With big comebacks, K-pop braces for heated November race
With BTS having wrapped up promoting its seismic EP album "Love Yourself: Her," the biggest-selling K-pop record in 16 years, Korean fans are wondering whether the music scene will take it slow and easy from now on until the end of 2017.
It's quite the contrary -- many K-pop heavyweights are lining up for a shot at the spotlight in November and into the run-up towards the year-end music award season.
Twice, one of the biggest girl groups in today's K-pop scene, is the first team set to make a splash on the charts next month, with its first full-length album "Twicetagram" set to come out on Oct. 30.
(JYP Entertainment) |
Twice's return comes on the heels of its successful debut in Japan this summer.
Nov. 6 is also a big day as industry veteran Super Junior and rising dark horse Seventeen are dropping new works.
Though not in its complete 11-member line up, seven Super Junior members with their military duties over will release "Play," the band's eighth full-studio album, on their debut anniversary of Nov. 6. The band gained international fame with its hit single "Sorry, Sorry" in 2009 and later went on to earn a total of 16 music awards, including three grand prizes at the prestigious Golden Disk Awards.
(Yonhap) |
The colorful and edgy EXID, famous for its hit "Up and Down," plans to release its fourth EP record "Full Moon" on Nov. 7 along with two boy bands -- Monsta X and Block B -- on the same day.
Solji, EXID's lead singer who was absent during promotions for "Eclipse" due to health problems, has taken part in recording of the new album. But whether she will be part of the group's media publicity has yet been decided. Monsta X and Block B, both seven-member groups, are putting out their fifth and sixth respective EP albums that day.
Members of Gugudan, who were busy with solo activities in TV acting, will reunite for a new album the following day. But member Soyee will excuse herself from publicity to treat a shoulder injury.
(YMC Entertainment) |
The 11-member team, formed of finalists in the Mnet idol audition show "Produce 101," made a jaw-dropping debut in August, having sold a combined 762,000 copies of its debut album. The band has clinched 15 TV music show awards with its lead song "Energetic." (Yonhap)