InterviewStray Kids' music chart milestone points to system, not luck, scholar saysSince its debut in 2018, K-pop boy band Stray Kids have released more than 20 albums, with all nine of their albums to make the Billboard 200 debuting at No. 1. — a first for any act. The group's latest release, "THIS & THAT," debuted atop the chart on Aug. 22. The eight-track EP also earned 369,000 equivalent album units in the week ending Aug. 13, according to Luminate. Traditional album sales accounted for 357,000 units, marking the biggest sales week of the group's career. By now, the pattern is familiar enough that the more interesting question is not how Stray Kids did it again, but why it keeps happening. Since its 2018 debut, the eight-member group has built its identity around an unusually high degree of creative control. Its inhouse producing unit 3RACHA — composed of members Bang Chan, Changbin and Han — writes and produces much of the group's music, while its relationship with its official fandom, STAY, has grown alongside its global reach. Those two elements have become central to understanding the group's sustained chart performance. Some 8,000 kilometers away from Seo1h agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
KATSEYE lands 4 songs on Billboard Hot 100U.S.-based K-pop girl group KATSEYE has simultaneously landed four songs on Billboard's Hot 100, according to the latest chart released Tuesday (U.S. time), after scoring its first No. 1 on the main albums chart. "Animal," a single on the group's third EP, "Wild," rose six notches to No. 24, while "Hootie Frutti," the title track, debuted at No. 31, according to the singles chart. "Pinky Up" came in at No. 81, while the group's collaboration single "Iconic By Mistake," with fellow HYBE girl groups LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT, ranked No. 94. Elsewhere on the Hot 100, BLACKPINK's Jennie held steady at No. 8 with "Dracula," a collaboration song with Australian act Tame Impala. On the main albums chart, Katseye clinched its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with "Wild," while the group's other albums "Beautiful Chaos" and "SIS (Soft is Strong)" also made the chart. Stray Kids' "This & That" reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200, down from the top spot last week, while the BTS album "ARIRANG" ranked No. 24.3h agoBy Yonhap
BLACKPINK's Jisoo to release new solo single on Sept. 4Jisoo of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will release a new solo single, titled "Click," on Sept. 4, her agency Blissoo said Tuesday. The release will mark her first new release as a solo artist in 11 months, following "Eyes Closed," a collaborative single with British singer Zayn, formerly of boy group One Direction, in October. Blissoo said further details about the upcoming song will be released later. Jisoo made her debut with BLACKPINK in 2016. She released her first solo EP, "Amortage," in February last year, which topped iTunes' Top Albums charts in 45 countries and regions.1d agoBy Yonhap
HYBE's new girl group TUIDE begins its journey with 'soultronic' musicTUIDE, the first act from ABD, a new HYBE subsidiary dedicated to girl groups, made its debut Monday with the EP "TUNE & PLAY," arriving with the stated ambition of becoming 2026's top new act. The seven-member group is made up of Seohee, Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah and Yi Hani. Its name comes from the phrase "tune the tide," reflecting what the members describe as their intent to steer the currents of the music scene themselves. The group met with reporters Monday at YES24 Live Hall in Seoul's Gwangjin District, where the members introduced the album and spoke about their debut. They showed little sign of nerves, greeting the press in bright, assured voices. "I'm thrilled to be making the debut I dreamed of," Seah said. "I want to show refreshing performances and give audiences something to enjoy." Elena, who is from the United States, said she has loved singing since she was young and was drawn to R&B. "As a member of TUIDE, I want to show a lot of that groovy tone," she said. Saki, who is from Japan, said debuting in Korea had been her dream since childhood. "It feels like a dream to1d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
Illinois declares 'BTS Day' ahead of Chicago concertsThe U.S. state of Illinois has designated the dates of K-pop supergroup BTS' upcoming Chicago concerts as "BTS Day in Illinois," the group's agency said Monday. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed Aug. 27 and 28 (U.S. time) as "BTS Day in Illinois," coinciding with BTS' performances at Soldier Field in Chicago on its "Arirang" world tour. "BTS has transcended international borders and utilizes their platform to champion social causes, including mental health awareness, self-love, and global philanthropy," Pritzker said in an official proclamation. This core messaging of BTS "heavily aligns with the civic values of Illinois, inspiring millions of individuals worldwide — collectively known as the BTS ARMY — to engage in grassroots community service and match global charitable giving." The governor also encouraged local residents to embrace "the unifying values of music, culture and community advocacy." BTS became the first K-pop act to hold a standalone concert at Soldier Field in May 2019, during its "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" world tour. The upcoming shows will mark the band's f1d agoBy Yonhap
NCT 127 feels like it's starting over on 10th-anniversary albumNCT 127 releases its seventh full-length album "BLINGY" on Monday, opening a new chapter in its 10th anniversary year with three of its original members absent. The Seoul-based unit of SM Entertainment's sprawling NCT roster debuted in July 2016 with the stated ambition of taking the city to stages worldwide. Hits including "Cherry Bomb," "Kick It," "Sticker," "Fact Check" and "Walk" have kept the group in the sights of global fans over the past decade. The team is now operating as a five-member act made up of Taeyong, Johnny, Jaehyun, Yuta and Haechan. Vocalists Doyoung and Jungwoo are fulfilling their mandatory military service, while Mark left the group in April after his exclusive contract with SM ended. Hours before the album's release, the five members held a press conference Monday at Lotte World Tower in Seoul's Songpa District, where they spoke about the comeback and their 10th year in the industry. "We tried to find our way back to where we started," Taeyong said. "Because it's our 10th anniversary, we worked hard to make sure the members who aren't here still come through on t1d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
NEXZ brings its own flavor to new mini album 'SAUCIN'NEXZ returns Monday with “SAUCIN’,” a six-track mini album built around the idea that the seven-member group has a flavor of its own and is still evolving. Spanning different genres, the album seeks to pull listeners from a curious first taste into a deeper immersion in NEXZ’s music, according to member YU. HARU, meanwhile, described the “taste” of the album as resembling a lemon, with refreshing tracks such as “SAUCIN’” and “APPETITE” balanced by songs with sharper, more addictive qualities. For his part, HYUI said sour cream fits the title track because of its cool, summery energy and festival atmosphere. The album also showcased some of the members own work. Members TOMOYA, HARU and HYUI worked on “APPETITE,” which explores NEXZ’s hunger for music. For TOMOYA, the song expresses the group’s desire to keep making music that listeners want to hear again, while also reflecting its ambition to reach greater goals. While working on the song, HARU said he brought his interest in fast-tempo hip-hop house music to the track and that the members built on one another2d agoBy Lee Kyung-min
BLACKPINK's Jennie to release new album this weekBLACKPINK member Jennie will release a new EP, titled "Fallen Angel," later this week, her agency, OA Entertainment, said Monday. The singer will unveil the three-track release digitally at 1 p.m. on Thursday before issuing a physical edition at a later date, according to the agency. The digital album will include the title track, "Fallen Angel," as well as "Less than a Lover" and "Heaven." The physical version will feature three additional tracks — "Sweettooth," "Lockitdown" and "Face" -- selected by Jennie specifically for her fans, the agency said. "I'm so happy that these songs are finally being released as my new album, 'Fallen Angel,'" Jennie said in a release. "I hope you'll get to listen to them soon."2d agoBy Yonhap
KATSEYE scores its first No. 1 on Billboard 200The latest album of U.S.-based K-pop girl group KATSEYE has debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart for the first time. Billboard said in a preview of this week's chart on Sunday (U.S. time) that Katseye's third EP, "Wild," took the top spot on the Billboard 200 with 170,000 equivalent album units, outpacing Phoebe Bridgers' "Lost Weekend" and Stray Kids' "This & That." It marks the first time KATSEYE has reached No. 1 on the chart since the group debuted in 2024 through HYBE's U.S. partnership with Geffen Records. KATSEYE is the fourth K-pop girl group to top the Billboard 200 since 2020, following BLACKPINK with "Born Pink" in 2022, NewJeans with "Get Up" in 2023 and TWICE with "With You-th" in 2024. The Billboard 200 ranks the most popular albums of the week in the United States, measured by equivalent album units comprising physical and digital sales, as well as streaming and digital track downloads converted into album sales. Of the 170,000 units earned by "Wild," album sales accounted for 145,000, according to Billboard. Released on Aug. 14, "Wild" explores accepti2d agoBy Yonhap
BIGBANG proves 20 years of K-pop chemistry at Goyang homecomingGOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — Eight years and eight months away, and two missing founding members, counted for little at Goyang Stadium on Sunday. One of K-pop's longest-standing and iconic boy bands, BIGBANG packed more than 30 songs into two and a half hours. Roughly 40,000 fans answered with a roar loud enough to leave ears ringing. The three-night run, titled "XX : COSMOS," was the group's first concert in Korea since "LAST DANCE" at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome in December 2017. It marked BIGBANG's 20th debut anniversary and the opening leg of its first full world tour with G-Dragon, Taeyang and Daesung. Fans of all ages from around the globe filled the complex well before Sunday's 7 p.m. start. Daehwa Station on Seoul Metro Line 3, the nearest station to the venue, was already crowded. The late-summer heat matched the mood outside the gates. Just minutes later, the three appeared to the sounds of their 2012 song "Fantastic Baby." Following an intro video built around the latest album's cosmic motif, a red-washed screen split slowly down the middle and the members appeared in gleaming w2d agoBy Pyo Kyung-min
