logo
Boynextdoor marks career high with 4th EP

Boynextdoor marks career high with 4th EP

Korea Herald20-05-2025

The fourth EP from BoyNextDoor sold over 1.16 million copies in the first week, hitting a new high for the rookie boy band, agency KOZ Entertainment said Tuesday, citing a local tally.
The EP 'No Genre' exceeded 1 million in sales in five days, and became its second million-seller after its previous album '19.99.'
The mini album topped Oricon's Daily Album Ranking for two days, debuting atop the chart as did its four previous endeavors — three EPs released in Korea as well as its debut physical single in Japan, 'And.'
The new album cinched the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Top Albums Chart in seven regions while the main track 'I Feel Good' made Melon's Top 100, joining the digital single 'If I Say, I Love You' from January.
In the meantime, a pop-up store in Seoul to mark the album's release is running until May 25.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

EXO's Kai expands solo tour to US
EXO's Kai expands solo tour to US

Korea Herald

time2 days ago

  • Korea Herald

EXO's Kai expands solo tour to US

Kai of EXO will take his first solo tour to the US, announced label SM Entertainment on Thursday. He is planning to visit five cities in the country — Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago and New York — from Aug. 28 to Sept. 6. The performer hinted at the expansion last month when he took to the stage for the label's group concert in Los Angeles, saying 'I might be able to meet you again this summer.' He kicked off tour 'Kaion' in May in Seoul and will have a show in Macao on Saturday. The remaining stops for the Asian leg of the tour are Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Yokohama, Japan. The tour comes after the release of his fourth solo EP 'Wait On Me,' which topped the iTunes Top Albums Chart in 30 regions.

Seventeen lands atop Oricon chart with LP No. 5
Seventeen lands atop Oricon chart with LP No. 5

Korea Herald

time3 days ago

  • Korea Herald

Seventeen lands atop Oricon chart with LP No. 5

Seventeen claimed the top spot on Oricon's Weekly Album Ranking with fifth studio album 'Happy Burstday,' according to the Japanese chart published Tuesday. The band topped the chart for the 14th time, adding on to its own record for the most time at the top for an international act. The album is its 10th consecutive album to sit atop the weekly chart, doing so with the most shipments for a non-Japanese act this year, at 457,000 copies. The LP stayed atop Oricon's Daily Album Ranking for six days straight. The album sold over 2.52 million copies in the first week, the most for a K-pop album released this year. Meanwhile, the bandmates are appearing on variety show 'Nana Bnb With Seventeen,' teaming up with star TV producer Na Young-seok for a second time. The first episode aired Monday.

K-pop groups fade from charts — are solo artists the new trend?
K-pop groups fade from charts — are solo artists the new trend?

Korea Herald

time3 days ago

  • Korea Herald

K-pop groups fade from charts — are solo artists the new trend?

Rise of solo artists reflects shifting tastes, diversified platforms and the waning impact of idol group comebacks The Korean music scene is undergoing a notable shift. Once dominated by idol groups, the nation's top streaming charts are now increasingly led by solo artists — signaling changing tastes, industry dynamics and the evolving behaviors of K-pop consumers. As of Tuesday, girl group aespa was the only idol act ranked in the top 10 of Melon, Korea's largest music streaming service. The monthly Melon chart for May showed aespa, Ive, and BoyNextDoor placing at No. 7, No. 9, and No. 10, respectively. In stark contrast, last May's chart was packed with K-pop groups: Illit landed at No. 2, followed by Ive, I-dle, QWER, TWS, aespa and Babymonster — collectively occupying seven of the top 10 spots. A similar pattern emerged on the April digital chart released by Circle Chart, run by the Korea Music Content Association. That month's top 10 included soloists G-Dragon, Jennie, Woodz, Zo Zazz, Hwang Garam and Rose. Only aespa's 'Supernova,' Ive's 'Heya' and Le Sserafim's 'Hot' represented idol groups. On the latest weekly chart, just three groups — aespa, BoyNextDoor and Riize — managed to stay in the top 10. Comebacks fall flat: A lack of impact from new idol songs Despite the sheer number of group comebacks this year, many new releases have failed to leave a lasting impression. NCT Wish, Le Sserafim, TWS, BoyNextDoor, Hearts2Hearts and Kiiikiii are among the teams that either returned or debuted in the first half of 2025. Yet few managed to maintain a stable presence on the charts. 'Frankly, K-pop groups aren't doing well right now,' said music critic Lim Hee-yun on Tuesday. 'Of course, artists like IU are consistently strong, and soloists like Woodz, Hwang Garam and Zo Zazz have made impressive rebounds or gradually built momentum with ballads. But when it comes to idol groups, there haven't been many new songs that truly capture the public's attention.' Many soloists dominating the local charts are former members of mega-popular groups such as Big Bang and Blackpink, whose brand recognition, fan bases and individual artistry contribute to their strong performance. Big Bang's G-Dragon, for instance, ranked No. 1 in Circle Chart's April 'Digital Top 400 Artist Index,' securing 12 songs in the top 400 and accounting for a 5.5 percent share of the entire chart. A format built for focus: Solo tracks resonate in the streaming age Lim believes part of the shift is rooted in the musical format itself. Idol music, often designed around choreographed performances and rap-heavy breaks, can be thrilling on stage but less appealing for passive listening. 'K-pop idol songs can be fun and dynamic with raps and powerful choreography. But as listening experiences, they're often less cohesive,' he said. 'Even if a group has strong vocalists, it can be jarring when a weaker member jumps in with a rap verse mid-song. Solo tracks, in contrast, are built around a single vocal tone and emotional arc — making them more immersive for listeners.' Lim also noted that K-pop fan behavior has changed. Younger fans, in particular, have drifted away from traditional streaming platforms. 'K-pop fans once played a central role in boosting their favorite groups on domestic charts. Now, with so many platforms — social media, fandom apps, exclusive content — their efforts are more spread out. Idol groups no longer dominate the charts like they used to,' he said. jaaykim@

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store