HYBE: Last News

LE SSERAFIM have previewed their forthcoming first studio record with a performance of the unreleased track ‘No Return (Into the Unknown)’.On March 18 and 19, the K-pop girl group act held their first-ever fan meeting ‘FEARNADA’ at the Olympic Park Olympic Hall in Seoul, which was also live-streamed to fans worldwide on both days.During the show, LE SSERAFIM performed their entire Korean-language discography from their 2022 mini-albums ‘FEARLESS’ and ‘ANTIFRAGILE’, before wrapping up the show with a brand-new track titled ‘No Return (Into the Unknown)’.The song will be part of the girl group’s upcoming first studio album, which they also announced during the fan meeting. Both LE SSERAFIM and their agency Source Music have yet to share details about the record, aside from its projected release in May.LE SSERAFIM new song "No Return" out of their 1st full-album coming out in May#르세라핌 #FEARNADA https://t.co/ZMMtynuPuM— joe (@elsserafim) March 18, 2023 Last month, American musician Nile Rodgers revealed that he had been working with HYBE founder and producer Bang Si-hyuk (also known as “Hitman” Bang) on new music for LE SSERAFIM.LE SSERAFIM’s upcoming album will be their first domestic release in 2023, following ‘ANTIFRAGILE’ last October.

BTS, has released a preview of its upcoming collaboration with UK-based footwear brand Dr. Martens.Today (March 16), the South Korean Dr.

RM, also a member of the boyband BTS, has opened up about K-pop’s pursuit of perfection and how its viewed in the West.On a recent trip to Spain, RM took the time to speak with Spanish newspaper El País, where he was asked about whether the pursuit of youth, perfection and overachievement in K-pop is characteristic of Korean culture as a whole.“In the West, people just don’t get it,” RM replied. “Korea is a country that has been invaded, razed to the ground, torn in two.

BTS‘ label HYBE, has revealed that the plan for the boyband to reunite in 2025 has not been confirmed.Earlier today, Bang made an appearance at the Gwanhun Forum, hosted by the Gwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists in Korea. During his time there, the HYBE chairman spoke about the company’s plans for BTS after the end of their mandatory military enlist, and revealed that the previously announced plan for the boyband to reunite in 2025 is not yet set in stone.“We said we ‘hope’ the members can resume in 2025, not ‘will’,” Bang clarified at the forum, per The Kpop Herald.

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk has opened up about its battle against Kakao to acquire shares of K-pop agency SM Entertainment.Today (March 15), Bang delivered a keynote speech at the Gwanhun Forum, hosted by the Gwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists in Korea. Held at the Korean Press Center in Seoul, South Korea, the forum provided attendees the opportunity to gain insight into Bang and HYBE’s vision of the K-pop industry.During a Q&A session at the event, Bang opened up about HYBE’s recent attempt to acquire SM Entertainment, and its battle against South Korean internet giant Kakao over the K-pop agency.

Joe Budden has hit out at J. Cole for “pandering” in his recent musical output.In a new clip posted on his YouTube channel, Budden accused Cole of coming up with a false story about the inspiration of his recent single ‘Procrastination (Broke)’. Back in January, Cole said he had come across producer Bvtman when he searched “J.

BTS member Jimin has released a teaser for the music video of his upcoming solo single, ‘Set Me Free Pt.2’.The clip opens with a close-up crane shot of Jimin, who looks menacingly at the camera. He then walks into the middle of a group of dancers as the camera flies around the room, with Jimin’s soaring vocals capping off the teaser: “You set me free.”‘Set Me Free Pt.

BTS member J-hope has released a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the ‘on the street’ music video with J. Cole.The clip opens with the K-pop idol in his New York hotel room, writing a letter for J. Cole  the morning before their shoot together.

BTS rapper and dancer J-hope has discussed his parents’ initial disapproval when he first started dancing.On March 12, the K-pop idol appeared on Korean-American singer Jay Park’s talk show The Seasons — Jay Park’s Drive, where he discussed his new J. Cole collaboration ‘On The Street’ and his journey as a dancer.After a performance and introduction of ‘On The Street’, which nods to J-hope’s beginnings as part of a street dance team, Park asked the idol if his parents were worried when he first began dancing.“There was huge disapproval.

Huh Yunjin of rookie K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM is set to release her third solo song ‘피어나도록 (love you twice)’.On March 13 at Midnight KST, the 21-year-old idol surprised fans with a new animated teaser, announcing the upcoming release of ‘피어나도록 (love you twice)’, her third solo song. Its Korean title is a spin on LE SSERAFIM’s official fan club name ‘FEARNOT’ or ‘피어나’ in Korean (meaning ‘Bloom’), and translates to ‘Until It Blooms’.The teaser clip features art by South Korean animator and artist Ramdaram, and pictures a young girl admiring an idol through her phone screen.

BTS member J-hope has surprised fans with a solo medley version of the boyband’s hit singles ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Butter’.The K-pop idol recently made an appearance on Jay Park‘s new late-night talk show The Seasons – Jay Park’s Drive on South Korean television network KBS2. During his appearance, J-hope turned the show into his own mini-concert.J-hope kicked things off with a solo version of his Billboard Hot 100 hit ‘Chicken Noodle Soup’, which originally featured American singer Becky G.

HYBE is ceasing its acquisition of SM Entertainment, the K-pop company announced today (March 12), after a discussion with competitor Kakao.In a press statement, HYBE said it decided to suspend the acquisition after a discussion with tech giant Kakao. “The two companies agreed to cooperate on matters related to their platforms,” it added.HYBE made the decision, it said, “after observing that the market has been showing signs of overheating due to competition with both Kakao and Kakao Entertainment”.

Suga of K-pop boyband BTS and soloist IU are reportedly set to reunite for yet another collaboration.Today (March 10), South Korean media outlet SpoTV News reported that the two K-pop idols are set to release a new song together. If true, it would be the duo’s second collaboration, following their 2020 song ‘eight’.Big Hit Music has since spoken out about the report in a statement to Sports Today, saying that it is currently “difficult to confirm” whether or not Suga and IU are working together on new music.Suga will be the first member of BTS to go on a solo world tour.

BTS member Suga has donated ₩1,000,000 (roughly US$76,000) to aid earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.Suga’s donation “for emergency relief in Turkey and Syria” was revealed by non-governmental organization Save The Children today (March 9), which is also the K-pop idol’s birthday, in a statement to South Korean media outlet OSEN.“So many children and families have suffered great damage from this earthquake,” Suga said, according to OSEN, as translated by Soompi. “I send my condolences to the survivors and victims.”“I hope that this becomes at least a bit of help to children affected by the earthquake and hope this [donation] is used to provide relief goods for children,” he added.

BTS leader RM and SE SO NEON’s lead singer So!YoON! – AKA Hwang So-yoon – have released a teaser for their upcoming collaboration, ‘Smoke Sprite’.‘Smoke Sprite’ will be the lead single from So!YoON!’s upcoming second studio album, ‘Episode1: Love’, which is due out on March 14 at 6pm KST. The record will be released alongside a music video for ‘Smoke Sprite’.Yesterday (March 8), So!YoON! released a teaser for the music video of ‘Smoke Sprite’.

RM, the leader of K-pop boyband BTS, has opened up about how he’s getting to know himself again now that the group is on an extended break.BTS have been forced to go on a temporary break due to South Korea’s mandatory military service for all able-bodied males. But RM has taken advantage of this pause for the boyband to release his debut studio album ‘Indigo’ and travel the world.RM was recently in Spain in search for inspiration for a possible follow-up record.

K-pop agency SM Entertainment has released a statement in support of internet giant Kakao’s tender offer to buy a large stake in the company.Yesterday (April 7), Kakao – which currently holds 4.9 per cent of the SM Entertainment – announced a tender offer to buy up to 35 per cent of the company for ₩150,000 per share. If successful, this bid would make Kakao the largest shareholder of the K-pop agency, over BTS label HYBE, which has acquired nearly 16 per cent of SM.Soon after Kakao’s announcement, SM Entertainment released a statement signalling support for the deal, citing “[Kakao’s] respect [for] the current management’s efforts to address factors that have hindered SM Entertainment’s growth”, according to CNN.In the statement, SM Entertainment also said that the Kakao deal would “ensure autonomous and independent management of the company, as well as the continuous and independent activities of SM artists”, per Yonhap News Agency.“Unlike HYBE seeking to take over SM’s board of directors through a hostile merger and acquisition, Kakao is the best horizontal and strategic partner for the successful implementation of the ‘SM 3.0’ vision as it respects SM’s own tradition and identity,” the statement reportedly said.Following Kakao’s tender offer yesterday, shares of SM Entertainment jumped 15.07 per cent to close at ₩149,700.

BTS member Jimin has officially made two of his older solo songs available on streaming services for the first time.The K-pop idol’s tracks ‘Promise’ and ‘Christmas Love’, which were released in 2018 and 2020 respectively, are now available on streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. Prior to this, the songs were only available on SoundCloud or YouTube.The release of both ‘Promise’ and ‘Christmas Love’ comes just weeks ahead of his BTS’ Jimin announces solo album ‘FACE’, which is set to be released on March 24.

BTS member Jin has shared a new photo with bandmates J-hope and Jimin while serving his mandatory military service.On Saturday (March 4), the K-pop idol returned to his personal Instagram account for the first time since beginning his mandatory military service last December. Dressed in his military uniform and sporting a short haircut, Jin posed between BTS bandmates J-hope and Jimin in the new photo.The singer then captioned the photo “welcome,” while J-hope shared a string of laughter and heart emojis in the post’s comments.A post shared by Jin of BTS (@jin)Just over a week ago, Big Hit Music shared that J-hope has recently begun his own enlistment process.

K-pop agency SM Entertainment, escalating its battle against BTS label HYBE.Kakao and its subsidiary Kakao Entertainment said today (March 7) in a regulatory filing that it is tendering an offer to buy up to 35 per cent of SM Entertainment for ₩150,000 per share – a 25 per cent hike over HYBE’s own bid last month. If successful, the offer could see Kakao own nearly 40 per cent of the entertainment agency, up from its current 4.9 per cent stake.“With the direction of the three companies’s growth facing a threat, Kakao decided it is inevitable to secure the largest shareholder position to protect the partnership with SM Entertainment,” Kakao said in a statement, per Reuters, adding that the bid is to ensure stable management at the music label.Kakao’s new offer sent SM Entertainment shares soaring 14 per cent to ₩148,500 today, according to Reuters.

HYBE, home to popular K-pop legends BTS, recently flagged that the future may not be smooth-sailing for those involved in the K-pop industry. During a recent interview with CNN, Bang warned that K-pop is not “is not as hot in the market as you might perceive”, despite perceptions of the genre being a fast-rising commodity.“Globally, it’s not occupying much of the market.