Category: LATEST STORIES

Ice cream chain Baskin Robbins has announced a “cool” new collaboration with SM Entertainment’s latest sensation, RIIZE. This partnership is a testament to the boy group’s rising prominence in the K-pop industry, especially after their successful deal with the popular clothing site MUSINSA.

RIIZE is SM‘s first new group in three years after the girl group aespa, and their first boy group since NCT. RIIZE has already garnered significant attention as a top-tier rookie group. Their new partnership with Baskin Robbins is a testament to the boys’ rising popularity and a strategic move by the ice cream giant. Its goal is to reach the MZ generation by collaborating with K-pop artists to offer their fans a fresh brand experience.

The highlight of this collaboration is the introduction of the Popping Star RIIZE Ready Pack Mini. This product captures the essence of the boy group’s journey to “grow together (Rise) and realize dreams (Realize).” It combines Blue Soda Sherbet, Blue RIIZE Popping Candy, and creamy Milk Ice Cream. Each Popping Star RIIZE Ready Pack Mini comes with a photocard. As if that wasn’t enough, a Baskin Robbins representative says more products featuring RIIZE will be released.

The Baskin Robbins controversy

However, this collaboration has not been without its share of controversies. Baskin Robbins, under the SPC umbrella, has faced harsh criticism in the past. In 2022, a tragic incident occurred where a 23-year-old worker died during a factory baking shift for Paris Baguette, another brand under SPC. Their decision to resume operations after the tragedy amid ongoing concerns about workers’ rights and welfare led to public outcry and boycotts against SPC and its brands.

Many fans have disapproved of SM Entertainment’s decision to collaborate with a brand associated with such issues. Brand partnerships can elevate an artist’s image. But they can also be detrimental to an artist if the public dislikes the brand.

While this Baskin Robbins and RIIZE collaboration promises exciting products and experiences for fans, it also serves as a reminder that brand deals in the entertainment industry come with certain complexities and responsibilities. Only time will tell how this controversial partnership with Baskin Robbins will impact RIIZE in the long run. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Doesn’t this collab look awesome? Source: Instagram/@baskinrobbinskorea.

On September 6, DKZ‘s Jaechan officially began his solo journey with a media showcase at Seoul’s YES24 Live Hall. This event, which attracted attention from the local press, celebrated the release of his first solo mini album, JCFACTORY.

Factory owner Jaechan

The media showcase was a blend of performances, interactions, and revelations. Jaechan posed for photographs, performed songs from his album, and participated in a Q&A session with reporters and the event’s MC, Yoo Jae Pil.

Jaechan’s title track, “Hello,” is a synth-pop number that blends a vibrant plucking sound with 808 bass, giving birth to a minimalist R&B/urban pop vibe. Its MV is a visual treat, contrasting “celebrity Jaechan” and “ordinary Jaechan.” It’s all about the duality of his daily life, with scenes of him as an award-winning actor, news anchor, and even a luxury car commercial star.

[재찬 JAECHAN] ‘Hello’ MV

“Honestly, I’d never written or composed performance-oriented music before ‘Hello.’ I felt that the album’s title song should be a performance element. Originally, I was going to use a song created by another composer, but I ended up making the song myself,” he said. 

His dedication to his craft is outstanding. He has writing credits on every song on JCFACTORY, so his fans affectionately nicknamed him “factory owner Jaechan.” They say Jaechan churns out songs as fast as a factory churns out products.

Jaechan: ‘My music is me’

The other songs on the album are bops. “Oh Girl” is a poignant song where Jaechan says he “wants to give them everything.” “MAYB” offers a refreshing twist on love songs, featuring the talents of Chinese singer-songwriter Nathania. “Replay” captures the essence of post-breakup emotions quite well, and “Time” was introduced to fans as the album’s pre-release single.

Jaechan revealed, “These solo tracks were something that had been planned for a long time. In the case of ‘Oh Girl’ specifically, the demo first came around two years ago.” He confessed to feeling a little worried about his solo debut. Luckily, he found solace in the support of his DKZ members, who always checked on his schedule and cheered him on. 

[재찬 JAECHAN] 1st Mini Album ‘JCFACTORY’ SHOWCASE

Addressing the recent trend of male idols pursuing solo careers, Jaechan responded with grace and humility. He said, “Rather than thinking about what makes me different when I make music, I think about what kind of music I’m capable of, what kind of music really demonstrates my personal color. My music is ‘me.’”

The media also asked him about the recent exit of Jaechan‘s groupmate, Kyoungyoon. Addressing the issue, Jaechan said, “Something bad happened to our group, and to say it hasn’t been difficult would be lying.” However, he assured fans of DKZ‘s commitment to staying together. “The members have been talking a lot about group activities, particularly what direction we’d like to go in.”

The advantage of solo activities

Concluding the event, Jaechan expressed his gratitude and aspirations by saying, “The advantage of solo activities is that I’m fully able to enter my own thoughts when preparing music. Through this round of promotions, I’ll show you my personality and the direction of my thoughts.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Good luck with your solo career, Jaechan! Source: Twitter/@dkz_dy.