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PLEDIS Entertainment Shares Update on TWS’s Logo Controversy

Earlier this month, PLEDIS Entertainment responded to plagiarism accusations concerning the logo of their new boy group, TWS. The controversy began when TWM, a Korea-based custom watch brand, accused the agency (and, by extension, its new boy group) of plagiarizing their logo.

The issue surfaced when TWM aired their sentiments on Instagram. The brand said: “A group called TWS copied and used my logo. A very similar logo, it’s a logo I drew by hand and has trademark rights to. This is a frustrating start to a new year. I will have to report this as trademark infringement through a lawyer tomorrow. If you compare the group’s logo to my precious creation, it’s outrageous. It’s a logo with trademark protection under my name. I can’t just let this go.”

TWM also mentioned that they had been using their logo since September 2018. Many netizens also noticed the uncanny similarities between the brand’s logo and TWS’s logo. PLEDIS, however, clarified that no plagiarism was involved. Apparently, they outsourced the creation of TWS’s logo to an outside company. To settle the issue, PLEDIS met with someone from TWM.

@hybelabelsfamily

TWS (투어스) OFFICIAL LOGO MOTION #pledis #tws #247withus

♬ nhạc nền – HYBE LABELS FAMILY – HYBE LABELS FAMILY

PLEDIS and TWM settled things

In an interview with Newsen, PLEDIS Entertainment stated, “We met with the company representative in person and provided a general explanation of the logo creation process and all misunderstandings were amicably resolved.”

In response, the brand also released a statement. “We met directly with PLEDIS and the external designer who developed the TWS logo, and received an overall explanation of the TWS logo production process. In conclusion, both I and the designer created the logo to the best of our abilities. We confirmed that the other party didn’t plagiarize my logo. Unfortunately, both sides were victims in this situation. Through this conversation, we resolved all misunderstandings, and we hope TWS will do well in the future.”

As the controversy of PLEDIS Entertainment plagiarizing the logo of TWM has come to a conclusive end, netizens are now looking forward to the group’s future activities. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: The issue was settled after both parties met to discuss it. Sources: X/@pledischarts, X/@syok_malaysia.

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TWS Introduces Members Through Pre-debut Single ‘Oh Mymy: 7s’

PLEDIS Entertainment has officially revealed its latest boy group, TWS!

Ahead of their official debut on January 22, TWS surprised fans with a pre-release single titled “Oh Mymy: 7s” on Tuesday, January 2. 

Through this video, the group also officially introduced its six members. Pronounced as “two-us,” TWS consists of Dohoon, Kyungmin, Youngjae, Shinyu, Hanjin, and Jihoon. Additional details about each member have yet to be provided. 

According to a press release, the song “Oh Mymy: 7s” aims to showcase the group’s confidence in their color. Accordingly, it’s meant to feature their essence in just seven seconds. 

“As it is a song that introduces TWS to the world, its splendid performance and fantastic melody shows why they are the ‘highest expectations of 2024,’” agency PLEDIS Entertainment said

In the six-minute video, the members were seen preparing for their debut and sharing their thoughts about their training experiences. “The process of practicing for the final evaluations was very difficult. But it’s thanks to the other five members cheering me on and encouraging me that I am able to be where I am now,” Dohoon said. 

After the footage, the group skillfully delivered a powerful, synchronized dance performance of their pre-debut track. Notably, TWS highlighted their talent and charisma in front of a panel composed by HYBE and PLEDIS Entertainment executives, as well as all SEVENTEEN members. 

What we know about TWS 

After their pre-release single, the group also plans to release various video content. Among these are behind-the-scenes stories and individual trailers for each member. Additionally, they’ll also be releasing official photos, track lists, teasers, and highlight medley for the group’s debut mini-album Spring Blue

Meanwhile, the official music video and album will be released on January 22. In relation to that, the group will also host a debut showcase on the same day. 

To build excitement for their debut, TWS will also open a pop-up store in Seoul from January 18 to 31, 2024. 

Short for “Twenty-Four Seven With Us,” TWS is meant to signify the group’s desire to be a constant companion to listeners.

Notably, the sextet will be PLEDIS Entertainment’s first boy group in more than eight years, following the debut of SEVENTEEN in 2015. Furthermore, they’re also the first act under HYBE Labels to make a debut in 2024. 

Featured image: TWS releases their pre-debut single ‘Oh Mymy: 7s.’ Credit: YouTube/PLEDIS Entertainment

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NANA Confirms Contract Renewal With Pledis Entertainment

NANA, the multi-talented artist who has been associated with PLEDIS Entertainment since her debut with the girl group After School in 2009, has decided to extend her long-term partnership with the agency. This marks the fourth time NANA has chosen to renew her exclusive contract with PLEDIS Entertainment, showcasing the strong bond and trust that has developed over the past 14 years.

PLEDIS Entertainment Confirms NANA’s Contract Renewal

On December 1, PLEDIS Entertainment confirmed the contract renewal in a statement.

“We would like to inform you that NANA, currently active as a singer and actor under our management, has renewed her contract with the company,” it read. “Based on a relationship of mutual trust built over our long relationship since her debut, Nana has renewed her contract with our company for the fourth time.”

“Our company will continue to provide NANA with extensive support to help her thrive in a broad range of activities, including acting, and make more remarkable strides down the road. We ask all fans to show your unceasing love and support for NANA,” it concludes.

Known for her versatility, NANA has not only made a name for herself as a member of After School but has also ventured into acting, solidifying her position as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Her journey as an actress began in 2016 with the drama “Good Wife” and since then, she has consistently showcased her talents through various productions.

NANA as an Actress

NANA’s acting prowess has been recognized in projects such as “Memorials”, “Oh My Ladylord”, “Glitch”, and more. Her recent role in the Netflix original series “Mask Girl” received acclaim, further establishing her as a versatile and skilled performer in the Korean entertainment landscape.

As NANA embarks on her newest project “My Man Is Cupid” scheduled to premiere on Prime Video on December 1, her decision to stay with PLEDIS Entertainment reflects a mutual commitment to continued success and growth. The agency has played a pivotal role in supporting NANA’s career, and this renewal signifies the ongoing collaboration between the artist and her agency.

NANA’s ability to navigate both the music and acting realms has contributed to her enduring popularity, and her decision to remain with PLEDIS Entertainment signals a shared vision for the future. Fans can anticipate more exciting projects and achievements from NANA as she continues to evolve and leave a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

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SEVENTEEN Soars to New Heights with ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’

K-pop boy group SEVENTEEN continues to establish themselves as one of the biggest names in the industry. With their 11th mini-album SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, the group have taken the industry by storm by setting new records and achieving remarkable milestones. 

On Monday, October 23, SEVENTEEN made their highly-anticipated comeback with SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN. The eight-track album served as the group’s return after five months following the release of FML in May.

Although it’s only been months since the group released new music, their latest album still had a meteoric rise to the top of charts, solidifying the group’s status as one of the most influential acts in the industry. 

Records set by ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’ 

Prior to the album’s official release, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN amassed an astounding 5.2 million pre-orders, setting a new benchmark for Korean acts. Said number also served as the group’s best personal record as their previous album, FML, only recorded 4.64 million copies in pre-orders. Furthermore, with this final total, SEVENTEEN now holds the record for the highest pre-order volume for an album in the history of K-pop. 

Meanwhile, the first-day album sales of  SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN are equally impressive as it reached 3.288 million units. This places them second only to their previous release, FML, which achieved 3.99 million first-day sales. In doing so, SEVENTEEN now holds the top two positions for the biggest first-day album sales debuts in the history of the Hanteo chart.

 

Additionally, the reach of SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN extended far beyond Korea’s borders. According to a report from Naver, the album achieved an all-kill status as it dominated the Japanese iTunes album chart across all genres. Moreover, it also maintained its reign at the top of Line Music’s real-time album chart. 

In China, the album sold a total of ¥400,000 digital sales revenue in just 18 hours after its release. 

God of Music’ dominates charts

Some of the standout achievements of SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN is also attributed to its title track, God of Music.” Within 24 hours of its release, the track quickly dominated charts such as Genie, and Bugs. What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is that SEVENTEEN became the first male group to top the Melon Top 100 for 2023, a milestone that speaks volumes about their growing influence and popularity.

Now that “God of Music” debuted at Melon’s Top 100, SEVENTEEN joins NewJeans, IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and G-IDLE as the only idol groups to have a song top the list for 2023. 

 

Outside of the Korean music charts, “God of Music” achieved top rankings on the iTunes “Top Song” chart in an impressive 29 countries and regions. The song’s appeal transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, finding favor in places like Brazil, the Philippines, and Singapore.

In an interview with Vulture, member Vernon says that the track shows SEVENTEEN’s “true colors.” “We’re just a really fun and bright group in general,” he said. Meanwhile, Joshua added: “It shows our energy, it shows our happiness, it shows our teamwork, it shows our performance skill sets.”  

Other songs included in the album are “SOS,” “Diamond Days,” “Back 2 Back,” “Monster,” “Yawn,” and “Headliner.” 

Featured image: Melon shares photos from SEVENTEEN’s filming for ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN.’ Credit: Twitter/SVT Contents

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SEVENTEEN’s Dino Shares True Reason For Renewing His Contract

There is little doubt that being the youngest in a group with 13 members is not easy. However, Dino appears to take it all in stride. The SEVENTEEN maknae recently spoke about his loyalty to the idol group and revealed the true reason why he decided to renew his contract with PLEDIS Entertainment.

DINO Opens Up About Renewing Contract With All 13 SEVENTEEN Members

On October 23, a video featuring SEVENTEEN’s Dino and Mingyu was shared on comedian Shin Dong Yup’s YouTube channel. During the interview, Dino expressed his loyalty to SEVENTEEN and discussed the future of the group.

“I think about [the future] a lot these days,” he said. “We are the first singers to renew our contracts as 13 members, and I contemplate about if we will be together in the future or if we will be separate. I also think about what I want to do.”

Shin Dong Yup inquired about the members’ contemplation of the future, particularly given their recent ninth debut anniversary. Dino took the opportunity to convey the true reason behind his decision to renew his contract with SEVENTEEN, and his response was truly heartwarming.

The reason I renewed my contract with SEVENTEEN is because if I’m not with these members, I don’t think I can enjoy activities as much as I do now. It’s one of the reasons I want to be with SEVENTEEN for a long time. Because of the people, sincerely,” he said.

It truly confirms that Dino is fully committed to the idol group but that doesn’t mean it was an easy decision. In a 2022 interview with Billboard, SEVENTEEN members revealed that the decision to renew their contracts had been a challenging one, causing them significant stress.

Despite the difficulties, all 13 members ultimately chose to renew. It was a decision that brought immense joy to CARATs and guaranteed the group’s bright future. Since then, SEVENTEEN has released several hits including “God of Music”, the title track from their latest album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’.

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SEVENTEEN Breaks Personal Record for Pre-orders With ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’

SEVENTEEN has still a week before they officially release their upcoming 11th mini-album SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN but it’s already making new personal records for the K-pop boy group. 

On Thursday, October 12, album distributor YG PLUS announced that SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN has already recorded a total of 4,673,069 stock pre-orders so far. 

For those unfamiliar, stock pre-orders refer to the number of albums that were ordered by fans before its actual release. As a result, said album has set a new career high in SEVENTEEN’s discography. And what makes this achievement even more remarkable is it came just six months after their previous milestone. 

Previously, the group’s 10th mini-album FML, which was released in May, recorded 4.64 million copies in pre-orders. 

With this feat of SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, it now ranked second among the top 20 albums with the highest stock pre-orders in K-pop history. In the first place is Stray Kids’ 5-Star album with 5,130,000 pre-orders. 

Since there’s still roughly 10 days before the official release of SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, fans of SEVENTEEN are hopeful that they’ll rank higher once the pre-order season ends. 

Given the pre-order records from SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, charts are declaring that SEVENTEEN is about to surpass 30 million album sales on Circle Chart. 

In fact, SEVENTEEN already surpasses 10 million album sales for 2023 even without the count from SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN. According to PLEDIS Entertainment, the “Super” hitmakers have already sold an unprecedented record of 11,043, 625 physical albums, from January to September of 2023 alone.

 

Impressive year for SEVENTEEN

2023 really appeared to be pivotal for SEVENTEEN.  

In terms of group album releases, their two comebacks for 2023, FML and SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, were both setting records. Aside from group albums, the comeback of SEVENTEEN’s subunit BSS also topped local and international charts. 

According to streaming platform, BSS and SEVENTEEN dominated the 2023 charts. 

Apart from music, the group also proved their entertainment skills through a number of variety shows.

As of writing,  Jeonghan and Dino are part of the travel program Magic Lamp. Meanwhile,  Seungkwan participated in the Netflix survival show The Devil’s Plan and Joshua and Hoshi participated in Bro Marble. 

Moreover, Jun also starred in the Chinese drama Exclusive Fairytale. To which he won a “Rising Star of the Year” award. 

Additionally, SEVENTEEN has also finished shooting Nana’s Tour, the group’s version of Youth Over Flowers with PD Na Yeong Seok. Details about the show’s release are yet to be announced.

Featured image: SEVENTEEN poses for their concept photo in ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN.’ Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

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Aju Nice! SEVENTEEN Surpasses 10 Million Album Sales for 2023 in Just 9 Months

K-pop powerhouse SEVENTEEN continues to dominate the industry by setting records after records. With the last quarter of 2023 still to come, the group has achieved another milestone in their career.

In the data released by the group’s agency Pledis Entertainment on Thursday, October 5, it was revealed that the “Super” hitmakers have sold an unprecedented record of 11,043, 625 physical albums, from January to September of 2023 alone.

A huge contributor to this massive number is the group’s 10th Mini Album FML, released in April. For that album, SEVENTEEN broke the group’s personal record for the most pre-ordered album, having sold a whopping 4.64 million pre-orders. 

Two months after its release, Circle Charts revealed that FML is now the highest-selling Korean album of all time, surpassing 6 million copies in sales.

Moreover, the boy group’s 4th full-length album Face The Sun released in May 2022 sold more than 950,000 copies. 

Meanwhile, Second Wind by SEVENTEEN’s subunit BSS also contributed to the total sales. Consisting of members Seungkwan, Dokyeom, and Hoshi, BSS topped local and international charts with the release of their title track “Fighting”, featuring rapper Lee Young Ji.

Notably, SEVENTEEN’s decision to re-release eight of their out-of-print albums also helped in boosting sales. Among the albums they re-released include: 17CARAT, BOYS BE, A1, and TEEN, AGE. 

Prior to this achievement, SEVENTEEN’s cumulative album sales in South Korea exceeded 10 million in November 2021. Which means that the group achieved the feat six and a half years after their debut in 2015. 

Undoubtedly, the group’s popularity continued to grow exponentially thanks to their unrivaled discography and world-class performances. With the impressive 10 Million album sales in just nine months, SEVENTEEN has now become the first Korean artist in history to achieve this feat.

More to come from SEVENTEEN

After the previous album’s success, the “theater kids of K-pop” are soon getting back on track with their 11th mini album. Titled Seventeenth Heaven,  the group is set to celebrate their wins so far with the fandom CARATs, through a festival-like concept.

As part of the promotions, the 13-member group will hold the offline event “Seventeen Street in Seongsu-dong.” The will consist of exhibition experiences, art walls, and collaboration stores. As for the album, it will officially be released on October 23.

Apart from music, the group also proved their entertainment skills through a number of variety shows. As of writing, Seungkwan stars in the Netflix survival show The Devil’s Plan. Meanwhile, Jeonghan and Dino are part of the travel program Magic Lamp

Additionally, SEVENTEEN has also finished shooting Nana’s Tour, the group’s version of Youth Over Flowers with PD Na Yeong Seok. Details about the show’s release are yet to be announced.

Featured image: SEVENTEEN shares behind-the-scenes photo from their ‘FML’ album. Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

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Look: Pledis Entertainment Launches ‘Wonder Teens’ Global Audition

PLEDIS Entertainment, home to K-pop groups SEVENTEEN and fromis_9, is on the lookout for their next idol superstars!

On Friday, August 25, the agency announced that they’re launching their Wonder Teens global audition. 

Only individuals born after 2005 can audition. However, it is open to any gender and nationality. 

 

Additionally, those who plan to audition can apply in four categories: vocal, rap, dance, and “confidence.” According to their website, the confidence category is open to anyone who can “showcase their talent and ability.” 

“Based on the creativity and know-how to make dreams of performing at a global stage a reality, we are looking for the stars of the future,” PLEDIS Entertainment said in a press release.

The online auditions will run until September 17. Aspiring idols need to send their entries and fill the form through PLEDIS Entertainment’s website. 

Those who will pass the first round of auditions will be notified of the results within two weeks. Then, they’ll have to go through a second set of auditions, which will be conducted in person or through a live call. 

Moreover, this isn’t the first time that PLEDIS Entertainment opened their Wonder Teens global audition. In 2022, the agency held online auditions from March 18 to April 17 for individuals born after 2003. 

Reportedly, successful applicants from the audition will be accepted as trainees under PLEDIS Entertainment and will be awarded a scholarship. 

Back then, it was also reported that the agency is set to debut a new group in 2023. However, the agency has yet to confirm this. 

 HYBE’s new set of idols

Currently, PLEDIS Entertainment only have SEVENTEEN and fromis_9 as the active groups under their roster. 

However, the agency was also home to After School, NU’EST, and PRISTIN. PRISTIN disbanded in May 2019, while NU’EST disbanded in March 2022.

Although NU’EST has disbanded, members Hwang Min-hyun and Baekho stayed with Pledis Entertainment and pursued solo careers. 

 

Interestingly, PLEDIS Entertainment is also a subsidiary label of HYBE. Other record labels under HYBE include BIGHIT Music, ADOR, Source Music, and KOZ Entertainment. Recently, HYBE also acquired BELIFT LAB, ENHYPEN’s agency. 

Aside from PLEDIS Entertainment, BIGHIT Music and KOZ Entertainment have also launched their online auditions. 

BIGHIT Music’s audition program is only open to male applicants born between 2005 and 2013. It will close on September 22. Meanwhile, auditions for KOZ Entertainment will run until November 18. Only individuals born after 2006 can apply. 

Featured image: SEVENTEEN releases special video for ‘April Shower.’ Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

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