#SHOWBIZ: BTS' 'ON' surpasses 500mil Spotify stream
SEOUL: K-pop sensation BTS' song "ON" has surpassed 500 million streams on the global music platform Spotify, the group's agency BigHit Music said Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the song, released in February 2020, "ON" reached the 500 million mark Friday, becoming the 16th group track by the boy band to achieve the milestone on the platform.
"ON," the main track of BTS' fourth studio album, "Map of the Soul: 7," reflects on the group's journey over the seven years since their debut. – Bernama-Yonhap
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
35 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Renowned K-pop producer Teddy Park to introduce new co-ed group Allday Project
SEOUL: A new K-pop group is set to make waves in the industry soon, emerging from one of its most influential producers. The Black Label, led by renowned hitmaker Teddy Park, is preparing to debut Allday Project, a five-member co-ed group, on June 23. This news comes from a recent report by The Korea Herald. The group will consist of two male and three female members: Annie, Tarzzan, Bailey, Woochan, and Youngseo. Their line-up was officially unveiled today with the launch of Allday Project's social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook. Park, 46, is widely recognised as the creative force behind many of BlackPink's global hits, and he's expected to bring a fresh perspective to this new venture. Among the members, two are already generating considerable excitement: Youngseo and Annie. Youngseo gained popularity as a finalist on the survival show 'R U Next?', where she secured second place and was initially expected to debut with the girl group ILLIT. However, she later parted ways with Belift Lab, and the group proceeded without her. Meanwhile, Annie, whose real name is Moon Seo-yoon, is attracting attention due to her prominent background; she is the eldest daughter of Shinsegae chairperson Chung Yoo-kyung and the granddaughter of Shinsegae group chair Lee Myung-hee.
The Star
42 minutes ago
- The Star
'Doing what I love': Malaysian fashion designer Zang Toi is living his best life
One thing that Datuk Zang Toi knows best is living in the moment – and fashion design, of course. The Kelantan-born trailblazer has built an international reputation for his bold, elegant creations. His clients include celebrities and royalty alike. 'I'm just enjoying my life right now,' he says during a video call from New York City, where he lives. 'When I'm not travelling, I stick to a very disciplined schedule. I'm usually up by seven or eight in the morning, and with a cup of black coffee in hand, I'll read the newspaper and reply to emails or text messages.' Despite his global success, he remains grounded. He still finds contentment in simple pleasures and the quiet rhythm of each day. Toi treasures the little moments – an evening run in the nearby park, sketching in the hotel lobby across from his apartment, or cooking a simple dinner to wind down. He never forgets his Malaysian roots, and still sees himself as the young boy from Kuala Krai who dared to dream big. 'My family is in Malaysia, and I have a big group of fans there. I'm still a proud Malaysian,' he says, with his trademark beaming smile. His collections often reflect his heritage, such as the inclusion of a cheongsam design for the Autumn/Winter 2025 collection. 'There's this jade green piece with a hand-beaded silver dragon, inspired by my beloved 97-year-old mother, who has worn a cheongsam every day since she was 18,' he notes. Toi says he is not ready to slow down just yet. Turning 64 this week, he continues to pour his energy into his work, finding joy in every stitch, sketch and show. 'I count my blessings everyday doing what I love.' Zang Toi's Malaysian heritage often surfaces in his collections, like this cheongsam inspired by his mother's dressing. Photo: Aly Kuler How would you describe the current chapter of your career as a designer? I have been truly blessed. This is my 36th year in business. When I first started out in in 1989, one of my dresses was featured in Vogue by Anna Wintour, and three months later, I was selected by her to be among the new young faces of American fashion. That put me on the fashion map. Thirty six years later, my business is still going strong. As a matter of fact, last year was my best year. Even though there is this view of luxury brands not doing so well in terms of sales, my label performed incredibly well. Read more: Gen-Z fashion, streetwear, K-pop: Designer Tom Abang Saufi is still cool at 70 Is there something you are doing differently compared to other luxury brands? I'm operating by special orders only. My designs are no longer stocked in stores. Saks Fifth Avenue, the biggest luxury department store chain in America (which bought over rivals Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in December last year), is allowing me to travel to all its branches in the country and put on an three-day trunk show. I would say it's a very lucrative business model – you don't have returns, you don't have markdowns, you don't have discounts. I'm fortunate that even after decades, the ladies still love my clothes. They come from across America too, and they don't buy two or three pieces, they order a whole wardrobe of looks from me. What is your secret to creating beautiful clothes that stand out, yet feel so deeply personal to your clients? You have to combine fashion and functionality. I think when the Zang Toi name is mentioned, people immediately associate it with glamour, but I always strive to make sure that my designs look 'right' on the person wearing them. You cannot have your creations looking too costume-y. Most of those who wear Zang Toi know that they're guaranteed the attention, but at the same time, they are confident of not appearing as too over the top. What is next for you? Lots of veteran designers usually release a memoir to mark their long career. I've been approached by so many people about writing a book, but I told them I have to wait until I'm retired. After several decades in the industry, he is still as exuberant as the young man who first stepped into New York City to pursue his fashion career. This picture shows him with one of his designs in 2020. Photo: Aly Kuler I'm such a perfectionist. If I'm going to take on something like that, I'd want it to be the best of the best. So maybe it'll be wise to wait until I have the time to fully dedicate my attention to it. If I were to release a memoir, I'd want it to serve as an inspiration for younger designers. For all the kids living in a small kampung , I want to show them that they too can achieve their dreams. I was a 'C-student' in school growing up. I just loved drawing. If I can make it, so can they. Is that a subtle hint that you are thinking about stepping back and finally taking a well-earned break? Not yet, but eventually I have to. I've been working for decades. I would like to have spare time to travel further and see more of this world, before I leave it. I think somehow there will come a time when I have to leave the stage gracefully and give space to the next generation. Read more: 'Just do you': How Malaysian designer Bernard Chandran fashioned his success It has been a while since your last show in Malaysia. Can we expect a big runway return sometime soon? I have something in mind for next year, a runway showcase, but it depends on a few things coming together. Maybe I'll move my focus to Malaysia when I'm semi-retired – and if I do, I'd love to work on launching projects that support the next generation of Malaysian designers. Have young Malaysian designers ever reached out to you for advice on navigating the fashion industry? Once in a while, I get students reaching out to me on social media for help and advice, but so far, no young designers. If anyone needs advice, just reach out to me – I'm pretty good at replying to DMs (direct messages). A good friend once told me you should never become too important to return phone calls or messages. We Malaysians are fortunate to have several individuals making their mark internationally, like (Datuk) Jimmy Choo and (Tan Sri) Michelle Yeoh, so the younger generation should always seize any opportunity to learn from them.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Two BTS megastars released from South Korea military
CHUNCHEON: The world's most popular boy band is heading for a reunion: K-pop megastars RM and V from BTS were released Tuesday after service 18 months of South Korean military service, prompting a fan frenzy. The seven members of BTS, South Korea's most lucrative musical act, have been on a hiatus since 2022 while they separately undertake mandatory military service, required of all South Korean men under the age of 30. Hundreds of fans gathered near two army bases just outside of the capital Seoul where band leader RM -- recently named 'Favorite K-pop Artist' at the American Music Awards -- and singer V were discharged. 'To be honest, there were many difficult and painful moments. But during my service, I truly felt how so many people were protecting the country in our place,' RM told reporters. V said military service was 'a time for me to reset and rebuild both my body and mind'. 'Now that I've done that, I truly want to run straight to ARMY as soon as possible,' he said, referring to the band's official fandom name. When asked by reporters what they wanted to do after discharge, both replied, 'perform'. 'What we want most right now is to perform again,' said RM. 'We're working hard on the new album so we can return to the stage as soon as possible.' In total, four BTS members will complete their service this week. Two were discharged last year, and the final member SUGA -- who has been working as a social service agent for alternative non-active-duty service -- will be released later this month. HYBE, the band's agency, urged fans not to go to the discharge location, citing safety concerns. 'With the safety of both artists and fans in mind, we strongly urge fans not to go to the location in person,' the agency wrote on Weverse, its superfan platform. Despite the warning, dozens of fans gathered outside V's military base, eagerly awaiting the return of their star. 'Honestly, I came here with such high expectations,' Yang Ho-hee, 28, told AFP outside the base. Fans had hung colourful banners to welcome the 29-year-old back to civilian life. 'Taehyung, let's never be apart again,' one said, referring to V's real name, Kim Tae-hyung. 'I'll follow only you, Taehyung. We are each other's strength,' said another. Reunion tour? Near the bases, on a football field where the newly released BTS members spoke, hundreds of fans from around the world gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols. 'Actually, it's mixed emotions. I feel like I'm crying already,' said Arlene Mendoza, a fan from the Philippines. 'I've been travelling to Korea so many times, but this is actually the first time I'll see V.' In addition to the army releases, Friday is so-called FESTA -- a celebration that marks the anniversary of the group's debut and typically draws thousands of global fans to Seoul. Mendoza told AFP she plans to attend fellow member J-Hope's concert on Friday, plus join other BTS FESTA events. All the band members signed new contracts with HYBE in 2023, and once SUGA is released on June 21, analysts expect profit-driving reunion activities. 'In the case of HYBE share prices, the current market consensus is seen as not fully reflecting BTS's impact,' Lim Soo-jin, an analyst at Daishin Securities, told AFP. Despite an ongoing police investigation into the company chairman for suspected insider trading and a recent raid by authorities, analysts say HYBE's shares are up, rising by 10 percent over the past week through June 9. GDP impact Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. That accounts for roughly 0.2 percent of South Korea's total GDP, according to official data. HYBE has hinted at a BTS comeback this year, but has also said the members 'need time for reflection and preparation'. 'Normally, the process goes from song production to album release, then a tour,' Lee Jae-sang, CEO of HYBE, told a shareholder meeting in March. 'But since BTS have already become global top-tier artists, we are continuing discussions about their vision and what's next,' Lee added. Outside HYBE headquarters in Seoul, banners from fans read: 'Thank you for making even the waiting feel joyful.' The building was wrapped with the slogan 'WE ARE BACK', the official logo for the upcoming BTS FESTA. HYBE shares opened nearly three percent higher Tuesday morning, reaching their highest level in two years.
