Bang Si: Celebs Rumors

K-pop boyband TWS – an abbreviation of “Twenty Four Seven With Us” – have made their debut with their first mini-album ‘Sparkling Blue’.Today (January 22), the new Pledis Entertainment group – comprising members Shinyu, Doyoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin – made their debut with a music video for their first single ‘Plot Twist’. The song is part of TWS’ new mini-album ‘Sparkling Blue’, which arrived at the same time.The video follows the boyband on their first day in a new school and the awkward moments they face as newcomers. “First encounters are always so hard / ‘Cause nothing goes to plan / First encounters are always so hard / My name is,” they sing on the chorus.Ahead of their official debut, TWS also dropped their pre-release single ‘OH MYMY: 7S’ earlier this month.

Korea JoongAng Daily, the music executive said that she “was not expecting” the audit of ADOR launched by HYBE on Monday (April 22), claiming that she had initially made an “internal report [about the similarities between NewJeans and Belift Lab group ILLIT]” in hopes of it being “addressed formally by the company”.“My goal has always been to [do] my work in a clean, confident way. That’s been my focus and it’s been difficult for me to talk about the things that interfered with my work,” Min added, while refuting HYBE’s claims that she tried to “hijack control” of ADOR.

HYBE, home to K-pop juggernauts BTS, have inked a new 10-year “global alliance” with Universal Music Group (UMG).HYBE – also home to other K-pop groups such as SEVENTEEN, NewJeans and more – announced an expanded agreement with UMG. The new deal will give UMG “exclusive distribution rights” to HYBE releases for the next 10 years, while HYBE’s roster of artists will have access to the former’s “global network”.The new agreement will also see UMG further working with HYBE’s fan platform Weverse, in order to “[bring] more of a direct connection between UMG artists and their fandom[s]”.

ILLIT have dropped a teaser for the music video of their upcoming debut single, ‘Magnetic’.ILLIT’s label Belift Lab, a subsidiary of HYBE, shared the clip yesterday (March 21). The teaser is formatted vertically for mobile phone screens, and feature silhouettes of the ILLIT members performing the choreography to ‘Magnetic’.“This time I want you, you, you, you, like it’s magnetic / You, you, you, you, you, you, you, super attraction,” the new K-pop girl group sing on the song’s upbeat chorus.ILLIT – comprising Wonhee, Minju, Iroha, Moka and Yunah – were formed through the JTBC reality TV series R U Next?. The girl group will be the second K-pop act to debut under Belift Lab, following boyband ENHYPEN.The quintet will release their debut mini-album ‘Super Real Me’ on March 25.

Pledis Entertainment‘s latest boyband, TWS, have dropped their first pre-release single, titled ‘OH MYMY : 7S’.The song and its accompanying visual were released yesterday (January 2). It features the band’s six members – Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon and Kyungmin – speaking about the anxiety they feel as they prepare for debut, intercut with footage of the group practicing choreographies and recording songs.The group then launch into what looks like a monthly evaluation, with a panel featuring the likes of SEVENTEEN, HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk, SEVENTEEN producer BUMZU and more.

LE SSERAFIM member Yunjin has opened up about the subject matter of her next solo single, which she says is “about loving all the past versions” of herself.The Korean-American K-pop idol recently sat for an interview with NYLON, during which she opened up about her songwriting process, her inspirations and what is next for her growing solo discography.Yunjin revealed that her next song came about after “candid conversations” with HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk, who suggested that she consider writing music about how she feels in the present.“A lot of music that I’ve written is about my past experiences. So when he was like, ‘What about talking about how you feel now?’ that was a really big question for me,” she told the outlet.

HYBE founder and chairman Bang Si-hyuk has revealed that his company was “on the verge of closing down” before BTS.Bang Si-hyuk recently made a guest appearance on the tvN talk show You Quiz on the Block, alongside fellow record executive J.Y. Park, the founder of JYP Entertainment.During his appearance on the programme, the HYBE chairman opened up about how the company (then known as Big Hit Entertainment) was “pretty much drowning in debt” before the boyband’s debut, saying that they had owed about ₩10billion (US$7.4millon) at the time.“We were seriously on the verge of closing down the business.

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk has revealed that BTS will release an album marking the 10-year anniversary of their 2015 series ‘The Most Beautiful Moment In Life’.The album series – which is often called ‘HYYH’ in reference to its Korean name, ‘화양연화’ – was released in two parts, with the first arriving on April 29, 2015 and the second on November 30. A repackaged record, ‘The Most Beautiful Moment In Life: Young Forever’, was released on May 2, 2016.During an appearance on Bloomberg Screentime, Bang shared news of the upcoming anniversary album.

Suga, a member of K-pop boyband BTS, has enlisted in the military today (September 22).Ahead of his enlistment today, Suga took to fan community platform Weverse to share a message to his fans. “I was able to come this far thanks to you. And the time has come.

BTS have renewed their contracts with Big Hit Music, a subsidiary owned by South Korean media giant HYBE.This is according to a statement by Big Hit Music, as seen by several South Korean news outlets including Yonhap News Agency and Sports Chosun, following a decision by the company’s board of directors.Per Sports Chosun, the renewal of the BTS members’ contracts will not all happen at the same time. Instead, they will happen individually and sequentially, taking into account the military service status of the various members.“With the renewal of their contracts, we hope will be able to share with everyone a full group promotional period for BTS in 2025,” the K-pop agency said in the statement, as translated by Koreaboo.

K-pop agency HYBE and Geffen Records will be hosting an audition programme to launch their new girl group.Back in November 2021, HYBE announced its plans to debut a new girl group that will “transcend national, cultural, and artistic boundaries” in collaboration with Universal Music Group’s Geffen Records, and held auditions across South Korea, the US, Japan, the UK and Australia in 2022.The agency has now shared that it will be hosting a new audition programme titled The Debut: Dream Academy, through which the upcoming girl group’s line-up will be decided. The show will be unveiling its contestants next Tuesday (August 29), and premiere on YouTube from September 1.HYBE has also released a clip of some of its artists, including Tomorrow X Together, fromis_9, LE SSERAFIM and ENHYPEN sharing video messages to the show’s contestants.“I’m sure they’re excited but nervous at the same time with a big challenge.

BTS member Jungkook has opened up about what it means to be a “giant pop star” and where he currently sees his own music career.The South Korean singer recently made his solo debut with the single ‘Seven’, featuring American rapper Latto. The song, which was described by his label as the start of his “official solo activities”, comes a decade after the K-pop idol made his debut as part of the boyband BTS.Speaking to Weverse Magazine on the occasion of ‘Seven”s release, Jungkook touched on his ambitions as an artist, saying that his “one big goal” is to become a “giant pop star”. The singer’s response was met with bewilderment by the interviewer, who went on to ask: “You’re already a giant pop star, aren’t you?”“No.

HYBE, home to K-pop superstars BTS, is set to sell off its entire stake in SM Entertainment.Today (March 24), HYBE announced that it would accept a tender offer by South Korean internet giant Kakao and sell its 15.8 per cent stake in K-pop agency SM Entertainment, as reported by Reuters.HYBE’s share of SM Entertainment is worth about ₩564billion (roughly US$437million), based on Kakao’s March 7 tender offer to buy up to 35 per cent of SM Entertainment for ₩150,000 per share.According to Reuters, the planned sale of SM Entertainment shares by HYBE would net the K-pop giant a profit of around US$87 million, which is roughly 25 per cent higher than the price the company originally paid for the shares.Following the announcement, shares of both Kakao and SM Entertainment companies went up about half a per cent, as of 1:30pm KST.

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.

Korea’s HYBE, which manages K-pop band BTS, says it’s planning a series of acquisitions and investments in the U.S. entertainment market this year, after withdrawing from a heated battle with internet giant Kakao to take control of rival agency SM Entertainment. 

Heize has released her take on ‘Still With You’, the solo song by Jungkook of the K-pop band BTS.For her cover of ‘Still With You’, Heize heads in a more soulful direction, with an instrumentation that places more focus on melodic piano keys. “The rain pours even when I dance alone / By the time this mist clears / I’ll run with my feet wet / So hug me then,” she sings on the chorus.Heize’s rendition of ‘Still With You’ is the latest cover she’s released, following her own version of NewJeans‘ ‘Ditto’.

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.

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' next chapter will be one of growth and change. Big Hit founder and HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk gave an interview featured Thursday on CNN's where he addressed BTS' current slow-down from group activities amid the members' South Korean military service and made reassurances about their future plans.«From the career's point of view, no artist would be happy to have such a long pause against their will. I think it's a separate issue from the mindset that we faithfully and gladly serve the country.

HYBE has released a trailer for ‘The World is My Oyster’, a documentary chronicling the preparations behind LE SSERAFIM’s debut.Named after a track from the girl group’s debut EP, ‘The World is My Oyster’ is set to feature behind-the-scenes footage including rigorous rehearsals and other preparations leading up to the group’s debut showcase.Notably, the footage featured in the trailer has been edited to omit former member Kim Garam, whose exclusive contract with HYBE and Source Music was terminated earlier this year, to a minimum.The documentary also features interviews with the group’s current members and HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk, which recount the public perception of IZ*ONE alumni Sakura and Chaewon’s re-debut with the girl group and the other members’ motivations for signing with HYBE.“‘Why would you debut again at that age? What are you trying to do?’ People might think that.” member Sakura said in an interview for the documentary. “I really wanted to do well, this time with LE SSERAFIM.”‘The World is My Oyster’ is slated for release on YouTube on September 17, 8 PM KST.Apart from their forthcoming documentary, LE SSERAFIM are set to make their first comeback later this year.

IZ*ONE member Miyawaki Sakura has spoken about her move to HYBE Labels’ Source Music in a letter to fans.Yesterday (March 14), a representative from Source Music shared that ex-IZ*ONE members Miyawaki and Kim Chae-won had signed “exclusive contracts with the agency” and would be joining its upcoming girl group.Later that day, the Japanese idol took to Instagram to personally share the news with her fans. “This time, I’ve moved to Source Music under HYBE,” she wrote in Korean and Japanese.Miyawaki shared that she had been unable to post much on social media in recent months, and apologised for keeping her fans waiting.

BTS have sold some of their shares of HYBE for over US$8million.According to Bloomberg, BTS members J-Hope, Jin and RM recently sold a combined 31,986 shares of HYBE stock, which had netted the trio a total of approximately US$8.4million per regulatory filings.The sale of the shares took place between October 13 and November 9, a week before stock in the entertainment company had peaked at all-time-high on November 16.

BTS have threatened to boycott HYBE, the K-pop boyband’s label, over its plans to launch Non-fungible tokens (NFTs).Yesterday (November 4), the South Korean entertainment giant announced plans to partner with fintech company Dunamu to launch a new NFT-focused venture that would use IP-based on its artists, such as BTS and TXT, to create digital assets.

The members of BTS are making a big move.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefShares of Big Hit Entertainment, the agency behind K-pop superstars BTS, soared during their stock market debut on Thursday in Seoul.Having been offered at KRW135,000 apiece, shares began trading at KRW270,000. That gives the company a valuation of $8.38 billion (KRW9.6 trillion) and gives agency co-founder Bang Si-hyuk, with a 36% stake, a net worth of over $3 billion.Each member of BTS, from which the agency earns some 90% of its revenues, had earlier received more than 68,000 shares.