Tag: (G)I-DLE

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-DLE’s Minnie and Shuhua Announce Temporary Break

CUBE Entertainment announced on December 15 that Minnie and Shuhua will be taking a temporary break. According to the label, the (G)I-DLE members are temporarily halting their promotional activities to focus on recovering from recent illnesses.

CUBE Entertainment Confirms Minnie and Shuhua’s Temporary Break

On December 15, CUBE Entertainment announced that the two (G)I-DLE members are taking a temporary break. The agency released a statement first addressing the health concerns of Minnie which was followed by an update on Shuhua. The label also expressed the need for the idols to prioritize their own well-being.

“Minnie recently visited the hospital after persistently experience poor health conditions, and has decided to halt all of her activities temporarily to rest, per the advice of medical experts,” the statement read.

“As a result, Minnie will not be participating in the group or unit stage of the KBS ‘2023 Music Bank Global Festival’, scheduled to take place on December 15. Only Miyeon and Yuqi will participate in the unit stage at the ‘2023 Music Bank Global Festival’.”

The follow-up read, “On the morning of December 15, Shuhua visited the emergency room due to symptoms of a fever and a cold, and was diagnosed with Influenza type A. Shuhua has thus halted all of her activities and is resting.”

“Because this illness is known to be contagious, it has been decided that the pre-recording for the group stage at the KBS ‘2023 Music Bank Global Festival’ will be cancelled for the safety of all artists and fans. We also apologize for the delay in assessing the situation and delivering this notice,” it concluded.

Illness in the K-Pop Community

Taking a break from promotions is a common practice in the K-Pop industry when artists face health issues, ensuring that they have sufficient time to rest and regain their strength. The decision also reflects the industry’s emphasis on the physical and mental health of idols, recognizing the demanding nature of their schedules and the importance of maintaining overall well-being.

Fans of (G)I-DLE have expressed their support for Minnie and Shuhua, emphasizing the importance of the members’ health over their active involvement in promotional activities. The temporary hiatus will also allow the two members to focus on their recovery, and fans are hopeful for their swift return to the group’s activities once they are in good health.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-DLE Confirms January Comeback with 2nd Full Album

(G)I-DLE is set to make a highly anticipated January comeback, marking their return after an approximate 8-month hiatus since the release of ‘I feel’ in May of the same year. The news of their upcoming comeback has generated excitement among fans, eager to see what the girl group has in store with their 2nd full album.

(G)I-DLE Preparing for January Comeback to Release Second Full Album

The decision for a January comeback is seen as a strategic move for (G)I-DLE and their agency CUBE Entertainment. The girl group has been a significant driving force for the entertainment company, as evidenced by CUBE Entertainment’s financial performance for the third quarter of 2023. Despite facing recent challenges with other artists, (G)I-DLE’s impact on the company’s success has been noteworthy.

The group’s achievements were further highlighted at the ‘2023 MAMA Awards,’ where they not only secured the ‘Favorite Global Performer Award (Female)’ but also delivered a captivating performance of their hit song “Queencard” on the prestigious Tokyo Dome stage. These accolades and performances have solidified (G)I-DLE’s position as a powerhouse in the K-pop industry.

As fans eagerly await the release of (G)I-DLE’s 2nd full album, there is anticipation surrounding the concept, music, and visuals that the group will present. With their previous successes and the positive reception of their recent releases, the upcoming comeback is expected to be a significant moment for both the group and their fans.

(G)I-DLE’s ability to capture global attention and maintain a strong presence in the industry also positions them as a key player in the evolving landscape of K-pop. As the details of their comeback unfold, it will undoubtedly contribute to their growing legacy and further establish them as one of the leading girl groups in the Korean music scene.

The official January comeback date for (G)I-DLE has not yet been revealed.

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-DLE Singlehandedly Propelled CUBE Entertainment’s Q3 2023 Financial Performance

CUBE Entertainment has officially revealed its financial performance for the third quarter of 2023. Interestingly, despite recent losses with its current artists, the company confirmed that their flagship artist (G)I-DLE effectively propelled the agency through the third quarter of 2023.

CUBE Confirms (G)I-DLE Boosting Company’s Financial Performance

On November 9, CUBE shared an official statement regarding its financial performance from July to September 2023. In the third quarter, the company reported robust financial performance, with separate basis sales revenue at 22 billion KRW (approximately 16.8 million USD) and an operating profit of 3 billion KRW (approximately 2.3 million USD). These figures represent substantial growth, with a 90% increase in sales revenue and a profitable operating margin compared to the previous year.

By the end of the third quarter, cumulative separate basis sales revenue had reached 65 billion KRW (approximately 49.5 million USD), surpassing the prior year’s annual revenue in just nine months. The company achieved a cumulative operating profit of 10.1 billion KRW (approximately 7.7 million USD), marking the first time it has exceeded the 10 billion KRW milestone since its inception.

Considering subsidiary firms, consolidated basis sales revenue for the third quarter reached 39.1 billion KRW (approximately 29.8 million USD), with an operating profit of 3.4 billion KRW (approximately 2.6 million USD). These figures signify a 50% increase in sales revenue and a remarkable 430% growth in operating profit compared to the previous year. The cumulative consolidated basis sales revenue for the third quarter surpassed 100 billion KRW, reaching 105.8 billion KRW, and the cumulative consolidated operating profit for this quarter was 9.98 billion KRW.

Cube Entertainment’s flagship artist, (G)I-DLE, played a pivotal role in these achievements. Their three consecutive chart-topping hits in 2023, “TOMBOY,” “Nxde,” and “Queencard,” significantly boosted key performance indicators across various domains, such as album sales, digital music, and advertising, culminating in record-breaking cumulative sales for the third quarter.

“(G)I-DLE’s three-fold success and their million-seller status have boosted the intellectual property (IP) value,” a CUBE representative said. “The expanding global fandom has led to a 170% increase in advertising revenue compared to the same period last year, which includes numerous advertising contracts, such as luxury brand ambassadors.”

CUBE Entertainment previously dealt with the departure of six members of PENTAGON. In addition to that, all members of BTOB chose not to renew their contracts with the agency.

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Look: (G)I-DLE Releases Tracklist for Ep ‘Heat’

(G)I-DLE in the concept photo for 'Heat.' Credit: Twitter/(G)I-DLE

K-pop girl group (G)I-DLE aims to soar to greater heights with their first all-English EP HEAT as they collaborate with globally-renowned names. 

On Tuesday, September 19, the “Queencard” hitmakers revealed the official tracklist for their upcoming release.

According to the list, HEAT will consist of five songs, with the title track being “I Want That.” It also includes the previously released single “I Do”, and three more songs namely; “Eyes Roll”, “Flip It”, and “Tall Trees.”

Compared to (G)I-DLE’s previous releases, none of the five members were involved in the production of Heat. Even the group’s main songwriter Soyeon was not mentioned in the credits, leaving fans perplexed. 

However, a few tracks in the album were surprisingly written and produced by some of the biggest names in the music industry. 

In “I Want That,” OneRepublic’s frontman Ryan Tedder is credited as a co-writer. For those unfamiliar, Tedder is known to have created several masterpieces including Beyonce’s “Halo,” Adele’s “Rumor Has It” and Taylor Swift’s “I Know Places.” 

Aside from Tedder, the title track is also co-written by Madison Love and frequent TWICE songwriters Melanie Fontano and Michel “Lindgren” Schulz. 

Additionally, Tedder is also credited as a co-writer in the side track “Eyes Roll” alongside GRAMMY Award-winning singer Meghan Trainor. 

HEAT is about to arrive! 

Apart from the tracklist, (G)I-DLE has also started releasing the concept image of the album.

In the photo, Soyeon, Yuqi, Miyeon, Minie and Shuhua served their ethereal visuals while posing in a fancy white car.

Besides being the group’s first all-English EP, fans are also looking forward to HEAT because it’s a collaboration of the group’s agency, CUBE Entertainment, and American music recording company 88Rising. The collaboration was first announced in July. 

Initially set for a September 8 release, HEAT will be out on October 5. According to 88rising, the changes are made to “ensure the best quality” for the EP. At the time, they said that they’re already working hard to put the finishing touches. 

(G)I-DLE’s record after record

With their upcoming English EP, fans are excited to witness the girl group surpass their previous achievements.

In May, (G)I-DLE released their sixth mini-album I feel with the hit title track “Queencard”. Said album broke the group’s own first-week album sales record having sold over 1.16 Million copies upon its release. 

The number marked a significant increase since (G)I-DLE’s previous albums: I love which sold 680,000 copies and I Never Die with 176,900 copies. Both albums which were released in 2022, gifted K-Pop stans the viral hits “Nxde” and “TOMBOY”.

Now, Neverland, the group’s fandom, are looking forward to seeing (G)I-DLE break their personal record with HEAT.

Feautred image: (G)I-DLE in the concept photo for ‘Heat.’ Credit: Twitter/(G)I-DLE

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Newjeans’ ‘Super Shy’ Tops Song of the Summer in TikTok Korea

NewJeans shares photo from 'Get Up' promotions. Credit: Facebook/NewJeans

Short video platform TikTok announced on Friday, August 25, that “Super Shy” of rookie girl group NewJeans is the hottest summer song in South Korea for 2023. 

In a press release, TikTok explained that their list of “Song of the Summer” is based on the total number of videos of audio sources from the collected data in the platform between June to August of this year. The list is also divided into a global list and national list. 

 

For the Top 10 in South Korea, it was NewJeans’s “Super Shy” that emerged to have generated the most music-based content. 

“Super Shy,” which was released on July 7, is one of the title tracks from the group’s sophomore EP Get Up. 

Additionally, Get Up, which featured a total of six songs, saw NewJeans topping the Billboard 200 chart for the first time. Moreover, they’re the only second female K-pop act to land on the top spot of the Billboard 200, following BLACKPINK. Also, NewJeans’ Get Up and BLACKPINK’s Born Pink album are the only two albums by an all-female act to hit the No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in the past 15 years. 

It’s not a surprise then that a single from NewJeans topped the list of TikTok Korea. 

Aside from “Super Shy,” only four other songs from Korean acts made it to the list. 

Song of the Summer in TikTok Korea 

Placing third in the list is “Queencard” by girl group (G)I-DLE. The song was the title track for their sixth mini-album I FEEL, which was released in May. 

 

Next is the speed up version of the hit “Cupid” by FIFTY FIFTY. Released on February 24, the song went viral and eventually became the highest charting hit by a South Korean girl group in the history of the Billboard Pop Airplay chart.

Although it placed fifth in TikTok Korea’s list, it was fourth in the global list. Additionally, “Cupid” was the only song by a K-pop act that made it in the list. 

 

In ninth place is “Seven” by BTS member Jungkook. Also an expected addition given that the explicit version of the digital single has earned a Guinness World Record. 

“Seven (Explicit Ver.)” logged at least 11.6 million streams each day for its first tracking week. With this, it has set the record for fastest time for a music track by a male artist to reach 100 million streams on Spotify. 

 

Rounding up the list was “AEAO” by Korean hip-hop duo Dynamic Duo. The song went viral on TikTok nine years after its release. 

As for the international releases that made it to the list, Mae Stephens’ “If We Ever Broke Up” landed at the second place. 

Other songs in the rankings also include “What It Is (Solo Version)” by American rapper Doechii and “girls like me don’t cry” by Vietnamese-American singer Thuy. 

Japanese group Yoasabi’s “Idol” and singer imase’s “Night Dancer” also made it to the list. 

Featured image: NewJeans shares photo from ‘Get Up’ promotions. Credit: Facebook/NewJeans

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-Dle’s Jeon Soyeon, ‘Single Inferno’ Star Moon SE Hoon Deny Dating Rumors

(G)I-DLE's Jeon Soyeon and Moon Se Hoon share selfies in their respective Instagram accounts. Credit: Instagram/Jeon Soyeon, Moon Se Hoon

Both agencies of (G)I-DLE’s Jeon Soyeon and Single Inferno’s Moon Se Hoon denied the rumored relationship between the two. 

Recently, the two stars were speculated to be dating when a photo of them purchasing clothes together circulated at an online community. 

In response to the rumors, agency Chorokbaem ENM clarified that Moon Se Hoon has a lot of celebrity friends. And that the two might have met each other at the department store by coincidence. 

For those unfamiliar with Moon Se Hoon, he was one of the contestants in the first season of the dating reality show Single’s Inferno. In April, he signed with Chorokbaem ENM to pursue an acting career. 

 

Meanwhile, Cube Entertainment shared that the two just have a close relationship. “They only went shopping together, and they are certainly not dating,” according to a Soompi report. As for Jeon Soyeon, she made her debut as the leader of (G)I-DLE in 2017. 

Additionally, Jeon Soyeon is the latest K-pop idol to be embroiled in dating controversies. MOMOLAND’s Jane denied that she was ever in a relationship with SEVENTEEN’s Joshua. Meanwhile, BLACKPINK’s Jisoo confirmed that she’s dating actor Ahn Bo Hyun. 

As of writing, other dating rumors that remain to be unverified include BLACKPINK’s Lisa with Frédéric Arnault, BLACKPINK’s Jennie and BTS’ V. 

What’s in store for (G)I-DLE?

Away from these dating rumors, (G)I-DLE has been primarily focused on their music activities. They released their sixth mini-album I FEEL in May, which carried the hit track “Queencard.” 

Currently, the group is preparing to release their first all-English EP HEAT on October 5. It was initially supposed to be available by September 8, but 88rising announced that there will be delays as they have yet to put final touches for the best quality. 

Additionally, HEAT is Cube Entertainment’s first all-English EP in their 17-year history. (G)I-DLE’s collaboration with 88rising has also given birth to the music video of their pre-release track “I DO.” 

Featured image: (G)I-DLE’s Jeon Soyeon and Moon Se Hoon share selfies in their respective Instagram accounts. Credit: Instagram/Jeon Soyeon, Moon Se Hoon

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-DLE Delays Release of Ep ‘Heat’

(G)I-DLE in a concept photo for their 'I Feel' album. Credit: Facebook/(G)I-DLE

The release of (G)ID-LE’s highly-anticipated all-English EP HEAT has been rescheduled. 

88rising announced the changes on Friday, August 18. 

“We are working hard to put the final touches on the EP to ensure the best quality for (G)I-DLE’s fans around the world,” they explained.

 

Instead of its initial schedule of September 8, HEAT is now slated for an October 5 release. 

Following the news, the Asian-focused music company asked the fans for their continued support and understanding. 

What makes HEAT special? 

One of the reasons why fans are looking forward to HEAT is because it’s in collaboration with 88rising. The said label is home to a multitude of Asian artists, including K-pop stars Chungha and Jackson Wang. 

Additionally, HEAT will also be (G)I-DLE’s first all-English EP since debut. It’s also the first for Cube Entertainment in the company’s 17-year history. 

As for what fans can expect in HEAT, the EP will reportedly talk about “feeling confident and bringing the spirit of an endless summer with you wherever you go.” 

According to 88rising’s executive vice president John Yang, the (G)I-DLE members were “full of excitement and positivity” for their collaboration. 

In July, (G)I-DLE released “I DO,” the first single from HEAT. The music video for the English track features an extraterrestrial being falling in love with a human. 

 

The group also released a second music video “I DO,” which featured Thai actors Tu Tontawan Tantivejakul and Dew Jirawat Sutivanisak. 

HEAT will come after (G)I-DLE’s sixth mini-album I FEEL, which was released in May. 

Featured image: (G)I-DLE in a concept photo for their ‘I Feel’ album. Credit: Facebook/(G)I-DLE

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS K-POP STYLE LATEST STORIES

(G)I-Dle’s Miyeon Is Jimmy Choo’s New Global Ambassador

Jimmy Choo shares photo of their new global ambassador, (G)I-DLE's Miyeon. Credit: Twitter/Jimmy Choo

Miyeon of K-pop girl group (G)I-DLE has been tapped to become the newest global ambassador of fashion luxury brand Jimmy Choo. 

On Tuesday, August 1, the brand shard a photo of Miyeon in a white sweater and black skirt. She is also holding a sequined silver handbag. 

 Jimmy Choo’s creative director Sandra Choi shared that the brand is “thrilled” to have the idol. They also described Miyeon as “magnetic” in a press release. 

“From her musical talent to her captivating performances and inimitable personal style, she truly embodies the confident, playful spirit and creative energy of Jimmy Choo,” they added. 

For her part, Miyeon remarked that it’s a “pleasure and honor” to be Jimmy Choo’s new global ambassador. She added that she has fallen in love “with the joy and splendor” of the brand. 

“I feel more confident when I wear them. I want to present the beautiful campaign that we worked on together as soon as possible,” she said. 

As part of her brand ambassadorship, Miyeon will be featured in various activities for the brand, including the Jimmy Choo 2023 Fall Campaign that will be launched on August 30. 

The (G)I-DLE member is the second Korean ambassador for Jimmy Choo, following the footsteps of idol-actress Son Na Eun. Son became the brand’s first ambassador for South Korea in May 2022. 

Recently, numerous K-pop idols have been tapped as global ambassadors for fashion brands. The list includes BTS’ V for Cartier, SEVENTEEN’s Vernon for Kenzo, TWICE’s Dahyun for Michael Kors, and STRAY KIDS’ Hyunjin for Versace. 

Meanwhile, (G)I-DLE recently collaborated with 88rising for their first English-single “I Do.”

Featured image: Jimmy Choo shares photo of their new global ambassador, (G)I-DLE’s Miyeon. Credit: Twitter/Jimmy Choo

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-DLE Collaborates with 88rising for New Single and EP

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Cube Entertainment’s (G)I-DLE, one of the leading girl groups in K-pop’s fourth generation, joined forces with 88rising, an Asian-focused music and media company. The result is the group’s highly anticipated new single, “I DO,” and an upcoming EP called “HEAT.”

Known for their fearless approach to performing and self-crafted smash hits, (G)I-DLE has gained recognition as leaders in K-pop. Last year, their chart-topping single “Tomboy” was even named the No. 1 K-pop song of 2022 by Billboard critics. 

Now, the group is taking a significant step forward by collaborating with 88rising.

“I DO,” set to drop soon, is (G)I-DLE‘s first original English single. Unlike their previous bold and energetic tracks like “Queencard,” “Nxde,” and “Tomboy,” this heartfelt mid-tempo song showcases a different side of the group. With sweet and emotional vocal performances from members Minnie, Miyeon, Shuhua, Soyeon, and Yuqi, “I DO” was designed to be easy to sing along to and resonate on a deeper level with listeners. It also serves as the opening track for the girls’ upcoming EP, “HEAT,” co-executive produced by 88rising.

Woohyung Ahn, the CEO of Cube Entertainment, is very excited about HEAT, which will be the first all-English EP produced by the company in its 17-year history. “HEAT is about feeling confident and bringing the spirit of an endless summer with you wherever you go,” he says. “We hope the release of HEAT will allow us to bring the message and mission of (G)I-DLE to the whole world.”

Sean Miyashiro, CEO and founder of 88rising, admires (G)I-DLE because of the girls’ artistry and creativity. “We’ve been fans of (G)-IDLE for a long time because they’re in tune and involved with what they put out. I was like, ‘Wow, they know what they want to do,’ which is important—it makes the process much more meaningful when there’s a firm belief and point of view. I felt honored that they were open to collaborating with us.”

John Yang, 88rising’s executive vice president, says the (G)I-DLE members are “full of excitement and positivity. We got so excited about what we could do together.” He praised 24-year-old Soyeon, the group’s leader, primary songwriter, and producer. “Soyeon knows what she wants for every song, from the delivery of the vocal to the overall cadence and tone—she truly is a genius.”

While 88rising has recently signed several K-pop artists, such as Chungha and Jackson Wang, their collaboration with (G)I-DLE has been in the works for a year since their initial introduction.

“I DO” and its official music video will be released on Friday, July 14, at 9:00 AM KST. The global release of the EP, HEAT, is scheduled for September.

(Featured Image: This photo accompanied their sixth EP. Source: Twitter/(G)I-DLE official Twitter account)

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

(G)I-DLE’s Yuqi Reveals Why She Chose CUBE Over SM Entertainment

Yuqi has opened up about some important decisions she made in her career. The (G)I-DLE member revealed that she turned down SM Entertainment to debut in CUBE Entertainment’s girl group.

Here’s Why Yuqi Decided Against Signing With SM Entertainment

Yuqi was recently a guest on the MBC talk show Radio Star. During the show, the hosts pointed out that Song Yu Qi had always been a huge K-pop fan.

She confirmed, “In middle school, I was in a dance team. We even held a K-Pop festival.”

The (G)I-DLE main rapper then revealed that her initial goal was to become a trainee for SM Entertainment.

“I am a very big fan of Super Junior. So it was always my dream to go to SM Entertainment,” Yuqi said. “I auditioned for SM Entertainment’s global auditions in Beijing four times.”

She added, “After the fourth time, I saw that CUBE Entertainment was also having auditions the week afterwards, so I went ahead and auditioned for CUBE too. But then, I got a call back from both companies.”

It’s not surprising that both agencies wanted Yuqi to sign with them. However, it also meant that the Chinese idol had a huge decision to make.

“It was a huge struggle, choosing which company to go to,” she admitted. “SM was always my dream, after all. But then at that time, 4minute was making it big at CUBE.”

Yuqi continued, “So then I thought, ‘Well, it’s true that I’m cute and pretty and my visuals fit SM, but my voice is so CUBE. It is husky and more fitting for a girl crush concept’.”

So what made Yuqi decide to sign a contract with CUBE Entertainment? It was a simple offer.

“At the time, the director at Cube promised me, ‘Yuqi, if you sign with us, you will be able to debut by next year’. That was why I chose Cube,” she admitted.

It’s a relatable reason and we can’t blame Yuqi for making the decision. After all, most trainees have to wait several years before they could debut. Luckily for Song Yu Qi, she debuted as one of the talented members of (G)I-DLE.

(G)I-DLE is currently promoting their sixth EP I Feel. The group will begin their I AM FREE-TY World Tour in Seoul on June 17, 2023.

Exit mobile version