celebrate his birthday with his fans. Donning denim overalls and a T-shirt with a tuna he drew himself, he danced on a beach in Los Angeles. Inspired by his hobby, fishing, Jin’s self-written song “Supertuna” was officially released the following

K-popSept. 3, 2024

Loossemble unveils dynamic love story, US tour

Loossemble returned with a third mini-album “TTYL,” only four months after the group dropped its second mini-album “One of a Kind.” The new album with the theme “We have endless love for you,” embraces a wide range of emotions and thoughts. “The lyrics contain a lot of push-and-pull dynamics in love, and we wanted to express the keyword ‘diversity’ through the various forms of love and emotions that arise from it. We wanted to include a broad

K-popSept. 3, 2024

Producer Teddy’s girl group MEOVV to debut Friday

K-pop agency The Black Label’s first girl group, Meovv, is set to debut on Friday. The agency announced the date of the group’s debut on its official social media by dropping Meovv’s debut trailer Monday evening. The trailer shows all five members of Meovv walking in chic black outfits like models on a runway, toward a stage in the middle of nowhere. Meovv has signed a partnership agreement with Capitol Records, a renowned label under Universal Music Group, raising expectations

K-popSept. 3, 2024

NewJeans members express distress over label's CEO change

Six days after the dismissal of Min Hee-jin as CEO of their label, ADOR, members of the K-pop girl group NewJeans broke their silence on the issue, expressing concerns and emotional distress. "Since the CEO was dismissed, it's been difficult in many ways and we have a lot of concerns. For a while, I was in a state of mental breakdown and very anxious," member Danielle was quoted as saying on "Phoning," a dedicated mobile app for the group's fans, on Monday by indust

K-popSept. 3, 2024

[Herald Interview] Onew of SHINee steps outside comfort zone

For Onew, who debuted as a member of the legendary K-pop boy group SHINee in 2008 at 18, buying tickets for public transportation while on a trip was something he had never done by himself until recently. “I’ve never traveled by myself before visiting Vienna a few months ago. It was the first time that I made reservations for accommodations and bought train tickets by myself. That’s when it hit me that I was just a frog in the well knowing nothing of the ocean. I wanted to expl

K-popSept. 3, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] BTS’ RM collabs with Megan Thee Stallion

RM of BTS will be featured in Megan Thee Stallion’s upcoming single “Neva Play,” due out Friday. The American rapper announced the news on her Instagram with a poster fashioned after a comic book cover of herself showing off blue hair and counting money with RM in the back looking over his shoulder. “This is one of my favorite RM verses I’ve heard! I’ve never heard him rap in this style before,” she wrote adding a smiling emoji with sunglasses. They firs

K-popSept. 2, 2024

[Herald Review] Stray Kids open new chapter with world tour ‘dominATE’ heavy on drama

A gigantic pair of silver lips was projected onto the main screen, and as they parted, Stray Kids emerged from within, dressed in silver stage costumes. The audience erupted in an ear-splitting cheer as the eight-member K-pop boy group kicked off the final day of their four-day concert at the Kspo Dome in Seoul on Sunday with “Mountains,” a Side-B track from their latest mini-album, "ATE." Stray Kids took center stage, flanked by a mega dance crew that filled the stage. &ld

K-popSept. 2, 2024

K-pop groups face dilemmas when confronted with political issues

K-pop idols continue to grapple with navigating geopolitical controversies, as highlighted by a recent incident involving JYP Entertainment's K-pop group Nmixx. The group performed part of “Dokdo is Our Land” in a YouTube video on Aug. 22, sparking a heated dispute between Korean and Japanese fans. The incident raised a critical question: Should K-pop bands refrain from addressing political issues, or should they be candid about their political positions? Japan has claimed sover

K-popSept. 2, 2024

SM Entertainment and LG Uplus to create AI-based content for virtual artist naevis

SM Entertainment formed a strategic partnership with LG Uplus, one of the nation’s top telecom carriers, Thursday to collaborate on AI-driven content creation and joint branding efforts for its first virtual artist, Naevis. The partnership involves using LG Uplus’s generative AI technology, ixi-GEN, to create a wide array of content for Naevis, including music videos, short visual clips and concept images. Naevis was originally introduced in aespa's digital universe, Kwangya, an

K-popSept. 1, 2024

TWICE's agency cracks down on deepfake videos amid rising industry concerns

JYP Entertainment has vowed strong legal actions against deepfake content involving its artists, amid growing concerns over the proliferation of sexually exploitative deepfake videos. "We are pursuing a robust legal response with no leniency towards deepfake videos, in collaboration with a specialized law firm," the company behind the popular K-pop girl group TWICE said on Friday. "We take the spread of deepfake videos featuring our artists very seriously," it said, adding

K-popAug. 31, 2024

SM takes unanticipated swift action on NCT's Taeil

SM Entertainment, reputed for its often cautious approach to managing artist controversies, has drawn significant attention for its swift and uncompromising handling of the recent scandal involving Taeil, a member of NCT since 2016. On Wednesday, the company announced the K-pop star's involvement in a criminal case related to sexual misconduct and confirmed his immediate departure from the group, marking a notable shift in the agency's risk management strategy. "We recently confir

K-popAug. 30, 2024

[Today’s K-pop] Kang Daniel to return next month with 5th EP

Kang Daniel announced new music to come in September via his agency Ara on Friday. A trailer for EP “Act” was uploaded the same day, giving fans an up-close look at the performer, along with several mysterious scenes, including an old television with static and an empty chair. The video clip only included the release month of the mini album with a date. The upcoming release comes about 15 months since his fourth EP, “Realiez.” The former member of boy band Wanna One marke

K-popAug. 30, 2024

Former Ador CEO Min rejects producing NewJeans, Hybe keeps door open

Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of Hybe-owned label Ador, has rejected the company’s offer to continue as the producer of NewJeans during the remaining two months of her contract. On Friday, Min, through her public relations agency Macoll Consulting Group, released a statement saying, “Hybe’s announcement that Min would continue to work with NewJeans, as reported on Tuesday, was never agreed upon.” Min was offered a business delegation agreement to produce NewJeans from Aug.

K-popAug. 30, 2024

Le Sserafim looks to bounce back from Coachella incident with new album

K-pop girl group Le Sserafim of Souce Music returns with its 4th mini-album “Crazy” on Friday, six months after the release of the mini-album “Easy” in February. “Crazy” delivers a message to “go wild just once with Le Sserafim,” and features a variety of genres, including electronic dance music (EDM)-based house music and techno. The album includes five tracks: the title track "Crazy," "Chasing Lightning," "Pierrot,"

K-popAug. 30, 2024

Sam Smith releases new edition of 'I'm Not The Only One' featuring K-pop diva Taeyeon

Sam Smith released a new version of his smash-hit title "I'm Not The Only One" featuring K-pop star Taeyeon as a project for the 10th anniversary of his debut album, his label said Thursday. "I'm Not The Only One" is a track on the British pop star's debut album, In The Lonely Hour, released in 2014. Taeyeon, a member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation, participated in the 10th anniversary edition of the song, singing parts of the song in Korean, acco

K-popAug. 29, 2024

Listeners encouraged to go wild with Le Sserafim's 4th EP

Girl group Le Sserafim returned Thursday with its fourth EP, titled "Crazy," urging listeners to pour their passion into whatever makes their hearts race. "Crazy" marks the K-pop quintet's new release six months after its third EP, "Easy," which was released in February. The band made its debut on the coveted Billboard Hot 100 with the album's main track. "The new album's message is simple and clear: Let's go crazy with Le Sserafim,"

K-popAug. 29, 2024

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin to weigh ‘multiple options’ with NewJeans

Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin is uncertain about her continued work with NewJeans under Hybe following the dismissal from her position at Ador on Tuesday. “Min is considering various options (regarding her continued involvement in producing NewJeans). It is difficult to provide further details at this time,” an official from Macoll Consulting Group, Min’s public relations agency, told The Korea Herald on Thursday. On Tuesday, Hybe announced the appointment of Kim Ju-young, an i

K-popAug. 29, 2024

Former NCT member Taeil questioned by police over sexual assault allegations

Taeil, formerly of K-pop boy band NCT, was questioned by police Wednesday on sexual assault allegations, according to SM Entertainment. The agency and the artist first became aware of the allegations in mid-August, said SM Entertainment in a press release Thursday, without disclosing specific details of the allegations. On Wednesday evening, SM revealed that Taeil, 30, had been accused of a sexual offense and, in light of the seriousness of the situation, it had decided to remove him from the gr

K-popAug. 29, 2024