TWICE’s agency JYP Entertainment and Republic Records to launch new North American girl group under ‘A2K’ project

The beloved K-Pop group SEVENTEEN is currently touring the world and you can check out their setlist right here!

MONSTA X member I.M has addressed fans in a handwritten letter shedding light on his departure from the group’s agency Starship Entertainment.On Monday (8 August), the label confirmed that all members but I.M had renewed their contracts with company through an announcement on MONSTA X’s official fan cafe site.I.M will still continue to be a MONSTA X member and the group will continue activities as a sextet, Starship said.Later that day, the 26-year-old rapper shared a handwritten letter on the same official fan cafe site to thank Starship Entertainment and the group’s fans, known as Monbebe.“Seven years have gone by since I made my first start as a singer with Starship,” wrote I.M, per a Soompi translation. “As we’ve been together for a long time, I’ve grown fond [of Starship], but I thought I needed a new challenge with different meaning, so after a lot of thinking, I came to this decision.

JYP Entertainment, the agency behind K-pop acts TWICE, ITZY, Stray Kids and more, plans to begin releasing digital-only albums in an effort to reduce its environmental impact.This is according to the agency’s 2021 ESG (environmental, social, and governance) Report, released earlier this month. In it, JYP Entertainment says that the company is currently looking into reducing waste associated with physical album purchases by digitally distributing songs, behind-the-scenes content, lyric and photo books instead.Fans purchasing albums from the agency in the future will only receive physical photo cards while being granted access to all other included material through QR codes and NFCs.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief“Before Now & Then,” a period drama film about Indonesian women battling the traumas of war and patriarchal society, has been picked up for North American distribution by Film Movement. The film is directed by Kamila Andini.The film had its premiere earlier this year at the Berlin festival, where it was rewarded with a Silver Bear for Laura Basuki’s supporting performance. It also recently captured the jury prize at the Brussels International Film Festival.Film Movement plans a theatrical release in the first quarter of 2023, followed by a wide release on home entertainment and digital platforms.Rights sales are handled by Wild Bunch International and CAA Media Finance.

It's finally here, Little Monsters. After some pandemic-induced postponement, Lady Gaga has kicked off The Chromatica Ball tour.

Whitesnake have removed themselves from a 24-date tour of North America, which they were scheduled to co-headline with Scorpions, due to frontman David Coverdale’s ongoing health issues.Coverdale broke the news in a statement shared to the band’s official Instagram yesterday (August 6). In it, he noted that he’s been forced to step away from the mic “due to my continued treatment for a persistent upper respiratory infection that affects my ability to perform”.A post shared by David Coverdale (@whitesnake)As a result of Coverdale’s continuing health issues, Whitesnake’s own headline shows in the US have also been cancelled.

The 1975 have released a new single called ‘Happiness’ – you can listen to it below.The song is the latest preview of the Manchester group’s fifth album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, which is due to arrive on October 14 via Dirty Hit. It follows on from the recent comeback track ‘Part Of The Band’.“‘Happiness’ is like… there’s literally loads of us in the room on that track,” frontman Matty Healy told Zane Lowe of the funky, sax-filled latest offering on Apple Music 1 this evening (August 3).“[It] really doesn’t really have much structure.

EXCLUSIVE: North America is getting its latest free streaming service later this month. Mometu, which is marketing itself as a “hand curated” on-demand live streaming platform, will launch on August 19 and has secured free streaming rights to South Korean feature The Policeman’s Lineage.

EXCLUSIVE: IFC Films has acquired North American rights to the comedy Bar Fight!, starring Melissa Fumero (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Luka Jones (Shrill) and Julian Gant (Call Me Kat), with plans for a day-and-date release on November 11.

Stray Kids have unveiled a brand-new song and music video titled ‘Time Out’.On August 1 at Midnight KST, the boyband surprised fans with the digital single and its summery new visual to wrap up their ‘2022 STAYweeK’ fan event, which saw the release of several behind-the-scenes clips. The yearly event marks the anniversary of the Stray Kids’ fan base, which were named Stay on August 1, 2018.The ‘Time Out’ music video sees the eight-member group enjoying a summer getaway by the ocean, singing along to the new track as they lounge and play in a nearby beach house.“So come on / Let’s go, leave everything behind / Wherever it may be, somewhere far from here / Run to (run to), run to (run to) / Somewhere refreshing and wide open, oh oh,” Stray Kids sing on the upbeat new pop-rock track.‘Time Out’ is the latest of the boyband’s surprise “mixtape” tracks, following June 2021’s ‘Oh’.

fromis_9 member Jang Gyu-ri has shared a handwritten letter following her departure from the group.Last Thursday (July 28), Pledis Entertainment announced Jang’s departure from the group at the end of the month, following the expiration of her contract with fromis_9’s former agency. A day later, the 24-year-old idol and actress posted a handwritten letter to fan community site Weverse addressing the news.“I’m worried that our Flover (formis_9’s fan base) are very surprised at this sudden news.

OFF! – which features ex-members of Black Flag and Burning Brides – have announced their long-awaited third album, ‘Free LSD’, with the first single ready to stream right now.Titled ‘War Above Los Angeles’, the new single carries a wild science-fiction narrative, and arrives with a music video written and directed by guitarist Dimitri Coats. According to a description for the clip, the narrative footage in it comes from an upcoming feature film, also titled Free LSD, which is set for release in 2023.Have a look at the video below:‘Free LSD’ will be released on September 30 via Fat Possum, and mark the band’s first full-length offering since 2014’s ‘Wasted Years’ album. In a press release, Coats said the album would serve as a soundtrack for its cinematic counterpart, with both the album and film “go[ing] hand in hand as an overall art project”.

EXCLUSIVE: XYZ Films has acquired North American rights from FilmSharks to the Argentinian horror film Legions, directed by Fabian Forte.

NewJeans, the latest girl group to debut under HYBE’s ADOR label, have released music videos for their new B-side tracks ‘Hype Boy’ and ‘Hurt’.Following the five-member K-pop act’s debut with ‘Attention’ on July 22, NewJeans have released videos for two more B-sides from their forthcoming self-titled EP, due out digitally on August 1 at 6pm KST.The first of the two tracks, ‘Hype Boy’ was unveiled on July 23 at midnight KST, accompanied by an ‘Intro’ music video, which linked to four videos that were unlisted on the group’s channel for the first 24 hours.The storylines of the clips occur concurrently, each focusing on a different member of the quintet and their respective love interests – with the exception of Danielle and Haerin, who share a music video.Earlier today (July 25), NewJeans shared their third song, the acoustic pop number ‘Hurt’, alongside a similarly stripped-down visual, featuring close-ups of the girl group.The fourth and final track from the girl group’s debut release, ‘Cookie’, will arrive alongside the EP’s digital release on August 1. According to a press release from HYBE, three of four tracks will act as the “title songs” for the record.

Marcus Mumford is making an exciting announcement.

Marcus Mumford has announced a North American headline tour for 2022 – tickets will be available from here.The Mumford & Sons frontman will hit the road stateside this autumn in support of his debut solo album ‘(Self-Titled)’, which is due to arrive on September 16 via Island (pre-order here).The tour is set to kick off in Boulder, Colorado on September 19 ahead of further shows in Denver, Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles throughout the rest of that month. In early October, Mumford will resume the stint in Ventura, California.He’ll then make stop-offs in cities such as Austin, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Portland, New York and Boston.

Jackson Wang has opened up about his “memorable” past experience as an idol trainee under South Korean music label JYP Entertainment.The GOT7 singer-rapper was a recent guest on the popular Thai radio show WOODY FM, where he recalled his time as a trainee under JYP Entertainment in preparation for his debut with the K-pop group.When asked to name one memorable event with GOT7, Wang told show host WOODY about a time prior to GOT7’s debut, when all seven members were “back in JYP’s trainee system”. “We were going through this project – cycle – where they eliminate different trainees every week,” the Hong Kong-born musician reminisced.“That was very memorable to me, because it’s so nervous, it’s like every week we [felt] like we were about to die,” Wang admitted. “But then we were the seven that made it to the final round.

NewJeans, the latest girl group to debut under HYBE Labels, have made their debut with a new single titled ‘Attention’.The sleek new single was officially unveiled on July 22 at midnight KST alongside its accompanying music video as the first look at the NewJeans, the first K-pop act to debut under HYBE’s recently launched independent music label ADOR (All Doors One Room).The visual for ‘Attention’ depicts the five-member act roaming the streets of Spain, depicting the narrative of a close-knit group of teenage girls as they come together to perform the song’s energetic choreography.“You got me looking for attention / You got me looking for attention / Got me confused but one thing’s for sure, I know you’re the one,” they croon in the chorus. ADOR later released a performance video for the track, watch it here.NewJeans is composed of Vietnamese member Hani, Australian-Korean idol Danielle Marsh (also known as Mo Ji-hye), Haein, former kids’ group USSO.GIRL member Hyein and Minji, who is best known for her past appearance in the music video for BTS‘ 2021 English single ‘Permission To Dance’.The release of ‘Attention’ is notably the first “content” from the girl group to have been unveiled by ADOR since the announcement of the group’s launch was made earlier this month.

Stray Kids and P1Harmony are the final additions to the line-up of Los Angeles K-pop festival KCON – find the full line-up below.Earlier today (June 21), the K-pop festival took to social media to announce the two K-pop boybands Stray Kids and P1Harmony would be the final artists joining the first phase line-up, announced in June, for a total of 17 artists.Stray Kids will be joining the likes of ATEEZ, CRAVITY, ENHYPEN, Japanese pop group INI, ITZY, Kep1er and LIGHTSUM for the festival’s first day of performances on August 20. Meanwhile, P1Harmony will be making an appearance the following day on August 21, alongside groups such as LOONA, NCT Dream, NMIXX, STAYC, THE BOYZ, WJSN, TO1 and J-pop band JO1.Fans looking to purchase concert tickets to KCON LA may now do so via the Ticketmaster website, while convention tickets are also available for purchase via KCON LA’s own website.Taking place across three days from August 19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, this year’s KCON LA is set to be a celebration of the convention’s tenth anniversary.