Latest news with #Blackpink
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The eye-watering profit Labubu maker expects to make from trend
Chinese toymaker Pop Mart anticipates a significant profit increase of at least 350 per cent and a revenue jump of around 200 per cent for the first half of the year, driven by the immense popularity of its Labubu dolls. The fang-toothed plush toys gained widespread global demand after celebrities like Blackpink 's Lisa and Rihanna were seen with them, contributing to Pop Mart's valuation reaching $40bn (£31.6bn). Originally created by artist Kasing Lung in 2015, Labubu figurines were first sold by Pop Mart in 2019, with their popularity soaring after plush keyring versions were introduced in 2023 and gained visibility on TikTok. Labubu dolls, typically priced around $40 (£30), are sold in limited quantities via 'blind boxes', a marketing strategy that has faced criticism for potentially encouraging compulsive buying. The high demand has led to rare Labubus reselling for over $1,000 (£745) and a life−sized figure fetching $1.08m yuan ($150,000 or £111,800) at auction, prompting Pop Mart to issue guides on verifying authenticity and to scale up production.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blackpink Returns to L.A. to Remind Us All Why They're the Biggest Girl Group in the World
K-pop supergroup Blackpink returned to Los Angeles over the weekend, officially kicking off the North American leg of their Deadline world tour. The four-member girl group — comprised of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa — played two sold-out shows at L.A.'s SoFi Stadium on July 12 and July 13, setting a new record as the first girl group to sell out two nights at the stadium. The group's first L.A. shows in nearly two years, the two nights brought over 100,000 fans to the Inglewood-based venue, according to Live Nation. More from The Hollywood Reporter Tears, Spaceships and Nostalgia: How Backstreet Boys "Pushed the Limits" of Las Vegas' Sphere With "Mind-Boggling" Residency Launch THR's 2025 Top Music Lawyers: Nominations Are Now Open Kanye "Ye" West Struggles Through Chaotic, Rain-Soaked Shanghai Concert The L.A. shows were shrewdly tied to Blackpink's first group release in nearly three years with the undeniably catchy and energetic single, 'Jump,' which was released Friday (July 11). The track, which remains in the top spot of Spotify's Daily Top Songs Global Chart, broke YouTube's record for the most-viewed video globally in a single day with 26 million views, according to a release. Night two of the girl group's L.A. run was full of energy, excitement and even a crowd-pleasing surprise in the form of a special guest. Here are some of the highlights from Blackpink's Deadline world tour in L.A. In the time since the chart-topping group last visited L.A., Blackpink has ventured off as individuals, each enjoying increasingly fruitful solo careers. In December 2023, it was announced that the group had renewed their exclusive contracts for group activities with YG Entertainment; however, it was later announced that all four members decided to part ways with the label for solo activities. Jennie signed with Columbia Records through a partnership with her record label and entertainment company Oddatelier; Lisa and her entertainment company LLOUD signed a partnership deal with RCA Records; Rosé signed a global solo deal with Atlantic Records; while Jisoo signed a global deal with Warner Records. With that in mind, it was hard to envision what a setlist might look like, but Blackpink managed to strike an impressive balance of classic songs, new solo works and a guiding act-structure to the show. The group kicked off the show with perhaps the most quintessential Blackpink track, 'Kill This Love,' later playing other signature songs such as 'DDU-DU DDU-DU,' 'Lovesick Girls,' 'Forever Young' and 'How You Like That.' They also performed their debut songs ('Boombayah' and 'Whistle'), songs from their most recent full release ('Pink Venom' and 'Shut Down') and their latest single 'Jump.' Rosé and Bruno Mars have taken the charts by storm with the Blackpink member's solo release 'Apt.' The single, inspired by a popular Korean drinking game, has spent 37 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100; it currently sits at No. 27, having peaked at No. 3. The singer closed her solo set with 'Apt.' As Rosé finished the first chorus, the crowd already more than engaged in the exuberant performance, fans erupted when Mars was lifted onto the extended stage. The pair — sporting matching racing jackets — looked downright thrilled to perform the song, making it a highlight of the night second only to Blackpink's performance of 'Jump.' There's something to be said for why K-pop groups make for the ideal stadium act. Blackpink, much like other K-pop groups, puts on a show seemingly tailor-made for a stadium with a non-stop, visually exciting nearly three hours of performance. A Blackpink show would be enjoyable in nearly any venue but a stadium with legions of fans, almost all with the group's iconic pink hammer lightstick in hand, adds to the experience ten fold. The girl group is slated to head to Chicago's Soldier Field, Toronto's Rogers Stadium and New York's Citi Field before heading to Paris, Milan, Barcelona and London this year. During act two — each portion broken up by pre-recorded video showing the women of Blackpink driving down a road, through the lights of Las Vegas and more — the group's eldest member, Jisoo, and the youngest, Lisa, performed their solo sets, while Jennie and Rosé performed theirs during act four. Jisoo endeared herself to the crowd with songs like 'Earthquake' and 'Your Love,' the latter featuring a section that found the 30-year-old being hoisted in the air and paraded around the stage. Lisa performed strong versions of 'Thunder' and 'Fxck Up the World,' with the 28-year-old White Lotus actress also showcasing her undeniable dancing skills. Jennie, who played a small run of shows timed to her solo release Ruby, had the crowd singing along to a mashup of her songs 'Mantra' and 'With an IE (way up).' The 29-year-old made the stadium feel like a club with a dynamic performance of her hit 'Like Jennie.' Rosé was the last of her group members to perform solo. The 28-year-old sang the mellow '3am' and an abridged version of her album's lead single 'Toxic Till the End' before ending with a dynamite performance of 'Apt.' It's clear that each member of the group has had time to grow as a performer — Lisa and Jennie made their solo Coachella debut, Jisoo toured Asia earlier this year and Rosé found herself with an unstoppable top 40 hit in 'Apt.' But each solo section skillfully conveyed the notion that performing as solo singers has only improved their skills and chemistry as a group. The choice to include these solo sections contributed to the overall feeling that any attendee of the show likely felt when leaving Sunday night — Blackpink is at the top of their game. 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The Independent
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Labubu doll maker says profits set to soar 350%
Chinese toymaker Pop Mark said it is expecting the massive popularity of Labubu dolls to lead to soaring profits for the first six months of the year. The popularity of the fang-toothed plush toy spread like a wildfire after celebrities like Blackpink 's Lisa and Rihanna were seen flaunting them on their luxury bags. The Beijing -based company on Tuesday said it expects at least a 350 per cent profit and about a 200 per cent jump in revenue for the first six months of the year. The persistent global demand for Labubu dolls has turned Pop Mart into a $40bn (£31.6bn) company, with its Hong Kong -listed shares jumping 588 per cent over the past year, according to Bloomberg. The company's revenue more than doubled in 2024 to $1.81bn (£1.35bn), mostly due to the elvish dolls. Revenue from Pop Mart's plush toys soared more than 1,200 per cent in 2024, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of its overall revenue, according to the company's annual report. The Labubu, by artist and illustrator Kasing Lung, first appeared in three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology in 2015. In 2019, Mr Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart to sell Labubu figurines. But it wasn't until Pop Mart started selling Labubu plush toys on key rings in 2023 that the toothy monsters suddenly seemed to be everywhere. It took the dolls less than a year to break into the Western market, aided by their increased visibility on the Chinese video app TikTok. The charms can often be seen dangling from expensive Hermes Birkins and Miu Miu bags, lending them a fun and colourful twist. Labubus, priced at around $40 (about £30), are released in limited quantities and sold in 'blind boxes', meaning buyers don't know the model they will receive. The company has faced criticism over its marketing technique, which some say promotes compulsive buying. As well as regular designs, there are also so-called "secret edition" Labubus, which are especially rare and sought-after by collectors. Demand for Labubus is so high, that rare Labubus are being resold for more than $1,000 (£745) each, according to reports. In June, a life-sized Labubu figure was sold in China for 1.08m yuan ($150,000 or £111,800 ) at an auction, setting a new record for the "blind box" toy. Amidst its growing popularity, Pop Mart has responded to the surge in counterfeits by releasing detailed videos on how to verify a doll's authenticity. Right now Pop Mart, whose products are manufactured across Asia, says that it is continuously scaling production and expanding distribution across its online shop, retail stores and 'blind box' vending machines to meet increasing demand.
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Daewoo E&C sets sights on Gaepo for latest upscale Summit project
South Korean builder Daewoo Engineering & Construction is poised to bring its luxury residential brand 'The Summit' to Gaepo, southern Seoul, through the highly anticipated Gaepo Useong Seventh Apartment redevelopment project. Known for constructing residential landmarks across Korea, Daewoo E&C's high-end apartments have consistently set new standards in urban living. Daewoo E&C's Summit journey began with the launch of the Yongsan Prugio Summit in 2014, which introduced advanced design features and premium finishes. This project also stood out for the unofficial celebrity endorsement it unexpectedly received. The complex gained international attention when Blackpink's Rose was revealed to be a resident, following the viral popularity of her solo track, 'APT,' which sparked curiosity about Korean high-rise living. Daewoo E&C's signature approach was further solidified with the Seocho Prugio Summit, a reconstruction of the old Samho First Apartment in Seocho, southern Seoul. The apartment was the first in Korea to incorporate a "sky community," a bridge between towers housing shared spaces like a book cafe and fitness center. Unlike conventional penthouse strategies aimed at maximizing profit, Daewoo E&C installed community facilities on the top floor, offering panoramic views of Gangnam. Another landmark was the Gwacheon Prugio Summit, rebuilt from the former Gwacheon Jugong Complex 1. The development introduced large-scale amenities such as a 9,300-square-meter main community space with an indoor pool, sauna and luxury Italian furniture brand Febal Casa in the sky lounge. The project surpassed Gangnam's top-tier apartments, earning the phrase 'Gwacheon over Gangnam,' and ultimately became one of Gyeonggi Province's most sought-after addresses. Daewoo E&C implemented a post-sale strategy by waiting until 60 percent of construction was complete before selling units. The strategy was to maximize return for cooperative members, resulting in an average return of nearly 200 million won ($144,000) per household. With this success, the company introduced Blanc Summit 74 in the Busan North Port redevelopment zone in 2023 and sold all the project's apartments and officetels within months, despite challenging market conditions. Now, Daewoo E&C is setting its sights on Gaepo Useong Seventh Apartment in the Gaepo redevelopment area of southern Seoul. With a proposal featuring premium custom layouts, private elevators for each unit line, an 80-meter-long sky bridge ㅡ the longest in the area ㅡ and an automated food waste disposal system, the company is positioning itself to deliver the next residential landmark. Daewoo E&C has also offered favorable financial terms, including a CD-based interest rate with zero spread on essential project costs. 'As Korea's top provider of residential products in the private sector, we are fully prepared to offer a masterpiece through years of construction expertise and distinguished designs,' a Daewoo E&C spokesperson said. 'Our goal is not just to build homes but to drive the success of the cooperative's project with optimal financial strategies and premium-quality living solutions.'
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Bruno Mars says he's 'almost out of debt' after rumour he lost $50million
Bruno Mars has joked about his rumoured debt as her performed with Blackpink's Rosé in Los Angeles. Bruno, 39, delighted fans on July 13 as he made a surprise appearance on stage during Blackpink's Deadline World Tour Show. The singer, real name Peter Gene Hernandez, jumped onstage to perform with band member Rosé to perform their hit song APT. Celebrating the moment on social media, Bruno shared a clip of himself bounding across the stage as confetti fell from the ceiling. The star cheekily captioned the post: 'Almost out of debt BehhhhhBehhhhh!!! Preciate You ROSAAAAYYYYYY!!!! 🥳' Fans loved the joke from the artist and laughed along with his cheeky quip. 'ALMOST OUT OF DEBT lmaoooo 😭😭,' clarinha_lximenes. 'BRUNO YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR IS ICONIC ✨️✨️' The joke was a hilarious callback to the rumours from 2023 that the singer was in millions of pounds of debt, after gambling $50million (£37.4m) away at MGM Casinos. It was then alleged that the singer's long-term performance partnership, which has been in place with the company since 2016, was put in place to offset the money the star owed. MGM Resorts International denied the claims, stating: 'MGM and Bruno's partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect.' The group continued in a statement in March 2024 to E! News: 'Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. 'We're proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world's most thrilling and dynamic performers. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.' The song APT has been a huge hit for Bruno and Rosé, with nearly two billion streams on YouTube and 1.8billion streams on Spotify. More Trending Collaborations have been on a hot streak for the singer with his song Die With A Smile with Lady Gaga, 2.7b streams on Spotify. The singer's other hits include Uptown Funk with Mark Ronson, 24K Magic, Please Me with Cardi B, Just The Way You Are, and That's What I Like. It has been estimated that the 16-time Grammy winner is worth approximately $175million (£131m), all thanks to his hit songs, songwriting, album sales, tours, and lucrative Las Vegas residencies. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Horror director reveals why Amazon Prime series star was cut from new 90s reboot MORE: Reese Witherspoon's nickname for her financier boyfriend is so Reese Witherspoon MORE: Neil Diamond makes rare surprise performance 7 years after retirement over health
