NEW YORK (AFP) - In one of the most anticipated returns in pop music, Lorde unveiled a song Thursday in which the onetime teenage star takes a new dance sound and adult look.The now 20-year-old New Zealander announced a second album called “Melodrama,” her follow-up to 2013’s “Pure Heroine” which won her phenomenal success while still a teenager.Lorde released the album’s first single, “Green Light,” which is strikingly more lively than her minimalist breakthrough hit, the Grammy-winning “Royals

Party music guru Pitbull is coming to Korea. The rapper will hold his first concert in Korea on May 18 at the Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Hall at 8 p.m., according to the event’s host Live Nation Korea on Thursday. Pitbull debuted in 2004 and has since come to be known for fusing danceable Latin pop and electronic hip-hop sounds in his music. Hits by him include the 2013 song “Timber” featuring Kesha and the 2014 song “Time of Our Lives” featuring Ne-Yo. Tickets can be purchased from Thursday a

Highlight, a South Korean boy band formerly known as Beast, plans to release an EP album later this month, its agency said Thursday.Around Us Entertainment said the team will release its first EP album under the name Highlight on March 20. The agency uploaded a teaser -- a frowning emoticon face with the release date -- on its Instagram account. (Around Us Entertainment)Since its debut in 2009 under Cube Entertainment, the six-member Beast became popular at home and in Japan with hit songs "Bad

Figuratively, the arrival of spring signifies new beginnings. But spring of 2017 is returning with a not-so-new seasonal K-pop anthem: Busker Busker's "Cherry Blossom Ending."The song, released in 2012, ranked 10th on the "sudden increase chart" as of 7 a.m. Thursday on Melon, South Korea's largest music streaming service. Busker Busker also stood at 82nd on Mnet Music's "artist chart" on Wednesday, despite the band not releasing any new material since their second album in September 2013. Membe

Actor Lee Min-ho, actress Song Hye-kyo and boy band EXO have been chosen as the most popular "hallyu" stars of 2016, a survey showed Thursday.Soompi, a US-based online news provider specializing in Korean pop culture, announced the winners of the 12th annual Soompi Awards elected in a vote by hallyu fans from 139 countries around the world. Hallyu refers to the global boom of Korean pop music, TV dramas and films.In the vote, Lee was named Actor of the Year, beating the "Descendants of the Sun"

2PM, a South Korean pop idol band, canceled the remainder of its concerts in Seoul following an onstage injury of member Jun. K, according to the group's agency Thursday. Boy band 2PM (JYP Entertainment)JYP Entertainment said it canceled the remaining half of the team's "6Nights" concerts that were scheduled at Seoul Olympic Park from Friday to Sunday.A 2PM gig on Feb. 26 at the venue was abruptly halted after Jun. K fell off a moving vehicle while singing. He fractured his right elbow and right

Los Angeles Times　After Beyonce was forced to sit out Coachella per doctor‘s orders, festival organizers have apparently found a replacement: Lady Gaga.Gaga will headline both weekends of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival -- slated for April 14-16 and April 21-23 in Indio, California -- according to a Billboard report Tuesday afternoon. Lady Gaga arrives for the 59th Grammy Awards on Feb. 12 in Los Angeles, California. (AFP-Yonhap)Festival promoter Goldenvoice has yet to officially anno

In the late 1990s, the “bard of Korean hip-hop” shook up the music scene with lyrics about society. Considered one of Korea’s first-generation rappers, MC Sniper is now exploring a different, less aggressive side to his music, one which is easier on both the artist and the listeners.“In the past, (my music) was very ‘heavy’ and aggressive. This is quite energy-consuming. I think I’m now at that stage where I can expand my view (in music), as opposed to what I’ve been done in the past,” he said. 

From hip-hop, punk to idol singers, artists of different genres are set to showcase Korea‘s musical offerings at the upcoming South by Southwest festival in the US and at UK’s The Great Escape festival.The musicians participating in the “K-Pop Night Out” stage, jointly hosted by the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Culture Ministry, discussed their goals for the events during a press event Tuesday in Seoul. The annual concert, launched in 2013, showcases artists from a wide range of genres

Hyolyn, the lead vocalist of K-pop girl group Sistar has signed a contract with Spinnin’ Records, the world’s largest electronic dance music label, according to her agency Starship Entertainment Tuesday.Hyolyn has become the first K-pop singer to sign with the company, the agency said in a statement. “Her collaboration with Justin Oh will be released globally in March,” Starship Entertainment said. Oh is a Korean DJ and producer who has garnered international fame and is also signed to Spinnin’

South Korean girl group Gugudan has released the music video for "A Girl Like Me," the lead single off its second EP album. (Jellyfish Entertainment)The clip, released on Monday, features Gugudan members engaging in various forms of narcissism, gazing at themselves in the mirror and being mesmerized.The production was inspired by the famous 16th century painting "Narcissus" by Caravaggio, which appears in the video. The title of the new album is "Act 2 Narcissus."The album was released via strea

Lee Jong-suk met with thousands of fans in Thailand over the weekend, wrapping up a five-nation Asia tour, his agency said Monday.The actor’s meet-and-greet event with some 3,000 Thai fans, titled “Variety,” was held at the Thunder Dome in Bangkok on Sunday, according to YG Entertainment. (YG Entertainment)During the meeting, fans were invited by Lee to the stage and together re-enacted famous scenes from “W,” his hit TV drama aired last year. The star later gifted perfumes and candies. “I thank

South Korean girl group GFriend on Monday unveiled a teaser for the music video of its upcoming song "Fingertip." (Source Music) "Fingertip" is the title track of the group's upcoming EP album "The Awakening" slated to come out March 6, according to Source Music, the group's agency. The album is the first in eight months following its full-length album "LOL." In the brief clip uploaded to YouTube, the me