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These Are the Planned Albums, Concerts for SM Entertainment Acts for the Rest of 2023

2023 is looking to be an interesting year for SM Entertainment as they unveiled their plans for the coming months. 

On Wednesday, August 2, the agency unveiled its earnings release report for the second quarter of 2023.

The said report includes updates of their consolidated business results for the past quarter, as well as event line-up previews for the coming months. 

According to the report, SM Entertainment logged 35.7 billion won in operating profit for the second quarter of 2023. Their net income also increased by 11.6%, reporting 28.3% billion won. 

Meanwhile, their quarterly revenue improved by 30% to 239.8 billion won. 

The increase in revenue is attributed to the resumption of offline concerts globally and more merchandise sold through pop-up stores related to album releases. 

Relative to the increase, SM Entertainment specifically mentioned aespa’s EP My World, which sold over two million copies. 

Additionally, groups NCT DREAM, TVXQ!, and Red Velvet held the most offline concerts worldwide, with 17, 12 and 11, respectively. 

What to expect for the rest of 2023 in terms of albums 

As for their upcoming music releases, eight SM Entertainment acts are slated to make a comeback in the third quarter. Meanwhile, 11 acts are scheduled the fourth quarter. 

Although the agency clarified that the lineup might change, here’s a rundown of what fans can possibly expect: 

3rd quarter:

For August, U-Know Yunho of TVXQ is confirmed to be releasing his third solo mini-album Reality Show on the 7th.

Meanwhile, Hyo, or Hyoyeon from Girls’ Generation, will be releasing a single.  Also for August, NCT might release an album and aespa with an English single.

Details for said releases have yet to be disclosed, but NCT will be having their first full-group concert NCT NATION: To the World on August 26, while aespa teased a release titled Better Things.”

For September, Super Junior’s Yesung, SHINee’s Key, and EXO’s D.O. will be releasing their solo mini-albums. 

RIIZE, SM Entertainment’s first boy group in seven years, is also expected to make their official debut in September with a single. 

4th quarter:

Although there are no specific months yet, SHINee’s Minho and Super Junior’s Ryeowook will be releasing a single in the fourth quarter.

Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and SHINee’s Taemin will also be making their solo comebacks with mini-albums. 

Moreover, TVXQ! and Red Velvet might release full albums, while it’s undecided whether NCT127 will release a full-length album or a single. RIIZE is also expected to make a comeback in the fourth quarter with a single. 

As for international releases, WayV will have a full-length album in Chinese, while aespa might release an English single or mini-album. 

NCT Tokyo is also planned to make their debut in the fourth quarter with a Japanese single. Although the preview noted that the artist’s name is still tentative.

NCT Tokyo will reportedly have six members, with four being chosen from the reality survival show NCT Universe: The Lastart. It is also said to be the final sub-unit of NCT. 

What to expect for the rest of 2023 in terms of concerts 

 

Meanwhile, six acts will be having concert shows for the next months.

Taeyeon is currently embarking on the Asia leg of her The ODD Of Love show, which will run until late August. Additionally, aespa is doing the America and Europe stops of their Syk: Hyper Line shows until September. 

From August to September, Chen will have his Polaris tour in Japan. After their Seoul shows, NCT will bring their NCT NATION: To the World concert to Japan in September. 

SHINee will stage their World VI [Perfect Illumination] shows in Japan between September to October, while Yesung will kick off his solo concert tour in Seoul in October.

On top of that, the agency will also bring their SMTOWN LIVE concert to Jakarta in September. TVXQ!, Super Junior, Red Velvet, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, aespa, and RIIZE will be performing. 

Stay tuned here for more updates about these upcoming releases and concerts. Which of these are you most looking forward to?  

Featured image: SHINee releases album ‘HARD’ in June. Credit: Facebook/SHINee

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Here Are the Members of SM Entertainment’s New Boy Group Riiize

This is not a drill: SM Entertainment has finally introduced the members of their highly-anticipated new boy group RIIZE! 

The agency launched the group’s official Instagram account on Tuesday, August 1, wherein they introduced the official seven members of RIIZE. 

 

RIIZE is composed of Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Won Bin, Seung Han, So Hee, and Anton. 

Based on the member profiles posted, Shotaro and Eunseok are both 22 years old, Sunchan and Won Bin are 21, while Seung Han, So Hee and Anton are all 19.

Shotaro and Sungchan were former NCT members who were removed from the group in May.

SM Entertainment’s CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk explained that the two, together with SMROOKIES Eunseok and Seunghan will be part of a new boy group instead. 

RIIZE will be SM Entertainment’s first boy group in seven years following NCT. The agency’s latest group to debut was the female act aespa. 

What we know about RIIZE so far

According to SM Entertainment, RIIZE is a combination of the words “rise” and “realize.” 

The group is aiming for a September debut, but there’s no final details yet. The agency also said that RIIZE is currently wrapping up the filming of their music video. 

Additionally, SM Entertainment earlier revealed that the group’s musical genre will be “emotional pop.” They also teased that RIIZE will write “a new chapter of music history.” 

Meanwhile, other photos and information for RIIZE and its members will be unveiled on August 4. 

Known as one of the leading K-pop agencies, SM Entertainment is also home to acts such as TVXQ, Super Junior, SNSD, SHINee, EXO, and Red Velvet. 

Currently, the label will also form the last unit of NCT through the talent competition series NCT Universe: LASTART

Featured image: SM Entertainment introduces the members for their new boy group RIIZE. Credits: Instagram/RIIZE

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SM Entertainment Confirms New Boy Group Riize to Debut in September

It’s official: SM Entertainment is entering a new era! The agency confirmed that their new boy group RIIZE is making its debut in September. 

In a press release on Monday, July 31, the agency announced that RIIZE will have “seven-top notch members who have both skills and visuals.” 

SM Entertainment continued that these members will each have their own unique characteristics and strengths. The group will also “embark on a new ‘realtime odyssey’ together as one team.” 

The agency added that RIIZE will “write a new chapter of music history.” 

What we know about RIIZE

Combined from the words “rise” and “realize,” SM Entertainment explained that the group name RIIZE is meant to symbolize how the team will grow and achieve their dreams. 

As of writing, there’s no details yet about the group’s debut album. But the agency confirmed that RIIZE’s musical genre will be “emotional pop.” 

For weeks, eagle-eyed fans have been speculating that RIIZE would be the group’s name after they discovered that SM Entertainment has applied new trademark over the phrases “Rise&Realize” and “RIIZE.” 

Some have also discovered social media accounts that use the said name. 

SM Entertainment said that the RIIZE’s official Instagram account will be launched on August 1, alongside the introduction of the members. 

In May, SM Entertainment’s CEO Jang Cheol Hyuk first confirmed that the new boy group will have former NCT members Sungchan and Shotaro and SM Rookies Eunseok and Seunghan as part of its lineup. The seven-piece act will also feature other members of Korean and American nationalities. 

RIIZE will serve as the agency’s first boy group in seven years following NCT. SM Entertainment’s latest group was aespa, which made their debut in 2020. 

Meanwhile, aside from the RIIZE, SM Entertainment is also currently forming the last unit of NCT. Through the reality series, NCT Universe: LASTART, they will be looking for members of NCT Tokyo.

Featured image Former NCT members Shotaro and Sungchan and SMRookies Eunseok and Seunghan are confirmed to be part of RIIZE. Credit: Facebook/NCT and SM Rookies’ page

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