Latest news with #DirtyWork
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
From aespa, Twice to Blackpink, major K-pop acts return amid industry slowdown
Returns of top girl groups — and BTS on the horizon — expected to revitalize sluggish market K-pop heavyweights, including aespa, Twice and Blackpink are set to return in the second half of the year, raising hopes for a rebound in the stagnant K-pop industry. These three acts represent the top-tier lineup from Korea's so-called "Big 4" entertainment companies — SM, JYP and YG and Hybe — and their comebacks are expected to inject fresh momentum into the global K-pop scene. All seven members of BTS will have completed their military service as of Saturday, and the industry is closely watching what could be the group's first full-group activity since the release of their anthology album 'Proof' in June 2022 — a pivotal moment that could further energize the K-pop market. Leading this season's comeback lineup is aespa, currently the most spotlighted act from SM Entertainment. The quartet is set to unveil its physical single 'Dirty Work' on July 24, marking its first release in nine months after October's 'Whiplash' EP. The upcoming release includes four tracks, featuring a version with US rapper Flo Milli, an English version and an instrumental. Aespa will also kick off its third world tour, '2025 aespa Live Tour - SYNK : Aexis Line -,' with a three-day concert series at Seoul's KSPO Dome from Aug. 29-31. Following a streak of million-seller albums including 'Armageddon,' 'Supernova,' and 'Whiplash,' attention is now on whether aespa can extend its success. JYP Entertainment's flagship girl group Twice is also set for a busy summer. The group will release its fourth studio album 'With You-th' — named after its ongoing world tour — on July 11. The following week, from July 19-20, they will return to the domestic stage with concerts at Inspire Arena in Incheon, their first shows in about a year. All seats at the arena will be open 360 degrees to offer fans an immersive experience, with production support from the multimedia creative studio Moment Factory. Twice will also take the stage as a headliner at Lollapalooza in Chicago on Aug. 2 and release its sixth Japanese LP 'Enemy' on Aug. 27. Meanwhile, Blackpink's long-awaited comeback appears to be approaching. In early June, sightings of the group filming a new music video in Seoul stirred global anticipation. YG Entertainment, on June 9, confirmed that Blackpink began shooting their new music video this month — the group's first confirmed release activity in nearly two years and eight months. While details such as the title and concept remain under wraps, the start of filming suggests that a full-group return is imminent. 'We'll be announcing Blackpink's new music soon,' YG founder Yang Hyun-suk had previously said via the company's social media. The girl group is also scheduled to launch a new world tour in July, beginning with a show in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The group will perform 31 shows in 16 cities, including stadium-level venues in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, London, Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Jakarta, Bulacan, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Goyang. Why these comebacks matter The return of these powerhouse girl groups — and the looming comeback of BTS — carries significance beyond fan excitement. It comes at a time when the growth of K-pop appears to be slowing. According to data from Circle Chart, physical album sales in 2023 dropped 19.4 percent year-on-year to 93.28 million units, compared to 115.78 million units the previous year, marking the first decline since 2015. Digital streaming also saw a 7.6 percent decrease. Music critic Lim Hee-yoon said the upcoming comebacks may offer a vital boost. 'From a global perspective, BTS and Blackpink are still the biggest names,' he said. 'If acts like aespa and Twice follow through with strong performances, we could see a meaningful rebound in K-pop, Maybe not a massive boom, but definitely an upward shift.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Flo Milli to join Aespa for 'Dirty Work' remix
June 12 (UPI) -- Flo Milli is joining South Korean girl group Aespa on a remix of their song "Dirty Work," due June 27. A performance video features the K-pop group members Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning dancing in a dark warehouse. Four versions of the song will arrive June 27, including the remix with Flo Milli, an instrumental song, and a song with English lyrics. "With its empowering lyrics, the song showcases Aespa's vocal colors in a cool and chill vibe, offering a fresh contrast to their usual powerful charm," a press release states. Aespa released the album Armageddon in 2024, while Flo Milli dropped the single "Gripper" with T-Pain in April.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aespa under fire again; accused of allegedly plagiarising KiiiKiii's concept in new album – netizens share mixed reactions
Aespa has found themselves at the centre of another controversy. The group has been targeted by netizens online for allegedly plagiarising the concept of another K-pop group. Many online users pointed out the similarities between the two groups' concept photos and shared how Aespa may have copied off the rookie group. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Aespa under fire for alleged plagiarism The popular group has recently been under fire for a lot of reasons. In the latest bout of claims and allegations, online netizens have pointed out concern over the group plagiarising their concept photos from a rookie group called KiiiKiii. Their new single album 'Dirty Work' has managed to take the public by storm; however, their concept photos have sparked major debates online. The group recently shared more rustic and candid shots instead of the same old studio concept photos, surprising fans. This also started the debate around them plagiarising the unique and out-of-the-box idea from rookie K-pop group KiiiKiii. The post pointing out the matter went viral on a popular online fan discussion forum and quickly made its way to other platforms as well. Online netizens share reactions Many people pointed out the similarities between Aespa's candid photo concepts for their new comeback and KiiiKiii's concept. As soon as the photos were shared online, many fans pointed out how they reminded them of KiiiKiii. One commented, 'These kiiikiii nachos,' while another shared, 'Kiiikiii on the moodboard.' Fans defend Aespa While many called out and commented on Aespa's alleged plagiarism, many of the group's fans defended the girls and pointed out how the concept is not new for them. One shared that 'who tf is kiiikiii and why are their fans acting like these are their nachos when this is aespa in 2023.... aespa literally made a whole Pinterest account just to dump random photos.'
Pink Villa
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Did aespa plagiarize KiiiKiii in Dirty Work concept? Fans hit back, accuse Starship rookies of ‘reheating NJZ nachos'
aespa's latest comeback has taken an unexpected turn; not for its music, but due to a growing online debate over its concept photos. On the heels of SM Entertainment releasing visuals for the group's new single album Dirty Work, accusations of plagiarism have surfaced. It draws aespa into an unlikely controversy involving a newly debuted girl group. The concept: Chaotic, candid, and now controversial The Dirty Work concept photos feature a raw, offbeat aesthetic, a deliberate departure from clean studio shots. They've disordered backdrops, seemingly candid angles, and a playful messiness to the frame. The styling appears to embrace a spontaneous and artistic direction. However, shortly after the images were made public, some netizens began pointing out similarities between aespa 's concept and that of KiiiKiii. It's a rookie girl group recently launched by Starship Entertainment. The chatter gained traction when a post on online community Nate Pann went viral. It showcases side-by-side comparisons between the two groups' promotional photos. The post argued that beyond posing and framing, the overall visual tone (lighting, styling, and compositional chaos) was nearly identical. It suggests that aespa's shoot may have been inspired by, or even copied, KiiiKiii's earlier work. Fans fire back Despite the claims, a significant portion of the online community quickly came to aespa 's defense. Many fans and neutral users alike criticized the accusation, calling it baseless and exaggerated. One common sentiment among defenders was that messy or spontaneous-style concept photos are not exclusive to any one group. Also, the visual direction used in Dirty Work has long existed within fashion editorials and indie visuals. Others pointed out that similarities in K-pop styling are often coincidental, especially given the fast-paced nature of promotional planning. No agency response yet So far, SM Entertainment has not issued any statement regarding the plagiarism claims. aespa, meanwhile, continues with promotions for Dirty Work, with the group receiving praise for their bold new image and continued musical evolution. While online controversies are nothing new in K-pop, this situation once again highlights how quickly visual similarities can spark discourse in a hyper-aware digital fandom. As aespa's comeback gains momentum, fans appear more focused on the music than the noise. They brush off the accusations as just another stretch in the ever-watchful world of K-pop speculation.
UPI
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Flo Milli to join Aespa for 'Dirty Work' remix
1 of 3 | Aespa will release four versions of "Dirty Work" on June 27, including a remix with Flo Milli. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI | License Photo June 12 (UPI) -- Flo Milli is joining South Korean girl group Aespa on a remix of their song "Dirty Work," due June 27. A performance video features the K-pop group members Karina, Giselle, Winter and Ningning dancing in a dark warehouse. Four versions of the song will arrive June 27, including the remix with Flo Milli, an instrumental song, and a song with English lyrics. "With its empowering lyrics, the song showcases Aespa's vocal colors in a cool and chill vibe, offering a fresh contrast to their usual powerful charm," a press release states. Aespa released the album Armageddon in 2024, while Flo Milli dropped the single "Gripper" with T-Pain in April.
