Pop Base: Devil Works Hard But YG Works Harder

Welcome to Pop Base! As your best source for all things pop culture, check out our curated newsletters to stay up-to-date on your favorite celebs, entertainment news, award show coverage, chart updates, and much more.

YG Entertainment Is back In Business

Recently, news of YG Entertainment's expected 98.9% decrease in profit left the K-Pop world in shock. However, it seems like YGE has been working overtime behind the scenes to maintain their Big-4 title in K-Pop.

Last week, officials at YG Entertainment announced that 2NE1, one of YG's original moneymakers, has re-signed a contract with the agency. Not only that, but the world-famous girl group is also set to go on a world tour this year, starting in October. Though this announcement alone would have been enough to boost YGE's stock prices, the company also announced that BLACKPINK will be going on a global tour and releasing an album in 2025.

To top it all off, BABY MONSTER and TREASURE are also scheduled for global tours, while YG Entertainment's new mystery boy group is set to debut soon.

K-Pop’s Cupid, FIFTY FIFTY Are Back

For context, on June 28 of last year, former FIFTY FIFTY members Saena, Sio, and Aran filed an appeal to suspend their exclusive contracts with their agency, ATTRAKT, claiming the agency had violated their contract terms. The court denied the members' appeal; however, in October 2023, ATTRAKT announced that they would terminate all members' contracts except for Keena, who had withdrawn her appeal, leaving FIFTY FIFTY with only one member in total.

Fast forward to the present: on July 23, 2024, ATTRAKT, the company managing FIFTY FIFTY, shared a "Silhouette teaser" featuring four new members alongside the original FIFTY FIFTY member, Keena. Although the new members have not been fully revealed yet, ATTRAKT has announced that the group will have a comeback around September 2024.

While the response from fans has been mixed, it raises the question of whether a group can be the same without its original lineup.

The More You Know:

• On July 26, 2024, NewJeans' agency ADOR came on Instagram to address the plagiarism allegations against NewJeans' song "Bubble Gum," which was claimed to be copied from Shakatak's song "Easier Said Than Done.” ADOR clarified that both songs were professionally analyzed, and the verdict was that they differ in chord progression, BPM, and overall vibe.

  In the same statement, ADOR further mentioned that NewJeans will be taking a well-deserved break but will soon be back with more content for Bunnies.

• The famous K-pop variety show “Idol Star Athletics Championship”, also known as “ISAC”, is back for its 15th season. Though the date of the event is not yet confirmed, the exciting lineup has been announced.

  The artists and groups performing at the 2024 ISAC are: 82MAJOR, AMPERSANDONE, ATBO & JUST B, BEWAVE, Billlie, Blitzers, Candy Shop, Cignature, DKB, Drippin, DXMON, EASTSHINE, EVNNE, Fantasy Boys, Heejin (ARTMS), ICHILLIN, JD1, Kep1er, Kiss of Life, Libelante, LIGHTSUM, LUN8, NCT Wish, NMIXX, NOWADAYS, RocketPunch, STAYC, The Boyz, The KingDom, The Wind, TripleS, UNIS, Vanner, Wayv, Weeekly, WHIB, WOOAH, and Yves.

• Apple TV+ has recently announced their latest documentary series project, "K-Pop Idols," featuring Jessi, BLACKSWAN, and CRAVITY. Produced by Emmy Award-winning executive producers Jay Peterson and Todd Lubin, this documentary will offer viewers an inside look at the behind-the-scenes efforts and dedication the idols put into perfecting their craft in the highly competitive K-pop industry.

Our Favorite Songs From Last Week

It seems like K-Pop Japan releases posses a power to make summer more vibrant because tripleS' Japan pre-debut song "###" (pronounced as "hash") was probably the most fun song released last week. Everything from the bright vocals to the music screamed SUMMER!!!

On the other hand, the ballad soloist Shin Ye Young’s "With a Smile" is on the complete other side of the spectrum. Her somber yet strong vocals will make you feel a range of emotions. Written by Moon Sung Wook, the song's poetic lyrics, "The traces of you remain / Even the happy times / If, as if by fate / Or by chance, we meet / I'll greet you with a smile," are easy to relate to if you have ever been in love.

One of the most famous 2nd-gen girl groups, KARA, released a special single album "I Do I Do" consisting of two songs, both carrying the nostalgic KARA-vibe and has left fans with a gaping hole in their chests.

The song "Hello" was planned to be a track on KARA’s 6th member, Go Hara’s 4th album "Full Bloom," released in 2013, but it was left out for unknown reasons. Recently, KARA's agency rearranged the song for the entire group, while also keeping Hara's original vocals in the chorus and some verses. This song talks about goodbyes and reunions, so hopefully it means we will be hearing more of KARA soon.

Lastly, not including the Korean band and producer crew KAVE's debut album, "Flight of Ideas" would be a crime. Even though this five-piece band — Gaho (vocal and songwriter), Kekinu (drums), Jisang (guitar), Hyun (piano, keyboard), and Ownr (keyboard, DJ) — is only now releasing an album, they have been in the music industry for a while and worked on notable songs including SHINee's "I Say."

The band’s album, "Flight of Ideas" leans toward EDM and rock and is rather experimental. Though the entire album is exceptional, the title track "Legend" and B-sides “Avant” and “Hurricane” needs to be on everyone’s playlist.

This Week's K-Pop Comeback Schedule

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

• 9001: 1st Mini Album "Digital Album"

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

• 90TAN (BTOB's Seo Eunkwang and Lee Minhyuk): 1st Single Album "TANG TANG TANG"

• Celest1a: Debut Single "PANDA"

• CREPE SOUND: 1st Album "환상주의 (幻想主義)"

• SUPER JUNIOR D&E: Japan 2nd Mini Album "YOU&ME"

Thursday, August 1, 2024

• Red Velvet: Track "Sweet Dreams" to commemorate Red Velvet’s 10th Anniversary

Friday, August 2, 2024

• ONF: Instrumental Album "INFUSE"

— Javeria Yousuf

Subscribe to the newsletter to discover new releases through Pop Base weekly and to find out what songs we declare the best of the week.