[News] SM, YG, JYP and Star Empire request investigations into music chart manipulation

[News] SM, YG, JYP and Star Empire request investigations into music chart manipulation

Top agencies SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and Star Empire Entertainment have filed an official complaint to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office against digital music chart manipulation issues.

The four agencies requested a thorough investigation on acts of manipulation regarding digital music streaming usage figures. They pointed out that several agencies have been hiring companies to manipulate the data a song has been played or downloaded, and put a certain song in the upper ranks of music charts.

Songs that have landed higher on the charts easily gain more attention and royalties. Especially, as data from online music charts are frequently used for main channel music shows, these songs have high chances to rise to the top 10 on the programs.

A representative stated, “These manipulating acts in the digital music market should be stopped. The digital music industry must work together to clear up any such bad trend and to make online charts fair and reliable.”

[News] Cube Entertainment Becomes Possible 'Big Four' Contender After Signing K-Pop Sensation Rain

[News] Cube Entertainment Becomes Possible 'Big Four' Contender After Signing K-Pop Sensation Rain

Cube Entertainment has been hard at work with their current roster of acts lately, and now Rain is set to join their lineup.

With a series of comebacks in the works, it looks like the agency is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon and the latest news that Rain will soon join their ranks puts them as serious contenders for a top spot among the Korean entertainment industry's elite.

It is well known that in South Korea there are three major agencies, usually regarded as the Big Three, YG, SM, and JYP Entertainment. But with the newest signing deal, Cube Entertainment has serious potential to up the competition. By the time Rain finishes his military service and releases his next album, we may have to start referring to the Big Four agencies instead.

On May 28 Cube Entertainment CEO Hong Seung Sung announced that Rain would indeed be joining the company following the completion of his mandatory military service. The label currently represents other popular K-Pop acts such as Beast, BtoB, 4Minute, and G.Na - the addition of Rain to the roster will undoubtedly increase their global recognition and revenue.

Hong Seung Sung is the former president of JYP Entertainment, Rain's former label. During the singer's time at JYP before starting his own company, J.Tune Entertainment, he and Hong established a close working relationship.

Prior to enlisting in the military, Rain sold his company to his mentor and JYP Entertainment CEO Jin Young Park, while Hong Seung Sung had gone off to form Cube in 2008.

Since the foundation of his label, Hong has maintained a good relationship with his former company - and Rain as well is still on very good terms with JYP.

The new Rain-Cube partnership will be interesting to watch play out, especially as the agency starts to creep up on JYP Entertainment as one of the biggest and best record labels in South Korea.

Rain has been very busy while serving his country in the service and was recently selected as a special representative for the World Peace Arirang Festival in Washington DC.

The singer has also said that he is looking to make his musical comeback very soon after finishing his duties as a soldier - and his fans are definitely looking forward to seeing what new music he will present under the tutelage of Hong Seung Sung.

M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] 2PM Junho Will Make Solo Debut And Tour In Japan This Summer

[News] 2PM Junho Will Make Solo Debut And Tour In Japan This Summer

JYP Entertainment has announced that 2PM member Junho is going to be making his solo debut in Japan later this summer.

2PM may have just had their long-awaited comeback earlier this month, but that does not mean the individual members are shying away from their own projects. In fact, it has been confirmed that Junho is going to be releasing a solo album in July!

According to a press release by JYP Entertainment, "One of 2PM's members, Junho, will make his debut in Japan with his new song "Kimin No Koe." His solo album will be out on July 24 and Junho is the main producer of his new album."

Junho has been writing his own songs for a while now and has proved himself to be talented not only as a singer, but a lyricist as well.

"I have been writing songs and some of them were included in 2PM's album," Junho said of his recent activites.

He shared his excitement for the new solo album by saying, "This is my first time to have my own album to produce all by myself. I am happy to present a new side of 'Junho' who is different from 2PM's 'Junho'. I hope the best."

For the upcoming album, the 2PM member has not only been an important part of the music-making process, but has also been giving input on other necessary parts of the project including choreography and the album cover.

When the new album is finally released, Junho will embark on a solo tour of Japan holding a total of 12 concerts in the country. He begin in Sapporo on July 9 and continue on to Fukuoka, Namba, Nagoya, and Tokyo as part of the Zepp Tour. The finale of Junho's Japan tour will be at the Tokyo International Forum on August 29.

JYP Entertainment also released a short teaser video to pump fans up for Junho's solo debut in Japan.
You can watch that video below.


M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] 2PM’s album ranks high on music charts in Korea and Japan

[News]  2PM’s album ranks high on music charts in Korea and Japan

2PM (Jun-K, Nickhun, Teak Yeon, Woo Young, Joon Ho, and Chan Sung) are heating up Japan with their new Korean album Grown. Their agency, JYP Entertainment, announced yesterday that the group’s new album hit the ground running.

Grown, Version A ranked second on the weekly imported album chart of Japanese HMV and first on Tower Record’s Daily Chart, which was announced on the 20th of May. The B Version of the album, which is scheduled to be released soon, ranked at the top on HMV’s weekly pre-order chart. The album also ranked second on the weekly general album chart of Tower Records and tenth on the Oricon weekly chart.

Grown, Version A is 2PM’s first album in two years and is in great demand. Version B is to be released on the 23th. Officials of the Japanese music industry were astonished at the albums’ sales because they are imported albums that haven’t even been officially released yet. The group’s EP “Give Me Love” ranked at the top on Tower Record’s daily pre-order chart, so the group has swept both Korean and Japanese album charts.

The group is scheduled to hold a concert in June.

M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] 2PM releases ‘All Day I Think Of You’ music video

Get ready for more abs, suits, and everything 2PM!

After revealing their first title track “Come Back When You Hear This Song” last week, 2PM has finally completed their new album ‘Grown‘ by releasing the music video of their second title track “All Day I Think Of You” (“A.D.T.O.Y.“) full in black and white.

With the completion of ‘Grown’, the six beastly idols are back in full force to wow you with their oozing charisma and sexiness during their comeback show ‘2PM Returns‘ on MBC at midnight KST.

Let’s watch the music video! What do you think?


M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] Teen Top’s Niel says, “Please stop the crank calls”

Niel, a member of the boy group Teen Top, spoke candidly of his difficulties caused by crank calls. On May 8, he tweeted, “Hello, everyone. I’ve experienced something embarrassing recently. I understand how much you love me and I really appreciate that, but I want you to stop calling me directly, especially late at night.”

He continued his plea for fans to refrain from calling, saying, “To those who make such crank calls, please stop doing that. I’ve been so embarrassed that I don’t know how to say. I know you’re my fans who love me, so I’m asking you not to do that again, please!”

He also added, “I didn’t know how to express myself yesterday. I’m sorry to most of my fans, who haven’t made crank calls. I tweeted because I was so upset. Please stop calling! I deeply appreciate your affection toward me, but I ask you once again.”

Netizens who heard the news showed their support, saying: “Change your phone number.” “You don’t need to be polite to those people. Just do not answer calls from numbers you do not know.”
Recently, Niel has drawn public attention when it was revealed that he got a proposal from a girl from JYP Entertainment.

M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] 15& reveal lyrics teaser for their comeback song, “Somebody”!

The duo 15&, comprised of Baek Yerin and Park Jimin, will be making a comeback this 7th of April 2013. JYP Entertainment already revealed two teaser images for their comeback. Their title track is“Somebody” which was said to be connected to Wonder Girls‘ song, “Nobody”. A lyric teaser of the song has been uploaded in the company’s official Youtube account and fans are looking forward to the release of the full song.


M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com