EXO’s Suho to make solo comeback next month

The Sound Of Magic is set to hit Netflix this May.Helmed by Itaewon Class and Love In The Moonlight director Kim Sung-youn, The Sound Of Magic is based on a popular webcomic titled Annarasumanara, written and illustrated by Ha Il-kwon.The upcoming series, which premieres on Netflix on May 6, will feature a star-studded cast that includes Hwang In-youp (True Beauty), Ji Chang-wook (The K2, Backstreet Rookie) and Choi Sung-eun (Beyond Evil). The Sound Of Magic is a fantasy series that follows main character Yoon Ah-yi (Choi), a girl who loses her dreams after facing the harsh realities of life, and Na Il-deung (Hwang), who feels immense pressure to bring his dreams to life. The tale begins to unravel after the pair encounter the enigmatic yet mystical magician Rieul (Ji).The Sound Of Magic was first announced in April 2021.

OH MY GIRL have unveiled their stunning new music video for ‘Real Love’, the lead single off their sophomore studio album of the same name.In the new visual, the members of OH MY GIRL take flight in pink airplanes, travelling to fantasy-like locations, from an idyllic European-themed town, to a futuristic neon-lit city, to a vibrant, lakeside paradise. “Borrowing this music, borrowing this mood / Now, this air  / It’s like meeting on an island after a seven-hour flight,” they sing on the cheerful, laidback chorus.The ‘Real Love’ mini-album includes a total of 10 tracks, one of which is an instrumental version of the title track.

BTS, Adele and Taylor Swift contributing to a £19.5billion increase.According to industry trading body International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) in a new report published Tuesday (March 22), revenues for global recorded music grew by 18.5 per cent in 2021, totalling £19.63billion (US$25.9billion), largely driven by increases in paid subscription streaming.The report stipulates there were 523million users of paid subscription accounts at the end of 2021 – up from 443million in 2020 – generating an increase of 21.9 per cent, or £9.32billion (US$12.3billion).Streaming in 2021 accounted for 65 per cent of total revenues, while downloads equated to four per cent, 19 per cent made up by CDs, vinyl and cassettes.According to IFPI, this means the industry is in its seventh consecutive year of growth, IFPI chief executive Frances Moore told the BBC: “We lived through that dire period after 1999 where the industry declined by 40 per cent.Recorded music revenues grew in every region in 2021. Asia grew by 16.1 per cent, with South Korean superstars BTS the biggest-selling act for the second consecutive year.After being named 2020’s second-biggest seller, Taylor Swift achieved the same position in 2021, with Adele, having released her fourth studio album, ’30’, in November, sold 4.7million copies, making it the most popular album overall.Similar results were seen in Europe – the world’s second-largest music region – with a growth of 15.4 per cent up from 3.2 per cent.

Marta Balaga The conditions are set for an increase in scripted adaptations, argued Tim Westcott of research organization Omdia at Series Mania.According to the research opening the “With Local Content Going Global, What’s the Future of Scripted Formats?” session on Wednesday, the U.S. has been the biggest and “most enthusiastic” buyer of scripted remakes between 2010 and 2022, with South Korea, Turkey and France also following suit.

MONSTA X are reportedly gearing up to release new music.Earlier today (March 23), South Korean outlet Sports Donga reported that the six-member boyband are currently preparing for an April comeback. MONSTA X’s label, Starship Entertainment, has since confirmed the news through a separate press statement.“Our agency’s artist MONSTA X is preparing for an album with the goal of making a comeback this upcoming April,” a representative from the management company said, as translated by Soompi.

SHINee vocalist Onew is set to make his solo comeback next month.Earlier today (March 22), several South Korean news outlets reported that the K-pop idol is currently preparing to release new solo music sometime next month. This was later confirmed by SM Entertainment in a statement to MyDaily.“Onew is preparing his solo album with the goal of releasing it in April,” wrote the agency, which did not provide additional details on the release, as translated by Soompi.

BTS‘ V has revealed that his long-awaited solo mixtape will be released sometime this year.Yesterday (March 16), the BTS singer replied to a series of posts made by fans on the community app Weverse about his long-awaited solo mixtape, during which he revealed several new details about the project.In response to one fan’s question about the unnamed mixtape’s release date, V revealed: “I’ll release it within the year,” as translated by Koreaboo. Last May, the singer told Rolling Stone that he had been “looking” to release the mixtape at the end of 2021, but the release ultimately did not materialise.The update elicited reactions of surprise from BTS fans shortly after, which prompted more fans to ask V about a potential tracklist for the record. Notably, fans wondered if unreleased songs that V had previously teased on social media in past months would be officially released as part of the mixtape.However, the singer quickly shut down those speculations, claiming that he has since “deleted” the songs he previously teased.

Big Bang have reportedly wrapped up filming for a music video that will accompany their long-awaited comeback project.Earlier today (March 16), the boyband’s label YG Entertainment confirmed in a statement to South Korean media outlet SPOTV News that all four remaining members of the group recently wrapped up a shoot for a music video for an upcoming new song.“Big Bang’s G-Dragon, Taeyang, T.O.P and Daesung recently completed filming the music video for their new song,” YG Entertainment told SPOTV News, as translated by Soompi. “Big Bang’s comeback preparations are progressing smoothly.

Stray Kids have unveiled an energetic teaser for the music video of ‘Maniac’, the lead single off their upcoming mini-album ‘ODDINARY’.In the new visual, member Felix breaks through a layer of glass with a drill. The boyband explore various locations in a deserted ghost town, which seemingly sits on the edge of the world, by an open cliff face.“Maniac, going crazy, like I have a loose screw, maniac / Spinning, going crazy, maniac / Laugh like I have a loose screw, maniac,” they chant, stomping and shaking their heads in the accompanying choreography.‘Maniac’ is the lead single of the boyband’s upcoming mini-album ‘ODDINARY’, which arrives this Friday (March 18) at 1PM KST.

BTS member Jimin will reportedly be releasing a new solo song for tvN’s upcoming series Our Blues.Earlier today (March 15), a source from Yamyam Entertainment, the company in charge of the forthcoming Our Blues soundtrack, said that the K-pop star would be taking part in the project.“Jimin will be participating as an OST (Original Soundtrack) singer for tvN’s new Saturday-Sunday drama Our Blues,” the source said, as translated by Soompi. “Since world-class group BTS’ Jimin will be joining us, we will energise the drama with a masterpiece OST song that harmonises well with the flow of the story.”The as-yet-unnamed song will mark the idol’s first-ever original soundtrack contribution.

BTS – specifically BTS Permission To Dance On Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing grossed $6.84 million in North America on Saturday for a per screen average of $8,500+ across 803 theaters, ranking third at the weekend box office so far after The Batman and Uncharted.

BTS‘ V has opened up about performing in front of fans in the boyband’s home country of South Korea after two years.During the first night (March 10) of the K-pop group’s scheduled three-night concerts at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul, each member took turns sharing their thoughts on performing in front of a live audience in South Korea for the first time in two years. Their last was in October 2019, during the ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ world tour.“We performed with empty seats before,” V said in reference to the different online concerts the boyband held in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by Kpop Herald, “but now we’re here in front of ARMYs.

BTS‘ Jungkook has shared his thoughts on the cheering ban at the group’s recent concerts in Seoul due to COVID-19.Earlier this week, the K-pop group’s label Big Hit Music said in a statement that there would be a ban on “cheering loudly, yelling, chanting and standing up” during the boyband’s Seoul concerts, in alignment with South Korean COVID-19 health guidelines.Following the group’s first show on March 10, of a scheduled three-night run for the group’s ‘BTS Permission To Dance On Stage – Seoul’ concerts at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium, BTS member Jungkook took to his personal Instagram page to share his thoughts on the ban.“Finally, after two years, although it felt like 23 years, I got to perform in Korea. Like, wow, finally,” he said in a new Instagram post clip, as translated by Koreaboo. “Overall, I felt extremely happy today. Just extremely happy.

heartthrob boy band BTS were gifted a creative loophole to show their love for the pop sensations, despite harsh COVID restrictions at Thursday’s Seoul, South Korea, performance.“Cheering loudly, yelling, chanting and standing up during ‘BTS Permission To Dance On Stage — Seoul’ is strictly prohibited according to government guidelines,” the band’s management released in a statement ahead of showtime, according to the Mirror.The outlet also noted the homecoming show — their first for the South Korean capital in over two years — had only 15,000 seated fans of an originally anticipated 70,000 allowed in the Seoul Olympic Stadium.However, those lucky enough to nab a spot inside were still able to share their love for the “Boy With Luv” singers — with good old-fashioned clapping.

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentBTS’s upcoming Permission to Dance concert in Seoul, marking the K-pop sensation group’s first time back on stage in South Korea since 2019, will be going out live in MENA via leading local exhibitor Vox Cinemas.Vox, which has secured exclusive regional rights, will be streaming the hotly anticipated March 12 BTS concert live from Seoul in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain, as part of their alternative content offerings.Tickets, which run roughly $55 in the UAE, include unlimited popcorn and soft drinks for the duration of the more than 3 hour concert.The “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul: Live Viewing” event is the latest stop on the group’s ongoing world tour. BTS stars RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook will be performing in Seoul’s Olympic Stadium and the concert will be live streamed into cinemas in more than 60 countries.

BTS fans won’t be allowed to clap, cheer or stand up at the K-pop group’s upcoming shows in South Korea due to government COVID guidelines.The group’s management company Big Hit Music have issued an official statement ahead of BTS’ three scheduled concerts at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul this week (March 10, 12, 13).“Cheering loudly, yelling, chanting and standing up during ‘BTS Permission To Dance On Stage – Seoul’ is strictly prohibited according to government guidelines,” they wrote (via Variety).Big Hit Music will instead provide audience members with clappers to emulate crowd noise.South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also limited each show to 15,000 attendees per night, despite the stadium’s 70,000 capacity.“Seating for the in-person performance will comply with spacing guidelines mandated by local government performance venue Covid-19 control measures,” Big Hit Music explained.“The event may be changed or cancelled depending on the social distancing level.”The trio of Seoul gigs will mark BTS’ first live appearances in their native Korea since before the coronavirus pandemic. Tonight and Sunday’s shows will be streamed online, with Saturday’s being screened live in cinemas worldwide.Following the three outings, BTS are set to embark on a Las Vegas residency next month.

Big Bang member T.O.P expressed his desire overhaul the K-pop system of training and creating idols and artists.In a new interview with Prestige Hong Kong, the South Korean musician spoke about the “harsh” K-pop system, observing how the current training regime affects younger K-pop idols and their mental well-being.“I, myself, am fortunate that I only spent less than a year as a trainee before I debuted – a relatively short time – but after, I saw all the trainees, the boys and girls, they’re under a very harsh system,” T.O.P said.“They’re told what to do and trained just like robots,” the rapper added. “They might get popular, they might get bigger, but in their heart and in ways we can’t see, they’re being isolated, and feel lonely inside.”To address this, T.O.P expressed his desire to change the system and establish a new type of K-pop record company.