Latest news with #CaligoPt.1
Korea Herald
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Virtual group Plave to launch first Asia tour
Pioneering virtual idol group to kick off 'Dash: Quantum Leap' tour after record-breaking success Plave, the leading K-pop group in the virtual artist scene, is set to embark on its first Asia tour. According to agency Vlast, Plave will kick off its "Dash: Quantum Leap" Asia tour with a concert at the KSPO Dome in Seoul from Aug. 15 to 17. This will be their first performance since the "Hello, Asterum! Encore" held in Seoul in October 2024. The KSPO Dome, which can accommodate over 10,000 people, is widely considered a benchmark of popularity and success for K-pop idol groups. Plave will be the first virtual idol group ever to perform on its stage. Starting in Seoul, Plave will go on to perform in five other cities, Taipei on Aug. 23, Hong Kong on Oct. 1, Jakarta on Oct. 18, Bangkok on Oct. 25 and Tokyo on Nov. 1–2. Debuting in 2023, Plave is a five-member virtual boy group consisting of Yejun, Noah, Bamby, Eunho and Hamin. They've quickly risen in popularity across Korea and Asia, becoming one of the most successful virtual idol acts in K-pop. Using motion tracking and real-time rendering, the group translates the performers' actual movements directly into their virtual characters. Unlike AI-generated virtual humans, Plave's members perform live vocals and choreography at their concerts. The group's third mini album "Caligo Pt.1," released in February, featured the main track 'Dash,' which became the first song by a virtual idol group to enter Billboard's Global 200 chart. The album also broke Melon records with its highest-ever 24-hour streaming numbers, making Plave the only artist to simultaneously join both the Billions Club and the Millions Album record categories within a day of release. Plave is also set to expand its reach further with official Japanese debut single 'Hide and Seek,' scheduled for release on June 16.
Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Meet PLAVE: The virtual K-Pop group taking tech and talent to new heights
PLAVE, a five-member K-pop group composed entirely of virtual avatars, has taken the music world by storm. With chart-topping hits, television appearances, and sold-out concerts, they mirror the trajectory of traditional K-pop idols except they exist in two dimensions. Members Yejun, Noah, Eunho, Bamby, and Hamin are brought to life through advanced motion-capture technology, giving fans a fully immersive experience without ever revealing the real people behind the digital curtain. Speaking with Reuters under the condition of anonymity, the group shared their aspirations of global recognition akin to BTS. 'We don't often get to meet our fans so when we meet them at a concert we get very excited,' said pink-haired member Bamby. 'They cheer for us together... We make an all-out effort when we perform.' PLAVE's unique approach sets them apart from other virtual acts. Unlike AI-generated performers, their movements and vocals are human-controlled in real time. Vlast, the company behind the group, revealed that during concerts, the in-house motion-capture studio links directly to the concert venue, allowing PLAVE members to see and react to live fan feedback. 'This setup includes a feedback system that allows the members to see fan reactions from the concert venue as they perform,' Vlast CEO Lee Sung-gu explained. Their latest album, Caligo Pt.1, made waves earlier this year by selling over one million copies in a single week and topping South Korean music charts. The band has amassed over 470 million YouTube views since their 2023 debut and even landed on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Despite the growing presence of artificial intelligence in entertainment, Vlast is doubling down on motion-capture. 'It's our unique strength,' said CEO Lee. The mystery behind the real-life performers only adds to the allure for fans like Chang Ya Han, a 30-year-old from Taiwan. 'The love they give us, the way they drive us to become better, or how I wake up every day wanting to see them, that feeling is the same,' she shared during a crowded fan event in Seoul. As a "virtual entertainment" startup, Vlast has secured investments from major K-pop powerhouses like HYBE and YG Plus. In an industry increasingly embracing metaverse and AI-driven experiences, PLAVE is a frontrunner in redefining what it means to be an idol. Music critic Kim Do Heon points to accessibility as a key part of their appeal. 'It's expensive to go to an idol group's concert and you need to use a paid messaging app to interact with them these days,' he said. 'But the accessibility of cyber singers makes it much easier to like them.'
Business Recorder
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
Virtual band PLAVE mixes K-pop and technology to charm fans
SEOUL: The five members of one of K-pop's trendiest groups PLAVE have appeared on TV, held concerts, and one of their songs has even secured a place in the prestigious Billboard Global 200, an international music chart. On paper, they seem like any other K-pop sensation, except they are two-dimensional avatars with songs and content that have racked up over 470 million views on YouTube. The band consisting of Yejun, Noah, Eunho, Bamby and Hamin, told Reuters they want to be globally recognised like K-pop sensation BTS. 'We don't often get to meet our fans so when we meet them at a concert we get very excited,' said Bamby, who has pink hair and eyes. 'They cheer for us together… We make an all-out effort when we perform.' Unlike many other virtual groups, PLAVE's label Vlast says the avatars are controlled by humans, using motion-capture and other technology to relay their actions and singing. However, Vlast keeps the identity of the humans behind the avatars a secret, so they spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. Since its debut in 2023, PLAVE has broken streaming records and topped music charts in South Korea with its latest album 'Caligo Pt.1' released earlier this year, selling over one million copies in one week. 'For concerts, we connect our in-house motion capture studio directly to the actual concert venue in real-time,' Vlast CEO Lee Sung-gu said in an email. 'This setup includes a feedback system that allows the members to see fan reactions from the concert venue as they perform.' Despite the rise of artificial intelligence, Lee says his company plans to expand on the motion-capture technique. 'It's our unique strength,' he said. Spotify submits app update to Apple with external link for purchases in US There is little difference between virtual and real-life idols to Chang Ya Han, a 30-year-old Taiwanese fan who learned about PLAVE in an Instagram video. 'The love they give us, the way they drive us to become better, or how I wake up every day wanting to see them, that feeling is the same,' she said at a crowded fan event in Seoul. Vlast describes itself as a 'virtual entertainment' startup and said it received equity investments from K-pop labels HYBE and YG Plus early last year. In recent years, technology such as AI and the metaverse have been increasingly embraced by the multi-million dollar K-pop industry. According to Seoul-based music critic Kim Do Heon, PLAVE's success hinges on its interaction with fans. 'It's expensive to go to an idol group's concert and you need to use a paid messaging app to interact with them these days,' Kim said. 'But the accessibility of cyber singers makes it much easier to like them.'
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Motion-capture idols: How virtual K-pop band PLAVE uses tech to charm global fans (VIDEO)
SEOUL, May 2 — The five members of one of K-pop's trendiest groups PLAVE have appeared on TV, held concerts, and one of their songs has even secured a place in the prestigious Billboard Global 200, an international music chart. On paper, they seem like any other K-pop sensation, except they are two-dimensional avatars with songs and content that have racked up over 470 million views on YouTube. The band consisting of Yejun, Noah, Eunho, Bamby and Hamin, told Reuters they want to be globally recognised like K-pop sensation BTS. 'We don't often get to meet our fans, so when we meet them at a concert, we get very excited,' said Bamby, who has pink hair and eyes. 'They cheer for us together... We make an all-out effort when we perform.' Unlike many other virtual groups, PLAVE's label Vlast says the avatars are controlled by humans, using motion-capture and other technology to relay their actions and singing. However, Vlast keeps the identity of the humans behind the avatars a secret, so they spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. Ahn Jin-yeong, a fan of virtual K-pop boy band PLAVE shops fan goods at a pop-up store in Seoul March 7, 2025. — Reuters pic Since its debut in 2023, PLAVE has broken streaming records and topped music charts in South Korea with its latest album Caligo Pt.1 released earlier this year, selling over one million copies in one week. 'For concerts, we connect our in-house motion capture studio directly to the actual concert venue in real-time,' Vlast CEO Lee Sung-gu said in an email. 'This setup includes a feedback system that allows the members to see fan reactions from the concert venue as they perform.' Despite the rise of artificial intelligence, Lee says his company plans to expand on the motion-capture technique. 'It's our unique strength,' he said. There is little difference between virtual and real-life idols to Chang Ya Han, a 30-year-old Taiwanese fan who learned about PLAVE in an Instagram video. Fans of virtual K-pop boy band PLAVE take a look around a pop-up store in Seoul March 7, 2025. — Reuters pic 'The love they give us, the way they drive us to become better, or how I wake up every day wanting to see them, that feeling is the same,' she said at a crowded fan event in Seoul. Vlast describes itself as a 'virtual entertainment' startup and said it received equity investments from K-pop labels HYBE and YG Plus early last year, as AI and the metaverse are increasingly embraced by the multi-million-dollar K-pop industry. According to Seoul-based music critic Kim Do Heon, PLAVE's success hinges on its interaction with fans. 'It's expensive to go to an idol group's concert and you need to use a paid messaging app to interact with them these days,' Kim said. 'But the accessibility of cyber singers makes it much easier to like them.' — Reuters Son Yong-shin, a fan of virtual K-pop boy band PLAVE, shops at a pop-up store in Seoul March 7, 2025. — Reuters pic
Express Tribune
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Virtual Korean pop band PLAVE ready to go global
The five members of one of K-pop's trendiest groups PLAVE have appeared on TV, held concerts, and one of their songs has even secured a place in the prestigious Billboard Global 200, an international music chart. On paper, they seem like any other K-pop sensation, except they are two-dimensional avatars with songs and content that have racked up over 470 million views on YouTube. The band consisting of Yejun, Noah, Eunho, Bamby and Hamin, told Reuters they want to be globally recognised like K-pop sensation BTS. "We don't often get to meet our fans so when we meet them at a concert we get very excited," said Bamby, who has pink hair and eyes. "They cheer for us together... We make an all-out effort when we perform." Unlike many other virtual groups, PLAVE's label Vlast says the avatars are controlled by humans, using motion-capture and other technology to relay their actions and singing. However, Vlast keeps the identity of the humans behind the avatars a secret, so they spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. Since its debut in 2023, PLAVE has broken streaming records and topped music charts in South Korea with its latest album Caligo Pt.1 released earlier this year, selling over one million copies in one week. "For concerts, we connect our in-house motion capture studio directly to the actual concert venue in real-time," Vlast CEO Lee Sung-gu said in an email. "This setup includes a feedback system that allows the members to see fan reactions from the concert venue as they perform." Despite the rise of artificial intelligence, Lee says his company plans to expand on the motion-capture technique. "It's our unique strength," he said. There is little difference between virtual and real-life idols to Chang Ya Han, a 30-year-old Taiwanese fan who learned about PLAVE in an Instagram video. "The love they give us, the way they drive us to become better, or how I wake up every day wanting to see them, that feeling is the same," she said at a crowded fan event in Seoul. Vlast describes itself as a 'virtual entertainment' startup and said it received equity investments from K-pop labels HYBE and YG Plus early last year, as AI and the metaverse are increasingly embraced by the multi-million dollar K-pop industry. According to Seoul-based music critic Kim Do Heon, PLAVE's success hinges on its interaction with fans. "It's expensive to go to an idol group's concert and you need to use a paid messaging app to interact with them these days," Kim said. "But the accessibility of cyber singers makes it much easier to like them." Reuters
