In a bold move set to shake up the K-pop landscape, Nikki Semin Han, former CEO of SM Entertainment, has resurfaced at the helm of TITAN CONTENT, a newly established U.S.-based K-pop powerhouse with aspirations of redefining the industry.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, TITAN boasts studios in both Los Angeles and Seoul, spearheaded by a leadership team renowned for launching iconic acts such as BoA, Girls’ Generation, SUPER JUNIOR, EXO, The Boyz, TWICE, and ITZY, among others.
The official announcement on November 28 introduced TITAN’s formidable founders and executive team, featuring K-pop luminaries Semin Han as chairman of the board, CEO Katie Kang, chief performance officer Lia Kim, chief visual officer Guiom Lee, and chief business officer Dom Rodriguez.
The forthcoming venture aims to oversee artist management, cultivate new K-pop groups, and eventually organize a series of music festivals. TITAN plans to blend “traditional K-pop training and artist development with Web3 and metaverse innovation,” marking a significant stride towards a transformative era in music and entertainment. While the initial roster of signings remains undisclosed, the company has outlined its commitment to fostering a space where artists flourish, prioritizing fans, and placing music at the forefront while embracing industry disruption.
Describing TITAN as the “Avengers of the K-pop community,” Semin Han remarked, “With a proven record of elevating global superstars, TITAN’s founders and executives have played key roles in helping shape K-pop and making it a global lifestyle with passionate fans across the world.” The vision is to establish a company that propels artists, prioritizes fans, emphasizes music, and champions industry disruption.
K-pop continues to ride a global wave, evident in the surge of ticket sales, streams, and online discussions surrounding the genre. Luminate’s “Mapping Out K-Pop’s Global Dominance” report highlights the genre’s remarkable success, with global on-demand streams (audio and video) of K-pop music surpassing 90.4 billion in the current year, representing a staggering 42.2% increase from 2022. Japan leads the charts with 9.7 billion streams, followed closely by the U.S. at 9.2 billion.
Kang expresses TITAN’s commitment to leading the K-pop revolution on a global scale by bridging the East and the West. “Not only will we utilize our vast experience and expertise to develop and create beloved K-pop artists and brands, but we will also push the industry forward through savvy Web3 disruption.”
TITAN’s initial seed round received substantial backing from RW3 Ventures and Raptor Group, with Dreamus Company serving as a co-lead investor. Co-investors in this ambitious venture include Animoca Ventures, Sfermion, Bell Partners AB, Heros Entertainment, Infinity Ventures Crypto, Scrum Ventures, Planetarium, and Avalanche.
(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)
K-Pop star G-Dragon has made his first public appearance since being named in an alleged drug probe.
He denied any involvement in drug-related activities and assured fans of his cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
G-Dragon also addressed unrelated matters, including his hair color, and gave a cryptic response when asked about a specific brothel linked to the controversy.
The investigation will continue, and G-Dragon is expected to undergo a drug test.
The case has been further complicated by negative drug test results from actor Lee Sun Kyun, adding confusion to the legal proceedings.
K-Pop sensation G-Dragon made a significant public appearance on November 6, marking his first engagement with the media since he became embroiled in drug allegations.
The artist arrived at the Incheon Police Station to meet the investigators regarding the accusations surrounding his alleged drug use on Monday morning.
Before the police questioning, G-Dragon took a moment to address the media, breaking silence on the controversy.
With a resolute tone, he stated, “I have nothing to do with the drug crimes (alleged against me). I am here to reveal this”.
When questioned about his recent hair color modifications, G-Dragon confirmed that he hadn’t dyed or bleached his hair.
The conversation took a curious turn when he was asked about a specific exclusive brothel linked to the ongoing controversy.
G-Dragon’s response was, “We’ll have to see”.
Addressing his devoted fans, the idol offered reassuring words, asking them not to be overly concerned and assuring them of his full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
He said, “Don’t worry too much. I’ll cooperate well and return.”
As the investigation proceeds, G-Dragon is expected to undergo a drug test. It’s noteworthy that he has consistently refuted all allegations against him.
Source: Delhi Times
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)
Seventeen has achieved a historic milestone in the world of K-pop, becoming the first artist to sell five million copies of an album within the initial week of its release. This achievement was confirmed by Korea’s Hanteo Chart, which meticulously tracks song and album sales.
Seventeen’s groundbreaking accomplishment was realized through their latest album, “Seventeenth Heaven,” which made its debut on October 23. According to Hanteo Chart data, “Seventeenth Heaven” garnered a staggering total of 5,091,887 copies sold during the first week of its release, spanning from October 23 to 29.
This remarkable feat solidified Seventeen’s position as the pioneer in K-pop, setting a new standard for album sales during the first week, as per Hanteo Chart statistics.
A breakdown of their daily sales reveals that “Seventeenth Heaven” made a resounding impact on the very first day of its release, with 3,288,017 copies sold on October 23. This placed it in second place on Hanteo Chart’s all-time list of highest first-day album sales. The top spot in this category remains occupied by Seventeen’s previous album, “FML,” which garnered 3,998,373 copies on its debut day.
Here’s a glimpse of the highest first-week sales in K-pop history based on Hanteo Chart data, as documented by the Korean Sales blog:
1st Week Sales
SEVENTEEN – SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN (2023) – 5,091,887 copies [NEW]
Stray Kids – 5-STAR (2023) – 4,617,499 copies
SEVENTEEN – FML (2023) – 4,550,214 copies
NCT DREAM – ISTJ (2023) – 3,652,897 copies
BTS – MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 (2020) – 3,378,633 copies
BTS – Proof (2022) – 2,752,496 copies
BTS – BE (2020) – 2,274,882 copies
TXT – The Name Chapter: FREEFALL (2023) – 2,251,959 copies
TXT – The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION (2023) – 2,180,889 copies
Stray Kids – MAXIDENT (2022) – 2,163,349 copies
BTS – MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA (2019) – 2,130,480 copies
V – Layover (2023) – 2,101,974 copies
SEVENTEEN – Face the Sun (2022) – 2,067,769 copies
BTS – Butter (2021) – 1,975,363 copies
ZEROBASEONE – YOUTH IN THE SHADE (2023) – 1,822,028 copies
Aespa – MY WORLD (2023) – 1,698,784 copies
NewJeans – Get Up (2023) – 1,650,181 copies
NCT 127 – Fact Check (2023) – 1,647,873 copies
IVE – I’VE MINE (2023) – 1,605,948 copies [NEW]
NCT DREAM – Candy (2022) – 1,591,021 copies
Seventeen’s remarkable achievement with “Seventeenth Heaven” will undoubtedly be etched into K-pop history as a testament to their incredible popularity and the fervor of their dedicated fan base.
(JR AMIGO/ai/mnm)
MANILA — As we approach the end of 2023, Filipino fans of K-pop and K-drama can still look forward to an exciting lineup of concerts and fan meetings scheduled for November.
Kicking off the month is the On Festival, taking place on November 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Co-produced by ABS-CBN, this event promises an array of artists from both the Philippines and South Korea, representing various music genres.
Homegrown talents include the folk-rock sensation Ben&Ben, as well as soloists Moira dela Torre, Darren Espanto, and Adie. From South Korea, the lineup includes Suho of the K-pop boy band EXO, folk duo Melomance, singer Seori, and the indie band Wave to Earth.
On November 11, South Korean singer-actor Lee Junho, known for his recent role in the hit romantic comedy “King the Land,” will host a fan meet at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Actor Choi Wooshik, famous for his role in the Palme d’Or-winning film “Parasite,” will also visit the country for a fan meet at the SM North Skydome in Quezon City on November 16.
On November 18, SE SO NEON, hailed as the “new face of Korean indie rock,” will hold a concert at the Filinvest Tent in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Park Bom and Minzy, former members of the disbanded girl group 2NE1, are set to make their return to the Philippines for “K-Blast,” taking place at the Mall of Asia Arena Concert Grounds on November 24.
Please note that, as of now, promoter Neuwave Events and Productions has not yet revealed the complete lineup for K-Blast, along with the ticketing details.
For the latest news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the Hallyu Corner microsite.
(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)