Earlier this month, Sojin of the K-pop girl group Girl’s Day decided she is leaving the Dream T Entertainment label when her contract expires in February. The announcement left fans in shock, with many questioning whether this was a prelude to the disbandment of the 9-year-old four-piece act. Though the agency denied it, other members Yura, Minah and Hyeri are reportedly in contact with other agencies about pursuing individual activities as their contracts are set to expire later this year. But

Tablo of Epik High made a surprise announcement of an upcoming album via a Twitter post.On Tuesday evening, Tablo congratulated singer Lee So-ra for her success on the music charts with single “Song Request,” featuring Suga of BTS. “Song Request,” co-written and penned by the 38-year-old rapper-songwriter, topped iTunes charts in 44 countries, including Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil and Sweden, upon release at 6 p.m. Tablo’s official Twitter account (Twitter @blobyblo)“Thanks everyone for all the lo

Twice has scheduled an additional show for its upcoming Japanese dome tour due to high demand, making it a three-city, five-show event, with a total audience size of 210,000.Representing the girl group, JYP Entertainment said Wednesday that Twice will hold an additional show on March 20 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka in response to explosive ticket sales for previously scheduled shows. (JYP Entertainment)The nine-piece act kicks off the tour in Osaka’s Kyocera Dome from March 20-21 before moving o

“Beethoven specialist” Rudolf Buchbinder will share his take on Beethoven with the Korean audience through a piano recital. Titled “Rudolf Buchbinder & Beethoven,” the piano performance is slated to take place at the Seoul Arts Center on May 12. Before the performance, Buchbinder will tour cities in Korea, performing in Daegu, Gwangju and eastern Seoul.  Pianist Rudolf Buchbinder (Vincero Arts Management & Entertainment)The recital in May marks the pianist’s first performance here in six years.

Roh Tae-hyun of boy band Hotshot has unveiled the tracklist for his solo debut extended play, “biRTHday.”Representing the artist, Star Crew Entertainment released the list on its official social media pages. Roh participated in the songwriting process for all the songs on the EP, which is his first solo work, according to the agency. Teaser image for Roh Tae-hyun’s solo debut EP (Star Crew Entertainment)Fronted by a lead track of the same title, “biRTHday” includes three more tracks: hit songwri

JYP Publishing, a music publisher under JYP Entertainment, is searching for new songwriters via auditions.The entry requirement for the auditions includes a sample track for one of three JYP Entertainment artists: GOT7, Twice and Stray Kids. Songwriter audition poster for JYP Publishing (JYP Entertainment)Submissions are being accepted through Feb. 18, and selected candidates from the first round will be eligible to participate in a two-day songwriting camp starting Feb. 27. Applicants who make

K-pop act Seventeen has released its sixth EP, “You Made My Dawn,” about six months after the summer EP “You Made My Day.”Marking the act’s first release of this year, the six-track album is fronted by lead track “Home,” an urban future R&B track that features ample use of synth sounds and a multitude of vocal colors. Veering away from the sound of the band’s earlier explosive tracks like “Very Nice,” the single is rather a throwback to its older sonic style, recalling tracks like “Thanks” and “

Black Pink held a two-day concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday and Sunday as part of the band’s ongoing international concert tour. 　The quartet entertained fans throughout each two-hour show with a series of hits from their early days such as “Boombayah,” “Whistle” and “Ddu-du Ddu-du.” The latter, released in June 2018, recently hit the 617 million views mark on YouTube, overtaking BTS’ “DNA” as the most viewed K-pop video on the website. 　 2019 concert tour “Blackpink in Your Area” (YG Ente

A brand new girl group called ITZY is debuting under JYP Entertainment, the first to do so since Twice made its debut in October 2015.JYP Entertainment released a teaser video titled “Prologue Film: ITZY? ITZY!” Sunday at midnight on the music label’s online channels YouTube, Naver TV and V Live. The 70-second video garnered 1.2 million views on YouTube as of Monday morning. (JYP Entertainment)The five-member act is composed of Yuna, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, Lia and Yeji. Three of the five already ha

South Korean boy group BTS' "Blood Sweat & Tears" music video has garnered over 400 million views on YouTube.The video passed the threshold at about 8 p.m. Sunday, the group's management, Big Hit Entertainment, said Monday. (Yonhap)With the achievement, the BTS renewed its own record as K-pop artists with the largest number of music videos with more than 400 million views. The five other videos in that category are "DNA," "Fire," "Dope," "Fake Love" and a remix of "MIC Drop.""Blood Sweat & Tears

Seventeen is releasing a new album this week, the first since its summer extended play “You Make My Day” in July.The 13-member group’s upcoming winter album “You Made My Dawn,” slated for release Monday, has been named one of Billboard’s 10 most highly anticipated K-pop albums of 2019 alongside Astro’s “All Light,” GFriend’s “Time For Us,” g.o.d’s “Then & Now” among others. Album cover of Seventeen’s new cover ‘You Made My Dawn’ (Pledis Entertainment)“Home,” an urban future R&B song, fronts Seve

The author of ‘Idol Trainees’ Sweat and Tears’ details the grueling process of becoming a K-pop star

Winner made its first North American tour stop, “Winner Everywhere Tour in Seattle,” at the city’s 2,807-capacity Paramount Theater on Tuesday.This year marks Winner’s launch in the North American market, expanding from last year’s Asian tour. (YG Entertainment)The quartet performed a series of its best-known hits from “Really, Really,” “Everyday” and “Air,” as well as its latest releases “Millions” and “Movie Star.” Each of the four members also staged a solo performance to add to the show’s va

Sunmi is embarking on her first concert tour as a solo artist. Representing the singer, Make Us Entertainment released the list of stops and dates of the tour dubbed “Warning.” (Make Us Entertainment)Kicking off in Seoul on Feb. 24, the tour stops at eight North American cities -- San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, New York, Toronto, Washington -- and three Asian cities -- Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo.The notice also teased additional stops to be announced, which will include c

Monsta X’s upcoming album was included in Billboard’s list of top 10 most anticipated K-pop albums of 2019, with Billboard introducing the group as having held “(its) biggest U.S. shows to date (in 2018)” and “the first K-pop group to play on iHeart’s Jingle Ball tour.”During the group’s interview with Billboard, its member Kihyun heightened anticipation for the new album, teasing, “(Monsta X) has some stuff with other artists, but it’s top secret.” (Starship Entertainment)The septet’s EP “The C