JYP Entertainment, the home for top-rung girl band TWICE, beat its long-time rival SM Entertainment to emerge as the biggest entertainment firm by market capitalization for the first time in nearly two decades this week.　Following steady growth since early this year, shares of JYP finished at 31,300 won (US$28.20) on the tech-intensive KOSDAQ bourse on Thursday, up 2.29 percent from a day earlier.　The hike pushed up JYP’s market capitalization to 1.09 trillion won, surpassing SM‘s market capital

BTS’ “Idol” continues breaking records, becomes fastest K-pop act to reach 100 million YouTube views

Girls’ Generation announced Monday that it is set to re-emerge on the fall music scene, just over a year after releasing its 10th anniversary album, “Holiday Night,” last August.Though we won’t be seeing all eight members together this time, we will be treated to the next best thing: the subunit “OH! GG,” composed of Taeyeon, Yoona, Yuri, Hyoyeon and Sunny. The five are releasing a two-track album Sept. 5, and the lead single will be titled “Lil’ Touch.”  Girls` Generation (S.M. Entertainment)Fo

Shinhwa“Shinhwa Twenty Special Album ‘Heart’”Music & NewThere’s a saying that over 10 years, even the rivers and mountains change. In the 20 years since Shinhwa’s debut in 1998, the country has seen five different presidents in office, generations have shifted and fans have embraced a new definition of K-pop. So the 20-year anniversary album of Shinhwa, the longest-running K-pop act to date, is a nod to the band’s inexhaustible range of talent and passion. Titled “Heart,” the six-track album kic

JYP Entertainment is holding its 2018 global auditions in the US and Canada in an effort to discover new talent to follow in the footsteps of stars such as Got7, Twice and Stray Kids. (JYP Entertainment)The first auditions will take place in Los Angeles on Oct. 13 and will then move to Toronto on Oct. 20, New York City on Oct. 27 and Hawaii on Nov. 3. They are open to anyone born between 1994 and 2007. Participants are asked to choose one category: vocals, rap, dance, acting or modeling. The suc

Even the clouds knew what to do for BTS’ Seoul concert. The gray skies erupted into a downpour that abated into a drizzle as the clock ticked toward 6:30 p.m., when the highly anticipated BTS’ concert in Seoul for “Love Yourself” kicked off at Olympic Stadium in Seoul. The ground was still wet, but more than 45,000 concertgoers hurried their steps to their seats to greet the boy band who has rewritten the history of K-pop. Amid ear-shattering screams and feverish chanting, BTS kicked off the set

As top K-pop stars BTS bring their "Love Yourself" album series to an end with their fourth and final record under the theme, the boy band wanted to send out the message of carpe diem through the festivities featured in the album's main track "Idol" and its music video, the septet said Sunday.The members defined the overriding theme of "Idol" and their ongoing world concert tour, "Love Yourself," as "festival" in a news conference held at Seoul Sports Complex ahead of their concert here. (Big Hi

“Loving oneself is harder than loving others,” to quote a line from one of BTS’ new songs. And Jimin confessed that he has been struggling with self-love as well, sharing a few of the insights he’s gained over the past two years while promoting the group’s multiyear “Love Yourself” series. “What I realized from our narrative is that we’ve been failing to love ourselves while urging others to do so. I’ve contemplated whether I’m on the right track and what I’ve been living for,” said Jimin during

BTS may be at the peak of a record-breaking career, but the band says the focus of its new EP, “Love Yourself,” is having fun and being “festive” rather than topping the charts. “Literally, it’s about festivals. Setting records is important, of course, but for this album, we wanted to enjoy ourselves with fans. I think ‘Idol’ has a festive vibe as well,” said Suga during a press conference held in Seoul on Sunday to discuss the new album.  (Big Hit Entertainment)The 16-track repackaged album ove

US rapper Nicki Minaj recently posted on her Instagram page a screenshot of BTS’ new album tracks sweeping the US iTunes Songs chart. (Instagram)The screenshot shows BTS’ title track, “Idol,” in first place. Fans can also see a special version of “Idol” featuring Minaj alongside the band.  (Instagram)“Congrats to (BTS) on a great new album. I’m honored to be a part of it,” Minaj wrote on her post.Since BTS released its repackaged album “Love Yourself: Answer” on Friday, its tracks are dominating

Proving its unparalleled success in the K-pop scene once again, BTS ruled local charts with the new track “Idol” from its long-anticipated “Love Yourself: Answer” album. The song fronts the repackaged album that completes the act’s “Love Yourself” series that began last September with “Love Yourself: Her” and “Love Yourself: Tear.” It immediately topped major music charts in Korea including Melon, Mnet, Genie, Bugs, Naver and Soribada, as of Friday evening upon its release. (Big Hit Entertainmen

BTS’ upcoming digital single “Idol” will feature world-class US musician Nicki Minaj. With the clock ticking toward BTS’ latest release, the act’s agency Big Hit Entertainment confirmed Friday that the award-winning singer-songwriter had joined forces with BTS for the special digital version of “Idol,” the lead track of the group’s upcoming “Love Yourself: Answer” album.  (YouTube)The special track, which will have a different vibe from the original song, will not be included in physical albums

Further details have been unveiled about new BTS album “Love Yourself: Answer,” which is to be released Friday.The group’s latest album wraps up their 2 1/2-year long “Love Yourself” series with the main message that the key to finding one’s self lies within.The repackaged album features 25 songs alongside remixes of “DNA” and “Fake Love.” (Big Hit Entertainment)Lead track “Idol” is a South African-style dance tune with elements of traditional Korean music.In a bold move, the group mixes African

K-pop sensation BTS is set to release its new EP, “Love Yourself: Answer,” on Friday at 6 p.m. “Love Yourself: Answer” is the group’s third and final installment in the “Love Yourself” series. Previous albums “Love Yourself: Her” and “Love Yourself: Tear,” were megahits, catapulting the group to multiple Billboard music charts. (Big Hit Entertainment) (Big Hit Entertainment) (Big Hit Entertainment) (Big Hit Entertainment)The new EP is a repackaged album that brings together 18 previously release

BTS embraced its Korean roots in a new teaser clip for its song “Idol.”In the video for the upcoming repackaged album “Love Yourself: Answer,” which will be released Friday, members of the K-pop act wear traditional Korean clothing. A digitally constructed gold traditional building took center stage in the clip, with each bandmate striking a pose and walking around it. Members of BTS showcase a traditional Korean dance move. (YouTube)“Idol” is the second new track from “Love Yourself: Answer” to