[Behind the K-pop scene] Norwegian K-pop songwriter Eline Noelia Myreng

Norwegian singer-songwriter Eline Noelia Myreng was working part-time as a bartender in Oslo, Norway, when she co-wrote K-pop girl group Ive’s hit single, “I Am,” for their 2023 studio album, "I’ve Ive." That success transformed her dream of becoming a full-time music producer into reality -- at just 25 years old. “I co-produced this track (‘I Am’) with Audun (Agnar Guldbrandsen) and Kristin (Marie Skolem). We wrote it in a basement under an oy

Oct. 20, 2024

[단독] 위버스, 12월 1일부터 새로운 유료 멤버십 강제 도입…레이블과 팬 착취 논란

하이브가 운영하는 글로벌 팬 플랫폼 위버스가 오는 12월 1일부터 새로운 유료 서비스를 도입하면서 레이블과 팬들을 착취한다는 비판이 일고 있다. 하이브는 이번에 런칭하는 새로운 ‘디지털 멤버십’ 서비스를 위해 130개 이상의 음악 레이블을 사실상 강제로 참여시키고 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 코리아헤럴드가 10월 7일 더불어민주당 이정문 의원실로부터 단독 입수한 이메일에 따르면, 위버스는 지난 9월 26일 130개 파트너 레이블에 ‘디지털 멤버십’이라는 구독 기반의 서비스를 12월 1일부로 의무화한다고 통보했다. 해당 서비스는 팬들에게 주로 위버스를 통해 독점 디지털 혜택을 제공하며, 모든 아티스트 커뮤니티에 월 구독제로 적용될 예정이다. 기존에 제공되던 유료 멤버십과 차별화된 혜택 없이 위버스에 유리한 수익 배분을 추구하는 이번 디지털 멤버십 서비스는 위버스에 입점한 레이블들에게 부담으로 다가오고 있으며, 다수의 레이블사들은 기존 멤버십만으

Oct. 17, 2024

[Exclusive] Weverse accused of exploiting labels, fans with new mandatory paid-membership service

Weverse Company, a global fan platform run by Hybe, is facing backlash for alledgely forcing its partner labels into a mandatory paid membership service, sparking accusations of monopolistic practices. The new "digital membership" service, set to launch on Dec. 1, compels over 130 music labels to participate, raising concerns about coercion, unfair revenue-sharing and exploiting fan loyalty for profit. According to Rep. Lee Jung-mun of the Democratic Party of Korea, Weverse emailed 130

Oct. 16, 2024

'Respect each other as human beings’: Hanni testifies at National Assembly audit

NewJeans member Hanni appeared as a reference witness at a National Assembly audit of the Environment and Labor Committee on Tuesday, where she expressed her concerns about workplace bullying. "I hope that no one -- whether seniors, juniors, peer artists or even trainees -- has to experience what I went through,” Hanni said during the audit session. “If we respect each other as human beings, there would be no workplace bullying or ostracism.” The Vietnamese Australian sing

Oct. 15, 2024

Former Ador CEO gains ground in legal battle with Hybe, as whistleblower reveals plagiarism evidence

The ongoing legal conflict between Min Hee-jin, former CEO of Ador, and Hybe has taken another turn, as an internal whistleblower provided new evidence for the accusation that Illit, a rookie K-pop girl group under Belift Lab, plagiarized the concept of NewJeans. The evidence was revealed in a court hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Friday. Belift Lab is a sister company of Ador, as both are subsidiaries of Hybe. New evidence has surfaced concerning Illit’s alleged imitation o

Oct. 11, 2024

BTS’s V and RM celebrate Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in literature win

BTS members RM and V have expressed excitement and congratulations in response to South Korean novelist Han Kang's Nobel Prize in literature win on Thursday. RM took to his social media to celebrate the news with a heart and crying emoji, showing his joy for Han Kang’s achievement. V followed suit, writing, "I read ‘Human Acts’ while in the military. Congratulations!" showing his admiration for the author. RM has previously recommended Han's works on multipl

Oct. 11, 2024

NewJeans’ Hanni to attend National Assembly audit as witness

Hanni, a member of the K-pop group NewJeans, said she will attend the upcoming National Assembly audit regarding workplace bullying and ostracism as a reference witness. The audit will take place Oct. 15. Hanni, on Wednesday, shared her decision on the fan communication app "Phoning," saying, "I will attend the audit alone. I’m doing this for myself, the NewJeans members and our fans." "Neither my manager nor the company (Ador) knows yet, but after much thought, I

Oct. 10, 2024

Baby Monster to release first full-length album in November

Rookie girl group Baby Monster will release its first full-length album, “Drip,” on Nov. 1, seven months after its April debut, YG Entertainment said Monday. The title track, "Drip," composed with the help of Big Bang’s G-Dragon, is expected to be a dance anthem for all ages. The other eight tracks include "Clik Clak," a hip-hop track described by YG Entertainment Chief Executive Producer Yang Hyun-suk as “unlike anything YG has ever presented before,&

Oct. 8, 2024

K-pop CEOs sidestep key issues at National Assembly audit

K-pop agencies on Monday denied or sidestepped responsibility for major issues in the industry during a National Assembly audit in Yeouido, Seoul. YG Entertainment CEO Yang Min-suk, SM Entertainment CEO Jang Cheol-hyuk and JYP Entertainment CEO Jimmy Jeong appeared to answer lawmakers’ questions about chart manipulation, album bundling with photo cards, fair trade law violations and choreography copyright issues. Hybe was represented by Joon Choi, CEO of its subsidiary Weverse Co. Rep. Lim

Oct. 7, 2024

Can Jennie break the K-pop solo artist slump?

All eyes are on Jennie of Blackpink as she prepares to release her new solo single, "Mantra," on Oct. 11 -- her first release since "You & Me" came out a year ago. Amid the recent struggles of her fellow female K-pop solo artists, many wonder if an idol as successful as Jennie can break the current slump. Several female K-pop soloists, such as Chungha, Somi and Sunmi, have recently been unable to replicate their past chart successes domestically and internationally. Chu

Oct. 6, 2024