Tag: BLACKPINK

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BLACKPINK Releases Trailer for ‘A VR Encore’ Virtual Concert

Jennie, Rosé, Lisa, and Jisoo pose together after their Coachella performance. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

BLINKs, make sure to get a virtual seat! On Wednesday, December 20, K-pop girl group BLACKPINK released a new official trailer for their first ever virtual concert A VR Encore. 

The upcoming 70-minute virtual concert will feature footage of the group from their finale concert of the Born Pink World Tour at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Interestingly, this will even be made more special with art technology, providing a new experience for the fans.

In a Billboard press release, the quartet shared their experience with the project. “Filming our upcoming VR concert in the heart of Seoul has added an extra layer of magic to this project,” the quartet said.

“This is where it all began for us. And being able to share this unique experience with our fans around the world feels incredibly special,” BLACKPINK added.

In partnership with Meta, A VR Encore will premiere on December 26, at the Meta Horizons World. 

2023: a year of milestones for BLACKPINK

The A VR Encore virtual concert isn’t the only present BLACKPINK gave to their fans. In fact, the entire 2023 has been especially massive for the “Shut Down” singers.

Holding a total of 66 concerts and approximately 1.8 Million audience worldwide, BLACKPINK set a new record as Born Pink became the highest-grossing K-pop concert in history. As per the data released by Billboard, the quartet took home around $148.3 Million in gross, excluding their Asia stops.

Aside from that, the “Pink Venom” singers also hold the most number of Guinness records for a female K-pop act. As of writing, BLACKPINK now has a total of eight records including the most viewed group on Youtube and the most streamed female group on Spotify.

Moreover, Lisa, Jennie, Jisoo and Rose also celebrated their seventh year anniversary in August. 

After month-long negotiations between the group and YG Entertainment, the label announced in early December that all four members had renewed their contracts.

With this, fans are reassured that the powerhouse girl group will continue to perform together in the future. However, the label said that contracts regarding the members’ individual activities are still in talks. 

Featured image: Jennie, Rosé, Lisa, and Jisoo pose together after their Coachella performance. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

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BLACKPINK’s Lisa Highlighted as a Top Act in Guinness World Records 2023

Lisa receives an award during MTV VMAs 2022. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

Guinness World Records recently released its “Record-breaking best of 2023” list. And to no surprise both Lisa and her group BLACKPINK had their names mentioned in it.

According to GWR, 2023 was a huge year for K-pop. But what makes the year more monumental is three records were set by Lisa in January alone. 

“She became the first solo K-pop winner at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) and the first solo K-pop winner at the MTV Europe Music Awards,” they wrote. Moreover, the Thai rapper was also praised for “earning the record for most followers on Instagram for a K-Pop artist.” 

With an astounding total of eight Guinness World Records under her name, Lisa has now solidified herself in the industry. As of writing, she remains to be the first and only K-Pop artist to achieve this feat.

Aside from three previously mentioned records, BLACKPINK’s youngest member also earned records as the fastest solo K-pop female artist to reach 1 Billion streams on Spotify. Moreover, she also holds the first K-Pop track and album by a solo artist to reach 1 Billion streams on Spotify for the track “Lalisa” and album of the same name.

Meanwhile, her last two Guinness Records are for the most views for a music video in 24 hours by a solo K-Pop artist.

In addition, Lisa’s group, BLACKPINK also earned recognition for GWR’s year-end ranking. There, the “Pink Venom” singers were mentioned to be the most streamed female group on Spotify.

Lisa and BLACKPINK’s unstoppable global influence

As testament to their global influence, both Lisa and BLACKPINK have achieved numerous awards for several endeavors. 

For one, Lisa has been honored as the first K-Pop Act to be inducted as a cultural icon in the “Asian Hall Of Fame” list of 2023.

As for BLACKPINK, the quartet continued to break records in multiple categories especially this year. Some of which are: the highest-grossing tour by an Asian act for their Born Pink World Tour, the first girl group in 18 years to win at the Billboard Music Awards, and the most searched girl group of all time in Google, among many others.

With all the members’ confirmed contract renewal with YG Entertainment, 2024 already looks promising for the powerhouse act. As per reports, BLACKPINK has already earned a spot on the Guinness World Records 2024! This achievement is for being the first K-Pop girl group to reach the #1 spot on US and UK album charts.

Featured image: Lisa receives an award during MTV VMAs 2022. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

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Billboard Names BLACKPINK as the Highest-Grossing K-Pop Tour in 2023

The quartet poses during their 'Born Pink' encore concert in Seoul. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

On Monday, December 11, Billboard published the top 10 highest-grossing K-Pop tours of 2023, and the phenomenal quartet BLACKPINK has just proved they’re still in the area!

According to Billboard, the official figures were recorded data between November 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023.

With a whopping $148.3 Million gross for 29 shows, the quartet topped the charts with their BORN PINK World Tour. According to the reports, the group composed of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa have sold over 703,000 worldwide. With this, the “Shut Down” singers easily clinched the first spot in the list for the K-pop category. 

Moreover, BLACKPINK is also the only Asian act in the Top 10 of the All-Genre Top 100 Billboard List. In the global list, the group from YG Entertainment ranked 10th. 

Notably, this data only covers their arena and stadium performances across America, Europe, Mexico, and Australia. Since the group’s Asian stops were not reported, fans are claiming that the numbers should be higher for the group. 

Aside from BLACKPINK, here are the other acts who made it to the list: 

Meanwhile, Suga of BTS placed second with his SUGA Agust D world tour. Based on the reports, it earned $57.1 Million gross in 26 shows. Interestingly, Suga sold over 318,000 tickets for his first tour as a solo artist. What makes this achievement even more impressive is Suga is the only solo act to be part of the list. 

Following the two acts, K-pop groups TWICE, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and SEVENTEEN took home the third, fourth, and fifth spots respectively. As for TWICE, the nine-piece act garnered a total of $54 Million in gross for 18 shows of their Born To Be World Tour. TXT and SEVENTEEN, both under HYBE LABELS, also earned around $46.8 Million and $43.3 Million in gross each.

Furthermore, groups from the 4th generation also took over for the rest of the list. Also under HYBE LABELS, ENHYPEN placed 6th with a $33 Million gross for 19 shows. Next are boy groups Stray Kids and ATEEZ with $16.1 Million gross and $13.9 Million gross, respectively.

Only three girl groups made it to the list. In the ninth place are “Unforgiven” singers LE SERRAFIM who secured the spot with their first world tour “FLAME RISES” having garnered $8 Million gross.

Closing off the top 10 list is SM Entertainment’s NCT DREAM earning $7 Million gross and selling over 36,900 tickets for only four shows.

Congratulations to all groups included in the list!

Featured image: The quartet poses during their ‘Born Pink’ encore concert in Seoul. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

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BTS, BLACKPINK Hailed as Google’s Most Searched Bands in Its 25-Year History

BTS poses for FESTA 2022. Credit: Facebook/BTS

Rejoice, ARMYs and BLINKs! South Korean groups BTS and BLACKPINK achieve another historic feat in their careers.

In an almost-four minute recap video posted by Google on Monday, December 11, it was announced that BTS and BLACKPINK are the most searched boy and girl groups, respectively. 

According to the report, the K-pop sensations were among the top searched acts in the search engine’s 25 year history. Both bands clinched a spot in the list alongside 2023 Time Person of the Year Taylor Swift, who was revealed to be the most searched singer-songwriter, and Beyonce for the most searched performance. 

Undoubtedly, this achievement marks K-pop’s growing global influence in the music scene. What makes these achievements more impressive is that both BTS and BLACKPINK weren’t that active in the recent months. 

As for BTS, the members have been preparing for their mandatory military service enlistments. Meanwhile, BLACKPINK’s contract was in limbo since August before they recently renewed with YG Entertainment for group activities. 

 

Looking back through milestones of BTS and BLACKPINK

Consisting of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, BTS debuted in 2013 under the then-small company BigHit Music. Through their heartfelt lyrics and stellar performances, the seven-member group rose to global success and achieved numerous historical records. Currently, they’re dominating both local and international music charts.

In 2019, BTS became the first Korean act to be nominated at the Billboard Music Awards. In 2020, the “Blood, Sweat and Tears” singers were named as TIME’s Entertainer of the Year. Notably, they were also the first Korean group to perform at the Grammys in the same year. 

Furthermore, BTS is also known for their unrivaled Daesang Sweep, where they garnered a total of 65 trophies throughout their career — the most number of grand prizes in the Korean entertainment industry. 

On the other hand, BLACKPINK, composed of Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa, debuted in 2016 under YG Entertainment. 

Despite having released only two full-length studio albums, the quartet took the world by storm. Since their debut, they have also become one of the most successful female acts in the K-pop industry.

Moreover, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop act to headline the Coachella music festival. Recently, they were also granted honorary membership in the Order of the British Empire.

Featured image: BTS poses for FESTA 2022. Credit: Facebook/BTS

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BLACKPINK’s Lisa Reportedly Attends Jay-Z’s 54th Birthday Party

Hip hop mogul Jay-Z recently had a grand celebration with his 54th birthday party, and it may have included a K-pop icon. A new report suggests that BLACKPINK member Lisa was in attendance at the event held in a gorgeous French city.

Did BLACKPINK Member Lisa Attend Jay-Z’s 54th Birthday Party?

BLACKPINK’s Lisa reportedly attended Jay-Z’s 54th birthday party in Bordeaux, France, according to French media outlet NJR. The hip-hop mogul celebrated his birthday with over a hundred guests, including a star-studded lineup.

The reported guest list included Jay-Z’s long-time friend and business partner, Lisa from BLACKPINK, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Ellen Pompeo, and Kris Jenner, the matriarch of the Kardashian family. The party was also a private event, and no photos have been released.

Fans deduced Lisa’s attendance at the birthday celebration when she shared photos from Langon Train Station, which is located on the outskirts of Bordeaux. While there are no images from the private event, the inclusion of Lisa in such a high-profile gathering with renowned figures from the entertainment industry also showcases her growing influence and recognition on the global stage.

Lisa’s presence at Jay-Z’s birthday party not only solidifies her status as an international celebrity but also underscores the interconnectedness of the global entertainment industry. BLACKPINK’s members have also consistently made waves beyond the realm of K-pop, and Lisa’s attendance at such an exclusive event further cements her position as a noteworthy figure in the world of music and pop culture.

As BLACKPINK continues to make strides globally, each member’s individual achievements contribute to the group’s collective success. Lisa’s participation in high-profile events and collaborations also demonstrates her expanding network within the international entertainment scene, setting the stage for even more exciting opportunities for the talented artist in the future.

In related news, all members of BLACKPINK recently renewed their exclusive contracts with YG Entertainment for group activities.

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BLACKPINK Renews Contract With YG Entertainment for Group Activities

Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé, and Jennie pose after their Coachella performance. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

All four members of BLACKPINK have officially extended their contracts with their original agency, YG Entertainment, for future group activities, putting an end to the speculation surrounding the acclaimed K-pop sensation’s future.

On Wednesday, December 6, YG Entertainment announced that they’ve successfully secured exclusive contracts for group endeavors with Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. A representative from the label emphasized that this decision was reached after thorough discussions and is founded on a deep sense of trust between the parties involved.

“After careful discussions with BLACKPINK, we signed exclusive contracts for group activities based on deep trust,” YG Entertainment said, according to a Soompi report. 

 

Furthermore, Yang Hyun Suk, the executive producer at YG Entertainment, expressed his joy in continuing the collaborative journey with BLACKPINK. He said: “BLACKPINK will continue to do their best to shine even brighter in the global music market as artists representing not only our agency but also K-pop, and we send our unwavering support and faith for their future steps.”

According to South Korean media reports, the contract renewal will see the quartet release new music and hold another large-scale world tour soon. 

BLACKPINK still in our area

While the renewal covers group activities, there has been no official announcement regarding the members’ solo pursuits yet. 

Since the quartet’s original contract with YG Entertainment expired in August, there’s speculation that the members would pursue individual activities with other agencies. To recall, there were reports claiming that Lisa will be signing with an American agency, while Jennie and Jisoo will allegedly set up their own labels. Notably, these reports also included deals that allegedly promised business and promotional opportunities for the artists outside of their K-pop activities. 

Although there’s no news about the members’ contract for their solo activities, the latest news concludes months of uncertainty about BLACKPINK’s future as a group. 

Since their debut in 2016 with hit singles like “Whistle” and “Boombayah,” BLACKPINK has risen to become one of the most commercially successful female acts in the K-pop industry.  

Furthermore, they also made history as the first K-pop act to headline the renowned Coachella music festival in the United States, solidifying their global influence and popularity. Recently, the members were also awarded with honorary memberships in the Order of the British Empire.

Featured image: Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé, and Jennie pose after their Coachella performance. Credit: Facebook/BLACKPINK

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BTS and BLACKPINK Are the Most Streamed K-Pop Groups on Spotify in 2023

BTS during their 'Permission to Dance' concert. Credit: Facebook/BTS

Did you make it to the Top 1% listeners of your favorite K-pop acts? On Thursday, November 29, Spotify unveiled its compilation of the most streamed K-pop artists and songs for the year 2023. 

For those unfamiliar, the Spotify Wrapped feature is an annual end-of-the-year event wherein the music giant showcases the top artists, songs, albums, and podcasts in their streaming platform. 

As for the most streamed K-pop artists, BTS reigned supreme, securing the coveted top spot again. Within the same category, Jungkook and Jimin claimed the third and sixth positions, respectively. Both BTS members released their solo debut albums this year—Jungkook with Golden and Jimin with Face—and set Guinness World Records for their individual releases. 

Meanwhile, BLACKPINK earned the title of the most streamed girl group of the year, and ranked second to BTS in the top 10. Overall, the Top 10 most streamed K-pop artists include four boy groups, four girl groups, and two solo artists. 

In terms of the most streamed K-pop songs, Jungkook clinched the top spot with his debut solo track “Seven (feat. Latto).” Additionally, Jimin’s “Like Crazy” secured the third position on the list. Interestingly, they’re the only entries in the Top 10 that came from a male act. Other entries in the Top 10 were mainly from female acts, with NewJeans securing four entries out of 10. 

Furthermore, Jungkook’s “Seven” also dominated the worldwide charts, ranking fourth at the most streamed song globally. According to Spotify, the only songs that racked up more Spotify streams in 2023 were Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” SZA’s “Kill Bill,” and Harry Styles’ “As It Was.”  What makes this achievement even more impressive is that “Seven” was only released in mid-July. 

Top songs, artists for 2023 according to Spotify Korea

Spotify’s Top 10 Most Streamed K-pop Artists are:

  1. BTS
  2. BLACKPINK
  3. Jungkook
  4.  NewJeans
  5. Stray Kids
  6. Jimin
  7. TWICE
  8.  SEVENTEEN
  9. TOMORROW X TOGETHER
  10. LE SSERAFIM

Meanwhile, the Top 10 Most Streamed K-pop Songs are:

  1. Jungkook “Seven“
  2. FIFTY FIFTY “Cupid“
  3. Jimin “Like Crazy“
  4. NewJeans “OMG“
  5. NewJeans “Ditto“
  6. NewJeans “Super Shy”
  7. Lisa “Money“
  8. Jisoo “Flower“
  9.  BLACKPINK “Shut Down”
  10. NewJeans “Hype Boy”

Featured image: BTS during their ‘Permission to Dance’ concert. Credit: Facebook/BTS

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BLACKPINK Receives Honorary MBEs From King Charles at Buckingham Palace

BLACKPINK poses with their honorary MBEs. Credit: Twitter/Royal Family

BLACKPINK, the renowned South Korean girl group, has been granted honorary membership in the Order of the British Empire.

In a special investiture ceremony on November 22 at Buckingham Palace, King Charles presented all four members of BLACKPINK with honorary MBEs. Notably, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee were also present during the investiture ceremony. 

On the Royal Family’s official social media accounts, they also shared clips of the BLACKPINK members receiving their honorary MBEs from King Charles. “The K-pop band have been awarded the honors in recognition of their role as advocates for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow,” they captioned the post. 

For those unfamiliar, the MBEs are part of a series of medals and honors that the King can confer on behalf of the government.

According to reports, Rosé, holding dual New Zealand citizenship and being a national of a British realm, received a “substantive” MBE. This distinguishes her from the purely honorary recognition bestowed upon the three remaining members: Jisoo, Jennie, and Lisa. 

Another historic feat for BLACKPINK 

As recognition stems from their pivotal role as official advocates for the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the Royal Family further commended BLACKPINK for their vocal support for the campaign to raise awareness about climate change. 

A day prior to the investiture ceremony, King Charles also hosted a banquet at Buckingham Palace for the South Korean president and first lady, with all four BLACKPINK members in attendance. 

In his banquet speech, King Charles commended Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé, for effectively conveying the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience while balancing their roles as international superstars. Based on the clips circulating online, the members were visibly surprised by the acknowledgment of their pivotal role. 

Moreover, BLACKPINK’s contributions for this initiative extended beyond verbal support. As the group also released educational videos aimed at enlightening the younger generation about climate issues. Which led to the group being appointed as global ambassadors for the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals. 

With this, BLACKPINK has now become the first and only non-British musical artist to receive this prestigious honorary award. Furthermore, they’ll be joining notable musical artists such as The Beatles (1965), Adele (2013), and Ed Sheeran (2017) as recipients of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). 

On social media, fans of the group are overjoyed with BLACKPINK’s latest achievement. On top of that, they’re also delighted to see all four members together again amidst the group’s ongoing contract renewal negotiation with YG Entertainment.

Featured image: BLACKPINK poses with their honorary MBEs. Credit: Twitter/Royal Family

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Here Are the K-Pop Acts Who Won at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards

NewJeans is named Top Global K-pop Artist. Credit: Twitter/Billboard

The 2023 Billboard Music Awards announced its winners on Sunday, November 19. For this year’s edition, the prestigious music award-giving body witnessed the inclusion of four new K-pop categories: Top Global K-Pop Artist, Top K-Pop Album, Top Global K-Pop Song, and Top K-Pop Touring Artist. 

Notably, the Billboard Music Awards determines victors based on performance metrics from the year-end Billboard charts, with the tracking period for this year extending from November 4, 2022, to October 12, 2023.

Apart from the announcement of winners, K-pop fans were also treated to performances of groups NewJeans and Stray Kids. During the award night, NewJeans showcased their hit songs “Super Shy” and “OMG.” Meanwhile, Stray Kids debuted their latest title track “LALALA.” 

 

Billboard Music Awards 2023 Winners

One of the winners is rookie group NewJeans, who secured the title of Top Global K-pop artist. In their acceptance speech, Hanni expressed her gratitude to fans.

 “To have been nominated in this category alongside such incredible artists that we all look up to is an honor in itself,” Hanni said. Meanwhile, Minji added: “This award will be a reminder to us for all the love and support we’ve received from our fans, BUNNIES. We’ll try our hardest every day to make it up to our fans.” 

On top of that, Hyein also gave a shout out to her fellow NewJeans members. “We’re always looking out for one another – inspiring, helping, believing. But above all, forming this unbreakable friendship.” 

Another winner is Stray Kids, who claimed the Top K-pop Album award for 5-STAR. During their speech, leader Bang Chan was quick to acknowledge their fans, STAYS. “Without the love and support from everyone, we would probably not have made it this far,” he said. Meanwhile, Changbin, speaking in Korean, promised that they would continue to work on better music for their fans. 

 

Additionally, BTS’ Jungkook received the award for Top Global K-pop Song with “Seven (feat. Latto.)” In his acceptance video, the BTS member said that the win is “truly an honor.” “Without you, I couldn’t have gotten this amazing award,” he said to ARMYs. 

Furthermore, BLACKPINK secured the award for Top K-pop Touring Artist of the Year. 

Featured image: NewJeans is named Top Global K-pop Artist. Credit: Twitter/Billboard

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BLACKPINK Confirms Takashi Murakami Limited Edition Collection Collaboration

BLACKPINK is gearing up for a new collaboration! The girl group has just been confirmed to be working on a limited edition collection with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

BLACKPINK Confirms Limited Edition Collection Collaboration With Takashi Murakami

An exciting announcement on November 17 revealed that BLACKPINK is gearing up to launch a limited edition collection, featuring a diverse range of items associated with the globally renowned K-pop group. The collection has also quickly captured international attention and sparked excitement among fans, primarily due to the involvement of the acclaimed Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami.

Takashi Murakami, celebrated for his pioneering role in the “superflat” artistic movement, is also known for seamlessly blending high art elements with consumer culture. His distinctive style draws inspiration from traditional Japanese painting and contemporary anime, creating a unique fusion that bridges cultural gaps and facilitates cross-cultural communication. The collaboration with BLACKPINK is highly anticipated as it also promises to bring together art and pop culture in an extraordinary manner.

Fans are eagerly anticipating the unveiling of this limited edition collection, expecting a visually striking and culturally rich assortment of items that showcase the intersection of BLACKPINK’s influence and Takashi Murakami’s artistic prowess. The collaboration also holds the promise of delivering a unique and memorable collection that resonates with fans of both BLACKPINK and Murakami alike.

In related news, BLACKPINK is set to break new ground in the entertainment industry. On Thursday, November 16, the girl group announced their first-ever virtual concert, BLACKPINK: A VR Encore, in collaboration with Meta and the Emmy Award-winning production company The Diamond Bros.

The virtual concert will also be a recreation of the group’s special finale show from the Born Pink world tour held at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome last September 17. Moreover, the 70-minute virtual experience also promises to transport fans into the heart of BLACKPINK’s music.

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