Oct 21, 2019   K-pop

House of BTS offers special experience for fans

BTS’ pop-up store in Seoul, called “House of BTS,” has opened its doors to fans, offering them a unique and exciting experience related to the K-pop juggernaut. Taking over a three-story building in the posh district of Gangnam, southern Seoul, the pop-up was crowded with fans from all over the world Monday morning, many of whom waited in a long queue for hours before the store opened at 10 a.m. Mainly decorated in pink, inspired by BTS’ hit “Boy With Luv,

Oct 21, 2019   K-pop

Rookie TXT returns with new album ‘The Dream Chapter: Magic’

TXT, the rookie band from BTS agency Big Hit Entertainment, on Monday returned to the music scene with the group’s first full-length album, “The Dream Chapter: Magic.”The new album arrives seven months since the five-piece act -- leader Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Huening Kai -- made a much-anticipated debut in March with EP “The Dream Chapter: Star.” The new eight-track album is led by “Run Away,” a synth-pop tune that highlights its brig

Oct 16, 2019   K-pop

Did Korean sales send SuperM’s debut album to top of Billboard chart?

: Hybrid K-pop supergroup’s high-profile US debut drew mixed reactions over ‘unusual’ sales tactics

Oct 13, 2019   K-pop

[Newsmaker] BTS writes history with Arab fans at Riyadh concert

RIYADH – For BTS and the 30,000 screaming Arab fans who filled King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday evening, it was a night to remember.“We’d never thought we would perform here. Thanks to all the people, to all the ARMYs (BTS’ fandom) who made this possible. There is a beautiful full moon up in the sky. Remind of us, remind of tonight,” band leader RM called out to the crowd. Indeed, BTS’ Saudi Arabian leg of its ongoing &ld

Oct 8, 2019   K-pop

ATEEZ gears up for first full-length album

After pulling off a successful world tour in their first year, ATEEZ is on full steam with their very first full studio album “TREASURE EP.FIN: All to Action” which was released on Oct. 8.Known for their strong stage presence and powerful dance moves, the full-length album is the latest addition to the group’s short but growing discography, which naturally has plenty of intense dance tracks, accompanied by high-energy choreography.As the title suggests, the album is the end of

Oct 4, 2019   K-pop

Mnet launches another audition show amid Produce 101 controversy

Mnet’s new survival audition show “World Klass” premieres Friday, with a score of contestants competing over the next few weeks to become the next K-pop star.Viewers will see 20 trainees from countries all over the world including South Korea, Japan, China, the US and Australia put on display a set of multiple entertainment skills such as singing, dancing, acting and even banter.And only 10 people will get to debut as Too – an acronym of Ten Oriented Orchestra -- a group

Oct 2, 2019   K-pop

Q&A: SuperM answers big questions before its debut this week

After weeks of teasing fans with numerous clips, photos and announcements, SuperM is finally stepping into the music scene later this week.The group’s ultimate goal, according to its producer, S.M. Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man, is for the West and the East to become one and create what he calls a “culture universe.”Naturally, the group is focusing on the US market, with their debut record release due Friday, swiftly followed by a performance outside the Capitol Records Tow

Oct 1, 2019   K-pop

Capitol’s creative director says SuperM’s debut performance will be ‘historic’

With just days to go before SuperM’s debut on Friday, a creative director at Capitol Music Group, S.M. Entertainment’s US partner, says the K-pop supergroup’s first performance will be special and historic."At the launch, we have a very special and historic debut performance on Saturday at the Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles. And we are building on an incredible stage and (it) will be livestreamed around the world,” Nicole Frantz, Capitol’s creative chi

Oct 1, 2019   K-pop

Rookie Oneus drops new EP ‘Fly With Us’

Rookie band Oneus, which debuted earlier this year, was already back to the music scene Monday with new EP “Fly With Us.”The six-track EP is the final chapter of the band’s “US” trilogy that started with debut EP “Light Us” in January and was followed by “Raise Us” in May. The new album consists of “Intro: Fly Me to the Moon,” “Plastic Flower” “Lit,” “Blue Sky,” “Level Up” and &ldquo

Sep 27, 2019   K-pop

Meet the members of K-pop supergroup SuperM

Ahead of the group’s debut, we look back on the individual members -- each a star in their own right

Sep 24, 2019   K-pop

Military musical brings K-pop idols back to stage on military terms

A rare military musical brought back to the stage a group of high-profile K-pop stars who went out of the public eye to fulfill their mandatory military service, including members of the popular boy bands SHINee and EXO."Return: The Promise of the Day," commissioned by the South Korean Army, will kick off on Oct. 22 at Olympic Park's Woori Financial Art Hall in southern Seoul. It will run till Dec. 1. The musical's unusually star-studded line-up, which includes EXO's Xiumin and SHINee'

Sep 20, 2019   K-pop

Zico to release 1st full-length solo album

K-pop artist and producer Zico will release his first full-length solo album in his eight-year music career later this month, his management agency said Friday.The new album, "Thinking," will be released in two batches, with the first, "Part. 1," to hit the music scene on Sept. 30. The following one, "Part. 2," will be unveiled next month, according to KOZ Entertainment. This marks his first full-length solo album since his debut in 2011 as a member of K-pop bo

Sep 20, 2019   K-pop

BTS leader donates 100 m won for students with hearing impairments

RM, the leader of the popular boy band BTS, has donated 100 million won ($83,745) to help students with hearing impairments, a Seoul school said Friday.The BTS leader made the donation earlier this week in celebration of his birthday, Sept. 12, in a bid to help students receive music education, according to officials at Seoul Samsung School."RM made the donation, expressing his will to help students with hearing difficulties enjoy music through various means," a school official said. S

Sep 19, 2019   K-pop

[REVIEW] Seventeen’s ‘Ode to You’ rattles Seoul with unwavering love for fans

Over the last few years, fans have learned that Seventeen always goes above and beyond when it comes to them. In a familiar scene at K-pop concerts, when Seventeen said “jump,” the crowds jumped. When it requested screams, they offered frenzied roars. But that’s not all that made the 3 1/2 hour concert one of the best shows of this year so far. Kicking off Seventeen’s “Ode to You” world tour, the concert took place at the KSPO Dome in Seoul on Aug. 31, the sec