Latest news with #Kpop
South China Morning Post
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
K-pop idol Annie Moon of Allday Project channels approachable luxury
Annie Moon of coed K-pop group Allday Project is capturing attention not only for her idol debut but also for her luxurious and distinctive style, which perfectly blends high-end fashion with Gen Z flair Annie Moon with her bandmates from the new coed K-pop group Allday Project. Photo: @allday_project/Instagram Since the group's debut last month, their double title tracks 'Wicked' and 'Famous' have gained traction on both streaming charts and music programmes. As the group's popularity surges, Moon – a third-generation member of the Shinsegae retail conglomerate family – has emerged as a stand-out member, drawing the most buzz. Advertisement Annie Moon in a behind-the-scenes photo for Allday Project's music video for 'Famous'. Photo: @allday_project/Instagram She was already in the spotlight due to her high-profile background, but since stepping onto the stage, Moon has impressed fans with her refined rapping skills, commanding performances and captivating visuals. Her label as a 'chaebol third-generation idol' has naturally fuelled curiosity about her personal style and daily life – especially the luxury items she wears and uses. True to expectations, Moon has shown a knack for incorporating high-end designer pieces into her everyday looks, while adding a modern, edgy twist that resonates with millennials and Gen Z. Annie Moon marks the debut of Allday Project wearing a Balenciaga miniskirt paired with a basic tee. Photo: @anniesymoon/Instagram In photos released to mark Allday Project's official debut, Moon wore a denim miniskirt from French luxury brand Balenciaga paired with a basic T-shirt to create a clean yet polished everyday outfit. The skirt, priced at over 2 million South Korean won (around US$1,450), highlighted the rapper's urban image and subtly conveyed her upscale yet accessible fashion sense. Annie Moon attends Balenciaga's winter 2024 show in Paris. Photo: @anniesymoon/Instagram This isn't the first time Moon's affinity for the brand has drawn attention. She was previously spotted attending Balenciaga's 2024 winter season show dressed in all-black with a mini shoulder bag from the label, delivering a look that was chic and edgy. Annie Moon shops at Balenciaga's Parisian flagship. Photo: @anniesymoon/Instagram In another sighting at the brand's flagship store in Paris, Moon paired a bulky black high-heeled boot with an oversized leather jacket and a short hemline, further showcasing her distinctive fashion sensibilities.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
As K-pop dominates the world, its home crowd is tuning out
SEOUL, July 31 — K-pop may be topping global charts and filling stadiums worldwide, but back home in South Korea, its shine appears to be fading. According to The Korea Herald, industry experts are raising concerns over the genre's weakening grip on the domestic market. Despite international success, K-pop is struggling to maintain momentum locally — especially with the lack of impactful rookie girl groups in early 2025, a key driver of fandom growth in past years. Citing the Circle Chart's 2025 Mid-Year Report, The Herald reported a 6.4 per cent drop in digital consumption for the top 400 songs, nearly 50 per cent below its 2019 peak. Physical album sales also declined by 9 per cent to 42.4 million units. Only seven albums surpassed the one million mark this year, down from nine in 2024. Experts say the industry's increasing focus on global audiences — through English-heavy lyrics and similar-sounding concepts — may be pushing local fans away. This global push is tiring local fans, Circle Chart's Kim Jin-woo said. Girl group dominance has also slipped. In 2024, five girl groups were in the Top 10. This year, only NewJeans, aespa and Ive made the cut, Kim told the paper. Meanwhile, solo acts are rising. Seven of the top 10 tracks in 2025 came from solo performers like Woodz and Hwang Garam — relatively unknown globally but resonating with Korean listeners. Critics argue that while idol music is flashy and energetic, it often lacks the emotional depth listeners now crave. 'Ballads or rock-inflected songs with strong melodic structure and individual expression are better suited for immersive listening,' music critic Lim Hee-yun was quoted as saying. Industry insiders warn that unless the domestic market is re-engaged, K-pop's long-term sustainability could be at risk — even as it thrives abroad.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the surprise hit of the summer
How 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the surprise hit of the summer NEW YORK (AP) — In the colorful, animated, musical world of 'KPop Demon Hunters,' everyone is a fan. The general public rocks T-shirts supporting their favorite idols. They hold light sticks and stare starry-eyed at stadium stages; they scream, they cry, they cheer, they buy the merch. It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, then, that the Sony Pictures/ Netflix film itself has inspired similar fanfare, having topped the streamer's global rankings. Fans have flooded the internet with art, covers, cosplay and choreography in response to the movie, which follows the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X as they fight demons. And it's not just the film that's a summer hit. The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack has topped the charts — debuting at No. 1 on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and No. 8 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Here's how 'KPop Demon Hunters' became the year's surprising success story. Musical tradition — and K-pop — are honored The 'KPop Demon Hunters' soundtrack utilizes some of the best and brightest in the genre. That included a partnership with K-pop company The Black Label, co-founded by super producer Teddy Park, known for his work with YG, Blackpink and 2NE1 — empowered girl groups used as references for the film's protagonists, the trio HUNTR/X. It's one of the many reasons the musical film's soundtrack stands on its own. Filmmakers 'really did their homework,' says Jeff Benjamin, a music journalist who specializes in K-pop. Indeed, they did a lot of research. One of the film's directors, Maggie Kang, said that her team prioritized 'representing the fandom and the idols in a very specific way,' as to not disappoint K-pop fans. They pulled from a treasure trove of influences heard at every corner: The fictional, rival boy band Saja Boys' hit song 'Soda Pop,' for example, references the '90s K-pop group H.O.T. And it has worked. 'KPop Demon Hunters' is the highest charting soundtrack of 2025, with eight of its songs landing on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. To put that in perspective: Lorde's 'Virgin' and Justin Bieber's 'Swag' did the same. In some ways, it recalls Disney's 'Encanto,' which topped the Billboard 200 and produced a No. 1 hit, 'We Don't Talk About Bruno ' in 2022. Similarly, 'KPop Demon Hunters' embraces 'the original soundtrack, which is a lost art form,' adds Benjamin. Tamar Herman, a music journalist and author of the 'Notes on K-pop' newsletter, says the movie succeeds because it embraces animated musical tradition and authentic K-pop music production styles in equal measure. She considers 'Kpop Demon Hunters' to be 'a musical with songs inspired by K-pop,' not unlike a Jukebox musical, where the songs of ABBA are reimagined for 'Mamma Mia.' Audiences hunger for something new The novelty of the film, too, seems to be resonating. Where many animated films rely on adapting existing intellectual property, 'KPop Demon Hunters' is original. And it comes from an original perspective. 'It's not completely Korean, it's not completely Western and it's kind of right in that middle,' says Kang. 'It's like not pulled from one side; it's kind of flavors of both. So, I think that's what makes the movie feels a little different.' And 'the core story is what's drawing everybody in,' says Kang. San Francisco-based cosplayer and content creator Nanci Alcántar, who goes by Naanny Lee online agrees. 'It's not only a K-pop group, but it also tells a story of their journey, of how they transform into powerful warriors,' said Alcántar in Spanish. For her, it goes beyond K-pop — it's about the narrative. Kang's approach to cultural authenticity, too, may have contributed to the film's crossover appeal. Rather than explaining Korean elements like HUNTR/X's visit to a traditional medicine clinic or translating K-pop light stick culture for Western audiences, she opted for full immersion. 'We just wanted everybody to just accept that they were in Korea,' Kang said. The director said this method of 'throwing people into the deep end of a culture' breaks down barriers better than heavy-handed explanation. 'We just wanted to keep everything feeling normal,' she explained. 'If you don't shine a light on it, it just becomes more easily accepted.' Inventive animation connects Zabrinah Santiago, a San Diego-based longtime K-pop fan and freelance illustrator who goes by ItmeZ online, was so inspired by the animation style of the movie that she raced to make fan art. She sold illustrated fan cards of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys at her booth at the Los Angeles Anime Expo, held in July, two weeks after the movie was released on Netflix. And she wasn't the only one. A search of #kpopdemonhunters on Instagram yields thousands of fan illustrations of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys. Japan-based Youtuber Emily Sim, also known as Emirichu online, says the character designs and original plot drew her to the movie. Sim, with more than 3.5 million subscribers on YouTube, posted a 35-minute video about the movie. In a week-and-a-half, it garnered nearly 450,000 views. 'I love seeing all the fan art and just the ways that this movie has creatively inspired people,' Sim said. Kang says for 'KPop Demon Hunters,' her team wanted to bring together demons and Jeoseung Saja — the grim reaper in Korean mythology — for a film that could look both very traditional and modernized — what she says is common in K-dramas but not in animation. Herman compares the movie to another Sony animation: 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,' which also attracted a broad audience with its creative animation. 'And it's a fun, animated musical, which we haven't had in a while,' she says. 'It's campy, it's engaging, it's universal.' And K-pop fans see themselves represented Santiago was initially skeptical of the title 'KPop Demon Hunters.' 'I feel like with big companies they kind of like to use K-pop as a bait. They kind of like to take advantage of K-pop fans' sincerity,' said Santiago. 'But I felt like with this one, it was such like kind of a love letter to K-pop fans.' Indeed — if the film wasn't authentic to K-pop fans' experience, or mocked them, it is unlikely to have become so popular, says Benjamin. Instead, there are Easter eggs for the dedicated K-pop listener. Herman agrees, and says that the film has in-jokes for K-pop fans, not unlike a children's movie that features some humor meant to appeal specifically to parents. 'Figuring out what makes K-pop tick in a way that resonates with musical fans was really important to this movie,' said Herman. For Kang, that was always at the heart of the project. 'Fandom plays a huge part in the world being saved at the end of the movie,' she said. 'So, we were really confident that we were doing that justice.' ___ Karena Phan reported from Los Angeles. Juwon Park reported from Seoul. Maria Sherman, Karena Phan And Juwon Park, The Associated Press
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
MNET's 'BOYS II PLANET' Goes Global With Livestream Networks
The highly anticipated K-pop music competition, MNET's BOYS II PLANET, premiered with its first two episodes last week in Korea but was not available on any other global platforms until today. Now, the popular series has expanded to stream live across 251 countries and regions via global K-pop content platform MNET Plus, starting with this week's new episode. The series, dubbed 'Star Creators,' utilizes fans from around the world to help select the next great K-pop act. The first season of BOYS PLANET launched the popular fifth-generation group, ZEROBASEONE. Now, it's time for another group to be formed. What is BOYS II PLANET? Created by MNET, the South Korean reality competition survival show has 160 Asian contestants from all over the world, separating them into two planets – Planet K and Planet C. Planet K primarily has talent of Korean descent, alongside some from Japan, Thailand, the U.S., and various other countries from around the globe. Planet C consists mainly of Chinese contestants. Several of these contestants are from K-pop and C-pop groups, but are on loan from their management company to compete and potentially join the winning group temporarily. There are also a few actors in the mix. Each week, the contestants perform and are evaluated by judges and Star Creators (global voting). Now that it has opened up to international viewers, more people from around the world can participate in the voting. After beginning with two separate planets – PLANET K and PLANET C, the show now continues as one unified journey toward the global K-pop debut starting this week's episode on Thursday, 9:20 PM KST (5:20 AM PST / 8:20 AM EST). Where can we watch BOYS II PLANET? You can find it on the following channels: For those who want to watch it from the beginning, viewers can watch episodes on demand via the MNET Plus app or their platforms above. For more information and to stay up-to-date on BOYS II PLANET, visit Mnet Plus and official Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lisa Breaks Her Tie With Jennie And Matches Rosé
Every week that Maroon 5 and Lisa's collaboration 'Priceless' holds on Billboard's pop radio charts, the tune makes history in one way or another. The combined star power of both acts ensured that the duet reached all three of the company's airplay rosters focused on pop music, and it hasn't faded from them in the months since it dropped. For the most part, 'Priceless' is still climbing, as it scores another week on the most competitive of the three lists. Lisa breaks out of a tie with one of her Blackpink bandmates and matches another member of the group for a slightly better position in the ranking's annals this week. 12 Weeks on the Pop Airplay Chart 'Priceless' jumps from No. 19 to No. 18, returning to its all-time peak on the Pop Airplay chart. As of this frame, the collaboration has spent 12 weeks somewhere on the tally. As it makes it to that milestone, 'Priceless' reaches the same level as 'Toxic Till the End' by fellow Blackpink musician Rosé. Both cuts have now lived on the list for a dozen periods. The two tracks are currently tied as the fourth-longest-charting hits of all time by K-pop female soloists on the Pop Airplay ranking. Lisa Pushes Past Jennie Last week, Lisa was tied with Blackpink's Jennie, as her semi-namesake track 'Like Jennie' racked up 11 weeks on the Pop Airplay chart before falling away. Now, 'Priceless' moves ahead, pushing 'Like Jennie' outside the top five on the list of the sturdiest cuts by female K-pop soloists. Lisa May Continue to Make History with 'Priceless' 'Priceless' will almost surely pass 'Toxic Till the End' in the coming days, as it seems unlikely the tune will fall from No. 18 to somewhere outside the top 40 on the Pop Airplay chart. Lisa still has weeks to go before advancing again on the list, however, as Jennie's other radio smash 'One of the Girls' with The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp disappeared after 15 weeks on the radio roster. The all-time record for the longest stay on the Pop Airplay chart by a female K-pop soloist belongs to Rosé's 'Apt.,' which benefited from a feature by Bruno Mars. That cut remained on the top 40 roster for 28 weeks, while Lisa's own 'Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me)' holds steady in the runner-up spot with 19 weeks on the tally to its credit.
