Latest news with #Kard
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Chaebol heiress, former Hybe trainee and prodigy rapper: Why Allday Project is going viral
Allday Project's predebut music video 'Famous' hits 2.5 million views in 16 hours, tops YouTube Korea trending charts Allday Project, the first coed K-pop group to debut under renowned producer Teddy Park's The Black Label, is turning heads across the industry — not just for being the industry's first mixed-gender group in eight years since DSP Media's Kard, but for the star-studded resumes and diverse backgrounds of its members. Just 16 hours after releasing the prerelease music video for 'Famous' on Monday, the clip surpassed 2.5 million views on YouTube. It also secured the No. 1 spot on YouTube Korea's Trending chart, overtaking aespa's 'Dirty Work (Performance)' and Plave's 'Hide and Seek,' which ranked No. 2 and No. 3. Globally, the video reached No. 4 on YouTube's US Trending chart and No. 5 in Brazil, demonstrating its international resonance among K-pop fans. The slick cyberpunk visuals of the music video — where spinning accelerates toward the center to express a rising, untouchable energy — play a part in drawing viewers. But much of the buzz stems from the viral interest surrounding the individual members, even before their official debut next week. One reason for the group's spotlight is the presence of Annie, or Moon Seo-yoon, who is the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairwoman Lee Myung-hee and the eldest daughter of Shinsegae Group president Chung Yoo-kyung. Annie, 23, opened up about her decision to pursue a K-pop career against her family's wishes in a debut documentary released on the group's official YouTube channel on June 13 — a revelation that made headlines both in Korea and internationally. Another standout member is Youngseo, 19, once confirmed as part of the final lineup for Illit on the television survival show 'R U Next?' in 2023. However, just before her debut, she parted ways with Belift Lab, the agency behind Illit, sparking multiple rumors about her next steps, now culminating in her debut with Allday Project. The third female member, Bailey, 21, is already known in the K-pop scene as a choreographer. She began working professionally at the age of 14 in the US and has choreographed routines for Red Velvet's 'Psycho,' Lisa's 'Money' and Taeyang's 'Vibe.' Her experience includes being a backup dancer for Janet Jackson — further solidifying her credibility. Among the two male members, Woochan is arguably the more familiar name. He appeared on Mnet's 'Show Me the Money 6' in 2017 at just 12 years old, making him the show's youngest-ever contestant and finalist. In 2019, he debuted as a soloist with the single 'Reality Check Time,' showing musical depth beyond his years. He was also once rumored to be part of Big Hit Music's next boy group lineup — the agency behind BTS — but the debut ultimately fell through. The final member, Tarzzan, 22, is already known in fashion and music circles as a model. Since 2022, he has appeared in music videos like I-dle's 'I Do' and NewJeans' 'Supernatural,' while gracing the pages of various fashion magazines. Allday Project is set to officially debut on June 23, with their debut single 'Famous' and the main track 'Wicked.' jaaykim@
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Chaebol heiress, former Hybe trainee and prodigy rapper: Why Allday Project is going viral
Allday Project's predebut music video 'Famous' hits 2.5 million views in 16 hours, tops YouTube Korea trending charts Allday Project, the first coed K-pop group to debut under renowned producer Teddy Park's The Black Label, is turning heads across the industry — not just for being the industry's first mixed-gender group in eight years since DSP Media's Kard, but for the star-studded resumes and diverse backgrounds of its members. Just 16 hours after releasing the prerelease music video for 'Famous' on Monday, the clip surpassed 2.5 million views on YouTube. It also secured the No. 1 spot on YouTube Korea's Trending chart, overtaking aespa's 'Dirty Work (Performance)' and Plave's 'Hide and Seek,' which ranked No. 2 and No. 3. Globally, the video reached No. 4 on YouTube's US Trending chart and No. 5 in Brazil, demonstrating its international resonance among K-pop fans. The slick cyberpunk visuals of the music video — where spinning accelerates toward the center to express a rising, untouchable energy — play a part in drawing viewers. But much of the buzz stems from the viral interest surrounding the individual members, even before their official debut next week. One reason for the group's spotlight is the presence of Annie, or Moon Seo-yoon, who is the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairwoman Lee Myung-hee and the eldest daughter of Shinsegae Group president Chung Yoo-kyung. Annie, 23, opened up about her decision to pursue a K-pop career against her family's wishes in a debut documentary released on the group's official YouTube channel on June 13 — a revelation that made headlines both in Korea and internationally. Another standout member is Youngseo, 19, once confirmed as part of the final lineup for Illit on the television survival show 'R U Next?' in 2023. However, just before her debut, she parted ways with Belift Lab, the agency behind Illit, sparking multiple rumors about her next steps, now culminating in her debut with Allday Project. The third female member, Bailey, 21, is already known in the K-pop scene as a choreographer. She began working professionally at the age of 14 in the US and has choreographed routines for Red Velvet's 'Psycho,' Lisa's 'Money' and Taeyang's 'Vibe.' Her experience includes being a backup dancer for Janet Jackson — further solidifying her credibility. Among the two male members, Woochan is arguably the more familiar name. He appeared on Mnet's 'Show Me the Money 6' in 2017 at just 12 years old, making him the show's youngest-ever contestant and finalist. In 2019, he debuted as a soloist with the single 'Reality Check Time,' showing musical depth beyond his years. He was also once rumored to be part of Big Hit Music's next boy group lineup — the agency behind BTS — but the debut ultimately fell through. The final member, Tarzzan, 22, is already known in fashion and music circles as a model. Since 2022, he has appeared in music videos like I-dle's 'I Do' and NewJeans' 'Supernatural,' while gracing the pages of various fashion magazines. Allday Project is set to officially debut on June 23, with their debut single 'Famous' and the main track 'Wicked.'
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Can coed K-pop make a comeback? Teddy's ‘Allday Project' stirs new hope
Industry insiders both skeptical and cautiously optimistic over Allday Project, a new coed K-pop group The Black Label, led by hitmaker and Blackpink producer Teddy Park, has sent ripples through the K-pop scene with the surprise announcement of its first coed group, Allday Project, due to debut June 23. The mixed-gender makeup of the label's second idol team is already generating a buzz — both skeptical and hopeful — before a single track has dropped. The concept may seem fresh in today's hyper-specialized K-pop market, but coed groups once thrived in the industry. In the 1990s and early 2000s, acts like Roo'Ra, Cool, Sharp and Turtles led the charge, becoming household names. But since the 2010s, coed teams have all but vanished from the mainstream. The K-pop scene has shifted toward gender-segregated acts, with agencies increasingly focused on either all-male or all-female groups optimized for fan-driven business models. Today, only a handful of coed teams remain. Koyote, which debuted in 1998, continues to perform with its original male-female lineup. Kard, launched by DSP Media in 2017, is the only other active coed idol group. That will change when Allday Project debuts, the first new mixed-gender K-pop act in eight years. Experts point to multiple structural reasons behind the genre's decline: fandom behavior, concept limitations and the demands of social media platforms. 'Coed groups peaked during the era of 1990s dance music,' said music critic Lim Hee-yun, Monday. 'At the time, public exposure relied heavily on domestic broadcast TV. On music and variety shows, it was common for men and women to perform together, rapping and singing in turns. It suited the shared viewing habits of Korean families at the time." 'But now, it's a multi-platform world where success hinges on passionate engagement through social media and short-form content,' Lim said. 'That works best when fans can hyper-focus on a single idol. That's why we see girl groups and boy groups, not coed.' That is not to say that there have been no attempts to break the mold. Sunny Hill debuted in 2007 as a five-member coed group but soon restructured into an all-girl team following the exit of its sole male member. Kard has carved out a niche by focusing on international markets, where mixed-gender acts are met with less resistance. Lim believes The Black Label might be tapping into that very niche. 'This could be a long-term play aimed at audiences who like K-pop performance and music — not necessarily those who just want to stan a particular idol. If they execute it well, it could spark a new conversation.' But there's no doubt Allday Project faces an uphill battle. The fan ecosystem of K-pop — largely split along gendered lines — makes the group's path inherently uncertain. Their success will hinge on whether they can transcend the limitations traditionally placed on coed formats and prove their mass appeal. The Black Label says it didn't set out to break barriers — it just followed the music. Allday Project was planned "without bias," like any other team, and its creative direction isn't confined by the framework of K-pop. An industry insider from one of the major agencies also expressed cautious optimism. 'It's not really about whether there have been coed groups or not,' the official said. 'These members, regardless of their debut year or gender, have strong individuality. That's what's interesting.' 'Sure, managing a coed group is hard, and fandoms can split. But maybe that's just because we haven't had a successful case yet,' the official added. 'Who's to say a mixed-gender group can't work now? It's been 30 years of K-pop -- bands are back. Maybe it's time for coed groups to shine again, too.'
