BTS to recap tour with 1st live album
The album will contain 22 songs the band performed through its 'Permission to Dance on Stage — Live' tour that ran in 2021 and 2022, including 'On,' 'Fire,' 'Dope,' 'Idol' and 'Permission to Dance.'
The septet performed in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas for 11 shows which, combined with one online concert, drew 4 million people. The US gigs were held at SoFi Stadium and Allegiant Stadium, making BTS the first K-pop artist to host a concert at each venue.
The soon-to-be-released set is set to rouse up its fans who are eagerly awaiting the group's return. All members have completed their mandatory military duties as of last month and were seen at Jin's solo fan concert held last weekend.
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Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
BTS to recap tour with 1st live album
BTS is rolling out its first-ever live album on July 18, label Big Hit Music announced Tuesday. The album will contain 22 songs the band performed through its 'Permission to Dance on Stage — Live' tour that ran in 2021 and 2022, including 'On,' 'Fire,' 'Dope,' 'Idol' and 'Permission to Dance.' The septet performed in Seoul, Los Angeles and Las Vegas for 11 shows which, combined with one online concert, drew 4 million people. The US gigs were held at SoFi Stadium and Allegiant Stadium, making BTS the first K-pop artist to host a concert at each venue. The soon-to-be-released set is set to rouse up its fans who are eagerly awaiting the group's return. All members have completed their mandatory military duties as of last month and were seen at Jin's solo fan concert held last weekend.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Hybe to open Indian office this year, testing K-pop playbook from America to Asia
With offices in the US, Latin America, China and Japan, Hybe's 'Multi-home, Multi-genre' strategy faces both momentum and skepticism as it expands into India Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind BTS, Seventeen and Enhypen, is preparing to launch a new overseas branch in India between September and October, according to the company on Monday. The announcement comes just a month after Hybe announced its new office in Beijing, its fourth global subsidiary following Japan, the US and Latin America. The expansion is part of Chairman Bang Si-hyuk's vision to export the K-pop production system -- a tightly integrated structure of talent scouting, training, music-making and fandom management -- into new markets. India, home to 1.4 billion people and one of the fastest-growing entertainment sectors in the world, is his next big bet. Why Hybe is going all-in on localization The new Indian office reflects Bang's longstanding belief that K-pop needs to evolve to survive globally. In a 2023 interview, Bang warned that while K-pop fandom is intensely loyal and engaged, that very focus may limit its global reach. 'To truly grow, we must remove the 'K' from K-pop and meet wider audiences in wider markets,' he said, pointing to the genre's relatively small global market share -- about 3 percent -- and the rising popularity of Latin pop and Afrobeats. Though he has since stopped publicly using the phrase 'K-pop crisis' due to industry backlash, insiders say Bang hasn't backed away from the idea. 'He realized the weight his words carry in the industry, so he's been more discreet -- but his belief hasn't changed,' said an industry source. Hybe has moved quickly. It opened its Latin America and China branches in November 2023 and April 2024, respectively, and will follow with its India office in just a few months. 'This shows just how timely Bang wants to be in redefining the global K-pop model,' the source added. Where the strategy stands now Among Hybe's global ventures, its US efforts show the most tangible results. Girl group Katseye -- launched through Hybe America -- made its debut in June 2024 and has already cracked the Billboard Hot 100, widely seen as the 'dream chart.' The multinational group applies Hybe's full-stack production approach, combining talent development, music production, management and marketing under a single chain. Bang personally oversees the group's music, choreography and visuals. Its debut EP, 'SIS (Soft Is Strong),' featured the double main track 'Touch,' which entered Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at No. 22. The follow-up digital single, 'Gnarly,' released in April, landed on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles Top 100. Still, Katseye's impact remains mostly confined to the K-pop community. 'They haven't yet become part of mainstream or subcultural America. They're still being consumed within the K-pop bubble,' said music critic Lim Hee-yoon. In Latin America, Hybe's business is just beginning to take shape. After opening its regional office in late 2023, the company launched two major artist discovery projects. One includes a TV audition show in collaboration with Mexican broadcaster Telemundo, and another aims to form a Latin boy band. All trainees go through a K-pop-style mentorship and training system -- a first for the region. Hybe Japan, meanwhile, has found clear success. Its Japanese boy band &Team surpassed 800,000 shipments with its third single, 'Go in Blind,' and received triple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan in April. The group also topped Oricon's weekly single and composite single rankings in May. Hybe's second Japanese boy band, Aoen, also hit No. 1 on the Oricon charts with its debut this June. The group was formed through a televised audition show, a strategy that aligns with Bang's belief in localization through familiar media formats. In China, Hybe is treading carefully. Although it launched a branch in April, the company has no current plans to debut a local group. Instead, Hybe China will support promotional activities for existing Hybe artists and assess the market over time. Will K-pop lose its charm if it loses the 'K'? Not everyone in the industry agrees with Hybe's vision. Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University and longtime K-pop fan, says part of K-pop's global appeal is that it's distinctly Korean. 'K-pop stands out because we rarely see Korean or Asian faces in Western pop. Its unique songs, choreographies and aesthetics are a big part of the attraction,' Kao said. Paul Thompson, an American K-pop songwriter who worked with SM Entertainment artists like Exo, NCT and Taemin of SHINee, sees fundamental challenges in the localization effort. 'It might work in some ways, but it won't in others -- especially in cultures like the US that are very individualistic,' he said. 'In America, most pop or hip-hop artists write their own music and tell personal stories -- their heartbreaks, scandals, life struggles. That authenticity is key and K-pop's system doesn't allow for that,' Thompson added. Former YG producer Sinxity, however, sees Hybe's efforts more positively. 'Hybe is creating new demand by evolving its business model,' he said. 'K-pop may face limits within Korea, but globally it still has room to grow -- especially in niche markets.'
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
From Rose and G-Dragon at Psy's ‘Summer Swag' to Jin's fan concert, K-pop stars lit up the weekend
Major acts return to local stage, stirring fans with emotional speeches, nostalgic hits, splashy performances K-pop dominated the weekend, as four of the industry's most iconic figures — Psy, Rose of Blackpink, G-Dragon of Big Bang and Jin of BTS — lit up stadiums across Korea with long-awaited performances. At Incheon Asiad Main Stadium on Saturday, Psy brought his signature "Summer Swag" concert series back to life with help from surprise guests Rose and G-Dragon, making the night one to remember for thousands of fans who came ready to be soaked — both literally and emotionally. Rose, G-Dragon make surprise appearances at Psy's summer bash 'Master of Performance" Psy has been hosting his water-themed summer concert series since 2011, where fans are showered with massive jets of water in sync with the beat. But this year's kickoff show in Incheon on Saturday took things up a notch with the return of some of the biggest former stars from YG Entertainment. Rose made a surprise appearance, performing her recent hit "Apt." It marked her first appearance in a "Summer Swag" concert. The K-pop singer also sang two more tracks — "Toxic Till the End" and "Number One Girl"— from her debut solo LP, 'Rosie," released in December. 'I poured my heart into this album and the love I've received gave me strength,' Rose said, her voice cracking with emotion. 'I'm not going to cry — I'm 28 now,' she added with a smile. Reflecting on her journey since debuting at 20 with Blackpink, she said, 'I've been loved so much, but I still feel like I'm figuring things out. Life is full of confusion, love and pain — maybe that's just how it is.' At the end of her set, she bowed deeply to the audience. Then came G-Dragon in the second half of the gig — his first joint performance with Psy in 12 years. The Big Bang leader electrified the crowd, opening with "Power," the lead single off his this year's 'Ubermensch,' followed by "Home Sweet Home," "Crayon" and a collaborative performance of "Crooked" with Psy. 'I'm in the middle of a tour, but when a superstar like Psy calls, I show up,' G-Dragon quipped on stage. Psy kept the energy high, delivering his own string of hits, including "Bird," "Gangnam Style," "Gentleman" and "New Face," all enhanced by a full band and stage-shaking water cannons. In a more sentimental moment, he sang "Father" while the screen behind him showed hundreds of childhood photos sent in by fans, creating a communal moment of nostalgia and gratitude. 'My dad came to see 'Summer Swag' for the first time today,' Psy said afterward, visibly moved. Psy is taking this year's 'Summer Swag' tour to nine cities, including Uijeongbu, Gwacheon and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, Daejeon, Sokcho in Gangwon Province, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju, for a total of 16 performances. Jin launches solo fan tour with intimate, interactive show Just 20 kilometers from "Summer Swag" at Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province, BTS' Jin held his first solo fan concert, 'RunSeokjin_EP. Tour,' on the same day. The concert came just two weeks after J-Hope's 'Hope on the Stage' encore gig at the same venue, offering BTS fans — known as "Army" — a rare back-to-back treat, following the group's full return from military service earlier this month. Built around the theme of 'Jin's Challenge,' the concert was designed as a participatory experience. More than just a musical showcase, it invited fans to sing along, complete missions and play games with Jin throughout the evening. Inspired by his YouTube content series 'Run Seokjin,' the stage featured a massive light-emitting diode sculpture in the shape of lips — a nod to Jin's iconic 'hand-kiss' gesture. Opening with "Running Wild," the lead track from his first solo EP, 'Happy,' Jin performed a wide range of songs, including "I'll Be There," "Journey With Clouds," "Until I Reach You," "Don't Say You Love Me" and viral hit "Super Tuna." The show also included a surprise guest appearance by singer Choi Yena, who featured on Jin's song "Loser" from his second EP, 'Echo.' BTS bandmates J-Hope and RM were also in attendance to cheer Jin on. When he looked for his bandmates in the crowd, the screen caught J-Hope beaming with a bright smile. RM was also in attendance, but avoided the camera, prompting Jin to joke, 'He must be feeling shy.' Although not introduced on stage, V later confirmed his attendance with a video from the concert on his social media. Jin's fan concert tour is to span 18 shows across nine cities globally, continuing from Goyang to Chiba and Osaka in Japan, Anaheim in California, Dallas, Tampa in Florida, Newark in New Jersey, as well as London and Amsterdam.
