SEOUL — Jin, a prominent member of the K-pop sensation BTS, was discharged from his mandatory military service on Wednesday (12 June 2024), marking the first completion among the band’s members and allowing him to fully resume musical activities.
Jin emerged from his army base in Yeoncheon county, where he was greeted by his bandmates. RM played the saxophone, performing a snippet of BTS’s hit song “Dynamite” as they celebrated Jin’s return. Fans showed their support with colorful banners and balloons, expressing pride and admiration for the star’s service.
(el Amigo/Sourced online)
As the curtains fall on 2023, Spotify has lifted the veil on its much-anticipated year-end Wrapped report, unveiling the powerhouse of K-pop that dominated the streaming scene throughout the year.
Topping the charts as the most-streamed K-pop artist of 2023 is none other than the global sensation, BTS, affirming their unassailable position in the industry. Following closely behind are BLACKPINK and BTS’s Jungkook in the second and third spots, respectively, showcasing the unwavering popularity of these iconic groups and soloists.
In a surprising turn of events, the rising stars NewJeans make a notable appearance in the rankings, securing the fourth spot on the list of most-streamed K-pop artists. The group’s tracks, including “OMG,” “Ditto,” and “Super Shy,” evidently struck a chord with Spotify listeners worldwide.
BTS’s Jungkook takes center stage again in the most-streamed K-pop songs category with his solo debut, “Seven” featuring Latto, claiming the coveted top spot. FIFTY FIFTY’s “Cupid” (Twin version) and BTS’s Jimin with “Like Crazy” follow closely behind, illustrating the diverse range of K-pop hits that resonated with audiences.
Notably, BLACKPINK’s Lisa and Jisoo secure spots with “MONEY” and “FLOWER,” respectively, further solidifying the group’s global influence. NewJeans continues their impressive run with tracks like “OMG” and “Hype Boy,” making a significant impact on the K-pop music landscape.
As Spotify concludes its year-end rankings, the global dominance of K-pop remains evident, with both established acts and emerging talents captivating audiences around the world. The streaming platform’s year-end Wrapped report serves as a testament to the genre’s continued growth and influence on a global scale.
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)
In a spectacular showcase of K-pop excellence, artists under the HYBE umbrella emerged victorious at the 2023 MAMA Awards, held over two electrifying nights at the iconic Tokyo Dome in Japan.
The MAMA Awards, an annual celebration organized by entertainment powerhouse CJ ENM, not only spotlights South Korea’s top musical talents but also recognizes outstanding acts from across Asia.
Leading the charge was the rising girl group NewJeans, seizing the spotlight with an impressive double win. The group secured two coveted “Daesangs” (grand prizes) for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, the latter awarded for their hit single “Ditto.” Meanwhile, the charismatic boy band Seventeen claimed the Album of the Year title for their extended play “FML,” released in April.
The global phenomenon BTS, despite their absence from the event, continued their reign by clinching the Worldwide Icon of the Year award. This marked the sixth consecutive year that the seven-member group, under the Big Hit Music label, secured this prestigious accolade.
The dominance of HYBE was further highlighted as all “Daesang” winners hailed from the entertainment conglomerate’s sub-labels: BTS from Big Hit Music, Seventeen from Pledis Entertainment, and NewJeans from ADOR.
Here’s a roundup of some of the other noteworthy winners at the 2023 MAMA Awards:
Best Male Group: Seventeen
Best Female Group: NewJeans
Best Male Artist: BTS’ Jimin
Best Female Artist: Blackpink’s Jisoo
Best New Male Artist: ZEROBASEONE
Best New Female Artist: TripleS
Best Dance Performance (Male Group): Seventeen (“Super”)
Best Dance Performance (Female Group): NewJeans (“Ditto”)
Best Dance Performance (Male Solo): BTS’ Jungkook (“Seven” feat. Latto)
Best Dance Performance (Female Solo): Blackpink’s Jisoo (“Flower”)
Best Vocal Performance (Group): AKMU (“Love Lee”)
Best Vocal Performance (Solo): Parc Jae Jung (“Let’s Say Goodbye”)
Best Music Video: Jisoo (“Flower”)
Best OST: BTS (“The Planet”)
Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance: Agust D (“People Pt.2” feat. IU)
Best Collaboration: BTS’ Jungkook (“Seven” feat. Latto)
Additionally, fan favorites and emerging talents were recognized in various categories, and the Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 included NCT Dream, ATEEZ, TWICE, ZEROBASEONE, Lim Young-woong, Seventeen, Tomorrow X Together, Enhypen, Stray Kids, and BTS.
Notably, singer Jeon Somi and actor Park Bogum reprised their roles as hosts for the first and second night, maintaining the show’s vibrant energy and entertainment value, much like the previous year. The 2023 MAMA Awards once again solidified itself as a premier event honoring the best in Asian music.
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)
Jungkook, a member of the popular K-pop group BTS, has achieved a remarkable milestone on Spotify.
On November 7, his latest title track, “Standing Next to You,” secured the number one spot on Spotify’s daily Global Top Songs chart.
This achievement marked the third solo song by Jungkook to reach the top position on the chart, with his previous hits “Seven” (featuring Latto) and “3D” (featuring Jack Harlow) having also claimed the number-one spot earlier this year.
Notably, Jungkook has made history by becoming the first K-pop artist to have three different songs top Spotify’s global chart.
With this accomplishment, he has surpassed both his group, BTS, and BLACKPINK, both of whom had two songs each at number one, establishing himself as the K-pop artist with the most number one songs on Spotify’s Global Top Songs chart.
Additionally, Jungkook has extended his record as the K-pop artist with the most days at number one on Spotify’s global chart. He has now spent a total of 73 days at the number one position, considering all of his solo songs.
Moreover, Jungkook’s debut single, “Seven,” recently achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the fastest song in Spotify’s history to accumulate 1 billion streams, breaking the previous record set by Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers.”
This is a historic achievement for Jungkook, and he deserves congratulations for this remarkable feat.
Source: MUSIC/Nov 7, 2023/by E. Cha
(Filed by JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)