Can aespa finally break into Billboard’s Hot 100 with ‘Rich Man’?

Aespa, currently one of the top girl groups in South Korea, is set to release its sixth EP, “Rich Man,” on Sept. 5 with hopes that its title track will be aespa's first to break into the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the group’s consistent success on other Billboard charts, aespa, surprisingly, has yet to appear on the Hot 100, the definitive barometer of a song’s mainstream popularity and cultural impact in the US. While the Billboard 200 measures album performance and the Billboard Global 200 ref

Aug. 4, 2025

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ songwriter Vince to release new single with G-Dragon this month

Vince, a singer-songwriter and producer under The Black Label, is set to unveil a new single titled “Cha Cha Cha” on Aug. 18, the label announced Saturday. The digital release marks his return as a singer, nearly one year and nine months since his debut EP “The Drive” released in November 2023. Blending hip-hop and R&B with an upbeat Latin cha-cha rhythm, “Cha Cha Cha” features a guest appearance by none other than iconic K-pop idol and member of Big Bang, G-Dragon. The track is expected to chan

Aug. 3, 2025

Is K-pop’s global strategy backfiring? As popularity up abroad, domestic interest wanes

Despite chart-topping hits on Billboard and sold-out world tours across the US, Europe and Southeast Asia, K-pop’s grip on its home turf appears to be slipping. Industry experts are sounding the alarm over a growing disconnect between the genre’s global success and its dwindling influence at home — particularly as the domestic fanbase, once the engine of the K-pop phenomenon, shows signs of fatigue. At the heart of the issue is a conspicuous absence of breakthrough rookie girl groups in the firs

July 30, 2025

Tax authorities launch investigation into Hybe amid insider trading allegations against chairman Bang Si-hyuk

Hybe, the entertainment giant behind K-pop phenomenon BTS, is now under investigation by the country’s tax authorities, following a police raid last week over allegations that Chairman Bang Si-hyuk violated capital market laws. According to a local report Tuesday, National Tax Service officials were dispatched to Hybe’s headquarters in Seoul to secure documents and financial records. The investigation is being led by the NTS’ 4th Bureau of Investigation at the Seoul Regional Tax Office — a divis

July 29, 2025

Teddy’s The Black Label is no longer in YG’s shadow — it’s shaping K-pop’s future

The Black Label, founded by legendary K-pop producer Teddy, has quietly — and now quite boldly — become one of the most influential labels in South Korea’s music industry. Launched as a subsidiary under YG Entertainment, The Black Label was spun off in 2020 and now operates independently, with the former mother company remaining a key shareholder. Since then, it has grown into a creative powerhouse, driving some of the year’s most talked-about projects — including multiple original tracks for "K

July 29, 2025

Jennie of Blackpink taps ex-Spotify executive’s Alta Music to manage her US activities

Jennie of Blackpink has signed with former Spotify global music head Jeremy Erlich’s newly launched Alta Music Group for US management, in a strategic move to expand her solo activities stateside. While the exact date of the contract signing has not been disclosed, it is expected to have taken place in July, as reports of the deal surfaced in the US on July 24. The agreement marks the first artist management signing for Alta Music, an independent, full-service company based in Los Angeles. Jenni

July 28, 2025

'All you need is a phone and your voice': Adoo's TikTok rise is just the beginning

Adoo, whose real name is Choi Sory, always dreamed of becoming a singer. But her path to success has been anything but easy. Now in her late 30s, Adoo is finally gaining recognition — not through music programs or major entertainment companies, but through TikTok. "Ever since I was a child, I loved singing," she said during an interview with The Korea Herald on July 21. "But I wasn't the most confident person." From idol setbacks to viral resurgence Her first experience in the music industry cam

July 28, 2025

When K-pop stays abroad: The rise of export-oriented idol groups

In the age of global K-pop, not all idol groups shine equally at home and abroad. Fans and insiders are describing a growing number of acts as “export-oriented idols” — groups who debut in Korea but quickly shift focus to international activities due to lackluster local reception. While some idols still enjoy popularity across the board — such as BTS and Blackpink, who command massive fan bases both in Korea and worldwide — others are far more prominent overseas than they are domestically. Group

July 25, 2025

Culture Ministry expands AI content support with additional W21b

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Thursday that it will expand its AI content support initiative beyond its current focus on content creation to cover the full production cycle — including planning, distribution and marketing. The initiative, dubbed the “K-Content AI Innovation Leadership Project,” will be carried out in collaboration with the Korea Creative Content Agency, with 21 billion won ($15.2 million) in funding secured through a second supplementary budget for 2025.

July 25, 2025

Check in, ante up or cool off

Check into a virtual Sanrio hotel, go all-in at a late-night poker table or make a splash at the Han River — three ways to make the most of Seoul’s offbeat experiences this summer. It is a bit of a bummer that those irresistibly cute Sanrio characters are often trapped in merchandise racks instead of starring in their own shows or stories because many people would love to see them come to life beyond keychains and plushies. An immersive media art exhibition titled "Hotel Floria" brings Sanrio ch

July 25, 2025