2023 Spotify Wrapped: How the world listened to K-Pop this year

2023 Spotify Wrapped: How the world listened to K-Pop this year

Sunday, December 10

BTS, BLACKPINK and rookie powerhouse NewJeans dominate the list of most-streamed K-Pop artists and songs

Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming service, has launched its annual Wrapped campaign, unveiling how more than 574 million people around the globe listened this year. 

As part of the celebrations of the top artists and songs that formed the world’s soundtrack to 2023, Spotify is also putting the spotlight on K-Pop: the genre that has scaled the globe and proven that music, from anywhere in the world, can transcend language and cultural boundaries. 

Here are the Global Top K-Pop Artists and Songs of 2023 Spotify Wrapped

On top of the list of Global Top K-Pop Artists of the Year is BTS, maintaining their stronghold from 2022. Following the group’s line-up of successful solo releases in 2023, five members of the septet are also rounding off the year by ranking among the top 20 most-streamed K-Pop Artists globally. This includes Jung Kook at #3, Jimin at #6, V at #11, Agust D(also known as SUGA) at #16 and j-hope at #20. 

Also on the list of most-streamed K-Pop artists this year are global phenomenons who continue to hold the hearts of listeners. BLACKPINK (#2), TWICE (#7), SEVENTEEN (#8) and NCT DREAM

(#18) are amongst the top 20, alongside 4th-gen powerhouses that have proved they are forces to be reckoned with. This includes NewJeans (#4), Stray Kids (#5), TOMORROW X TOGETHER (#9) and LE SSERAFIM (#10), who rank in the top ten. 

BTS, BLACKPINK, and NewJeans continue to dominate on the list of Global Top K-Pop Songs of the Year. Collectively, the three groups and some of the members of BLACKPINK and BTS swept up 17 of the top 20 spots for the most streamed K-Pop tracks. 

The Top K-Pop Song of the Year goes to Jung Kook’s debut solo single, “Seven (feat. Latto)”, which made Spotify history by becoming the fastest song to hit one billion streams in just 108 days and join the Spotify Billions Club. His songs “Dreamers [Music from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack]” and 3D “(feat. Jack Harlow)” also charted on the top 20 list at #12 and #14 respectively. 

Three of Jimin’s hits from his six-track album, FACE clinched spots on the list as well: “Like Crazy” (#3), “Set Me Free Pt. 2” (#15) and “Like Crazy (English Version)” (#17). With V’s “Love Me Again” (#16), and “Take Two” (#18) and “Dynamite” (#19) by BTS also amongst this year’s most-streamed K-Pop tracks, a total of nine of the top 20 spots were performed by the boys of BTS. 

Another standout on the list of most-streamed K-Pop songs is “MONEY” (#7) by LISA of BLACKPINK , which also entered Spotify’s Billions Club this year and made LISA the first female K-Pop artist to reach the milestone. In addition to “FLOWER” (#8) by bandmate JISOO, “Shut Down” and “Pink Venom” by BLACKPINK also made it to the top 20 list at #9 and #11 respectively. 

Following their remarkable rookie year, four of NewJeans’ hit songs ranked amongst the top 10. Claiming consecutive spots from #4 to #6 are “OMG”, ”Ditto” and “Super Shy” in the respective order, while “Hype Boy” comes in at #10. Completing the top 10 list is the viral hit “Cupid - Twin Ver.” by FIFTY FIFTY at #2. 

Head to this playlist on Spotify to listen to our editor’s picks for the best K-Pop tracks of 2023, including the songs in this year’s top 20 list of Global K-Pop Top Songs: K-Pop ON! (온) Presents Best K-Pop Songs of 2023.

2023 Spotify Wrapped Global K-Pop Top Lists

Global Top K-Pop Artists of the Year, 2023

1. BTS
2. BLACKPINK
3. Jung Kook
4. NewJeans
5. Stray Kids
6. Jimin
7. TWICE
8. SEVENTEEN
9. TOMORROW X TOGETHER
10. LE SSERAFIM V
11. ENHYPEN
12. FIFTY FIFTY
13. (G)I-DLE
14. IVE
15. Agust D
16. aespa
17. NCT DREAM
18. LISA
19. j-hope

Global Top K-Pop Songs of the Year, 2023

1. “Seven (feat. Latto)” by Jung Kook
2. “Cupid - Twin Ver.” by FIFTY FIFTY
3. “Like Crazy” by Jimin
4. “OMG” by NewJeans
5. “Ditto” by NewJeans
6. “Super Shy” by NewJeans
7. “MONEY” by LISA
8. “FLOWER” by JISOO
9. “Shut Down” by BLACKPINK
10. “Hype Boy” by NewJeans
11. “Pink Venom” by BLACKPINK
12. “Dreamers [Music from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack]” by Jung Kook
13. “ANTIFRAGILE” by LE SSERAFIM
14. “3D (feat. Jack Harlow)” by Jung Kook
15. “Set Me Free Pt.2” by Jimin
16. “Love Me Again” by V
17. “Like Crazy (English Version)” by Jimin
18. “Take Two” by BTS
19. “Dynamite” by BTS
20. “Queencard” by (G)I-DLE

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WATCH: V takes over Spotify’s K-Pop ON! to celebrate the release of his solo debut album ‘Layover’

WATCH: V takes over Spotify’s K-Pop ON! to celebrate the release of his solo debut album ‘Layover’

Wednesday, September 13

It’s official! After weeks of teasers, including the pre-release of two tracks, V of BTS made his highly anticipated solo debut with the launch of the album, Layover. 

In addition to being the final installation in the series of solo debuts by the BTS members, the six-track album is a celebration of V’s characteristics and color as a solo artist, serving dreamy vocals against Pop R&B sounds. And ARMYs all over the world are truly loving this side of V. Since its launch, the pre-release track Love Me Again has amassed over 105 million Spotify streams, and the album’s title track, Slow Dancing, debuted at #11 on Spotify’s Global Daily Top Songs chart the day of its release. As of today, Slow Dancing has over 20 million streams on Spotify. 

Enjoy more of V with exclusive content on K-Pop ON! 

To celebrate this solo debut, Spotify is letting fans discover more to the music of Layover and V as a soloist with a series of new episodes on its K-Pop ON! YouTube and Video Podcast channels.

In Spotipoly V Edition, V gives his all to ace the missions and win chances to personally introduce his new album to ARMY. In between challenges that had the self-proclaimed game lover fishing against the clock, rain-making, and dropping a beat with mini instruments, V takes us on a journey through Layover, sharing the stories behind each track. 

On the UNBOXING SHOW, V juggles between surprise missions, and unboxing and answering some of ARMY’s burning questions. From talking about his current hobby, to the little things that bring him joy, his fur-baby ‘Yeontan’, and TMI from the making of Layover - this interview with a twist unpacks the many charms of the global star. 

“In life, going directly to your final destination is pretty rare. So through this “Layover”, I hope people can take a break, self-reflect, and look back on your goals. I wish that everyone, including myself, would not neglect themselves because they are too focused on their work. When working or doing something, rather, I hope they can think about their health and happiness and other aspects of their mental well-being. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a break,” says V in the UNBOXING SHOW. 

Catch these episodes and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on Spotify’s K-Pop ON! video podcast and YouTube channels.

For your daily dose of K-Pop, follow @SpotifyKpop on Twitter, and tune in to the K-Pop ON! Playlist on Spotify.

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ATEEZ releases new EP in time for Asian leg of "The Fellowship: Break the Wall" tour

ATEEZ releases new EP in time for Asian leg of "The Fellowship: Break the Wall" tour

Monday, July 3

IMAGE CREDIT: KQ Entertainment 

The K-pop global chart-topping seafarers ATEEZ have released their 9th mini album, ‘THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW’ as the perfect opening of this summer. The EP is out now via Sony Music Korea/RCA Records – click here to listen.

The track is currently making waves in the country as its carrier single “BOUNCY” peaked at No. 1 on iTunes Philippines Chart.

On a journey lasting nearly a year and two months, ATEEZ met with a total of 430,000 fans from Seoul, Japan, U.S., and Europe. Driven by the still-burning heat of the tour in 2023, ATEEZ successfully held another set of encore concerts in Seoul and Japan. The voyage continues, as they prepare to embark on their first Asian and Latin American tour since debut, once again proving their global popularity.

ATEEZ’s 9th mini album ‘THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW’ is an exciting and energetic new episode following [THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT], which marked the beginnings of a secret movement to cause a fissure in this controlled society.

‘THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW’ contains six tracks - featuring “BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)” as the title song. In “BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS),” ATEEZ fly on the music with an unblockable sense of ‘Heung’ (uniquely Korean ‘exhilaration’) that only they can portray. It’s a track that will fully immerse the listener, making their heart race.

True to ATEEZ style, the released preview video labeled as the album trailer garnered over 3 million views on YouTube (at the time of writing) with comments noting the interesting and puzzling themes portrayed in this trailer.

Amidst their touring success, ATEEZ’s last EP, ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ released in December 2022, has been well-loved by fans around the world. The EP set a new record for the group charting on the ‘Billboard 200’ main chart for three weeks and further raising expectations for this new release.

LISTEN TO ‘THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW’ HERE

‘THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW’ TRACK LIST

01. This World

02. Dune

03. BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS) *(Title Track)

04. DJANGO 

05. Wake Up

06. Outlaw

This EP comes after the announcement of the Asian and Latin American leg of the ‘THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL’ tour, greeting for the first time their fans in these regions. The octet will be going on tour to Asia in six cities and to Latin America in 4 cities.

ATEEZ WORLD TOUR THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL in ASIA 2023 

July 8 - Taipei, Taiwan – Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1

July 15 - Hong Kong – Asiaworld-Expo, Hall 10

July 20 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Jeddah Superdome 

Aug 5 - Bangkok, Thailand – Impact Exhibition Center, Hall 8

Sep 9 - Singapore – Singapore Indoor Stadium

Sep 16 - Manila, Philippines – Araneta Coliseum

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PUMA Selects K-Pop Girl Group “IVE“ as APAC Ambassador

PUMA Selects K-Pop Girl Group “IVE“ as APAC Ambassador

 

K-Pop Girl Group IVE has been appointed as PUMA APAC ambassador and is expected to star in full-fledged promotions in the Asia-Pacific region, starting with the release of a Korean campaign in July.

Global sports brand PUMA has selected K-Pop girl group "IVE", an icon of the MZ generation under Starship Entertainment, as its ambassador in 15 countries in Asia and Oceania. IVE is expected to star in various brand campaigns and events, which PUMA plans to launch in order to communicate actively with fans and consumers around the world and captivate the global market.

To officially welcome the group to the brand's growing roster of ambassadors, PUMA has unveiled the first pictorial with IVE, featuring the 6 members styled with PUMA's iconic T7 track jacket and Suede sneakers.

“IVE is one of the representative K-pop girl groups, loved throughout the APAC region. We are delighted to have IVE as PUMA's new APAC Ambassador. We will be carrying out Puma's various campaigns throughout the APAC region with IVE, and we ask for your continuous interest and support in PUMA's unique style with IVE's charm added," said Puma.

IVE's first full-scale album "I've IVE" released in April sold more than 1.1 million copies, propelling the group to become a million seller for two consecutive years. The group sustained their continued popularity after their title song "I AM" topped Korea's major music sites and "Kitsch" made it to the top 5 on the weekly chart of Melon and Genie.

The group has also been gaining success overseas. Their double title songs catapulted them to the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. US charts. “I AM” charted for 8 consecutive weeks and ranked 38th while "Kitsch" ranked 168th on Billboard Global 200. The group also recently released their first Japanese album “WAVE” and has since started their full-fledged global activities. IVE is looking to sustain the success of their first fan concert tour "The Prom Queens" in Singapore on June 30th and Thailand on July 8th, following their successful run in Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Moreover, starting with the release of the Korea Exclusive Campaign on July 17th, IVE will continue to support the APAC region in the coming months, and is expected to capture the hearts of consumers in Asia and Oceania.

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ATEEZ conquers global charts with new EP ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’

ATEEZ conquers global charts with new EP ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’

Wednesday, January 11

South Korean boyband ATEEZ continues to dominate several global music charts with the release of their new EP, ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’. The eight-member pop group’s latest release debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in several major music markets worldwide, including South Korea, USA, Italy, Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, and more.

The pirate kings of the K-pop high seas are starting the year right with one of the most exciting new ‘single albums’ from Sony Music Entertainment Korea so far, taking comprehensive musical storytelling one step further with the release of a spin off that recount their tales through a third-person witness account. In this extended universe, a new perspective is explored, with more questions than answers given through the cinematic trailers and powerful delivery of their new tracks.

‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ contains five tracks - featuring ‘HALAZIA’ as the title song. The title track delivers the message of finding hope in the darkness. It’s followed by three remix tracks of previously releasedpopular songs, and makes a grand closure with ‘Outro : Blue Bird’.

True to ATEEZ style, the released preview video labeled as the prologue garnered over 2 million views on YouTube (at the time of writing) with comments noting the grandiose themes and Hollywood movie-like quality.

This EP comes after the announcement of the European leg of the ‘THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL’ tour, already making a statement with dates added due to high demand. The octet will be going on tour to Europe in sevencities for nine shows starting in Amsterdam on February 10 and closing the tour in Paris on March 8.

From the success of their North American ‘THE FELLOWSHIP : BREAK THE WALL’ tour to reaching new career peaks with their previously released EP ‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’ debuting at #3 on the Billboard 200, ‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ is set to mark an awe-inspiring ending to 2022 that leads to an impressive 2023.

LISTEN TO SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS HERE

‘SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS’ TRACK LIST

01. HALAZIA

02. WIN (June One of Glen Check Remix)

03. I’m The One (Eden-ary Remix)

04. Take Me Home (IDIOTAPE Remix)

05. Outro : Blue Bird

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Buy Born Pink World Tour Manila tickets via GCash

Buy Born Pink World Tour Manila tickets via GCash

Monday, November 7

 

Great news for all you Filipino Blinks! Score your tickets early for BLACKPINK’S Born Pink World Tour Manila without worries, thanks to the convenient, cashless payment option for purchasing tickets provided by GCash, the country’s no.1 mobile wallet app. 

Catch Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa live on March 25-26, 2023 at the Philippine Arena! Tickets will be out soon via SM Tickets and Weverse, so stay tuned!

 

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Iconic K-Pop veteran girl group EXID reunited

Iconic K-Pop veteran girl group EXID reunited

Friday, October 7

Icons of Korean music chart resurgence, veteran K-Pop girl group EXID (members SOLJI, ELLY, HANI, HYELIN, and JEONGHWA) returns today with their celebratory 10th anniversary singlealbum ‘X’ via Sony Music Entertainment Korea.

Symbolic of not only the number 10 in roman numerals, the single album title ‘X’, also represents the cross between EXID and their fans LEGGO. Fronted by addictive lead track “FIRE”, EXID showcases their charismatic signature style that sets the music ablaze. The single album also includes aNu-disco track “IDK (I DON’T KNOW)” which was written and composed by member ELLY, as well as a ballad track titled “LEGGO” in dedication to their fans. The single album closes with an English version of their lead track “FIRE” for their international fans.

Meanwhile, EXID will be holding a fan concert ‘EXID 10th Anniversary FAN-CON <EXID X LEGGO>’ on October 29th to meet their fans in person, which will also be streamed online. For more information about their fan concert, please visit HERE.

EXID had debuted in 2012 under their producer S.Tiger. EXID is best known for their rise in popularity with their breakthrough viral single “Up & Down” that resurged after four months of release. Ever since then, EXID has made their mark in the Korean music scene with their music filled with their distinctive signature style and concept.

Listen to ‘X’ HERE

Track list

1. FIRE

2. IDK (I DON’T KNOW)

3. LEGGO

4. FIRE (English Version)

 Image Credits: Sony Music Entertainment Korea

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K-Pop superstars ATEEZ to make waves with new EP, THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’

K-Pop superstars ATEEZ to make waves with new EP, THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’

Monday, August 8

Billboard charting global K-Pop group, ATEEZ, is ready to make waves once again with the arrival of their new EP ‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’ today. Following a successful arena tour across U.S. Europe and Japan in 11 cities with a total of 180,000 audiences combined, ATEEZ begins their newest chapter of their ‘THE WORLD’ series. Known for the delivery of their narrative in both their music and visual components, ATEEZ’s ‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’ revolves around the theme of breaking free from dystopian society that suppresses emotions by awakening people’s passion with their music and movement. 

‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’ is composed of 7 tracks, featuring their lead track “Guerrilla.” Each track serves as a reflection of ATEEZ’s narrative of creating movement of change against the dystopian world. 

ATEEZ members, HONG JOONG and MIN GI, have co-written the lyrics for 6 out of 7 tracks, including “Sector 1”, “Cyberpunk”, “Guerrilla”, “The Ring”, “WDIG (Where Do I Go)” and “New World.” The lead track “Guerrilla” is accompanied by a music video, where its preview version garnered over 1.7M views on YouTube alone ahead of their EP release. 

The 8-membered K-Pop superstar group has been demonstrating their exponential growth and reach, as they have not only charted on Billboard 200 with each release since ‘ZERO : FEVER Part.3’, but also taking the stage at bigger venues since their last tour. 

LISTEN TO ‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’ HERE

‘THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT’’ TRACK LIST

1. PROPAGANDA

2. Sector 1

3. Cyberpunk

4. Guerrilla

5. The Ring

6. WDIG (Where Do I Go)

7. New World

Image Credits: KQ ENTERTAINMENT

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K-Pop group OH MY GIRL drops vibrant sophomore album, Real Love

K-Pop group OH MY GIRL drops vibrant sophomore album, Real Love

Saturday, April 2

7-member Korean pop group OH MY GIRL returns with their new full-length album and lead track “Real Love.” The delightful 10-track release follows Dear OHMYGIRL EP which dropped last May 2021, and their 2019 album, The Fifth Season.

With lyrical sensibility and colorful storytelling that takes their work to exciting new places, their sophomore album’s centers perfumes and lingering fragrances as narrative motifs in telling stories of young romance and infatuation.

The self-titled single “Real Love” stands out with its sweet, addictive brass sound and pop melodies. Its lyrics unravel OH MY GIRL’s interpretation of what it feels like to fall in love, and how that special moment feels unreal and unfamiliar. Aside from the lead track, the album explores an eclectic range of music styles spanning pop, EDM, R&B, Latin, and hip-hop influences.

OH MY GIRL made their debut in 2015, and steadily climbed their way to become one of the biggest K-Pop girl groups. Approximately seven years into their career, OH MY GIRL charted No. 1 for the first time on Billboard K-Pop 100 with their hit EP release, NONSTOP. In 2020, “Dolphin” garnered greater success by ranking within the Top 10 for 21 weeks, surpassing BTS’ “Dynamite.” Their song “Nonstop” has charted on Billboard’s K-Pop 100 for 77weeks, while their lead track “Dun Dun Dance” from their previously released EP charted for 45 weeks andcontinues to maintain its placement even to this day.

LISTEN TO ‘Real Love’ HERE

‘Real Love’ TRACK LIST

1. Real Love

2. Drip

3. Eden

4. Replay

5. Parachute

6. Kiss & Fix

7. Blink

8. Dear Rose

9. Sailing Heart

10. Real Love (Inst.)

OH MY GIRL’s sophomore album, Real Love is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide via Sony Music Entertainment Korea.

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Philippines ranks one of the most passionate and active K-pop fans in the world

Philippines ranks one of the most passionate and active K-pop fans in the world

Friday, January 28

With a massive 7.8 billion Tweets globally in 2021, #KpopTwitter once again showed its power by breaking its previous record of 6.7 billion Tweets in 2020. Registering a notable 16% increase in Tweet volume globally, #KpopTwitter conversations became more diverse and vibrant in 2021. 

2021 was an exciting year for the younger artists like ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, aespa, and ITZY; who have forged strong connections with their fans on Twitter. Moreover, conversations expanded with the growing popularity of Korean entertainment beyond music. 

Diving deeper into the flurry of Tweets; Twitter’s analysis reveals the Top 20 countries Tweeting most about K-pop, the Top 20 countries with the most K-pop fans, as well as rankings of the most Tweeted about K-pop artists and rising K-pop artists. 

With its legion of passionate and active fans, Indonesia tops the list for most number of K-pop Tweets for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, the United States, Mexico, Malaysia, Brazil, India, and Japan made it into the top 10.

While the list of countries with the most number of fans (analyzed by unique authors) looks similar to the list for most number of Tweets, with Indonesia coming in first and the others like Japan and the Philippines close behind; countries like Peru, Colombia, Singapore, and Ecuador were featured among the top 20 this year.

Of course, the 21st century pop icon, BTS (@BTS_twt), takes the top spot as the most Tweeted about K-pop artist globally - with the band’s on-site concert ‘BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LA’ alone contributing more than 68 million Tweets from all over the world. For the second year in a row, NCT (@NCTsmtown) comes in second. 

In addition to K-pop sensation BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK) and heavyweights EXO (@weareoneEXO) being featured on the top 20 list, younger groups also cemented their positions with TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members) rising from 8th place in 2020 to 6th in 2021, ATEEZ (@ATEEZofficial) climbing one spot to 9th, and Stray Kids (@Stray_Kids) at 10th. 

2021 also proved to be a breakthrough year for the 4th generation of K-pop idols. ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members) who were 5th on the 2020 list of rising K-pop artists impressively came in as the 3rd most Tweeted about band in 2021 (just after BTS and NCT). Within a year of their debut, the group celebrated a huge achievement with their first studio album “DIMENSION:DILEMMA” becoming a ‘million-seller’ and placing 11th on the Billboard 200 chart. Fellow 4th generation idols aespa (@aespa_official) and ITZY (@ITZYofficial) also hit significant milestones as they first entered the top 20 list, at 14th and 16th respectively.

Other K-pop idols on the top 20 list include TREASURE (@treasuremembers), SEVENTEEN (@pledis_17), TWICE (@JYPETWICE), GOT7 (@GOT7Official), The Boyz (@IST_THEBOYZ), iKON (@YG_iKONIC), ASTRO (@offclASTRO), MonstaX (@OfficialMonstaX), Red Velvet (@RVsmtown), and SHINee (@SHINee).

BTS (@BTS_twt) also shows dominance in the Philippines, ranking 1st as the most Tweeted about K-pop artist in the country, followed by junior label mates ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members). BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK) Rose and Lisa’s solo releases were the buzz among BLINKs, while NCT (@NCTsmtown)’s 2021 album, which introduced a new NCT U line up, hyped up NCTzens on Twitter in December.

Unsurprisingly, ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members) is first on the list of the Top 10 rising Artists, followed by TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members), TREASURE (@treasuremembers), aespa (@aespa_official), and ITZY (@ITZYofficial). Newer generation groups like IVE (@IVEstarship), CRAVITY (@CRAVITYstarship), WEi (@WEi__Official), ONEUS (@official_ONEUS), and CIX (@CIX_twt) are also featured on the Top 10.

2021 saw growing global interest in Korean entertainment beyond music 

While the reach of K-pop continued to skyrocket, we also saw a variety of conversations as Korean dramas, movies, webtoons, and other types of entertainment steadily cemented their place on the world stage. In particular, webtoons turned K-dramas were embraced by the global audience, with True Beauty, Sweet Home, and Navillera among the top most Tweeted about webtoons on Twitter. Of course, the influence of K-pop also had a part to play. When official soundtracks included famous K-pop artists, dramas and webtoons enjoyed a boost in viewership - such as BTS V’s song ‘Sweet Night’ for Itaewon Class.

As the place to be for both fans and artists to connect, Twitter is a home for many celebrities from the different facets of Korean entertainment. In addition to well-known rapper Youngji (@dokgodieinsaeng) and actress Lee SeYoung (@seyoung0703), stars from the hit show Street Woman Fighter such as Monika (@monikaaashin), Honey J (@__honey_j__), and no:ze (@noze_world) started new Twitter accounts in the second half of 2021. With so many different artists regularly sharing content and interacting with their fans on Twitter, the K-pop community has become more diverse and influential across K-culture. 

Fans enjoyed more #OnlyOnTwitter content connecting themselves closely to stars

Twitter continues to launch new features and programs that deliver #OnlyOnTwitter content to fans everywhere. Beyond providing support to the K-pop community, Twitter is also expanding our capabilities and evolving into a service to promote K-content. We have already hosted #TwitterBlueroom live sessions for movies and dramas including Q&As with the cast of The Book of Fish, King Maker, The Red Sleeve, and One Ordinary Day. Twitter also brought #FanTweets and #BehindTheTweets to K-pop starting with BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ’s. With the introduction of Twitter Spaces in 2021, Twitter has also created more opportunities and channels for fans and artists to connect and communicate, building stronger relationships with each other.

What’s next in 2022?

With up and coming idols connecting with their passionate fans on Twitter, we are confident that #KpopTwitter will continue to break new records every year. But beyond K-pop, we’ve also seen discussions about Korean content across the board on Twitter growing with K-pop fans talking about not just their favorite music, performances, concerts, and daily lives, but showing increasing interest in dramas and webtoons with K-pop OST (original soundtracks) or starring K-pop idols. As the global consumption of Korean content grows, we look forward to seeing even more diverse conversations on Twitter and providing more content you can see #OnlyOnTwitter in 2022.

Source: Twitter internal data, Global Tweets, Jan 1 - Dec 31, 2021.

Note: For the 2021 Top 10 rising K-pop artists globally, we analyzed the Tweets related to K-pop artists that debuted from 2019 to 2021.

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Singapore-based artist Lullaboy on hosting Tokopedia’s WIB Indonesia K-Pop Awards: “This is really happening!”

Singapore-based artist Lullaboy on hosting Tokopedia’s WIB Indonesia K-Pop Awards: “This is really happening!”

Monday, November 29

Lullaboy recently landed one of the biggest gigs of his career as the host for Tokopedia’s WIB Indonesia K-Pop Awards, a star-studded music event that gathers the biggest Hallyu pop artists in the world, including BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, NCT DREAM, Stray Kids, aespa, ITZY, THE BOYZ, TREASURE, and SECRET NUMBER. 

The Singapore-based musician specifically auditioned for the part, and was luckily chosen as the host for the prestigious awards show, which streamed live on November 25, 2021 from 7pm onwards via Indonesian channels RCTI and SCTV, Tokopedia Play, and Tokopedia’s official YouTube channel. 

“I actually sent my portfolio to the directors,” the Singaporean-Indonesian singer-songwriter shares. “I had to audition twice, and I didn’t expect to get the part at all. A few weeks later, I got a call and I literally could not speak for about 10 seconds. Then the ‘oh my gosh’s’ began overflowing.” 

Lullaboy considers WIB Indonesia K-Pop Awards as the biggest production that he’s ever been part of, and is grateful to be in a program that is watched by millions of people from all around the world. “The staff, the equipment, the guests and the sheer influence of the show just blew me away,” says Lullaboy. “Fortunately, all of my experience in the entertainment industry helped me just do my best without nerves getting in the way. For me, the most memorable were the moments in between takes where you think to yourself: wow, this is really happening!” 

Prior to his stint at Tokopedia’s WIB Indonesia K-Pop Awards, Lullaboy was in South Korea to perform at Let’s Play Hongdae, where he was the sole Singaporean-Indonesian artist invited to play at the main stage, along with Korean megastars and acclaimed international acts. 

“These were two of the main reasons I officially flew to Korea for,” he explains. “I even went through 2 weeks of hotel quarantine for them. Let’s Play Hongdae was the first ever music festival I've ever played at. Fortunately, I had an epic band, and although my Korean isn’t too great and English wasn’t their first language, we communicated through our love for music and performing, I gotta give it up for music legend Danny Jung for putting the band together for me.” 

Lullaboy was also invited as a celebrity guest for Good Friends, a Korean TV show that aired on SBS Plus and on YouTube. During his 3-episode stint at the popular reality and game show, he was able to experience the world-class Paradise City Resort, the beautiful Jangbong Island, and get to dance with K-Pop stars Wei. 

At present time, the Singapore-based multihyphenate is working on his new album, Chapters of You, to be released early next year. The 12-track record chronicles the different sides and facets of love, in all its complicated gloriousness. As the Gone Too Long singer-songwriter puts it, “Every song tells a different story and I hope that my listeners find comfort in relating to them. No matter what you’re going through, I’m sure there’s at least one song in there that you can call your own.” 

In an official statement, Lullaboy also revealed that he’s currently undergoing writing and production sessions with some of the finest people behind the Korean music industry, including producers and songwriters working with YG, JYP and SM. To date, Lullaboy is one of the most-streamed English-language artists in Singapore, with more than 18 million streams and 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. His single “Someone Like You” gathered traction all over Southeast Asia, particularly in his home country, Indonesia and Singapore.

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BTS DYNAMITE hits 100M views on Youtube

BTS DYNAMITE hits 100M views on Youtube

Saturday, August 22

100 million views in 24 hours and counting!  Well, the army definitely knows what I'm talking about.  It's the newest music video of the Global superstars BTS released the music video for their new single “Dynamite” worldwide through their official social channels.

The new music video of “Dynamite” is colorful and bright, featuring retro concept props, hairstyles, and attire. The overall mood is lively and vibrant from start to finish, perfectly capturing the joyful energy of the song’s melody and lyrics.

It opens with the image of BTS as they stand gathered but soon scatter. The members one by one express their own style and individuality in different spaces.

BTS delivers dynamic performances in and out of various locations, including a room, doughnut shop, record shop, basketball court, luxurious stage, and open field. The “Dynamite” music video shows off not only remarkable group choreography but also improvised dances, as well as solo and unit performances. The members perform with seriousness and charisma, but also brighten the mood with playful expressions.

The second half of the music video features vibrant “color powder” rocketing into the sky, accentuating the explosive energy and joyful performance of BTS as they dance on an open field.

This vivid Disco Pop track marks the superstar group’s first-ever song to be released completely in English; having sought a “breakthrough” to overcome a sense of disheartenment stemmed from the current global climate, BTS embarks on a new challenge through “Dynamite.”

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10 new girl K-pop groups / solo artists you should listen to

10 new girl K-pop groups / solo artists you should listen to

Monday, February 24

We all know how girl K-pop groups invade the music scene worldwide like Blackpink and Twice. If you are looking for other groups you can listen to, here is the list of new K-pop groups and solo artists you should have on your playlist.

1. (G)I-DLE

A 6-member group from Cube Entertainment which is composed of girls from Korea (Soyeon, Soojin and MIyeon), Taiwan (Shuhua), China (Yuqi), and Thailand (Minnie).

2. Itzy

A 5-member group from JYP Entertainment consisting of Yeji, Lia, Chaeryeong, Ryujin and Yuna.

3. Everglow

Also a 6-member group from Yuehua Entertainment consisting of E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha and Yiren (which is a Chinese).

4. Weki Meki

Formed by Fantagio with a 8-member group consisting of Suyeon, Elly, Doyeon, Yoojung, Sei, Lua, Rina and Lucy.

5. Cherry Bullet

A girl group from FNC Entertainment consisting of Haeyoon, Yuju, Bora, Jiwon, Remi, Chaerin and May.

6. Hinapia

A girl group under OSR Entertainment consisting of Minkyeung, Gyeongwon, Eunwoo, Yaebin and Bada. All members except Bada already debuted from another girl group named Pristin which disbanded last year.

7. Bvndit

First girl group under MNH Entertainment consisting of YiYeon, SongHee, JungWoo, SiMyeong and SeungEun.

8. Rocket Punch

A 6-member girl group from Woollim Entertainment consisting of Juri, Yeonhee, Suyun, Yunkyoung, Sohee and Dahyun.

9. IZ*ONE

A Korean-Japanese group formed by MNET’s reality show Produce48, the 3rd season of the Produce 101 series. The members consist of Jang Wonyoung, Miyawaki Sakura, Jo Yuri, Choi Yena, Ahn Yujin, Yabuki Nako, Kwon Eunbi, Kang Hyewon, Honda Hitomi, Kim Chaewon, Kim Minjoo, and Lee Chaeyeon.

10. AleXa

A solo artist under ZB Label and her nationality is American.

Who do you find the most talented and the best new girl K-pop artist? Feel free to share with us other new female groups / soloist missing from this list.

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KPOP Korean Group Sensation FameUs and Asha LIVE in Manila and Davao

KPOP Korean Group Sensation FameUs and Asha LIVE in Manila and Davao

Wednesday, August 19

Filipino KPOP fanatics can't get enough of  these talented artists from Korea that's why Zoomanity Group and Redstone Media Production are proud to bring to the country two of KPOP newest Korean Sensation FameUs and Asha. The six member group FameUs has captured the heart of Pinoys when they visited the country for the first time last February. They are coming to Manila on September 18, 2015  for a back to back concert with Asha at the Ynares Sports Complex in Pasig. They will then fly to Davao for their October 2 concert to be held at SMX Davao.

(3rd from left) Ms. Bella Dimayuga - President, Bellestar Promotion;
Mr. Bong Rivera, Redstone Media Production; Ms. Delia de Jesus - COO, Zoomanity Group
and Engr. Grace Bondad Nicolas - Tag Media 

Ms. Delia de Jesus, Chief Operating Officer of Zoomanity Group, said yesterday that the producers of the FameUs and Asha concert have great admiration with the talent and showmanship of these young performers. She also mentioned the overwhelming support of Filipino KPOP fans to these group that's why they have decided to stage a big concert.

FameUs is a six member boy group consists of Hansaem, Kudo, Junghoon, Daeyoung, Doah and Hanyoung. They have been promoting not just in Korea and the Philippines but also in Japan and China. They recently launched their first single "Crazy" and the album was sold out. Because of its success they released their second digital single "The Only Stupid One."

Asha is composed of four girls namely Da-ae, Nara, Yoha and Hyun-A. Asha debuted this year with their released single "Mr. Liar."

SVIP Ticketholders will get a chance to have a meet and greet with FameUs and Asha. It will be a fun  and interactive concert. A portion of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Animal Conservation Program of the Zoomanity Foundation and to the charitable causes of Ms. Bella Dimayuga.

Ticket Prices:

SVIP - PhP2,500

VIP   - PhP2,000

Gold  - PhP1,500

Silver - PhP1,000

Bronze - PhP500

Buy you ticket at https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/

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