Kwon Eun-bi announces sophomore mini-album ‘Color’

Rebecca Souw Korean media conglomerate, CJ ENM Tuesday announced the launch of a new production arm. It is expected to focus on producing content for exclusively streaming platforms in Korea and overseas.The unit, named CJ ENM Studios, will be the group’s third TV production hub after drama production powerhouse Studio Dragon (“Crash Landing on You,” “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,” and “Sweet Home”) and U.S.-based premium global content firm, Endeavor Content, acquired earlier this year.CJ ENM also controls the Tving streaming platform that sees itself as a challenger to Netflix within Korea and which also has ambitions to ride the Korean wave and build a significant overseas presence.

U-KISS and more are set to make their Broadway debut in the upcoming KPOP The Musicial.Yesterday (April 4), the producers of KPOP announced the cast of the forthcoming Broadway musicial. The casting details come shortly after it was revealed that f(x)‘s Luna will be starring in the musical, as announced late last month.

Media giant CJ ENM is launching CJ ENM Studios, a new venture that will specialize in content production for OTT platforms in Korea and worldwide. Yong Soo Ha, former EVP of CJ ENM’s Business Development & Investment team, has been appointed CEO.

Additional casting for the upcoming Broadway premiere of KPOP, the new musical about the global K-pop phenomenon, was announced by producers today, with Julia Abueva, Will Brill, Major Curda, Joomin Hwang, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Bo Hyung Kim, Eddy Lee, Jully Lee, Min Young Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Kevin Woo, and John Yi joining the previously announced star Luna in the production.

IZ*ONE leader Kwon Eun-bi has made her comeback with a brand-new solo single ‘Glitch’, from her sophomore mini-album ‘Color’.In the gorgeous new visual, the idol dons a series of extravagant gowns as she runs through a deserted city, her surroundings glitching in and out of existence. Later, accompanied by backup dancers, she dances to the song’s sharp choreography, which incorporates elements of vogueing.“I come and go, like a glitch / Stealin’ and getting people crazy, I’m that snitch / And move it like a glitch,” she sings in the chorus.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorDepicting an ancestral journey was key for main title designers Angus Wall and Nadia Tzuo in developing the title sequence for Apple TV Plus’ series, “Pachinko,” a show that traces the fate of a Korean family and spans multiple countries, decades and generations.At the heart of the journey is Solomon Baek, played by Jin Ha, a young employee at an international firm. He returns to his roots, reconnecting with his father Mozasu (Soji Arai), owner of a pachinko game parlor, and grandmother Sunja (Youn Yuh-jung), with a lens on the younger Sunja  (Minha Kim and Jeon Yuna), who leaves everything behind for a new life in Japan, a country that wants no part of her.Based on Min Jin Lee’s rich novel, the show, which premieres March 25 on Apple TV Plus, has been adapted by series creator Soo Hugh, who scripted the title sequence into her drafts.

Naman Ramachandran Seven of the nine features selected for the Korean competition at the Jeonju International Film Festival (Apr. 28-May 7) are directed by women.

SEVENTEEN have announced the release date for their upcoming first English-language release.Earlier today (April 1), Pledis Entertainment announced in a press statement to South Korean news outlet Ten Asia that the group’s first English-language track is slated for release on April 15, 1pm KST. Further details on the song, such as its title and, are expected to be released in the coming days.“It marks the first time that SEVENTEEN releases an English song in the form of a digital single,” Pledis Entertainment said in their announcement, per Yonhap News Agency.

EXCLUSIVE: Vivian Bang, the co-writer and star of the Sundance Film Festival debut White Rabbit, has boarded the New Line ensemble comedy The Parenting for HBO Max.

Angel Olsen has announced her new album ‘Big Time’ and shared its lead single ‘All The Good Times’ – you can find tickets to her newly announced UK and Ireland tour dates below.‘Big Time’, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Whole New Mess’ (which featured a host of reworkings of tracks from Olsen’s 2019 LP ‘All Mirrors’), is set for release on June 3 via Jagjaguwar.A press release notes that ‘Big Time’ “is about the expansive power of new love, written during the time she was coming out as queer, and having her first experience of queer love and heartbreak”.The new LP was also recorded following the death of Olsen’s parents, who the US artist came out to during the making of ‘Big Time’.“Some experiences just make you feel as though you’re five years old, no matter how wise or adult you think you are”, she wrote of that “tearful but relieving conversation” with her parents. “Finally, at the ripe age of 34, I was free to be me.”Olsen has previewed ‘Big Time’ today (March 29) with the single ‘All The Good Times’, the video for which stars Olsen and her partner and was directed by Kimberly Stuckwisch.“Angel’s story is a gift,” Stuckwisch said about the clip. “It allowed me to visually explore the universal themes of love, loss, and most importantly what holds us back from realising our true selves.”You can see the tracklist for Angel Olsen’s ‘Big Time’ below.1. ‘All The Good Times’2. ‘Big Time’3. ‘Dream Thing’4. ‘Ghost On’5. ‘All The Flowers’6. ‘Right Now’7. ‘This Is How It Works’8. ‘Go Home’9. ‘Through The Fires’10. ‘Chasing The Sun’ Olsen will head out on a UK and Ireland tour in support of ‘Big Time’ in October.

In a blink of the cosmic eye, Lucy Liyou has moved mountains in the ever-emerging ecosystem of contemporary experimental pop. The Philadelphia-based, Korean-American sound artist put out two phenomenal projects before their 23rd bithday. 2020's sprawling, free-associative Welfare and 2021's more focused and fully formed Practice are both masterpieces in their own right, earning Liyou consistent mentions in the rarified company of scene leaders Elysia Crampton, Claire Rousay, and Klein.

MONSTA X have postponed the release of their upcoming mini-album ‘Shape Of Love’ following member Hyungwon’s COVID-19 diagnosis.On March 28, MONSTA X’s label Starship Entertainment shared in a statement that Hyungwon had tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test earlier that day, and would be halting all activities while he recovers. As a result, the group have decided to delay their forthcoming release until further notice.“Hyungwon has completed three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pachinko is here!

Perfume Genius has announced his sixth studio album, ‘Ugly Season’.Following on from 2020’s ‘Set My Heart On Fire Immediately’, the 10-track record is due to be released on June 17 via Matador. You can pre-order/pre-save it here.The album will arrive with a short film, which will star Perfume Genius – real name Mike Hadreas – and feature music from ‘Ugly Season’ as its soundtrack. Hadreas joined forces with renowned visual artist Jacolby Satterwhite for the companion piece.“This project is the genesis of a whole new direction that I’m taking, one that I’ve been thinking about within this endemic culture, since 2020,” explained Satterwhite in a statement.“Mike and I are both writing scripts.

Harry Styles fans have been sent into a frenzy after the singer announced title and release date of his third solo album.

music star and fashion icon stares with a perplexed expression at the ground of the minimalistic living room in gaucho blue jeans and white collared babydoll top.The tweet earned half a million likes within two hours as fans showed their excitement.The former One Direction star also teased fans with a 40-second promo clip. In the video, Styles walks out onto a stage in the same outfit he wears in the album art and slyly smiles into the camera as a yellow cut out of a house is lifted up around him.

Harry Styles has announced his third solo album, ‘Harry’s House’ – check out the official trailer and artwork below.Following on from the star’s 2017 self-titled debut and 2019’s ‘Fine Line’, the new 13-track record will arrive globally on May 20. You can pre-save/pre-add it here.Styles confirmed the news today (March 23) after teasing the project with a series of cryptic posts across various unknown social media platforms that the singer had followed, including an Instagram account called ‘You Are Home’.Elsewhere, mysterious adverts began appearing in newspapers around the world earlier this month while a ‘You Are Home’ website was also launched (via fan Twitter page HSDaily).The ‘Harry’s House’ trailer sees Styles take to the stage in an empty theatre as a yellow house set design is hoisted up behind him.

Harry Styles is coming back.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSuperstar Korean actor and producer Gang Dong-won has signed up with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for representation outside Korea.Gang joins a string of Korean on-screen talent securing international representation as the country’s creative sector is propelled to the fore by films such as “Parasite” and “Peninsula” and by TV shows such as “Squid Game.”He continues to be represented in Korea and Japan by Lee Gi Wook at YG Entertainment. Gang, who has a mechanical engineering degree and was initially scouted as a model, transitioned to acting in 2004 with “Too Beautiful to Lie” and “Temptation of Wolves,” the latter of which earned him the best new actor award at the 24th Korean Association Critics Choice Awards.