Latest news with #The8
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
K-Pop's Live Touring Boom 2025: SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, BTS, BLACKPINK
Joshua Hong, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Dino, Woozi, Vernon of Seventeen ... More performs at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images) K-pop's global momentum isn't just confined to chart-topping hits and massive album sales this year: it's on full display under the bright lights of arenas and stadiums worldwide with new milestones hit by the likes ofSEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, BTS' J-Hope,TVXQ!, BABYMONSTER and more. Following the latest reports on midyear tour figures, the K-pop industry's touring business has surpassed previous milestones with entertainment agencies leaning more heavily on live-performance revenue as we near the second half of 2025. It marks an apparent shift in K-pop, transitioning from being dependent on album sales to concert-fueled growth, with the trend unlikely to swing back as the rest of the year promises more prominent shows on the way. Billboard's midyear Boxscore report revealed that SEVENTEEN firmly established themselves as a world-class live act. Based on the reported touring data from October 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025, the boy band earned a staggering $120.9 million in gross revenue with 842,000 tickets sold during the period. Before celebrating their 10th anniversary in May, the stars secured the Number 3 spot on Billboard Boxscore's all-genre midyear list — only slightly behind Coldplay and Shakira, who are on massive stadium tours of their own with that have grossed a respective $142.1 million and $130 million. Remarkably, SEVENTEEN essentially doubled its midyear gross for the second consecutive year, jumping from $30 million in 2023 to $67.5 million in 2024. SEVENTEEN's third-place finish marks the highest ranking ever achieved by a Korean act in Billboard Boxscore's midyear tally, surpassing BTS' previous Number 4 midyear placement from 2022. But SEVENTEEN wasn't the lone live phenomenon. Five K-pop acts made the all-genre Top 50 ranking for Billboard Boxscore, up from three in 2023 and two in 2022. Fellow boy band ATEEZ, as well as J-Hope of BTS, follow SEVENTEEN with $28.4 million and $28.1 million grossed, respectively, with J-Hope noted as the first K-pop soloist ever to land on the midyear overall Top Tours chart. Rounding out this top five are ENHYPEN and Tomorrow X Together, grossing $25.6 million and $25.1 million, respectively. Overall, K-pop acts on the midyear Top Tours chart generated $228 million while selling 1.6 million tickets from 78 reported shows. Billboard reports that the scene's 2025 showing is a 79% increase over the 2024 total, which had already jumped 93% from 2023. In just two years' time, K-pop's presence on the midyear Boxscore has more than tripled. All artists appear for SMTOWN Live 2025 in Los Angeles, California These touring triumphs highlight a strategic pivot among South Korea's entertainment giants. As the industry's reliably massive album sales have softened, live performances have become the primary driver of growth. Major players, including HYBE, SM Entertainment, and YG Entertainment, reported first-quarter revenue surges, primarily driven by concert earnings. Check out a breakdown of the year-over-year first-quarter numbers for each of the 'big four' Korean-pop agencies below, with data provided by The Chosun Daily. Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. of Stray Kids perform at the ... More 2024 Billboard Music Awards. (Photo by JYP Entertainment/Penske Media via Getty Images) With still a month to go until July, the remainder of 2025 appears to be shaping up as a landmark period for further live and touring growth. As further evidence, HYBE CEO Park Jiwon noted in a recent earnings call that the conglomerate has more than 150 concerts confirmed for 2025 from its artists, with additional announcements to follow. 'Both the scale and audience size will expand further in the second half,' Park said, per Chosun Daily. Once again, peep the 2025 preview for the four major agencies. With unprecedented midyear grosses and Korean agencies realigning and diverting resources toward lucrative global tours, the K-pop industry's blockbuster second half indicates its revenue mix is likely shifting even more toward live performances and, with that, setting new records around the world.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
SEVENTEEN releases Happy Burstday album on 10th anniversary with solo tracks
K-pop's third-generation sensation SEVENTEEN turns 10. To mark their 10th anniversary, the 13-member group dropped their fifth studio album titled 'Happy Burstday', a wordplay for 'Birthday,' which also seems like a doorway to the group's upcoming artistry, which will be focused on more sub-groups and solo works as members embark on mandatory military service project includes solo songs from all 13 members - a first in their discography since their debut. The album, which features 16 tracks, includes the main single 'Thunder', representing the band's vibrant energy and artistic growth. Significantly, 'Bad Influence' was crafted, created, and produced by worldwide pop sensation Pharrell their solo songs, leader presented 'Jungle', a powerful and unrefined piece of music. Jeonghan presented 'Coincidence', a reflective composition. Joshua showcased 'Fortunate Change', emphasising his smooth vocals, while Jun presented 'Gemini', reflecting duality and self-reflection. The incredibly passionate Hoshi teamed up with Timbaland on 'Damage', merging K-pop with a global touch. Wonwoo's '99.9%' highlighted near-perfection and commitment, while SEVENTEEN's talented powerhouse Woozi's 'Fate' reflected on destiny and personal growth. DK introduced 'Happy Virus', an optimistic song intended to promote positivity, while Mingyu's 'Shake It Off' is a song against negativity, genuinely showcasing his character. The8's 'Skyfall' embodied ethereal and atmospheric qualities, while Seungkwan's 'Raindrops' stirred emotions of sadness and contemplation. Emphasising their unique talents, Vernon's 'Shining Star' discusses ambitions and excellence, while Dino wraps up with 'Trigger', a strong representation of beginnings and part of the fan [CARATs] engagement, SEVENTEEN organised a range of events called "B-DAY PARTY" from May 23 to May 25 at Banpo Hangang Park in Seoul, South Korea. The celebrations peaked with the 'BURST Stage' concert on May 25 at Jamsu Bridge, where the band delivered a live performance of 'Thunder', accompanied by fireworks lighting up the Han Watch
![[Q&A] Seventeen reflects on 10 years and looks ahead with new LP 'Happy Burstday'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F05%2F26%2Fnews-p.v1.20250526.5fab49d2529149ad8d9189bd1d0a95f7_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[Q&A] Seventeen reflects on 10 years and looks ahead with new LP 'Happy Burstday'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
[Q&A] Seventeen reflects on 10 years and looks ahead with new LP 'Happy Burstday'
K-pop juggernaut returns with fifth full-length album, blending solo tracks, global collaborations and message of rebirth Even after 10 years together, Seventeen's clock hasn't stopped ticking. The 13-member boy band has redefined the path of K-pop idols. Starting out as a 'self-producing' group, Seventeen has climbed to the top of the game, setting multiple records including annual album sales exceeding 10 million units and the highest first-week album sales with 10th EP 'FML' in K-pop history in 2023. Marking its 10th anniversary, the group released its fifth full-length album 'Happy Burstday' on Monday — a declaration of rebirth and a bold step toward the future. In a written interview shared through its agency, Pledis Entertainment, the members spoke about their journey and the new release. Q: How does it feel to release a new album on your 10th anniversary? Joshua: It's deeply meaningful because the album came out on Seventeen's birthday. I hope our fans, Carats, will enjoy it just as much. DK: I'm simply grateful that we could spend these 10 years together as Seventeen. We put our hearts into this album, hoping it would be a memorable gift to Carats full of great music. Vernon: It feels surreal that it's already our 10th year. Since the album also showcases new musical sides of us, I'm curious how people will respond. Q: What should listeners pay attention to in 'Happy Burstday'? The8: For the first time, the album includes solo tracks by all 13 members. You'll be able to feel each member's unique color. Mingyu: I think the biggest highlight is the title track 'Thunder.' It's a song that gave Seventeen a jolt of fresh inspiration after 10 years of being together. Q: What stands out in 'Thunder'? As the lyrics suggest, we hope listeners will sense Seventeen's renewed energy. Despite all the challenges, we've continued to grow and this track shows our confidence in trying new things. Jun: The addictive melody and matching choreography are key points to watch. DK: Even after 10 years, our passion on stage hasn't changed. We want to prove that Seventeen can keep evolving. 'Thunder' marks our rebirth. Dino: It's also a performance-heavy track. Watch for the dynamic choreography, fluid formations, and how each member's presence shines through. Q: How was it working with Pharrell Williams and Timbaland? Hoshi: Both Pharrell and Timbaland are artists I've always admired, so every moment working with them was meaningful. When I first heard about collaborating with Pharrell, I was so excited. I even got to work on a solo song with Timbaland — it was an honor. Woozi: These are producers I've learned so much from through their music growing up, so it was a true honor. I tried to stay honest and bring out synergy with the members. Through studying their work, I've realized that the most important thing in music is staying true to yourself — and I tried to bring that out in this album too. Q: What new sides of Seventeen do you hope to show this time? Mingyu: Our thoughts and circumstances change by the second. I'm curious myself how all the growth we've gone through over the past decade will show on stage. Seungkwan: This album holds all the energy Seventeen has shown over the past 10 years. It contrasts with the fresh-faced charm we had when we debuted — you'll see a more seasoned Seventeen. Q: If you could sum up the past 10 years in one word? The8: 'Youth.' Seventeen was my youth. I'm especially grateful to Carats because I know how rare it is for all 13 of us to have come this far together. Joshua: 'Love.' We couldn't have made it this far without the love from Carats. I'm also thankful to my fellow members — we recently had a long talk, and I feel like we've grown even closer. Q: What's been Seventeen's most defining challenge? Woozi: We've constantly taken on challenges. Even now, it's not easy to produce our own albums while actively promoting. But we chose not to settle even for our 10th anniversary, and pushed ourselves musically. That's what makes Seventeen a team with limitless potential. Jun: All 13 of us are always thinking of ways to grow and try new things, driven by our love for Carats. Their support has always been our biggest motivation. Q: What do you want to challenge yourselves with next? I want to find more time to repay the love we've received. Moving forward as Seventeen is important, but spending meaningful time with fans is just as valuable. We'll keep showing our best. Hoshi: I'd love to deepen our communication with fans. If our future challenges allow us to show that fan interaction is what fuels us, that alone would be rewarding. Personally, I also want to show more of my versatility as an all-rounder artist. Q: Any final words for Carats and each other? I hope our time together continues to be full of love, care and happiness. These past 10 years have been a joy, and I look forward to building even more memories. Joshua: Carats! We'll keep releasing great albums, so please keep showing your love — just like now. Jun: Because I love our fans, I want to keep challenging myself and showing you new sides of me. Hoshi: We made this album with Carats in mind. Each member's solo track reflects their voice and emotions, so please listen closely. Thank you always for your unwavering support — I'll keep growing to repay your love. Woozi: To the members — thank you for making such an amazing team. To Carats — I hope we stay healthy and keep going strong for a long time. The8: Thank you for sticking with us for 10 years. I'll keep working hard so we can spend even more years together. Mingyu: To my members — I'm proud of us. And to Carats — your love helps us evolve. Let's see how far we can go together. Thank you and love you. DK: I hope this 10th anniversary album is a joyful gift for you. We wouldn't be here without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart — we'll keep bringing you great stages and music. Seungkwan: I'm so thankful we're making a comeback on our 10th anniversary. I'll work as hard as if we're debuting all over again. Let's go! Vernon: Carats, you've done so much until now. Let's keep doing even better going forward. Thank you, stay healthy and I love you. Dino: Thank you and love you for supporting Seventeen and this album. I hope this project shows you just how much love we've built up — and how we want to return it.
AsiaOne
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
K-pop idols IU, Enhypen's Jungwon and Seventeen join in on cat shadow trend, Entertainment News
Even if you aren't a cat person, you might want to try this cute trend that have enraptured some K-pop idols. A Tumblr post made on May 4 of a young woman crouching on a road with her arms crossed and her fingers sticking out to form a cat's silhouette has garnered much attention on the platform. milady — ₊ ✚ bugbug ✚ ₊ (@bugbug000) May 8, 2025 Thereafter the photo was reposted on X and went viral, amassing a total of 75 million views. K-pop fans took the opportunity to ask their idols to recreate the pose, which sparked the trend — here's a list of some of the idols we've spotted trying their 'paw' at the fun. IU On May 14, IU uploaded pictures of her rendition of the cat shadow onto her exclusive Berriz fan page. This week has been eventful for the actress-singer, as today (May 16) marks her 32nd birthday and just earlier this week, she announced an album release scheduled for this month, with a music video featuring Cha Eun-woo. Enhypen's Jungwon Yesterday, boy band Enhypen's Jungwon also got onto Weverse and uploaded a video of him attempting to do the cat shadow. The 21-year-old had promised his fans earlier that he would give it a try. The group's sixth mini-album Desire: Unleash will be released on June 5. Seventeen Boy band Seventeen had a bit of a different take on the trend, as members The8 and DK decided to pose as a frog and dog respectively. Their animal poses were both posted on Seventeen's official X page on May 15. Aptly, The8's pose reflects his mascot animal which is a frog. Seventeen's album Happy Burstday will be released on May 26, and sub-unit HxW made up of members Hoshi and Woozi is set to perform at Kcon LA on Aug 3. TXT's Taehyun Boy band TXT's Taehyun, 23, took advantage of the sun's bright light to cast his own shadow for the trend and posted the photo on the group's X page on May 14. On May 2, the group released their new digital single Love Language. Le Sserafim's Eunchae Girl group Le Sserafim's Eunchae took to Instagram on May 12 to share her attempt at the trend. The group is currently on its Easy Crazy Hot world tour that started April 19 in South Korea and will come to the Singapore Indoor Stadium as its last stop on Aug 16. Exo's Xiumin Finally, we have Xiumin from boy band Exo who also participated in the trend. On May 12, the 35-year-old got on Instagram and simply "meowed" in his caption — how straightforward. Currently, he is touring around Asia for his first solo tour X Times ( ) that will end on May 25. [[nid:717955]]
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Solo spotlight: SEVENTEEN to release individual tracks in 'Happy Burstday' album
A refined and artistic performer, The 8 is known for his elegant stage presence, contemporary dance style, and a creative mind that bridges Eastern and Western influences
