kpop
K-pop rookie girl group Ive makes Spotify history, beats Big Bang and Red Velvet on music show
- Rookie K-pop girl group Ive made Spotify history with their song “Love Dive,” which now holds the record for greatest first-week streams by a K-pop girl group on Spotify in 2022 with more than 11.1 million streams.
- Ive was also crowned the winner of South Korean weekly music broadcast “Show Champion” this week with “Love Dive,” beating Big Bang with "Still Life,” NCT Dream with “Glitch Mode,” Red Velvet with "Feel My Rhythm" and Oh My Girl with "Real Love.”
- The group’s second single album “Love Dive” made history by achieving Hanteo’s fourth-highest first-week sales with a total of 338,141 copies sold from April 5-11.
- IVE, which consists of members Yujin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz and Leeseo, debuted on Dec. 1, 2021.
Just four months after their debut, rookie K-pop girl group Ive have beaten veteran group Big Bang on a music show, sold more than 300,000 copies of their second single album and made Spotify history.
Ive’s single “Love Dive” was streamed more than 11.1 million times in the first week of its release on Spotify, the music streaming company revealed in its latest update on Wednesday.
Big Bang comeback single ‘Still Life’ debuts at No. 1 on Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart
- Big Bang reached a No. 1 placement on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart for their new track “Still Life.”
- The song also debuted at No. 24 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart in the U.S., meaning the legendary group joins the likes of Blackpink, BTS and Twice in the top 25.
- Other Big Bang songs like “Loser,” “Bang Bang Bang,” “Let’s Not Fall In Love” and “Flower Road” have all placed on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart.
- “Still Life” was highly anticipated by fans, as it’s the group’s comeback after a four-year hiatus.
On April 12, K-pop boy group Big Bang made a big bang on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart, reaching a No. 1 placement for their recent comeback single “Still Life.”
The song is the group’s fifth track to achieve the top spot on the chart. Big Bang songs “Loser,” “Bang Bang Bang,” “Let’s Not Fall In Love” and “Flower Road” all previously also placed No. 1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart.
Twice becomes first K-pop girl group to headline and sell out US stadium show
- Twice’s upcoming two-night encore concert at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles sold out both nights, making them the first-ever K-pop girl group to headline a U.S. stadium as well as sell out a show.
- After completing and selling out all seven shows of the U.S. leg of their “III” tour, Twice announced their first-ever U.S. stadium concert at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
- Twice added a second show to their encore stadium concert after selling out in less than an hour.
- The dates for the encore concert are May 14 and May 15.
Twice’s upcoming two-night encore concert at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles sold out both nights, making them the first-ever K-pop girl group to headline a U.S. stadium as well as sell out a show.
The girl group, which debuted with JYP Entertainment in 2015, recently completed their U.S. tour circuit with their “III” tour selling out all seven shows in L.A., Oakland, Fort Worth and New York. Twice added another night to their L.A. show at The Forum in February due to popular demand.
BTS nominated for record 7 Billboard Music Awards
- BTS has received seven nominations for the upcoming Billboard Music Awards taking place in Las Vegas next month.
- The group is in the running for Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist and Top Selling Song, among several other categories.
- BTS now holds the highest number of nominations of any group or duo to participate in the Billboard Awards.
- The group has had consecutive wins at the Billboard Music Awards since 2017, when they became the first K-pop group to be nominated and win the Top Social Artist category.
BTS has been nominated seven times in six categories for the Billboard Music Awards 2022 set to take place in Las Vegas on Friday.
The categories in which the group has been nominated include: Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Artist, Top Selling Song (in which they were nominated twice), Top Billboard Global (Excl. U.S.) Song and Top Rock Song (which they share with Coldplay for “My Universe”).
Naeun of Apink officially leaves the K-pop girl group after 11 years
- Son Naeun announced her departure from Apink Friday just ahead of the K-pop girl group’s 11th anniversary.
- Son and Apink leader Park Chorong broke the news to fans by sharing handwritten letters.
- Son was the only member of Apink not to renew her contract with their company last year, so she could pursue more acting roles with YG Entertainment.
- Apink will celebrate their 11th anniversary with a new song scheduled for release on April 19 following their recent comeback album, “Horn,” in February.
Son Naeun of Apink announced on Friday that she is departing the K-pop girl group after 11 years.
Son shared the news in the form of a handwritten letter posted to her Instagram.
‘Elvis’ biopic director Baz Luhrmann likens K-pop idols in military to Elvis Presley
- Baz Luhrmann, the director of the upcoming “Elvis” biopic, shared a series of photos on social media yesterday comparing Elvis Presley to K-pop idols in military uniforms.
- Luhrmann uploaded photos to Instagram and Twitter of Presley and K-pop idols such as Big Bang’s G-Dragon in military uniforms to show the long history of famous artists who have had to put their careers on hold to serve their country.
- Due to the compulsory military service required for all men in South Korea after the age of 18, several male K-pop idols have had to take a hiatus from music to enlist.
- Between 1958 and 1960, Presley served as an active military member of two different battalions.
Hollywood director Baz Luhrmann shared photos on social media yesterday comparing Elvis Presley to K-pop idols in the military to illustrate the long history of famous artists who have had to put their careers on hold to serve their country.
Luhrmann is currently directing the upcoming “Elvis” biopic and has previously directed popular blockbusters such as “The Great Gatsby” (2013) and “Romeo + Juliet” (1996).
Psy joins TikTok one month after ‘Gangnam Style’ trends on the platform
- Psy, the South Korean singer who first rose to global fame for his hit 2012 song “Gangnam Style,” joined TikTok over the weekend.
- Last month, a remix of “Gangnam Style” went viral in a popular trend in which users shared traumatic moments from their lives to the upbeat song.
- The 44-year-old singer also announced last year that he will release his ninth album in 2022.
A decade after his music video for “Gangnam Style” became the most-watched video on YouTube, Psy is making the rounds again on the latest popular video-sharing platform, TikTok.
The 44-year-old singer first posted to his new account @42Psy42 on Saturday, generating millions of views within days. His video, which features another person gyrating next to him to the sound of Rasheeda’s “Marry Me,” follows the style of the other lighthearted music videos Psy has been known to create.
Seoul’s first K-pop concert venue, set for 2025, will have a max capacity of 28,000 people
- South Korean IT company Kakao and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have agreed to construct the first K-pop arena in Seoul.
- The arena, named Seoul Arena, will begin construction in June of this year and is expected to be completed in October 2025 at an estimated cost of $257 million.
- The venue will be able to hold more than 20,000 attendees and will include around 19,000 seats in addition to a midsize venue that can accommodate another 7,000 concertgoers.
- Kakao expects that Seoul Arena will attract around 1.8 million visitors annually and will help boost the local economy.
South Korean IT company Kakao and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have agreed to build Seoul’s first K-pop arena, expected to be complete by 2025.
The concert venue, called Seoul Arena, will begin construction in June of this year and is expected to be completed by October 2025. The project will cost around $257 million and is set to be built in Seoul’s northern Dobong-gu.
‘Kings of K-pop’ Big Bang return with ‘Still Life’ single release after four-year hiatus
- K-pop boy band Big Bang has released their comeback single “Spring Summer Fall Winter (Still Life)” following a four-year hiatus.
- The single is a sentimental, soft rock track that attempts to convey the emotional journey and growth experienced in the four seasons of life.
- Each member is individually featured in the video as different seasons: happiness, heartbreak, growth and new beginnings.
- The music video was released on April 4 at 11 a.m. ET
K-pop boy band Big Bang has released their 2020 spring comeback single “Spring Summer Fall Winter (Still Life)” following a four-year hiatus.
Their first single release since their 2018 song “Flower Road” is a sentimental, soft rock track that attempts to convey the emotional journey and growth experienced over the course of the four seasons of life.
Twice to give fans ‘More and More’ with one-night-only encore concert in Los Angeles
- K-pop girl group Twice is returning to Los Angeles on May 14 for their first-ever North American stadium performance in a one-night-only encore to their “III” tour.
- After selling out all seven shows of their U.S. tour, which concluded last month, the girl group will be the second-ever K-pop group, after BTS, to perform at a North American stadium.
- Twice’s first-ever official English track “The Feels” debuted at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October of last year.
“Cheer Up,” Twice fans. JYP Entertainment announced on social media yesterday their K-pop girl group will return to Los Angeles “One More Time” for a one-night-only encore concert to their successful “III” U.S. tour.
For the first time, Twice and their fans will “Dance the Night Away” in a stadium — Banc Of California Stadium in Los Angeles — with a capacity of 22,000 instead of their usual The Forum venue, which has a capacity of 17,505.
Luna to make her Broadway debut in new musical ‘KPOP’ this fall
- Luna, a former member of the K-pop group f(x), will be making her Broadway debut this fall in an upcoming musical titled “KPOP.”
- The announcement of the Broadway premiere was made on Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center New York in Midtown.
- The musical will tell the story of K-pop superstars preparing to perform a one-night-only concert.
- Luna will play a character whose inner struggles threaten to destroy one of the biggest labels in the K-pop industry.
- “KPOP” is expected to begin previews on Oct. 13 and will officially open to the public on Nov. 20 at the Circle in the Square Theatre in New York City.
Luna, a former member of the K-pop group f(x), will make her Broadway debut in the upcoming musical “KPOP” this fall.
The musical’s Broadway premiere was announced on Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center New York in Midtown, with Luna and the show’s creators in attendance.
K-pop group Stray Kids debut at No. 1 on Billboard 200
- K-pop boy band Stray Kids’ latest EP release “Oddinary” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.
- The seven-track EP garnered the biggest sales week for an album in 2022 with 110,000 sales in the U.S. during its first week of release from March 18 to 24.
- Stray Kids members are now the third K-Pop artists to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Album Chart after BTS and SuperM.
- “Oddinary” is also the 13th mostly non-English-language album to top the Billboard chart.
K-pop boy band Stray Kids’ latest EP release “Oddinary” has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.
The seven-track EP garnered the biggest sales week for an album in 2022 with 110,000 sales in the U.S. during its first week of release from March 18 to 24.
