KOREAN ALT-ROCK ARTIST LØREN SIGNS TO 88RISING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KOREAN LABEL THEBLACKLABEL

Photo Credit: 88rising and THEBLACKLABEL

 

Korean alt-rock visionary LØREN has officially signed to iconic record label 88rising. Along with a new record deal, LØREN announced he will be releasing his debut EP, Put Up a Fight, on March 24 with 88rising and THEBLACKLABEL  – presave HERE. Ahead of the EP, LØREN will perform his first ever shows in the United States at SXSW and Head in the Clouds New York.

Put Up a Fight comes highly anticipated after the release of 3 buzzy singles in 2021 which earned a combined total of over 14M views in less than a year. LØREN became known for writing several songs for global phenomenon BLACKPINK and starring in one of their music videos, gaining him popularity in the Kpop scene. LØREN‘s musical prowess and editorial look have garnered him over 1.2M Instagram followers and allowed him to grace the covers of Vogue Hong Kong, DAZED Korea, i-D, and most recently Female Magazine as their first male cover star. LØREN can also be seen modeling in Saint Laurent campaigns as the Korean rocker is currently a face of the brand.

Put Up a Fight is a pop-punk-meets-indie-rock inspired project complemented by LØREN‘s grungy Korean and English vocals. The EP shows LØREN more vulnerable than ever, flexing his songwriting muscles to tackle subjects including mental illness and isolation.

LØREN explains, “I’ve been looking forward to Put Up a Fight’s release for a while now, and I’m thrilled to join forces with 88rising through the process. I’m a huge fan of their work, and I’m very happy to take part in their vision. It feels surreal to have SXSW, album release, and HITC New York ahead of me. To say I’m excited would be an understatement—I absolutely cannot wait for what’s to come.”

LØREN will be performing live in the United States for the first time at SXSW and Head in the Clouds. On March 15, he joins Balming Tiger at the Tiger Den showcase, SXSW’s first all-Asian music festival – RSVP HERE. On May 21, LØREN heads to New York to take part in 88rising’s Head in the Clouds, the label’s annual music festival.

 

Photo Credit: 88rising and THEBLACKLABEL

 

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#LOREN #THEBLACKLABEL #SSSSW #BalmingTiger #TigerDen #88rising #HeadInTheClouds #altrock #rock #kcrushnews #PutUpAFight #writtenforBLACKPINK #kpopscene #LORENnewmusic #newmusicrelease #kcrushamerica

One of the best K-Pop years was 10 years ago. Check out our playlist featuring some of 2013’s K-Pop bops!

After the 2^nd K-drama generation gained a solid footing in the international entertainment industry, Korean writers started gaining an audience for their twisted and heart-wrenching plots. The ensuing 3^rd K-drama generation between 2000 and 2009 went a notch higher with their storylines that brought viewers into an array of intense emotional chaos. Below are some of the series that made headlines during the 3^rd K-drama generation.

 

1. Winter Sonata (2002)

This sentimental drama fueled the Hallyu wave to another level with international fans, especially in the Asian peninsula, glued to each of the episodes as they aired. Released in January 2002, “Winter Sonata” is a heart-crushing romance that quickly builds up into an entanglement amongst friends only to dim after a tragedy. Kang Joon Sang (Bae Yong Joon) moves back to the village in search of his father. Due to life’s shortcomings, he slowly opens up to Jung Yu Jin (Choi Ji Woo)’s friendship only for it to blossom pushing Kim Sang Hyuk (Park Yong Ha) out of the girl’s picture. At the epitome of romance, Joon Sang dies in a car accident crushing Yu Jin’s heart and sending the viewers into wailing mode once again. After a decade at Yu Jin and Sang Hyuk’s proposal, Oh Chelin (Park Soi Mi), a longtime friend of the two, tags along with her new boyfriend, Lee Min Hyung (Bae Yong Joon). Min Hyung causes a bizarre mood as he resembles Joon Sang. Despite Yu Jin’s eternal love for Joon Sang, Min Hyung has no memories of Yu Jin. The encounter births chaos driving the viewers to cling to their seats as a rollercoaster of desperation and anguish amidst hope ensues. It’s up to fate how these characters end up.

 

2. Coffee Prince (2007)

Released in July 2007, “Coffee Prince” is a comedy romance drama filled with entertaining scenes. In a bid to make his coffee cafe trendy, the only solution that seems viable to this rich boy is hiring handsome attendants. Choi Han Gyul (Gong Yoo) employs Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) thinking she is a man based on her tomboyish look. Upon learning this, Eun Chan strives to keep up the manly perception that comes with its embarrassment given the workplace is now perceived as a man cave. A few chaotic and humorous scenes into the drama, Han Gyul starts having a thing for Eun Chan making him question reality and his sanity status for a few episodes wondering why he is falling for a man. The nosiness, schemes, quarrels, chaos, laughter, love, and heartbreaks revolving around this drama keeps viewers reeled in to the end.

 

3. Boys Over Flowers (2009)

Released in January 2009, this drama caused quite a buzz in the international entertainment space. “Boys Over Flowers” is a story of a girl who finds herself being pursued by 4 boys of a different social status than hers. A scholarship to an affluent school leaves Geum Jan Di (Gu Hye Seon) in a circus of encounters with these particular boys who engage in all ventures while pursuing their desires. The boys, Goo Joon Pyo (Lee Min Ho), Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong), So Yi Jung (Kim Bum), and Song Woo Bin (Kim Joon) engage in extreme measures making Jan Di’s life a living hell. Jan Di proves to be a tough cookie despite the mistreatment, bullying, compassion, love, and obsession she experiences from the passionate pursuit by each of the boys. Scenes down the series, Jan Di is seen to be torn between two of the boys. The reactions and interjections by Jan Di’s mother regarding her daughter’s intriguing love life further amplify the drama’s charm.

 

4. Staircase To Heaven (2003)

Released in December 2003, this cryfest K-drama is ranked amongst the epitome of 3rd generation K-dramas. “Staircase to Heaven” starts with the beautiful and innocent friendship of Hang Jung Suh (Choi Ji Woo) and Cha Song Joo (Kwon Sang Woo) who grow apart later in life as Song Joo goes abroad to study. The death of Jung Suh’s mother brings into the picture a stepmother, her daughter, and her son, who are a nightmare in all Jung Suh’s endeavors. Despite Han Tae Hwa (Shin Hyun Joon)’s efforts, this stepbrother cannot win Jung Suh’s heart amidst the unfair treatment by the stepmother and stepsister. Soo Joo returns to Korea and the stepmother’s jealousy schemes cause Jung Suh to lose her memory from a car accident. Tae Hwa is manipulated into running away with Jung Suh after the stepmother falsifies her death and gives her a new identity. Soo Joo is anguished upon learning of Jung Suh’s death. Han Yu Ri (Kim Tae Hee), the stepsister, takes the crafted chance to win over the rich boy only for Soo Joo and Jung Soo to meet by chance. A soul-crushing twist of fate transpires as Jung Soo is diagnosed with eye cancer whose only solution is receiving a cornea from a dead person. What happens afterward is debatable with dominating themes of cruelty in the making and true love.

 

5. Save The Last Dance for Me (2004)

“Save the Last Dance for Me” was released in October 2004, and is a maudlin series that wreaks havoc on the viewers’ emotional status with diverse and intense scenes all through. Eun Soo (Kim Yoo Jin aka Eugene)’s father saves and tends to a man whom he found unconscious after a serious attack. Given the injured man’s memory loss, Eun’s father names him Chang Ho (Ji Sung). Love sparks between Chang Ho and Eun Soo and just when their wedding bells are around the corner, Chang Ho is attacked again this time losing his memories with Eun Soo. Chang Ho’s disappearance plunges Eun Soo into distress, worsened by losing her father. Eun Soo discovers that Chang Ho was Kang Hyun Woo (Ji Sung), who hails from a wealthy family which is the root of all his misfortunes. With no memories, a deep divide between social classes, and schemes of greed and revenge, the ensuing scenes drown the audience into a series of emotional vulnerabilities with the two characters’ fate a mystery.

 

6. 1% of Anything (2003)

“1% of Anything” was released back in July 2003. In this drama, the characters major in taking chances if only to gain even a percentage of their desires. It starts with a rich grandfather who risks his family inheritance for a glimpse of maturity and responsibility from his spoiled grandson. Kim Jung Hwa (Kin Da Hyun) is a kind-hearted teacher who risks helping the rich grandfather out of her heart’s kindness with the hope that the grandson will man up and relieve the old man of his worries. Kang Dong Won (Lee Jae In) on the other hand, is a spoiled and quick-tempered grandson whose only chance of getting any of the family fortunes is by yielding to his grandfather’s schemes and going out with Jung Hwa. The encounter and progress between Dong Won and Jung Hwa indicate that there is not even a 1% chance of the two becoming a thing. The comedy, schemes, moves of desperation, and resulting frustrations keep viewers near as they are engulfed in the series.

7. Secret Sunshine (2007)

Released in May 2007, “Secret Sunshine” is an emotional deep series coupled with humor and suspense filled-plots. It tells the story of a woman’s grief upon losing her husband and the unexpected tragedies and dilemmas she finds herself in order to strive towards sanity and happiness. Shin Ae (Jeon Do Yeon) moves to Milyang, her late husband’s hometown, to start a new life only to find the expected sunshine turning into darkness. At first, she burrows into simple daily routines in this quiet neighborhood only for the area’s skeletons, from all kinds of religions and beliefs, relentlessly pursue her. Jong Chang (Song Kang Ho) helps maintain Shin Ae’s sanity, resulting in him following her in the religious circles. “Secret Sunshine” depicts the horrors and advantages of religion and beliefs and how they shape and affect individuals and societies. Shin Ae’s maneuver through the multiple religious advances and her pitfalls keeps viewers glued to the very last minute.

 

8. Delicious Proposal (2001)

Just as its title, this drama is a delicious treat for viewers given its scenes which are filled with humor, suspense, and captivating romance. Released in February 2001, “Delicious Proposal” involves competition between rival Chinese restaurants. Hee Ae (Song Ye Jin) hails from a poor family but brushes it off and does all it takes to thrive and rule in this cooking industry. Hyo Dong (Jung Joon) falls for Hee Ae after an encounter during cooking classes. But given the fierce competition and staunch dedication towards career success, amidst differing perspectives and classes, the possibility of love blooming is left in the writer’s hand. Filled with comedy and a glimpse of romance amidst daily life struggles, “Delicious Proposal” is the ultimate drama to binge on.

 

9. Autumn In My Heart (2000)

K-dramas are quite known for their emotion-wrecking plots that leave viewers in emotional chaos. “Autumn in My Heart” was released back in September 2000. The drama digs deep into the viewers’ feelings with every episode leaving viewers hoping against all odds that the writer develops an ounce of mercy and relives them of the agony of pain and suspense. Eun Suh (Song Hye Kyo) has a brother, Jun Suh (Song Seun Heon), and is their wealthy family’s source of joy. Shin Ae (Han Chae Young) is a whiny teenager who lives with her poor mother. Eun Suh gets into an accident and needs a blood transfusion only to find out she is not of this wealthy family. And the array of endless heart-wrenching ordeals starts pouring out. After scandic efforts to unravel the mystery, it’s discovered that Eun Suh and Shin Ae were switched at birth. The girls are forced to switch back to their original families. The teenagers grow up and have started their romance journeys. Jun Suh jets back into the country with a flashy girlfriend. Eun Suh and Jun Suh, who have been longing for each other, reunite and their once-sibling relationship seems to conflict with their innermost sincere yearnings. An array of entangled relationships ensues even as Eun Suh discovers her terminal illness. The curiosity on whether Jun Suh and Eun Suh become a thing amidst chaotic relationship wrangles or whether Eun Suh finds a cure, keeps the viewers glued in tears and heartbreak through the remaining episodes.

 

10. Jewel In the Palace (2003)

“Jewel In the Palace” is a historical heartbreaking drama that centers on Seo Jang Geum (Lee Young Ae)’s maneuvers around the dangerous political world. Released in September 2003, this drama is set in a time when society was ruled by men and social status was the order of the day. Through bravery and calculated steps, Jang Geum trends on political minefields defying culture and norms. The suspense in every scene is intensely nerve-wracking with the countless times that Jang Geum comes close to meeting her maker. Daring conspiracies are made with betrayal and jealousy jeopardizing Jang Geum’s and other characters’ lives even as she schemes her way from working in the kitchen to influential positions. Love tries its luck in cutting through Jang Geum’s hard heart and goal-driven mind, but whether it is a desperation bestowed upon the viewers. A series of heart-racing and adrenaline-thrusting scenes transverse between Jang Geum and Min Jeong Ho (Ji Jin Hee), the young master she helps in thwarting plots against the kingdom. Jang Geum’s determination and obsession to rock the political boat has to overcome the challenges and societal perspectives. The suspense keeps viewers at bay as to whether there are costs to be paid or desires to be forgone in the political affluence endeavor.

 

—-Karen Mwenda

 

#3rdgeneration #thirdgenkdrama #3rdgenkdrama #best3rdgenerationkdramas #JewelInThePalace #LeeYoungAe #JiJinHee #historicalkdrama #WinterSonata #ParkYongHa #AutumInMyHeart #SongHyeKyo) #SongSeunHeon #kcrusharticle #kdrama #kcrushamerica #DeliciousProposal #JungJoon #StreetSunshine #1percentofanything #SaveTheLastDanceForMe #Korean #StaircaseToHeaven #BoysOverFlowers #LeeMonHo #GuHyeSeon #kcrushmedia #kcrushamericamagazine

Just like K-Pop, K-Indie is making such a buzz not only in Korea but on the international music industry. The Korean indie industry has over the years gained massive fans, especially since most k-Indie artists have their musical pieces in English thus amassing a substantial global following. Below are some of the best artists in the K-Indie genre industry.

 

 

 

1. The Black Skirts (검정치마)

The Black Skirts is such an inspirational powerhouse in the K-Indie entertainment industry. This rock musician made an official debut in 2010 with the ‘201’ album that scooped 2010’s Korean Music Awards for the Best Modern Rock Album category. With influences from the late and legendary Michael Jackson among others. The Black Skirts has released numerous hit songs including “Love Shine” and “My Little Lambs” (어린양). The artist has appeared in various OSTs including “Till the End of Time” for Another Miss Oh (2016), “Someday” for Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019), and “Ling Ling” for Yumi’s Cells (2021). The Black Skirts has been nominated for numerous awards and won some including twice for Korean Music Awards’ Best Modern Rock Album category.

 

 

2. Oohyo (우효)

Known for the “Vineyard” and “This is Why We Are Breaking Up” tracks, Oohyo is a Korean indie artist whose songs give a synth-pop vibe. Oohyo started writing and composing music while in high school and officially debuted in 2014 under Mun Hwa In agency with the ‘Girl Sense‘ album. Her frequent stays abroad are quite evident with some of her songs in English with no Korean accent.  Upon returning to Korea from college, Oohyo released her first full-length ‘Adventure‘ album in October 2015. The album was such a hit that it got 3 nominations at the 2016 Korean Music Awards. In 2019, Oohyo released a second album, ‘Far from The Maldong City‘, that involved collaborations with artists such as starRo. Oohyo’s ‘Silence’ album, released in 2022, further showcases the artist’s eminence in the K-indie industry with soothing bedroom-pop vibes, especially with the “Quite Night” track.

 

 

3. Car, the Garden (카더가덴)

Formerly known as “Mayson the Soul”, Car, the Garden ventured into the K-indie world in September 2013 with the ‘Jackasoul‘ EP under DRDR AC agency. Over the years, this talented musician has released numerous tracks and collaborated with other artists such as Youra and Hyukoh band’s Oh Hyuk. Car, the garden is well known for his breathtaking OSTs including “A Word of Apology” for The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019), “Romantic Sunday” for Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), and “Scars Leave Beautiful Trace” for Alchemy of Souls (2022). “Scars Leave Beautiful Trace” and “Peony” are some of his famous tracks that also charted on the Download Chart. Car, the Garden’s 2021 ‘Absence‘ EP, which included tracks such as “Doesn’t Matter” further skyrocketed the artist’s fame with numerous downloads.

 

 

4. Shaun (숀)

Shaun is a man of many talents as he juggles being a DJ, producer, singer, and songwriter. Shaun initially debuted as a member of The Koxx indie rock band but made his soloist debut in 2014 with the “Silence” track under DCTOM Entertainment. Shaun has been delivering quality pieces with his latest ‘Omnibus pt.2: Inside Out’ EP ruling the K-indie entertainment world. The artist has also made some collaborations along the way, including with Vandal Rock and Justin Levai. Shaun’s 2018 “Way Back Home” catapulted his fame as it topped the South Korean music charts and won the 2018 Korean Popular Music Awards for Best Indie category in addition to being nominated in the same year’s Melon Awards and Golden Disc Music Awards. Shaun has also done some OSTs including “Dinner Mate” for More Than Words (2020) and “For You” for Discovery of Love (2022).

 

 

5. Jimmy Brown

Jimmy Brown debuted as an independent artist in 2017 and is renowned for his ‘tales of love’ hits that are quite enchanting. Inspired by Kanye West and Chris Brown, James ventured into songwriting at the early age of 19 and has gained a massive following internationally, especially since most of his songs are in English. His first single, “She’s Lovin It” accredited him a massive following giving him a substantial leap in the K-Indie industry. The artist has over a million followers on Spotify with his most hit tracks being “Irene”, “2 Things”, “Let me Know” and “Your Love”. Jimmy Brown’s latest release is “Pool vol.1 – The Way You Move,” a track which is a collaboration with Sweet the Kid and Rovv.

 

 

6. Meaningful Stone (김뜻돌)

This talented diva made her soloist debut in 2017 with the “꼼속의 카메라”. Meaningful Stone is an independent artist skilled in singing, songwriting, and music production. Her latest acts include 2020’s ‘A Call from My Dream‘ studio album, which oozes a classic indie folk rock aura, and 2021’s ‘Cobalt‘ EP. In 2021, she showcased her mesmerizing voice in the “Shadow of Beauty” OST for the Shadow of Beauty (2021) drama. Meaningful Stone has won various awards including the 19^th Korean Music Awards for the Best Modern Rock Song category thanks to the “Dancing in The Rain” track.

 

 

7. LambC (램씨)

An alumnus of Berkeley Music College, LambC debuted in 2015 under Happy Robots Records with ‘The Herd’ single album. His previous experience regarding independent artists during his stay in the USA, among other factors, resulted in LambC becoming an independent artist. The challenge of being an all-rounded artist by composing, producing, and singing his songs was a successful adventure that credited him enormous following, especially his over 100,000 listeners on Spotify. LambC recently made a buzz with his first full-length ‘I’ll See You When I See You’ album released in April 2021. This alternative pop album was such a hit amplified by the “Emotional” and “When My Heart Breaks” tracks.

 

 

8. 10CM (센티미터)

10CM debuted in 2010 with the ‘The 1st EP’ extended play under POCLANOS and Magic Strawberry Sound agencies. Originally a duo band, 10CM is currently made up of one artist, Kwon Jung Yeol, after Yoon Cheol Jong left in 2017 over health issues. Despite becoming a one-man act, 10CM has achieved a lot and earned his place and respect in the K-Indie industry. 10CM has collaborated with various artists including EXO-SC for “Telephone”, Chen for “Bye Babe”, and Yoona for “Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway”. 10CM, a singer and songwriter, is well known for the “Go Back” and “5.3” tracks. 10CM has participated in various OSTs including “Drawer” for Our Beloved Summer (2021) drama, “For Love” for Our Blues (2022) drama, and “But It’s Destiny” for the Crash Landing on You (2019) drama. This talented artist had won numerous awards with the latest being the 2020 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards for the Indie/Folk category.

 

—-Karen Mwenda

 

#KoreanIndie #kindie #k-indie #bestkindiartists #kcrusharticle #kcrushamerica #10CM #POCLANOS #MagicStrawberrySoundagencies #LambC #MeaningfulStone #JimmyBrown #Shaun #Roxx #CarTheGarden #Oohyo #ThelackSkirts #BestModernRockAlbum #indiemusic #bestindiemusic #kcrush #DRDRACAgency #DCTOMEntertainment #MunHwaInagency #HappyRobotsRecords #independentIndie #independentIndiesingers

 

It’s official: Rocky selected to leave ASTRO and his label, Fantagio. Rocky’s Fantagio contract expired after 14 years with the agency.

The singer, who has been on hiatus from the group since November 2022, confirmed his departure from the group February 28 by releasing a letter to fans.

Hello, this is Rocky.

I’m greeting fans for the first time in a while. Firstly, I want to apologize for not being able to bring good news, but I thought it was right to let AROHAs be the first to hear this news so I’m writing a letter here.

I will be leaving Fantagio, who I have been with for 14 years and will end my activities with ASTRO. The time promoting as ASTRO’s Rocky was very precious to me.

My members, who have been with me during those times and especially AROHAs, my biggest strengths, I thank you all sincerely.

Thanks to your overflowing love and encouragement, I could grow and learn a lot.

No matter where I am, I will not forget the memories I made with the members and AROHAs and cherish them carefully.

AROHAs, thank you for everything till now.

 

 

Fantagio also released a statement confirming the news.

Hello.

This is Fantagio.

First, we would like to sincerely thank all the fans who give ASTRO their love and support.

After a deep discussion with Rocky, who has been with us as a member of ASTRO for the past seven years, it has been decided that he will be ending both his exclusive contract with our agency and his activities as a member of ASTRO.

We thank Rocky for doing his utmost for a long time as a member of ASTRO, and we will be sincerely rooting for Rocky in the future.

We also thank the many fans who have supported and watched over Rocky, and we ask that you continue to give Rocky your unchanging interest and support as he makes a fresh start.

ASTRO will continue on as a five-member group in the future, and together with Fantagio, the members will be focusing on unit and solo activities for the time being. We plan to actively give them our unsparing support so that [the members] can be active in a wide variety of areas.

We ask that you continue to give the ASTRO members lots of interest and support.

Thank you.

Meanwhile, JinJin, Cha Eun Woo, Moonbin, and Sanha renewed their contracts in December 2022. MJ, however, has yet to renew his contract as he is currently serving in the military, but he is expected to discuss his contract once he’s discharged.

We wish Rocky and the rest of ASTRO luck on their future endeavors!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#Rocky #ASTRO #RockyLeavesFantagio #Fantagio #kcrush #kcrushnews #kpop #kpopsinger #kpopmusic #kcrushamerica #Rockycontractexpires

 

Cosmic Girls (WJSN), a formerly 13-member group that was a joint effort between Starship Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment, may be continuing after all, causing fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

Eight members, Exy, Seola, Bona, Soobin, Eunseo, Yeoreum, Dayoung, and Yeonjung, renewed their contracts with Starship Entertainment this past week. Unfortunately, Luda and Dawon did not re-resign, but it is unclear if they will sign with new agencies and continue with WJSN or if they are moving on completely.

Chinese members Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi, who are under Yuehua Entertainment, had their contracts expire. They’ve been absent from promotions since 2018, having opted to focus on Chinese promotions including Meiqi and Xuanyi debuting in Rocket Girls 101 and Cheng Xiao filming the drama Legend of Awakening.

Starship Entertainment released a statement announcing the new contracts and the departures of five members.

Hello, this is Starship Entertainment.

First, we would like to offer our sincerest gratitude to WUJUNGs both in Korea and overseas who continue to cheer on Cosmic Girls with unchanging hearts.

Starship Entertainment has renewed the exclusive contracts of Cosmic Girls members Exy, Seola, Bona, Soobin, Eunseo, Yeoreum, Dayoung, and Yeonjung.

In the case of members Luda and Dawon, the agency carried out lengthy and sincere discussions with both artists, and unfortunately, our exclusive contracts with the two members have come to an end. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Luda and Dawon for their strength and efforts that they showed throughout their promotions. Starship respects the decisions of Luda and Dawon and offers them support and encouragements in their new paths.

Additionally, we notify that the team contracts of Cosmic Girls members Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi, Yuehua Entertainment artists who promoted as Cosmic Girls with the other members and with the agency, have also come to an end.

For the eight Cosmic Girls members who decided to renew their contracts based on mutual trust and loyalty, Starship Entertainment intends on concentrating its best efforts so that the members can shine every brighter in both their group and individual activities. We promise to provide each member with our fullest support.

Please send your warm cheers and encouragements to all members of Cosmic Girls, who are each beginning a new chapter in their journeys.

Thank you.

WJSN has held steady popularity since they debuted in 2016 with “MoMoMo.” The multi-award winning group also won Queendom 2 in 2022. Hopefully, Starship Entertainment will work to promote the group better during this contract era.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#WJSN #StarshipEntertainment #CosmicGirls #MoMoMo #Queendom2 #kcrush #kcrushamerica #Exy #YuehuaEntertainment #13membersto8 #ChengXiao #Meigi #Luda #Dawon #Seola #Bona #Soobin #Eunseo #Yeoreum #Dayoung #Yeonjung #noncontractrenewal #kcrushnews #Koreangirlgroup #kpopidols

 

It’s been a whirlwind few days for singer Baek A Yeon!

First, media reports leaked that Baek has been in a relationship with a non-celebrity. Then, there were reports the singer would be getting married in August. However, Baek’s company, Eden Nine Entertainment, denied the wedding reports but did confirm she is in a relationship.

“It’s true that Baek A Yeon is currently in a relationship with thoughts of marriage,” Eden Nine Entertainment said. “She will personally convey the news when they are ready.”

On March 2, 2023, Baek posted a handwritten letter on her Instagram announcing her nuptials and that she has been dating her fiancé for two years.

Hello, this is Baek A Yeon.

I’ve come to write this letter as there’s something I want to share with the many people who always support me.

I think many people would’ve been surprised at my sudden marriage news.

I was also very surprised…

As this is a big life event, I wanted to inform you carefully and cautiously, so I feel very apologetic that I let you know of my marriage news in an article first and not my handwritten letter…

While promoting as singer Baek A Yeon for 10 years, a lot has happened.

Although there were more times I was happy, there were moments within that when I felt anxious and had a hard time, but two years ago during the winter, I met someone I’m thankful for who reached a hand out to approach me first.

They’re someone who is very warmhearted, cherishes and loves me a lot, and above all, supports and gives strength to my music promotions.

I thought I’d be able to make a promise for life if it was with this person, so we’ve decided to make a new start together.

I sincerely thank everyone who always supports me with an unchanging heart.

As much as you are waiting, I will prepare well for my next album step-by-step and repay you with good music.

Thank you.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 백아연 (@ayeoniiiiii)

Baek’s career started in 2011 when she became the second runner-up on K-Pop Star. Following her appearance on the show, the singer signed with JYP Entertainment where she debuted in 2012 with the EP I’m Baek. When Baek departed JYP Entertainment in 2019, she signed with Eden Nine Entertainment.

Congratulations to Baek A Yeon and her partner on their upcoming wedding!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#BaekAYeon #kpopstar #EdenNineEntertainment #BaekAYeonInRelationship #kpop #marriagenews #noncelebrity #kcrushnews #kcrush #Koreansinger #kpopsinger #kcrushamerica #EPImBaek #congrats #upcomingwedding #august023

 

Congratulations are in order as Shinhwa’s Eric and his wife, actress Na Hye Mi, welcomed their first child, a son, March 1, 2023!

TOP Media stated, “Na Hye Mi gave birth today. Both the mother and child are in good health.”

Eric and his actress wife announced they were expecting in August 2022.

Eric and Na Hye Mi married in 2017. The couple began a friendship and started dating after Eric texted the actress.

“He said he saw me for the first time in a magazine he read at a beauty parlor. He told me later that it was memorable,” Na Hye Mi said on the variety show Happy Together back in 2018.

Eric, who is best known for being a Shinhwa member, also acts. He’s appeared on Another Miss O, Phoenix, and Diary of June.

Na Hye Mi is known for her appearances on High Kick!, Home for the Summer, Cheese in the Trap, and No Matter What.

Eric is the first Shinhwa member to become a parent.

Congratulations to Eric and Na Hye Mi on their new addition!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#firsttimeparents #Shinhwa #EricandNaHyeMiBaby #HappyTogether #AnotherMissO #Phoenix #DiaryofJune #HighKick #HomefortheSummer #CheeseintheTrap #NoMatterWhat #NaHyeMiactress #Koreanactor #EricShinhwa #couple #kcrushnews #kcrushmedia #kcrushamerica #married2017 #congratulationstoEricandNaHyeMi

 

One of the biggest K-Pop stories recently surrounds what’s going on between HYBE Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment, and SM Entertainment and Lee Soo-man, SM’s former CEO. With news on the subject breaking every day, it’s hard to keep up with the information and whether HYBE’s considered a hostile takeover of SM Entertainment and/or if there’s family and company drama brewing.  With so much going on, here’s a breakdown of the SM Entertainment, Kakao, and HYBE Entertainment story, which actually begins in 1997 until present.

1997-2023: Like Planning Company, Changes at SM Entertainment. HYBE Purchases shares

Daum and Dispatch provided a timeline of Lee Soo-man’s Like Planning Company. This company is relevant to the current events, as well as the other changes that took place at SM Entertainment over the years.

• 1997: Lee Soo-man founded Like Planning. The company provides consulting and production services for SM artists and albums. The company, in turn, received royalties from SM Entertainment. According to Daum and Dispatch, Like Planning “received 24 billion won per year from SM, which is one-third of SM’s annual operating profit” as of 2021.
• 1999: Lee Soo-man planned for SM Entertainment to be listed on KOSDAQ. With 50 million won in capital, SM fell below the 1 billion won required to be listed. Lee Soo-man then took 900 million won from SM Entertainment’s bank account as well as 250 million won from SM Enterprise’s bank account and placed the money into Like Planning’s funds to push the company over the 1 billion won threshold. However, this action placed Lee Soo-man under watch for embezzlement and concealed payments.
• 2003-2004: Lee Soo-man landed on Interpol’s wanted list for embezzling over one billion won from SM Entertainment “to acquire stocks” while “falsifying the company’s capital increase for its listing on KOSDAQ.” Lee Soo-man left South Korea, but he eventually returned. When he returned, he was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation. Lee Soo-man received a delay in his prison term due to returning the funds back into the company account and the “capital increase taking place.”
• 2007: South Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun pardoned Lee Soo-man, absolving him of any punishment, allowing Lee Soo-man to be part of the entertainment industry again despite criticism received from others in the industry and Korea’s legal body.
• 2010: Lee Soo-man resigned as SM’s director and CEO. He increased SM Entertainment’s stakes when AVEX, one of Japan’s main entertainment companies, sold their SM shares. Lee Soo-man then focused on overseas expansion and wanted the company’s artists and performers to expand into those markets. Lee Soo-man shifted his focus to a management and artist development role.
• 2019: KB Asset Management wanted Like Planning to merge with SM Entertainment. KB Asset Management, which was SM’s third largest shareholder at the time, claimed “SM paid 46% of its operating profits as royalties to Like Planning.” KB Asset Management wanted Lee Soo-man to consider the following:
  • Merge SM Entertainment with Like Planning
  • Remove the non-entertainment planning business
  • Implement dividends through an open shareholder letter

Lee Soo-man rejected all three of the requests by stating none of the options were viable since Like Planning was not a corporation.

• 2019: SM Entertainment announced they will pay shareholder dividends for the first time since going public in 2000. YG Entertainment (2015) and JYP Entertainment (2018) have been paying dividends to their shareholders for years at this point. According to The Korea Herald, investors called for dividends after “consequently arguing that Lee received at least 10 billion won more than appropriate per year through Like Agency. They also called the setup illegal, saying it’s a form of insider trading.”
• 2020: Nam Soyoung & Kim Youngmin were removed from their CEO positions and replaced by Lee Sung Soo and Tak Young-jun. Both Lee and Tak worked for SM Entertainment for over 20 years, with Tak working as one of Super Junior’s managers and Lee originally working as a fansite checker before moving to music production. Nam and Kim were moved to other positions while SM Entertainment focused on global growth.
• March-August 2022: Kwak Jun-Ho’s named as SM auditor. Align Partners Asset Management appointed Kwak to the position and “sent a shareholder letter to SM asking for termination of the production contract with Like Planning.” SM Entertainment did not reply to the letter, but appointing an auditor alluded to the possibility Like Planning may close. In August, Align Partners Asset Management requested board minutes from SM Entertainment while sending “an open letter to improve the service contract issue with Like Planning.”
• October 2022: SM Entertainment announced Like Planning’s contract termination set for December 31, 2022. Align Partners Asset Management wanted SM Entertainment to establish a “compensation committee, announce future production plans, and form the majority of the board of directors with outside directors.”
• January 2023: SM Entertainment accepts Align Partners Asset Management’s “multi-producing system” and governance improvement proposal. Align Partners Asset Management’s CEO Lee Chang-hwan joins the SM Entertainment board as a non-executive director and will provide guidance for appointing outside director candidates to be appointed during 2023’s shareholder meetings. In return, SM Entertainment set up a compensation committee promising “a policy of returning at least 20% of separate net profit to shareholders for the next three years.” Align Partners Asset Management “withdrew its claim to file a shareholder representative lawsuit.”
• February 1-5, 2023: SM Entertainment released its 3.0 vision plan, including the “end of Lee Soo-man’s production.” SM Entertainment CEOs Lee Sung-soo and Tak Young-jun plan to usher in the company’s new era. Kim Min-jong, actor and a former outside director of an SM subsidiary, messaged SM Entertainment employees, claiming “CEOs [Lee and Tak] made a unilateral announcement without consulting the producer, saying that ‘SM needs Lee Soo-man’s sense’ and urging respect for Lee Soo-man’s contribution to SM’s founding and development.”
• February 7, 2023: Kakao announced it secured an over 9% stake in SM Entertainment, making it the company’s second largest shareholder. Kakao became the largest stakeholder by “acquiring new stocks issued by SM and convertible bonds.” Initially, Kakao was set to acquire a stake in SM Entertainment in 2021, but withdrew from the acquisition October 2021. In March 2022, Kakao wanted to acquire nearly 19% in SM shares, or 1 trillion won. However, the deal hit a snag.
• February 9-10, 2023: HYBE purchases 14.8% of Lee Soo-man’s SM Entertainment shares. Back in 2021, HYBE, as well as CJ E&M, and Kakao were competing to acquire SM Entertainment shares.

1. 1. SM Entertainment founder, Lee Soo-man.

 

 

SM 3.0, Cutting Ties with Lee Soo-man

Prior to Kakao and HYBE purchasing shares, SM Entertainment’s CEO Lee Sung-su (Lee Soo-man’s nephew) and COO Tak Young-jun announced SM Entertainment 3.0. Within the vision, the company intended to cut ties with Lee Soo-man and develop a multi-label system.

“We have realized the limits to producing and managing the intellectual property [IP] that meets the demands of the market and fans,” Lee Sung-su said. “The biggest changes that will come with the new system is the establishment of multi-production centers, multi labels and a subsidiary specializing in publishing music.”

Lee Sung-su continued, “Under the new system, SM artists will be placed under five production centers that will be given their own independent status. An additional production center will be established to oversee the creation and management of virtual human avatars such as Naevis.”

“Our focus with SM 3.0 is on marking ourselves down as a global entertainment company centering on the fans and shareholders,” said Tak Young-jun.  “We promise to communicate more actively with the fans and shareholders with SM 3.0, starting with our multi-production and label system.”

With their 3.0 plan and cutting ties with Lee Soo-man, Lee Sung-su predicts SM Entertainment’s “production process will increase revenue by 134 percent by 2025.”

“By 2025, our annual sales goal will be 1.8 trillion KRW (~ $1.4 billion USD), and our annual operating profit goal will be 500 billion KRW (~ $384.7 million USD). Due to issues of a power-based internal management structure, SM Entertainment’s competitive value in the market has thus far been underrated. However, if we can fulfill the ‘SM 3.0’ initiative by 2025, we have no doubt that such figures will be very much within reach,” the SM 3.0: Global Expansion & Investment Strategy revealed.

Lee Sung-su and Tak Young-jun shared more information about SM’s expansion in a video posted on YouTube February 22.

 

Kakao, HYBE Purchase Shares Following 3.0 Announcement

After the announcement of SM Entertainment 3.0, February 9, several media outlets reported HYBE intended to purchase SM Entertainment shares.

“We are continuing to review matters related to the acquisition of shares, including a tender offer regarding SM’s shares. At the time of this statement, nothing has currently been confirmed,” HYBE said in a statement released at the time. “In the future, we will re-disclose when specific details regarding this are confirmed, or within a month.”

On February 10, it was confirmed that HYBE did purchase SM Entertainment shares based on a deal with Lee Soo-man. Prior to HYBE’s purchase, Lee Soo-man had the largest SM Entertainment shares at 18.46 percent, making them the largest shareholder.

The move came after Kakao became the second-largest shareholder. Lee Soo-man objected to the Kakao deal, calling it “illegal,” and has since taken legal action.

On February 22, SM Entertainment outlined their reasoning for their partnership with Kakao.

As Soompi outlines, the following reasoning was shared:

• SM and Kakao partnership is closely aligns with the implementation of SM 3.0
• Kakao is the best partner to address the SM 3.0 Multi-Production strategies
• Profitability of SM’s intellectual property will increase, thus leveraging the Kakao platform.
• SM will establish a virtuous cycle between intellectual property and platforms with Kakao to achieve the global expansion plan
• New SM Culture Universe (SMCU) will be built based on Kakao’s technology such as Connectivity Tech, AI (artificial intelligence), and Metaverse

In turn, HYBE also posted an open letter to fans on Twitter discussing their acquisition of Lee Soo-man’s shares.

 

 

 

 

 

SM Calls HYBE’s Move Hostile Takeover

While the share purchasing by HYBE may sound positive in a marketing sense, SM Entertainment CEOs view the move as a “hostile takeover.” HYBE disputed this claim at the time, stating they were willing to work with SM Entertainment and Kakao. Since, HYBE and SM Entertainment have released a string of statements responding to one another as well as some allegations against Lee Soo-man.

In a 15-minute video published February 20, SM Entertainment CFO Jang Cheol-hyuk sounded alarmed, claiming HYBE “plans to acquire a 40% stake through a ‘tender offer’ that is currently underway.” With SM Entertainment and HYBE are two of the leading music companies in South Korea, Jang fears a monopoly could take place.

“If the two companies are integrated, the combined entity would create a monopoly by taking 66% of the total market revenue,” Jang said. “Furthermore, as of Q3 2022, the two companies’ combined profits from albums/digital music account for 70% of the market. Regarding concert/performance profit, the two companies took up as much as 89%. As a result of an integration, over 60% (64%) of the top-ranking artists by album sales would be under a single company, undermining the diversity of the K-pop market.”

Jang continued, “Ultimately, K-pop fans will be the ones that will be most affected by the monopoly. SM puts reasonable prices to concert tickets to allow broader scope of fans to enjoy cultural performances. Meanwhile, HYBE has taken advantage of its position in the K-pop market to almost double the concert ticket prices.”

 

HYBE’s Warning for Legal Action

While HYBE initially said they were willing to work with Kakao, on February 24, the company plans to “take all necessary legal measures against a recent contract that SM struck with its alliance partner Kakao Entertainment” in defiance the company’s [HYBE] takeover bid.

The change came as Kakao’s contract with SM Entertainment came to light. The contract between SM Entertainment and Kakao states Kakao has the rights to publish SM Entertainment’s albums and music as well as the right to purchase more shares.

“After learning of what is in the business contract, we were both surprised and concerned,” HYBE said in a statement. “A review is under way on legal problems contained in this contract. According to its result, we will take all necessary legal measures, both civil and criminal.”

HYBE further claims Kakao’s ability to purchase more shares will hurt ordinary shareholders. SM Entertainment, however, states HYBE is “maliciously misinterpreting” the contract.

“We don’t plan to raise investment by issuing new shares through a third-party allotment,” SM said in a statement. “As [the company] nears its limit of issuing new shares, it is legally impossible to issue new shares without changing the articles of association.”

HYBE continues by stating the SM-Kakao deal could hurt SM Entertainment’s “chance of attracting ‘new strategic investors’ and make it easier for Kakao ‘to seize control of SM’s management rights.’”

In relation to SM Entertainment’s expansion into other markets, HYBE also raised concerns about Kakao controlling SM’s artists activities in the Americas, ticket sales, and fan meets as well as potentially taking away artists’ abilities to negotiate.

 

SM Employees on Edge

With all the changes afoot, SM Entertainment employees are understandably on edge. On the anonymous forum Blind, employees have expressed their concerns.

“I’d been filled with pride while working here, but now that’s crumbled down in the blink of an eye,” one employee said.

“I’m scared that people might stop seeing us as an independent entertainment company,” said another.

208 SM employees also released a joint statement opposing HYBE’s share acquisition. The statement reads:

Once former chief producer Lee Soo Man was in danger of having his illegal tax evading actions unveiled, he sold his shares to a competitor company that he used to speak ill of and ran away.

Us members of SM have been completely used in former chief producer Lee Soo Man’s illegal acts including fraudulent actions for his personal interests and tax evasion. We cannot be used by HYBE’s illegality and expediency again even before we begin the SM 3.0 project.

Thus, us 208 regular employees of SM Entertainment are releasing the following statement as we cannot hold our anger about former chief producer Lee Soo Man and HYBE’s unlawful collusion.

1. We will protect K-pop’s cultural diversity and SM’s distinct identity. We declare that SM’s culture should not be subordinated to HYBE’s capital.
2. We actively support and stand by CEO Lee Sung Su and COO Tak Young Joon’s self-reflection and their plans for SM 3.0 multi-producing. We also demand stronger protection for our artists and fans so they are not harmed.
3. We oppose HYBE’s hostile M&A and their expedient attempt to enter our board of directors. We will resist HYBE’s attempt to take over SM in an abnormal manner.

“Lee Soo Man deserted SM and Pink Blood and ran away, but we will remain at Seoul Forest and protect SM and Pink Blood.”

Collective of 208 SM Entertainment regular employees

However, HYBE CEO Park Ji-won said, “We respect SM’s legacy. We will ensure SM’s independence. HYBE has already proved [the efficacy] of the multi-label system.”

The SM-HYBE-Kakao share drama is still ongoing and developing daily. As the story develops, stay tuned for updates!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#HYBE #HYBELabels #SM #SMEntertainment #Kakao #LeeSungSuCEO #TakYoungJoonCOO #CFOJangCheolhyuk #monopoly #kpop #Korean #SouthKorea #kpopindustry #LeeSooMan #purchasestockshares #SM30 #takeoverofSMEntertainment #kcrush #kcrushnews #SMHybeKakao #multilabelsystem #NamSoyoung #KimYoungmin #kcrushamerica #Weverse #SMBubble #updates #globalkpopscene

 

The TV Anime “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Part 3 will be broadcasting at 00:25 (JAPAN TIME) on the 4th of March through NHK General TV. SiM, a Reggae and Punk band, is in charge of singing and creating the theme song of the TV anime series.

 

 

The title of the theme song for the anime is “UNDER THE TREE”. SiM created the song “The Rumbling”, which was the opening theme song of The TV anime series, “Attack on Titan, The Final Season Part 2” as well. The song became a great hit around the world and gained a total of over 200 million streams.

“UNDER THE TREE” will be available for downloading and streaming through various music streaming services at 00:00 on Saturday, the 4th of March.

The vocalist MAH commented that “I would rather mention the song a little later to not reveal too much, so I just want to say right now that I hope people are excited to see The TV Anime “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Part 3!

The cover image of the song is an illustration of the character Mikasa, in which she is holding a red scarf and staring at it in a very dramatic way.

Please check out the actual song by watching the actual TV Anime when it airs.

 

[ The information about the song ]

The theme song for The TV Anime “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Part 3

Song title: UNDER THE TREE

Artist: SiM

Lyrics: MAH

Composition & Arrangement: SiM

 

[ Information about the release ]

“UNDER THE TREE” will be available for downloading and streaming through various music streaming services at 00:00 on Saturday, the 4th of March.

SiM “UNDER THE TREE”

https://lnk.to/underthetree

 

 

[ Information about the TV Anime ]

– Broadcast information

The TV Anime “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Part 3

A one-hour special program will be broadcasting on NHK General TV at 00:25 on Saturday the 4th of March 2023!

(The date and the timing of the broadcasting may change.)

 

–  Information about the release

The TV Anime “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Part 3

The Anime will be released through various streaming services!

It will start streaming at 06:00 on Saturday the 4th of March 2023!

It will be streaming through the streaming sites dTV, danimestore, GYAO!, Netflix, TELASA, hikariTV, U-NEXT, Amazon Prime Video, DMM TV and others, according to their schedules.

 

[ The storyline of The TV Anime “Attack on Titan” The Final Season Part 3 ]

Eren has started “the Rumbling” to end the world. Innumerable titans started the attack and they started to stomp on everything. Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Connie, Hans, Reiner, Annie, Pieck, and Levi, who has been mortally wounded. The people who survived are going to the final battle to stop Eren.

 

[ Staff ]

Based on the manga by: HAJIME ISAYAMA

Director：YUICHIRO HAYASHI

Series Structure：HIROSHI SEKO

Character Design：TOMOHIRO KISHI

Animation Directors：DAISUKE NINUMA/MANABU AKITA

Chief Episode Director：JUN SHISHIDO

Effect Animation Directors：TAICHI FURUMATA/SATOSHI SAKAI

Color Design：IKU ONISHI

Art Director：KUNIAKI NEMOTO

Screen Design：YUSUKE TANNAWA

3DCG Director：MOTOI OKUNO/SUBARU IKEDA

Filming Director：SHIGEKI ASAKWA

Editor：MASATO YOSHITAKE

Sound Effect Director：MASAFUMI MIMA

Music：KOHTA YAMAMOTO/HIROYUKI SAWANO

Sound Effects：NAOTO YAMATANI

Sound Production：Techno Sound

Animation Producer：WATARU KAWAGOE

Produced by：MAPPA

 

[ Cast ]

Eren Yeager：Yuki Kaji

Mikasa Ackerman：Yui Ishikawa

Armin Arlert：Marina Inoue

Connie Springer：Hiro Shimono

Historia Reiss：Shiori Mikami

Jean Kirstein：Kisyo Taniyama

Annie Leonhart：Yu Shimamura

Hans Zoe：Romi Park

Levi Ackerman：Hiroshi Kamiya

Zeke Yeager：Takehito Koyasu

Falco Grice：Natsuki Hanae

Gabi Braun：Ayane Sakura

Pieck Finger：Manami Numakura

 

[ Additional Information ]

The Final Season Official Site：https://shingeki.tv/final/

Official Twitter：@anime_shingeki

 

 

[ Profile ]

NAME：SiM (Silence iz Mine)

MEMBER：SIN (Ba) / GODRi (Dr) / MAH (Vo) / SHOW-HATE (Gt)

FORMED：Shonan, Kanagawa, Japan on 11/03/2004

STYLE：REGGAE PUNK (HARD CORE PUNK / NU-METAL meets SKA / REGGAE)

LABEL：PONY CANYON

MANAGEMENT：gil soundworks

 

SiM are a reggae and punk band formed in Shonan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Their music is a “Loud harsh noise, and also difficult but somehow catchy”. It may sound quite contradictory, but the music is great because of the contrast. The band consists of 4 members.

They mix hardcore punk, new metal, with reggae and ska. That music are totally opposites but then they mix the sound with their unique sense of pop freely. Their lyrics are aggressive and rebellious, they play with words in a smart and witty way and their chorus is very unique.

MAH has great charisma, and his fans and other artists refer to him as the “Devil” since he has a distinct appearance and his presence with him holding a baton while conducting the music. He has amazing power to get the audience’s heart instantly.

SHOW-HATE is a skilled musician with accurate technique, and he runs around the stage while swinging around his instruments. SIN is in charge of the strings. GODRi is a drummer, who is supporting the band with his bold and tight groove when he plays the drum, and he also does the chorus.

Their live show is a combination of them, and the performance is explosively amazing. MAH says, “We were born in the live music club and grew up in the live music club, and we will die in the live music club.”

But they have also successfully sold out their solo live performance at big venues, such as Nippon Budokan and Yokohama Arena. And they have hosted the outdoor music festival called “EAD POP FESTiVAL”, with a venue of 20,000 people.

They also became a headliner at various big outdoor rock festivals all over Japan. SiM climbed up to the top of the rock music scene, with the wish “to break the rock scene from the inside”.

They have changed members of the band numerous times, some of them have suffered from serious sickness as well.They faced many challenges including being dismissed from their label.

Now they have no blind spot to worry about since they have established their status as amazing live performers.

 

[ Artist HP ]

https://sxixm.com/

“Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) TheFinal Season”

©Hajime Isayama, KODANSHA/”ATTACK ON TITAN” The Final Season Production Committee.

 

#SiM #Japanesegroup #AttackonTitan #kcrushnews #AttackonTitanTheFinalSeason #reggaeband #punk #punkrock #stopEren #theRumbling #kcrushamerica #UnderTheTreeSiM #AttackonTitanAnimeFinalSeason #ThemeSongAttackonTitanSeason3 #anime #Japaneseanime #newsong #Season3AttackonTitanMarch4 #newfinalseasonAttackonTitan #MikasaAttackonTitan #NuMetal #SKA #SIN #Ba #GODRi #Dr #MAH #Vo #SHOWHATE #Gt #SiMmembers #newanimerelease #streamingplatforms #NHKGeneralTV #dTV #danimestore #GYAO! #Netflix #TELASA #hikariTV #U-NEXT #AmazonPrimeVideo #DMMTV #March42023 #JPop #JPopsinger #JPopband

The release of the information.

(1) From the 3rd of April the Anime will be broadcasting on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka and TV Aichi.

(2) The Anime will be on air on Animax from the 8th of April!

(3) The release of the second PV.

(4) The key images will be revealed for the second time.

(5) The information about the songs will be released.

 

 

The information about the broadcasting will be released!

Finally, “Kizuna no Allele” will be broadcasting from the 3rd of April. Please look forward to seeing their amazing action!

The second PV of the TV Anime “Kizuna no Allele” will be released! The songs are also going to be released! 

The PV with the latest scenes of the girl Miracle, who adores Kizuna Ai, and her friends have been released! This is the second PV since the first one which was released last December. Please enjoy the video with the song “mirAI wave!” by PathTLive and the song “Yosuga” by #kzn!

Key images are revealed for the second time!

Key image of the members of PathTLive in their costumes for the live show will be revealed for the first time! Please check out their live performance scenes in the Anime.

The second PV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlS3sdzsjOU

 

 

The information about the broadcasting

On air on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka and TV Aichi

At 1:30 AM on Monday the 3rd of April

On air on Animax

At 23:30 on Saturday the 8th of April

 

The information about the song

mirAI wave! (Singer: PathTLive)

Yosuga (Singer: #kzn)

Retweet Campaign will be held on the official Twitter.

A big retweet campaign has also been decided to be held.

 

Information about “Kizuna no Allele”

The title: Kizuna no Allele

Broadcasting: On air from the 3rd of April on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka and TV Aichi.

From the 8th of April it will be broadcasting on Animax

 

Staff

Directed by: KENICHIRO KOMAYA

Series Composition: DEKO AKAO

Character Design: SHIORI ASAKA / NIINA MORITA

Chief Animation Director: SHIORI ASAKA / NIINA MORITA / MIZUKI TAKAHASHI

Prop Design: HOIKEI TAM

Color Design: MITSUKO SEKIMOTO

Art Director: MASAKAZU MIYAKE

Fine Art Setting: KAZUSHIGE KANEHIRA / YURI SANAMI / NARIYUKI OGI

CG Director: RYO SASAKI

Cinematographer: MAYUKO KOIKE

Edit: JUNICHI MASUNAGA

Sound Director: JIN AKETAGAWA

Sound Effects: YUI ANDO

Music: GO SAKABE

Animation Production: WIT STUDIO × SIGNAL.MD

 

Cast

“PathTLive”

Miracle: AYUMI HINOHARA

Quan: RINA KAWAGUCHI

Chris: HIKARI KODAMA

Noelle: YUKA NUKUI

Riz: ARISA HANAWA

 

“BRT5”

Niska: YUURI MATSUOKA

Jessie: RANDHI

Ellie: HARUKA YOSHIKI

Sarah: HINA NATSUME

Halle: HINAKI YANO

 

“VICONIC”

Jua: NOZOMI NAGUMO

Thea: TSUKINO

 

“3DM8”

Ximena: RURI ARAI

Zoe: NAO FURUHATA

Sofia: YUNA KITAHARA

Kizuna AI: Kizuna AI

The official HP of the TV Anime: kizunanoallele.com

The official Twitter: kizunanoallele

 

Artist

mirAI wave! (Singer: PathTLive)

寄花 (Singer: #kzn)

 

 

Information about Alleles

“Alleles” will be released for the first time on the 25th of February!

 

[Part 1]

On the the 25th at 19:00 to the 26th at 01:00

https://youtube.com/live/FHh-Th_oFlo?feature=share

 

[Part 2]

On the 26th from 9:00 to 15:30

https://youtube.com/live/xfPjIEtCis8?feature=share

 

[Part 3]

On the 26th from 16:15 to 22:00

https://youtube.com/live/XvlMc-LHQNU?feature=share

 

I want to connect with everyone while I perform on live shows around the world.

We are going to dive into the world, from the real world to the virtual world.

This is the XR artist’s project which connects the virtual and real.

The 15 members, who appear on the TV Anime “Kizuna no Allele”, are going to challenge themselves through various activities. They will do weekly short live shows mainly on YouTube Live streaming and teach dance lessons.

Dive into “I”

ーXR artist’s project which connects Virtual and Real.ー

Please look forward to seeing their new challenges and achievements!

 

The official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@allelesproject

The official Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllelesProject

 

Images and Materials

ⒸKA/Kizuna no Allele PJ ⒸKizuna no Allele Partners

 

 

#KizunanoAllele #allelesproject #tvAnime #XRartistsproject #shortliveshows #YouTubelivestreamingAnime #teachdancelessons #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #AnimaxApril8 #TVTokyo #TVOsaka #TVAichi #kcrushmedia #mirAIwave! #Singer:PathTLive #YosugaSinger #kzn #PathTLiveCostumeReveal

 

After the 1980s K-drama triumphant entry in the international scene, the 2^nd generation of K-dramas stormed the entertainment industry with more complex, captivating, and out of this world storyline and acting skills. With the world becoming a village, Korea took the chance to make a brand for itself through its skilled thematic plots of dramas and professionalism in the suspense aspect that left viewers clinging to their seats. The 2^nd generation K-drama period between 1990 to 1999 involved numerous Oscar worthy series, but below are some of this generation’s best ones.

 

1. What Is Love? (1991)

“What Is Love?” was amongst other creative dramas that formed the epitome of 2^nd generation K-dramas. The drama births a roller-coaster of mixed feelings from its emotion wrecking scenes. Released in November, 1991, this K-drama is about two different families that are unified by love. Upon Dae Bal Lee (Choi Min Soo) and Ji Eun Park (Ha Hee Ra)’s marriage, the two families; a patriarch and conservative verses a utilitarian and modern family, strive to blend as in-laws. Filled with comedy and intently emotional scenes, this drama is quite educative as it portrays the daily struggles of societal facets and the personal sacrifices and empathy needed for the common good.

 

2. The Trap of Youth (1999)

This heart wrenching “Trap of Youth” series was released in January, 1999, and revolves around the complex nature of relationships. Out of pure love, Yun Hee (Shim Eun-Ha) does the unfathomable and sacrifices her dreams of studying in order to work and support her boyfriend’s studies. To further show her devotion, she gives her boyfriend Dong Woo (Lee Jong Won) the honor of becoming a father. In a twist of events, Dong Woo finds interest in a new richer girlfriend leaving Yun Hee in an emotional chaos. The ensuing nerve-wrecking scenes with intense motives including betrayal and revenge that lead to mind-blogging incidences and unpredicted characters including Yeong Kuk (Jun Kwang Ryul). Yun Hee’s journey to regaining happiness and possibilities of true love amid the heartbreak keeps viewers glued to the end.

 

3. Eyes of Dawn (1991)

“Eyes of Dawn” is a soul-stirring series depicting the historical horrors and injustices that occurred during Korea’s colonial period by the Japanese. Released in October, 1991, the drama centers on three youngsters, Jang Ha Rim (Park Sang Won), Yoon Yeo Ok (Chae Shi Ra), and Choi Dae Chi (Choi Jae Sung), caught in the thick of the war. The most eminent and gruesome war crimes depicted from the characters misfortunes include the exploitation of Korean women as “comfort and pleasure tools” and inhumane treatment of young Korean men as “war shields and front fighters” during Japan’s war against the USA. Eyes of Dawn is such a heart-throbbing drama as the characters not only fight in the physical Japanese war against its enemies, but also strive for a glimpse of relief from the Japanese colonialism. Whether any of the two, or better opportunities present themselves to Jang Ha Rim and the rest is up to the few episodes at the end of the series.

 

4. The Final Match (1994)

Also famously known as “The Last Match”, this Korean drama was released in January, 1994 and is all about the beauty and beast sides of friendships. “The Final Match” roots from a longtime friendship that boomed in the young lives of Lee Gong Min (Son Ji Chang) and Yoon Chul Joon (Jang Dong Gun). Life happens and the two friends start drifting apart only to cross paths again later in a competitive situation. Emotions intensify with each of the friends trying to prove their superiority. One final match is all it needs to give the final stamp on whatever is left, if any, of the two youngsters’ friendship.

 

5. First Love (1996)

“First Love” is an emotion wrecking melodrama that is rated amongst the most viewed K-dramas of the 1990s. Released in June, 1996, this series centers around two brothers who find themselves in love with the same woman. The heat starts building when Sung Chan Hyuk (Choi Soo Jong) find out that his brother, Sung Chan Woo (Bae Yong Joon), is dating his long-time crush Hyo Kyung Lee (Lee Seung Yeon). This discovery is further worsened by Hyo Kyung Lee’s gang of a father who disapproves of her daughter’s relationship with any of the brothers who hail from a poor background. A retaliation from Hyo Kyung Lee’s father leaves Sung Chan Hyuk paralyzed marking the end of his career as an artist. The dilemma lies in whether Chan Hyuk, Chan Woo, or Kyung Lee will find love at last or have to suffer the consequences for their desires and actions.

 

6. Sand Glass (1995)

Rated as amongst the most viewed K-dramas of its time, “Sand Glass” is a melodrama that is worth investing your time. Released in January, 1995, this historical drama depicts the Gwangju uprising period from a perspective of the different characters’ lives and social status. “Sand Glass” tells of the ups and downs of Tae Su Parl (Choi Min-Soo) and Woo Seok Kang (Park Sang Won) as they maneuver through life in search of freedom from political oppression. In addition to their different social status, and differing values with one being in the gangster field and the other in the law field, several incidents occur causing strain and havoc in their relationship and those of other intertwined characters. Love enters into the equation as Yoon Hye Rin (Hyun Jung Go) comes into the picture demanding consequential choices to be made with everything at stake. Involvement in the uprising movement brings along its consequences and entangled reactions which keep the viewers glued in a pool of mixed emotions.

 

7. Scent of Love (1994)

“Scent of Love” is a heart throbbing romance drama released in April, 1994. It tells of the interesting stories of love amongst characters of different generations. Different perceptions on matters of true love are brought to the table with each viewpoints related consequences bringing the viewers into emotional chaos. It focuses on Yeong Jin (Choi Jin Shil) who is left to fend for herself, and so is her sister, upon their parent’s deaths. Fate results in the two experiencing unexpected twist and turns amidst the natural human nature of needing affection and striving to maneuver unending youth hardships. Yeong Jin finds love in Kim Jun Ho (Lee Byung Hun) even as their relationship experiences calamities from all angles. With each of the 3 generations’ love story having to navigate through life on diverse frames of reference, the drama’s finale is one to look forward to.

 

8. Happy Together (1999)

Released in June, 1999, this melodrama is themed around the complexities of relationships amidst unavoidable life events. Five siblings are separated at a young age upon their parents’ demise with some forced into deplorable foster families. A few years later, Seo Tae Poong (Lee Byung Hun) endeavors to bring the family back together only for a series of unexpected turns to ensue. The reunion however, faces a backlash from the baggage of each of the siblings’ lives. The afflictions bring with them feelings of betrayal, neglect, and failure amongst others. The viewers are taken aback with each episode as they empathize with the characters throughout this heart-wrenching drama. Whether there is a glimpse of them regaining happiness together is only left into the hands of the writer.

 

9. Christmas In August (1998)

“Christmas in August” has been rated as amongst the 2nd generation’s most tear-jerking and sad melodramas. Released in January, 1998, this series focuses on Jung Won (Han Suk Kyu)’s peaceful life as a photographer in a rural area. The passion for his job, though not as rewarding financially, spills over through the perfect gigs he offers. Nonetheless, life’s cruelty is not so kind not to even this pure soul as he finds his health failing him with no future hope. His aging father and younger sister are in the dark even as he tries to treasure every moment. A scent of love finds its way into his doorstep upon an encounter with Da-rim (Shim Eun Ha), leaving him in a dilemma of whether to pursue it and connect with another soul despite his ticking clock. Just as the viewers, Jung Win prays for a miracle amid trying to bid farewell and enjoy whatever time mother earth decides to present him.

 

10. M (1994)

“M”, written in hangul as엠, is a sci-fi horror drama that received quite a high viewership rating back in the days upon its release in August, 1994. The story focuses on a girl, Ma Ri Park (Shim Eun Ha), whose mission is to punish those who contributed to her death. Ma Ri Park was aborted before birth and her spirit lingered waiting for an opportunity to teach a lesson to all who supported the selfish heinous crime. Upon the birth of Ju Ri Kim (Shim Eun Ha), Ma Ri Park enters and takes control of her body to execute the revenge mission. A series of horrific scenes ensue leaving the viewers clinging to their seats. Whether Ma Ri Park consumes everyone on her list or experiences a glimpse of empathy and assesses their decision from a different perspective is up to the last episodes of the series.

 

—-Karen Mwenda

 

#2ndGenerationKDrama #secondgenerationkoreandrama #kcrusharticle #2ndGenKDrama #kdrama #koreandrama #kcrushoriginal #WhatIsLovekdrama #ChoiMinSoo #ChoiMinSooKoreanActor #koreanactor #koreanactress #HaHeeRa #HaHeeRakoreanactress #TheTrapOfYouthKoreanDrama #TrapOfYouthKdrama #ShimEunHa #ShimEunHaKoreanactor #LeeJongWon #LeeJongWonKoreanActor #kcrushamerica #JunKwangRyul #JunKwangRyulKoreanActor #EyesOfDawn #EyesOfDawnKDrama #ParkSangWon #ParkSangWonKoreanActor #ChaeShiRa #ChoiJaeSung #TheLastMatch #TheLastMatchKoreanDrama #SonJiChang #JangDongGun #FirstLove #FirstLoveKDrama #ChoiSooJong #BaeYongJoon #LeeSeungYeon #SandGlass #SandGlassKoreanDrama #HyunJungGo #HyunJungGoKoreanActor #ParkSangWon #ParkSangWonKoreanActor #ScentOfLove #ScentOfLoveKoreanDrama #ChoiJinShil #ChoiJinShilKoreanActor #LeeByungHunKoreanActor #HappyTogether #HappyTogetherKoreanDrama #HappyTogetherkDrama #LeeByungHun #LeeByungHunKoreanActor #ChristmasInAugust #ChristmasInAugustKoreanDrama #HanSukKyu #HanSukKyuActor #melodrama #romcom #M #MKoreanDrama #ShimEunHaKoreanActor #scifi #ShimEunHa

 

Update: February 24, 2023

Previously, on February 8, 2023, actor Yoo Ah-in came under scrutiny for illegal propofol use. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency called Yoo, 36, in for questioning and a drug test on February 5. While the urine sample tested positive for marijuana, a hair follicle analysis still needed to be complete.

On February 23, 2023, Yoo’s hair follicle analysis showed the Voice of Silence actor did have propofol in his system. As a result of the report, Seoul Metropolitan Police called Yoo in for questioning again.

When the investigation began, the police also performed a search and seizure of several clinics and hospitals including plastic surgery hospitals in Gangnam looking for evidence and medical records. Yoo as well as up to 50 others fell under suspicion of using propofol, prompting the investigation. Police believe Yoo’s been actively taking propofol since at least 2021.

Yoo’s agency, United Arts Agency, said, “Yoo Ah In was recently investigated by the police for propofol. We are actively cooperating with all investigations in this regard and we plan to actively explain any parts that are of issue. We apologize for causing concern.”

Update:

On February 24, MBC’s News Desk stated, “There were three types of drug ingredients detected through the actor’s hair that was tested through the National Institute of Scientific Investigation. There was another type of drug that was detected in addition to propofol, which the actor was suspected of first and marijuana.”

Yoo’s agency responded to the report stating, “We have inquired the police several times about the reports that were made about the third drug substance. However, we only received the answer ‘We cannot tell you’. We ask for your understanding that we cannot arbitrarily reveal our position based only on media reports in the absence of any official information from the police. We have not received any information regarding the future investigation schedule but we will faithfully cooperate and receive investigation as soon as the schedule was set.”

Yoo has yet to comment himself. Stay tuned for more updates as the investigation continues.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#YooAhIn #YooAhbeinginvestigated #kcrushnews #VoiceofSilence #Burning #UnitedArtsAgency #koreanactor #MinstryofFoodandDrugSafety #YooAhongoinginvestigation #YooAhIninvestigationUpdate #UpdateonYooAhIn #kcrush #kcrushamerica

 

K-Pop sensations to perform with major acts already announced including ENHYPEN, KANG DANIEL, VIVIZ, and others making their U.S. arena debut

Tickets for events at Mandalay Bay Convention Center and Michelob ULTRA Arena

on sale now at webridgeexpo.com

 

We Bridge, the inaugural three-day cultural expo and two-day music festival in Las Vegas to celebrate Asian entertainment and culture, has announced renowned K-pop sensation MONSTA X to headline and award-winning soloist Jessi to perform on the weekend of April 21-23. These line-up additions are set to appear alongside ENHYPEN and will be joined by KANG DANIEL, VIVIZ, Dreamcatcher, CIX, ONEUS, fromis_9, and BE’O.

 

 

Recognized as one of the leading third generation K-pop male groups, MONSTA X has carefully curated a discography of hard-hitting singles and albums and attracted a massive number of fans worldwide. The Korean group is known for viral tracks such as “Beautiful Liar,” “Play It Cool” with Steve Aoki, “Crescendo,” and, most recently, “Deny” which catapulted onto the Billboard Hot Trending Songs list. Their latest EP, “REASON,”  released just last month in January, 2023, saw all six songs reach the top ten on the Billboard charts as well. The award-winning group has performed in several festivals and international concerts across Europe, Asia, South & North America; with Las Vegas coming up next in 2023. As well as being the only band from Korea to release two albums entirely in English, their hit songs, “WHO DO U LOVE?”, “One Day” and “YOU CAN’T HOLD MY HEART” made MONSTA X the only K-pop band besides BTS to have three or more Top 40 U.S. pop singles.

Leading K-pop female rap superstar, Jessi has built her reputation with hit after hit, garnering millions of fans worldwide. The Korean-American rapper-songwriter has put out a multitude of viral tracks such as “What Type Of X,” and most recently, “Zoom,” which stayed on Billboard’s Global 200 chart for four consecutive weeks since releasing last May. Her hit single “Nunu Nana” has reached over 100 million streams on Spotify alone with the music video collecting over 199 million views to date. From workout playlists to the club scene, and jamming out with friends, Jessi’s music will always be there to get her fans hyped up and headed for the dance floor. The award-winning artist has also performed in several international concerts, including her first solo concert “Zoom” in Manila (2022) and her “Beyond Your Imagination Tour” in Europe (2022).

“We are really excited to be part of We Bridge Music Festival and Expo and bring our show to Las Vegas for all the fans! We will be there on April 21 and can’t wait for you all there,” said MONSTA X.

“I’m so excited to join We Bridge Music Festival and Expo this Spring in Las Vegas. Catch me at the Expo meeting fans and performing on April 21 at the festival. Hope to see you all there!” said Jessi.

We Bridge is presented by premier global entertainment company Infinite Prospects Entertainment (IPE) with the support of MGM Resorts International; the same group who helped turn the Las Vegas Strip purple in April 2022 for megastar group BTS, who performed four sold-out nights of their ‘Permission To Dance On Stage’ tour at Allegiant Stadium. With the explosion of Asian influence on mainstream pop culture around the world and its tremendous impacts across music, film, art, and fashion, We Bridge’s mission is to connect these various creative expressions within one experience and celebrate the Asian artists and cultures that are fueling them. The result is a multi-sensory, live event that immerses attendees into a curated world that bridges what is now, new, and next in Asian music, media, art, and fashion.

“We are so pleased to team up with We Bridge Music Festival and Expo as a sponsor,” said Eric Toda, Founder of Meta Prosper & Global Head of Social Marketing at Meta. “It was important to us to get involved with this diverse showcase of Asian-American and Asian communities coming together to celebrate their collective cultures in one of the most exciting entertainment capitals in the world, Las Vegas.”

Meta Prosper was launched to drive visibility around the diversity of our community’s voices to build social equity, influence, and economic opportunity. Prosper is Meta’s commitment to the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. What started as an idea grew into a movement – fueled by the intent of giving voice to the array of diverse stories. We are here to create a place where our community has the space and the power of self-determination. For more information, visit Facebook: Prosper With Us.

 

 

“This is an exciting time to welcome MONSTA X and Jessi and their fans to Las Vegas. We can’t wait to welcome them to the We Bridge Music Festival and Expo,” said Alex Kang, CEO of Infinite Prospects Entertainment. “They will be participating in the hi-touch event for the Expo at Mandalay Convention Center on April 21 and performing on that same day at the music festival at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Check our website and social media for more up-to-date information. We are very grateful to have Meta Prosper participating with us this year. Working with a leader of the community such as Eric and seeing what he has done with the platform is exactly what our mission is all about.”

The GRAMMY Museum^® will have its own stage over the three days on the expo floor consisting of special performances and panels with the music festival acts as well as Asian thought leaders, and is open to all attendees. Hi-touch events with the artists will follow each panel, and are accessible to all ticket holders of qualifying tiers. We Bridge is partnering with culture curators and creators who will showcase some of Asia and Asian America’s finest visual artists and their work.

Projected to be one of the largest West x East Asian-centric events of the year, more information including additional talent lineups, ticket sales, and program details will be announced soon. For up-to-date news follow @webridgeexpo on Twitter and Instagram and join the conversation using #webridgelv and #nownewnext. For more information on We Bridge Expo, please visit webridgeexpo.com.

 

ABOUT INFINITE PROSPECTS ENTERTAINMENT

Infinite Prospects Entertainment (IPE) is a Las Vegas based, world class multi-service production & management company in the entertainment industry, devoted to bridging Asian media and entertainment with western culture in the United States. IPE’s strategic global partnerships are demonstrated in their capacity to identify prospective opportunities to expand in new markets. IPE with the support of MGM Resorts, the same group who famously turned the Vegas Strip purple in April 2022, brought the megastar K-pop group BTS to Allegiant Stadium for four sold-out nights of their ‘Permission To Dance On Stage’ tour.

 

ABOUT MGM RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is an S&P 500® global entertainment company with national and international locations featuring best-in-class hotels and casinos, state-of-the-art meetings and conference spaces, incredible live and theatrical entertainment experiences, and an extensive array of restaurant, nightlife and retail offerings. MGM Resorts creates immersive, iconic experiences through its suite of Las Vegas-inspired brands. The MGM Resorts portfolio encompasses 32 unique hotel and gaming destinations globally, including some of the most recognizable resort brands in the industry. The Company’s 50/50 venture, BetMGM, LLC, offers U.S. sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands, including BetMGM and partypoker, and the Company’s subsidiary LeoVegas AB offers sports betting and online gaming through market-leading brands in several jurisdictions throughout Europe. The Company is currently pursuing targeted expansion in Asia through the integrated resort opportunity in Japan. Through its “Focused on What Matters: Embracing Humanity and Protecting the Planet” philosophy, MGM Resorts commits to creating a more sustainable future, while striving to make a bigger difference in the lives of its employees, guests, and in the communities where it operates. The global employees of MGM Resorts are proud of their company for being recognized as one of FORTUNE® Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies®. For more information, please visit us at www.mgmresorts.com. Please also connect with us @MGMResortsIntl on Twitter as well as Facebook and Instagram.

 

ABOUT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM

The GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and exploring music from yesterday and today to inspire the music of tomorrow through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum values and celebrates the dynamic connection in people’s diverse backgrounds and music’s many genres, telling stories that inspire us, and creative expression that leads change in our industry.

For more information, visit www.grammymuseum.org, “like” the GRAMMY Museum on Facebook, and follow @GRAMMYMuseum on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

 

 

#GRAMMYMuseum #MONSTAX #JESSI #kpop #kcrush #kpopmusic #kpopevent #koreankpopUSevent #MetaProsper #WEBRIDGEExpo #EastXWestEvent #ENHYPEN #KANGDANIEL #VIVIZ #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #LasVegas #MandalayBayConventionCenter #CIX #MichelobULTRAArena #Dreamcatcher #ONEUS #fromis_9 #BEO #LasVegasmusicevent #koreanhiphop #hiphop #kcrushmedia #kpopmalegroup #kpopfemalegroup #InfiniteProspectsEntertainment #MGMResortsInternational #AlexKangCEO #CEOIPE #April212023

 

KIM WOO SEOK will return to his main job as a singer a year after his third solo album “3RD DESIRE [Reve]” released in March last year. In the March issue of the recently published Singles, KIM WOO SEOK showed a colorful visual that leads people’s attention by perfectly digesting a concept full of boyishness using retro items and announced his comeback, saying, “I’m currently preparing a new album.”

 

 

In an interview, KIM WOO SEOK said about the new album, “I think I can show my inner emotional line with a heavier feeling,” signaling a new start from the albums of the DESIRE series up to the third album.

In addition, he released an episode of filming the main character Baek Woo-hyun in the OTT romance healing drama “Finland Papa,” which is scheduled to be released in April, raising expectations for KIM WOO SEOK’s upcoming various activities. Finland Papa’ is expected to be pre-sold on various global platforms such as the United States, Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

 

 

Meanwhile, KIM WOO SEOK, who successfully completed “KIM WOO SEOK 1st FAN MEETING: NNN” in Thailand as well as in Korea after his third album “3RD DESIRE [Reve]” last year, is catching the attention of domestic and foreign fans through various activities such as pictorials and dramas, and is set to release his fourth solo album and drama “Finland Wave” in March.

[Photo courtesy of Singles]

 

 

#SingerKIMWOOSEOKannouncedhiscomeback #kcrushnews #FinlandWaveKimWooSeok #fourthsoloalbum #kcrushamerica #KimWooSeokActor #KimWooSeoknewmusic #FinlandPapa #kcrushmedia #kpop #kpopactor #newalbumKimWooSeok #MarchComebackKimWooSeok

Embrace Presents

KANGDANIEL: First Parade in Toronto
@ The Danforth Music Hall
March 7, 2023
Doors: 7pm | All Ages event
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10005D6AC8CF24AD?did=pop

 

 

 

NO REALLY ITS TOTALLY THE FINAL LAST CHANCE FOR EPIK HIGH IN TORONTO GA TICKET DISCOUNT!
Get $15 off your ticket using our discount code: RAINSONG
Embrace Presents
EPIK HIGH: All Time High Tour
March 23, 2023 @ History
Doors: 7pm | all ages event
***********
CLICK THE POP! GOES THE WORLD TICKET OFFER AND USE THIS CODE TO UNLOCK THE $15 DISCOUNT: RAINSONG
(GA-FLOOR – 4 TICKET LIMIT)  https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10005D7D23074616

 

 

KPOP CLUB NIGHT

BETTER. FASTER. STRONGER.
UPCOMING EVENTS WITH DJ YUKA K: (and sometimes Host MC triple-threat Poison Aivy)
WINNIPEG 02/17 The Rec Room  ***LOW TICKET ALERT
VANCOUVER 02/18 The Rec Room ***LOW TICKET ALERT
NASHVILLE 02/24 Hard Rock Cafe  ***LOW TICKET ALERT
ORLANDO 02/25 Level 13
ATLANTA 03/03 The Loft
LOS ANGELES 03/10 Catch One
CHARLOTTE NC 03/11 Underground
SALT LAKE CITY 03/17 Soundwell
TORONTO 03/18 The Rec Room
CALGARY 03/24 The Rec Room
EDMONTON 03/25 The Rec Room
SEATTLE 03/31 The Hard Rock Cafe
HALIFAX 04/06 Marquee 
MONTREAL 04/07 Ausgang Plaza
LONDON ON 04/08 The Rec Room
LAS VEGAS 04/14 The Hard Rock 
DENVER 04/15  Hard Rock 
MISSISSAUGA 04/15 (with DJ AERO)
OTTAWA 4/27 Hyde & Seek
MINNEAPOLIS 4/28 TBA
WASHINGTON 4/29 Union Stage
ALBANY 5/5 TBA
NEW YORK 5/6 Gramercy Theatre Tickets on sale Feb 19
HONOLULU 5/19 HBSocial Club
DETROIT 6/24 El Club

 

#KangDaniel #EpikHigh #inCanada #KangDanielCanadaConcert #EpikHighCanadaConcert #concerttickets #kcrushnews #kcrushamerica #kpop #koreanhiphop #hiphop #koreanrap #kpopidol #kpopsinger #kpopclubnightCanada #CanadaKpopConcerts #kcrushmedia #discounttickets #kpopconcertticketsCanada #TorontoKpopConcerts

It’s hard to believe it’s February already, but here we are!

With a month behind us already, it’s time to consider who we should keep our eyes on throughout the year. While 2022 was the year of NEWJEANS and Le Sserafim, 2023 may provide us with some new names K-Pop history should remember.  Already, there are some buzzworthy girl groups emerging as potential contenders in the K-Pop realm. Here are five girl groups to watch in 2023!

 

BABYMONSTER

YG Entertainment’s new girl group has been hinted at for a long time. Some indications of the new group have been there since 2018, but the BABYMONSTER name has been circulating since at least 2014 with many expecting this to be BLACKPINK’s original group name for a spell.

The seven-member group consisting of Ruka (Japanese), Pharita (Thai), Asa (Japanese), Ahyeon (Korean), Haram (Korean), Rora (Korean), and Chiquita (Thai) will officially debut this year.  The group’s expected to be a vocal, rap, and dance powerhouse. Already, through their YouTube channel videos and introductions, the girls have charming personalities and obvious talent. YG Entertainment allowing fans to get to know the girls and their journeys through the audition process via the videos helps to develop a connection to the group. When they finally debut, fans can expect something powerful. Hopefully, the songs won’t be generic and bring something new to the industry to help cement the fourth generation as one of the best K-Pop generations.

 

CSR

CSR, a seven-member group from POPMUSIC, debuted in 2022. With their sweet, school-girl concept, CSR’s releases have been nostalgic breaths of fresh air in a sea of girl crush concepts. Their early K-Pop vibe mixed with some hints of 2000s J-Pop give this group something unique. They received their first music show win on December 2, 2022 with “Loveticon (♡TiCON),” so the future looks bright for CSR!

They are a group to watch because of their youthful, refreshing sound. If you’re a lover of early GFRIEND, Oh My Girl, and Lovelies, CSR is right up your alley. The only issue is, since their concept is “class of young girls who were born in 2005” (how specific!), how long can the early 2000s concept and sound last as the group and fans get older? Unfortunately, as we get further removed from the early 2000s, some of the fans that remember that time may be aging out of K-Pop, so nostalgia will only go so far. However, we hope the concept will attract enough people and keep fans listening long enough for CSR to carve their niche and continue to stand out!

 

Fifty-Fifty

In what was probably one of our favorite 2022 debuts, Fifty-Fifty has a lot of potential because of their versatility! When they debuted, they released three tracks showing their different vocal skills and abilities to melt into different genres with ease. This is something their company, ATTRAKT, needs to capitalize on moving forward. Fifty-Fifty are immensely talented, and with their first comeback coming up February 24, 2023, it’ll be awesome to see if they can maintain their sound and skills. This group has a potential for music show wins and even some year-end awards.

ATTRAKT does need to promote the group better because their talents should not be wasted. Fifty-Fifty has the potential to be a competitor in the current K-Pop class, and 2023 will be their year to stand out if promoted right (and hopefully that doesn’t equate being overworked!) and provided with songs that reflect their vocal abilities like their debut tracks did.

 

LIMΞLIGHT

LIMΞLIGHT had their pre-debut in 2022 and officially debuted February 17, 2023.  The group is currently a trio, but there are plans to add more members as time progresses.

From their pre-debut singles “Eye to Eye” and “Starlight” to their most recent release “Honestly,” LIMΞLIGHT displays great poise and delicacy. LIMΞLIGHT has a way of annunciating their lyrics to where their words are clear. This is one of their most likeable traits!

LIMΞLIGHT is a group to watch because of their strong singing abilities and solid discography so far. Like with Fifty-Fifty, LIMΞLIGHT’s company, 143 Entertainment, which is now also iKON’s home, needs to ensure they are promoted correctly. It seems in the cards that LIMΞLIGHT may get their first music show wins this year with the way their music suits them. They may also be in the conversation for some other honors as they continue to improve.

 

MAVE

MAVE is an odd inclusion because, while they’re a girl group, they’re a virtual group. Of course, this makes them no different from other AI performers such as Rozy, K/DA, and APOKI, or Japan’s renowned vocaloid queen Hatsune Miku, or even the English virtual group Gorillaz, but they did catch the eyes and ears of K-Pop fans with some positive and negative reception.

The voices behind MAVE are solid, and it’s sad we don’t know the real singers behind the group, but we might eventually find this out overtime. For this, the idea of a virtual group can help former idols, singers, and trainees restart their careers in an unexpected way. MAVE could be a pilot group for testing the AI idol model that could bring new method for some people to follow their dreams.

Many wondered how MAVE would negatively influence the K-Pop scene and if the music world is ready for virtual performers, but this is a concept that’s been around for decades, even long before the emergence of Hatsune Miku and Gorillaz without a major disruption to the music scene (see The Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, and even Alvin and the Chipmunks as early examples of the “virtual band” concept). Some netizens have commented on how MAVE would not be able to have human interactions with people outside of the digital world or how they would perform on music shows and concerts, but the latter concern seems to have been addressed with their performances on Show! MusicCore.  And, like Hatsune Miku and Gorillaz have shown us, concerts and fan connections can occur, so it seems some general fears might be unfounded.

MAVE is a “group” to watch because of how far technology’s come. While it’s still clear the group is AI due to jerky movements, as technology improves, the group can only become more realistic as time goes on. The developers and programmers behind MAVE have already shown they can make it to where the group can perform on music shows, so there is an expectation MAVE can compete in the industry. Each of the members—SIU, ZENA, MARTY, and Tyra—all have unique personalities that are expected to develop as the group progresses, and they have a storyline that will be introduced through a webtoon on Kakao Entertainment. The characters may have traits that will make them more appealing and more relatable to a general audience, so expectations are high for this group.

With those elements in mind, their debut track “Pandora” was solid and fit right in with many of today’s K-Pop songs. At times, they feel like aespa-meets-BLACKPINK while also having their own unique color. Of course, as the people behind MAVE develop the group more, it is more likely they will fall into their own groove and unique sound will also bringing something entirely different to the industry! MAVE will be fun to watch for sure!

 

What groups are on your radar for 2023? Let us know in the comments!

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

#girlgroups2023 #MAVE #SIU #ZENA #MARTY #Tyra #kcrusharticle #KakaoEntertainment #MusicCore #virtualgroupMAVE #Pandora #APOKI #HatsuneMiku #kcrushmedia #LIMELIGHT #EyeToEye #143Entertainment #FiftyFifty #ATTRAKT #comeback #CSR #POPMUSIC #kpop #kcrushamerica #LoveticonCSR #BABYMONSTER #YGEntertainment #Ruka #Pharita #Asa #Ahyeon #Haram #Rora #Chiquita #kpopgirlgroups2023

Download & streaming links

 

Following his successful appearances as part of boyband INTO1 on Tencent’s mega-hit Chinese show ‘CHUANG2021’, Japanese artist INTO1 RIKIMARU has released his new single ‘UP and DOWN’, on February 17. INTO1 RIKIMARU co-wrote the song, a dance tune that tells the story of the “ups and downs” of his life from his unique perspective.

A short dance video version of this track was released in May 2022 and caused a meltdown online, with an astonishing 7.58 million views on leading Chinese social network Weibo and 550,000 views on YouTube. This new release is an all-new recording of the full song. A new music video with a story depicting INTO1 RIKIMARU breaking from his past self, featuring his characteristic powerful choreography, was also released today.

‘UP and DOWN’ music video https://youtu.be/ARN1rXy2DII

The title ‘UP and DOWN’ expresses how life is not always perfect – it has its highs, and its overwhelmingly deep lows – but these experiences are all part of life, helping us to grow towards infinite possibilities. This strong message offers inspiration to light your darkest hour.

 

 

About INTO1 RIKIMARU

In 2021, INTO1 RIKIMARU appeared on Tencent’s mega-hit TV show ‘CHUANG2021’ in China, which received a total of 5 billion views. After winning third place in the fan vote, he made his debut as a member of the limited-time boyband INTO1. He is also a well-known choreographer, creating dances for a number of popular K-pop artists and performing live, making him a respected member of the dance scene.

 

Further information

YOUTUBE | TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | BILIBILI | WEIBO | DOUYIN

 

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Although Korean dramas started airing in the 1950s, the K-drama wave began within the early 1980s, especially with the introduction of color television and a surge in Korean broadcasting companies. The steadily enhancements in industrialization and modernization further started increasing the viewership of Korean dramas, hence crediting the dramas between 1980 and 1989 the 1^st generation label. Below are some of the best 1^st generation K-dramas.

 

1. Love and Ambition (1987)

In life, there is always a point where choices must be made. The choices mean forgoing some to hold on to others. Only in a few instances are we fortunate enough to forego nothing and get them all. “Love and Ambition” presented this scenario where the characters have to choose between love or ambition. Released in January, 1987 and set in a poverty post war era, this drama involves mainly two brothers who grow up and pursue different ambitions. Park Tae Joon dives into the law-and-order field while Tae Soo tries to run away from past crimes. Along the way, love enters into the equation, where Tae Joon becomes entangled with Kim Mi Ja, and the characters have to make a life-choice between their passions and romance.

 

2. Country Diaries (1980)

Released in October, 1980, this vintage series will arouse your desires to have a bite of the hypnotic rural life. “County Diaries” aired during Korea’s urbanization boom thus giving those living in the busy and stressful urban life, brings a nostalgic feeling for their rural hometowns. Also known as “Jeonwon Diaries”, the series gained quite a following given its power to motivate viewers and give meaning to their life through recollection of fond memories. Veteran actors including Kim Soo-mi, Go Doo-shim, and Kim Hye-ja joined other legendary actors in the appealing series that fulfilled the fantasies of countryside life and nature. “Country Diaries” is one of Korea’s longest-running television series with over 22 years of airing. During its 60^th anniversary in 2021, MBC aired the “Docuflex – Country Diaries 2021” where original cast members reunited to recollect the memories they had while filming the “Country Diaries”.

 

3. The Imjin War (1985)

Also referred to as “500 Days of Joseon Dynasty”, this heart-throbbing series revolves around war. Depicting the invasion of Korea by Japan, “The Imjin War” is a nerve-wrecking drama keeping the viewers on their toes with the compelling naval battles as those of the legendary Admiral Lee Shon Shin. Kim Moo Saeng acts as Admiral Lee Soon Shin while Jung Jin acts as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the protagonist who led the Japanese invasion into Korea. Released in October, 1985, this 54-episode historical fiction drama digs deep into one’s core oozing out excitement entangled in fear and horror with each scene.

 

4. Sand Castle (1988)

“Sand Castle” takes the viewers on a roller coaster through daring pursuits and undertakings that revolve around relationships. The characters did an exceptional job of imparting their feelings in various instances through their entangling affairs and horrifying fear of being caught. Jang Hyun Joo and Kim Jin Heon are the main actors whose top-notch acting skills are quite enchanting, keeping one asking for more. Released in September, 1988, “Sand Castle” depicts the complexities, sacrifices and consequences that rotate around relationships within the society.

 

5. Declaration of Fools (1983)

This film, released in October, 1983, gained quite an audience with its satire and humor that criticized the then Korean society. “Declaration of Fools” showcases the extremes between the high and low social classes and depicts the then Korea’s weak societal fabric. The story revolves around Dong-cheol and Hye-yeong whose initial encounter is when Dong-cheol kidnaps her. As the main characters, the story very much revolves around them but broaden and becomes interestingly complex with time as more characters come into the picture. The struggles and breakthroughs experienced by the characters leaves viewers in all sorts of moods and thoughts, especially the unfathomable ending. Each scene arouses an interest that builds up into a yearning that can only be quenched by consuming the whole film.

Do you have a first generation K-Drama you would like to suggest?

 

—-Karen Mwenda

 

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Relations between North and South Korea have been frosty for decades. The two Koreas are still technically at war, engaging in more of a frozen conflict currently. While the countries do not get along and tempers have flared over the years, there have been a few instances where South Korean artists have performed in North Korea. In total, seven concerts by South Korean artists have been performed in North Korea. Here is a list of artists who’ve traveled north to Pyongyang to share their music with the “Hermit Kingdom.”

 

Fin.K.L | 1999

As one of the “first generation” K-Pop girl groups, Fin.K.L were pioneers in numerous ways. Not only were they the first girl group to win a year-end music award and the first girl group to hold a solo concert, Fin.K.L were also the first girl group to perform in North Korea.  In 1999, Fin.K.L performed “To My Prince” during the Peace Friendship Music Concert in Pyongyang, North Korea. While Fin.K.L did receive some accolades from the Pyongyang audience, the performance was greeted with somber mood that matched the group’s all-black outfits.

 

Sechskies | 1999

Along with Fin.K.L, first generation male idol group Sechskies also performed during the Peace Friendship Music Concert in Pyongyang. During their “Yaegam” performance, the group toned down their choreography out of respect for the audience. Like with Fin.K.L, while Sechskies received applause, there was tension present throughout the performance.

 

YB | 2002 & 2018

Hard Rock band YB (formerly Yoon Do-hyun Band, YB Band) was the first rock band to perform in North Korea during the Oh Unification Korea concert.

The band held an hour-long special in Pyongyang, to which lead vocalist Yoon Do-hyun said, “We are so deeply touched we are able to perform here today. Our hearts are so full that I cannot describe with words. It’s our first time in Pyongyang. And because it’s the first time you will hear us play, you might think we sound strange, unfamiliar, and noisy. But please don’t feel burdened: We are one minjok (nation), and yes… thank you.”

The band’s performance was broadcast September 9, 2002 on North Korea’s Korea Central TV. During the concert, YB Band played their songs including “Morning Dew,” “Ithaca,” and an emotional performance of the Korean folk song “Arirang.” Yoon’s 2002 performance was well-received by the North Korean audience.

In 2018, Yoon Do-hyun performed in North Korea again. He and Cho Yong-Pil became the first South Korean artists to perform there twice.

 

Sol Woondo | 2003

Trot singer Sol Woondo performed “Shanghai Twist” during his 2003 set. He, along with Baby V.O.X and Shinhwa, were some of the performers that played in North Korea as part of an inter-Korea summit. Performances were livelier, much to the shock and dismay of the Pyongyang elite in attendance, especially the men.

Sol’s backup dancers performed in miniskirts, which is not typical attire in North Korea.

“The dancers wore those miniskirts on purpose, shaking it around, to show who we are and how we do it,” Keehyun Oh, an SBS producer later said. “Elders just sat there with their eyes closed, and young ladies didn’t know where to look. Since it was a public place, they couldn’t do anything else. But when we asked them later, they were more interested in these kinds of things. In other words, they wanted to see South Korean society through these performances.”

 

Shinhwa | 2003

Shinhwa performed “Perfect Man” during their set. The performance was greeted with awkward glances and with more silence compared to other performances in previous years. Shinhwa performed the track with their usual gusto with lively dance moves. However, there were a couple of times when the camera did show some of the North Korean crowd smiling. But, as soon the realization the camera was turned toward those spectators, the smiles faded. Yet, the general reaction ranged from blank expressions to disgust.

 

Baby V.O.X | 2003

Baby V.O.X’s 2003 performance at Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium was met with criticism.

As the second girl group to perform in North Korea following Fin.K.L, their “By Chance” performance was received with shock due to the flashy outfits and dancing. Compared to Fin.K.L’s performance, which was more subdued with outfits more suitable for North Korean culture at the time, Baby V.O.X’s performance was controversial.

During the performance, it was clear Baby V.O.X members “read the room” as the girls exchanged awkward glances with each other and there were times when their smiles faded to unease.

 

Cho Yong-Pil | 2005 & 2018

Like YB, Cho Yong-Pil has the honor of performing in North Korea twice. In 2005, Cho performed a concert in the country that generated a positive response from the crowd. According to SBS producer Keehyun Oh, when they checked the footage they shot later, they “caught a few people singing very quietly along [with] the songs that they knew.”

In 2018, Cho performed again during the Spring is Coming concert that featured a delegation of 160 South Korean performers.

 

Red Velvet, Seohyun, Choi Jin-Hee, Lee Sun-Hee, Kang San-ae, Baek Ji-Young, Ali, & Jungin

During the 2018 Spring is Coming concert, an art troupe of 160 South Korean performers went to North Korea to perform. In addition to the return of Cho Yong-Pil and Yoon Do-Hyun (YB), third-generation idol group Red Velvet, Girls’ Generation member Seohyun, Folk Rock artist Kang San-ae, Trot singer Choi Jin-Hee, and soloists Lee Sun-Hee, Baek Ji-Young, Ali, and Jungin performed.

The 2018 Spring is Coming concert featured a livelier crowd and the appearance of Kim Jung-un and his wife Ri Sol Ju. Soloists as well as YB experienced the most interaction and response from the crowd, while Red Velvet’s reception was lukewarm, just like with previous idol groups that performed in the country. However, the Spring is Coming concert was deemed successful.

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

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All good things must come to an end.

Brave Girls, Brave Entertainment’s girl group that debuted April 7, 2011, officially disbanded February 16, 2023 following the expiration of their exclusive contracts. All four members, Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji, and Yuna, opted not to renew.

Brave Entertainment released the following statement confirming the news.

The exclusive contracts of artists Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji, and Yuna will come to an end as of today.

After a long and thorough discussion, Brave Entertainment and Brave Girls agreed to a beautiful farewell. The members intend on cheering one another on deep in their hearts and will repay fans for their love soon in their respective places.

Brave Entertainment would like to thank Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji, and Yuna for their passion and enthusiasm, enduring the ups and downs of entertainment for the past 7 years. We sincerely thank them and send them unending applause. We will always cheer on the members in their future activities, no matter where they go.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank their fans, Fearless, once again for being by the girls’ side without any fears.

Please continue to send your love and affection toward Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji and Yuna.

When Brave Girls debuted in 2011, they were a five-member group made up of Eunyoung, Seoah, Yejin, Yujin, and Hyeran. Eunyoung, Yejin, and Seoah left the group in 2013. In 2016, Minyoung, Yujeong, Eunji, Hayun, and Yuna joined Yujin and Hyerin Brave Girls’ lineup to make the group seven members. Hayun left in 2018 due to worsening health. Yujin left in 2017, while Hyeran went on indefinite hiatus, leaving Brave Girls a quartet.

In 2017, Brave Girls were on the brink of disbandment until “Rollin’” came out. The song’s sudden viral success in 2021, thanks to a performance in front of Korean soldiers, gave Brave Girls new life as well as music show wins, award nominations, and endorsement deals. “Rollin’” also earned a “Perfect All-Kill” on the music charts when it exploded in popularity! Their first music show win on Inkigayo came 3,628 days since their debut.

Brave Girls appeared on the second season of Queendom in 2022. Along with their appearance on Queendom, the group released their sixth mini-album Thank You and embarked on their first United States tour.

Brave Girls had a string of catchy tracks throughout their 12-year run including “Deepened,” “We Ride,” “Chi Mat Ba Ram,” and their debut track “Do You Know.” It’s sad to see them disband after having so much potential and a re-emergence in popularity. As of this writing, it’s unclear if they will all sign under a new agency and still perform together or if they will go their separate ways to start anew.

 

 

—-Olivia Murray

 

 

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