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BTS Announce World Tour To Include Six North American Cities

The group have revealed a total of 22 shows around the globe, including dates in Asia, Europe and North America

BTS gave fans all over the world a nice surprise on Apr. 26, announcing a world tour that will take the pop superstars to 11 cities across Asia, Europe, and North America. News of the tour came via Big Hit Entertainment 's twitter account and promised additional shows will be added.

Coined the Love Yourself World Tour after the group's series of releases by the same name, the trek kicks off in Seoul, South Korea Aug. 25-26 before heading to the U.S. for shows in Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif. Additional North American dates include: Fort Worth, Texas; Hamilton, Ontario; Newark, N.J. and Chicago. The tour then heads to four European cities, wrapping up (for now) in Paris Oct. 19-20.

On May 18, BTS will release Love Yourself: Tear , the latest in the aforementioned series following 2017's Love Yourself: Her EP. The new album will be their third full-length following 2014's Dark & Wild and 2016's Wings .

BTS will also make a U.S. appearance on May 20 when they take the stage in Las Vegas at the Billboard Music Awards. The group has also promised to debut a brand new song at the event.

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This isn't the first world tour for these Korean pop sensations. BTS mounted a 40-date tour after the release of Wings that took the group through Asia, South and North Americas, and Australia.

Ticket information for the Love Yourself World Tour is still forthcoming.

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J-Hope's Road To 'Hope On The Street Vol.1,' From Falling Back In Love With Dance To Tying Together His Global Influences

After 11 years in BTS, j-hope revisits the passion that started it all: dancing. Ahead of his new docuseries and special album, 'Hope on the Street Vol.1,' discover the full-circle journey that brought him back to his roots.

"Just dance," j-hope commands on his 2018 BTS solo track.

For the international sensation, that's what it's always been about: expressing himself through movement. Now, 11 years after the launch of the seven-piece group, j-hope takes a U-turn to where it all began, before his K-pop idol days, street dancing between his hometown, Gwangju, and Seoul, South Korea.

Out March 29, j-hope's new special album, Hope on the Street Vol.1 , is a musical ode to dancing that boasts a "vibrant collection of six tracks spanning a diverse array of sounds and moods that showcase j-hope's musical prowess and depth." Like j-hope's global perspective of dance, the EP expands borders and sounds, featuring appearances from HYBE labelmate HUH YUNJIN of LE SSERAFIM as well as American stars Nile Rodgers and Benny Blanco .

The mini-album will also be accompanied by a docuseries of the same name, premiering on Amazon Prime Video on March 28. According to a press statement, the six-part project will "highlight j-hope's story and love for dancing as he begins a new journey."

Ahead of Hope on the Street Vol.1 's arrival, take a look at how j-hope's origins inspired the project — from his enrollment in a local dance academy to songwriting with J. Cole on their 2023 single, "on the street."

Finding Purpose In Dance

Long before becoming a global superstar, j-hope (born Jung Ho-seok) first discovered his love for dancing on the playground.

"The school I went to had a dance lesson for 30 minutes in the morning. They would play a dance video, and we would copy it as exercise," j-hope recalled in a 2013 interview for the BTS Japan Fanclub magazine. "My friends around me would praise me, saying, 'You're really good!'"

Eventually, those recess workouts turned into a passion. J-hope began practicing moves at home and freestyling at local talent shows. By the sixth grade, he told his parents he was serious about it, enrolling him in Gwangju's Joy Dance Academy.

While at the Academy, j-hope also joined the underground dance crew, NEURON, building a reputation under the name "Smile Hoya." Though he hasn't participated in the troupe since his pre-BTS days, he still recognizes it as one of the most influential parts of his career.

He'll even honor the crew with Hope on the Street , which includes a track called "NEURON," featuring Gaeko and yoonmirae . He will also return to Gwangju in the closing chapter of the docuseries.

It's not the first time j-hope shouted out Gwangju, either. His 2019 collab with Becky G, "Chicken Noodle Soup," paid tribute to his beloved upbringing: "From Gwangju, one gang of you-know-what/ Geumnam Chungjang Street, that's my Harlem." (The same track also foreshadowed his latest release: "Hope on the street, now it's my own way.")

Forging A New Life In Music With BTS

J-hope continued to have a diligent mindset as a trainee at Big Hit Entertainment. But as revealed in BTS' 2018 docuseries, Burn the Stage , training and dieting became emotionally and physically tolling. At one point, j-hope even considered leaving the group.

"I couldn't do things I wanted to do," he revealed during a 2021 You Quiz on the Block segment . "To be honest, I wanted to play games. I want to go out and hang out. I wanted to stay with my family. I had to give up a lot of things from that perspective."

The stress became so intense that he bought a one-way ticket to Gwangju. But ultimately, the brotherhood and love of music he formed with BTS gave him the courage to return: "I came back because I trusted you," j-hope recounted.

And they trusted him, too: "I told [Big Hit] that we needed Jung Ho-seok. We couldn't debut without him," RM responded. Meanwhile, Jung Kook delivered a tearful speech to encourage him to stay with the band.

The longer he stayed, the more j-hope began to love other sides of music, like producing and songwriting. Now, he has become one of the main writers for the group's tracks, alongside RM and Suga , and has co-penned all of his solo projects, including Hope on the Street .

Spreading His Wings With Two Full-Length Solo Projects

After nearly 10 projects with BTS, j-hope delivered his debut mixtape, Hope World , in March 2018.

"My fantasy had always been making a music video and performing with the music I had created. I wanted to put my own story to music and share it with the world," he told Time magazine upon Hope World ’s release.

It's an introduction to j-hope the artist, inviting listeners to step into Hope World , a colorful kaleidoscope of different cultures and styles — something that has also been a key part of his dance journey.

Though, j-hope still wanted to dig deeper into his artistry. He developed his sound, becoming more vulnerable in his lyricism on tracks like 2020's "Outro: Ego." By 2022, he was ready to drop his first studio album, Jack in the Box .

Where Hope World showcases j-hope's dance performance, Jack in the Box highlights "my artistry in music ." But Hope on the Street paints the full image of the phenom — part musician, part dancer.

Laying The Groundwork With "On The Street," Featuring J. Cole

One of j-hope's earliest musical influences was J. Cole. The rapper inspired j-hope's stage name and the title of his mixtape, which pays homage to 2011's Cole World . In 2022, j-hope honored Cole with "Born Singer," the BTS re-write of Cole's "Born Sinner." So, a celebratory meeting was in order when they were both scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza (where j-hope made history as the first Korean soloist to headline).

"[He's] my idol," j-hope said to Variety in 2023. Since they met, he "couldn't stop thinking about how great it would be if we could make music together." He reached out to J. Cole, and "on the street" was born.

As j-hope told Variety , the "street" concept became a metaphor for life: "The street is a place where people can actually encounter and feel real lives of people: a child's innocent mind; first encounter with someone and falling in love; someone in an urgent moment;" and so much more. It's the place where he learned to love dance — and where he grew a love for music and artists like J. Cole, who called their collab "a blessing" in the behind-the-scenes footage .

And thus, "on the street" became the springboard for his forthcoming project, Hope on the Street .

Unveiling A Docuseries And A Multi-Part Project

By the tail end of 2023, each member of BTS had enlisted in mandatory military service. But even during the septet's hiatus, j-hope managed to serve up a surprise announcement of Hope on the Street on Feb. 17 with a fitting montage of dance videos.

The joint docuseries and album follows j-hope's journey of self-discovery, accompanying his former instructor, Boogaloo Kin, as they dance their way through the streets of Osaka, Seoul, Paris, New York, and his hometown while meeting other dancers.

" Hope on the Street , my roots, the most important part of my life. This is how j-hope danced. I wanted to share this story with you," he said in an interview for the documentary .

After years of breaking records and making history as a member of BTS, it was "a chance to look back on my life," he explained in another trailer . "I realized the answer was in song and dance."

Culminating j-hope's skills in both art forms, Hope on the Street is a love letter to everything that's made him who he is today — and proof he'll never forget it.

6 Takeaways From 'BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star'

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9 Essential K-Pop/Western Collabs: From BTS And Megan Thee Stallion, To IVE And Saweetie

From Jungkook and Usher's tribute to their shared musical idol, to BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez' sugary sweet collab, K-pop and Western artists of all genres are joining forces to create killer hits.

It’s impossible to ignore the growing global popularity of K-pop. Although Korean pop has been around for decades, the genre's meteoric worldwide success over the past 10 years is reminiscent of Beatlemania and the early 2000s American boy band craze. With a steady increase year-over-year in album sales and K-pop groups touring the U.S. and Europe, interest in K-pop shows no signs of slowing down .

Initially launched in South Korea as a music subgenre with Western pop, R&B and hip-hop influences in the '90s, the K-pop industry is valued at around $10 billion .

Given the worldwide appetite for K-pop, several Western musicians are keen to partner with K-pop acts crossing over into more international markets, often with songs sung partially or entirely in English. While K-pop artists do not need Western artists to be successful — BTS sold out London’s Wembley stadium in under 90 minutes back in 2019, and BLACKPINK made Coachella history twice with performances in 2019 and 2023 — K-pop's massive fanbase and multi-genre influence make it an ideal collaboration for everyone from rappers and singers to electronic DJs.

But don’t take our word for it. Here are nine of the most iconic K-Pop/Western collaborations (not in any order; they are all great songs!).

Usher and Jungkook - "Standing Next to You (Usher Remix)" (2024)

The maknae (the youngest member of the group) of global K-pop superstars BTS and the King of R&B are both having banner years: Jungkook released his debut solo album, and Usher just performed at the Super Bowl . 

The Bangtan Boys have cited Usher as a significant influence (even singing a callback to his 2001 hit "U Got It Bad" in their No. 1 song, "Butter"), so BTS fans were delighted when the Jungkook tapped Usher for a remix of "Standing Next to You." The song marks the fourth single from his Billboard 200 chart-topping debut album, Golden . 

Both singers count Michael Jackson as a major influence. In their collaboration video, Usher and Jungkook pay tribute to the King of Pop as they slide, pop, and lock across the slick floor of an abandoned warehouse. 

John Legend and Wendy of Red Velvet - "Written in the Stars" (2018)

R&B singer/pianist John Legend was the perfect choice for an R&B ballad with Wendy, the main vocalist of K-pop quintet Red Velvet. The final song on the five-track SM Station x 0 , a digital music project, "Written in the Stars," is a beautiful, mid-tempo love song. A bit of a departure from K-pop’s typical upbeat sound, Wendy and Legend are in perfect harmony over a warm yet melancholic rhythm.

As Red Velvet’s main vocalist, Wendy was the ideal voice for this collaboration. Additionally, she split her childhood between Canada and the U.S., and has been comfortable singing in English since Red Velvet debuted in 2014. This wasn't her first collab with a Western artist: In 2017, she released an English-language version of the pop ballad " Vente Pa’Ca " with Ricky Martin . 

BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez - "Ice Cream" (2020)

A powerhouse debut single, BLACKPINK collaborated with pop royalty Selena Gomez on the massive 2020 hit "Ice Cream."

An electropop-bubblegum fusion filled with dairy double entendres, "Ice Cream" was an enormous success for both Gomez and the BLACKPINK girls. The track peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has racked up nearly 900 million YouTube views to date. 

Written by a consortium of hitmakers, including Ariana Grande and BLACKPINK’s longtime songwriter and producer Teddy Park (a former K-pop idol himself), "Ice Cream" shows that YG Entertainment’s golden foursome and Gomez were the correct partnership for this track. The pop-trap bop marked the first time a K-pop girl group broke the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and immediately solidified BLACKPINK as global superstars. 

Snoop Dogg and Monsta X - "How We Do" (2022)

West Coast rap godfather Snoop Dogg has quietly become one of the go-to Western acts for K-pop collabs, working with Psy, BTS, Girls’ Generation and 2NE1. K-pop is the Dogg Father's "guilty pleasure, " and he performed at the Mnet Asian Music Awards with Dr. Dre in 2011. Without Snoop's love of K-pop, the world might not have gotten this fun and energetic collaboration with Snoop and Monsta X, a five-member boy group under Starship Entertainment.

The song appears in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run in a dance segment where Snoop, decked out in a pink and purple Western suit, is accompanied by zombie dancers. Though we do not see the members of Monsta X, their harmonious crooning is the perfect accent to Snoop Dogg’s trademark casual West Coast flow.

BTS and Steven Aoki - "MIC Drop (Steve Aoki remix)" (2017)

No K-pop list is complete with a nod to the magnificent seven, and "MIC Drop" is one of their catchiest Western collabs to date. 

"Mic Drop" is quintessential BTS: a nod to hip-hop with a heavy bass line and fun choreography. While the original version of "MIC Drop" is excellent, the remix with EDM superstar DJ Steve Aoki and rapper Desiigner cracked the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the first of many hits for the Bulletproof Boy Scouts. 

Released at a time when BTS were just starting their ascent to chart-topping Western dominance, the track's boastful lyrics and tension-building electro-trap production offered an excellent introduction to the group that would soon become international superstars. 

JYJ, Kanye West and Malik Yusef - "Ayyy Girl" (2010)

A truly deep K-pop cut, you’d be hard-pressed to find many people who know that Kanye West collaborated with a first-generation K-pop group over 13 years ago. Released as the lead single on JYJ’s English-language album The Beginning , West’s signature bravado and wordplay are on full display over a track that sounds like the Neptunes produced it.

The song garnered attention in the U.S., but after a string of bad luck (including a severely delayed U.S. visa process and issues with their management company, SM Entertainment), JYJ could not capitalize on their American success. The group continued to see success in Korea and Japan in the early 2010s but never made a splash in the Western market again.

IVE and Saweetie - "All Night" (2024)

A reimagining of Icona Pop’s 2013 song of the same name, "All Night," sees fourth-generation K-pop girl group IVE partner with rap’s resident glamor girl Saweetie for a funky, electronic-infused pop song that’s perfect for dancing from dusk till dawn. 

"All Night" is the first English song for the Starship Entertainment-backed group. Interestingly, none of the members of IVE have individual lines in the song, choosing instead to sing the lyrics in a six-part harmony. This choice is exciting but fun, giving listeners the feeling that they are more than welcome to sing along. 

The girl group embarked on their first 24-date world tour in January 2024, with stops in the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America. Given their quest for global dominance, there’s a good chance "All Night" won’t be IVE's last English-language release.

BTS and Megan Thee Stallion - "Butter (Remix)" (2021)

BTS’ "Butter" had already spent three weeks atop the Billboard charts and was declared the "song of the summer" when the group’s label announced Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion as the guest star for the song’s remix in late August 2021. The GRAMMY-nominated septet is no stranger to collaborating with Western musicians, having worked with Halsey , Jason Derulo, and Coldplay . 

Though only slightly altered from the original (Megan’s verse was added in place of the song’s second original verse, along with several ad-libs), the remix was praised by both fans and critics alike, catapulting the song’s return back to the No. 1. Although the collaborators did not release a new music video featuring the group and the self-proclaimed "Hot Girl Coach," three members of BTS’ "dance line" (members J-Hope , Jungkook and Jimin ) released a specially choreographed dance video . Additionally, Megan was a surprise guest during BTS’ record-breaking Permission to Dance LA concert in November of the same year.

LE SSERAFIM and Niles Rodgers - "Unforgiven" (2023)

GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Nile Rodgers ' first foray into K-pop was a partnership with LE SSERAFIM , a fourth-gen girl group from the same parent company behind BTS. "Unforgiven" was released earlier this year as the lead single from the group’s debut album of the same name. 

A darker take on the familiar K-pop formula with A Western feel and look (the young quintuplet dons cowboy hats, boots and bolo ties in the song’s accompanying music video), "Unforgiven" is about rebellion and being a fierce, strong and independent risk taker. That riskiness drew Rodgers' ear. 

"It seems like a lot of the K-pop that I'm hearing lately, the…chord changes are a lot more interesting than what's been happening [in other music fields] over the last few years," he told GRAMMY.com in 2023. "I come from a jazz background, so to hear chord changes like that is really cool. They’re not afraid, which is great to me."

15 K-Pop Songs That Took 2023 By Storm: From Seventeen’s "Super (손오공)" to NewJeans' "Super Shy"

PHOTO: AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN/FILMMAGIC

6 Takeaways From 'BTS Monuments: Beyond The Star'

In honor of BTS' 10th anniversary, Disney+ released 'BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star.' Two of the eight episode docuseries are available to stream; read on for a deeper look at the septet's history, accomplishments, and behind-the-scenes moments.

Today, it’s hard to avoid BTS . You might have heard their GRAMMY-nominated singles "Dynamite" and "Butter" playing at a random store. Maybe you learned about another record they broke in the news. Or, you probably know at least one person in their passionate, loyal fanbase, also known as Army.

But before there was BTS, the international sensation, there was Kim Seok-jin ( Jin ), Min Yoon-gi ( Suga ), Jung Ho-seok ( J-Hope ), Kim Nam-joon ( RM ), Park Ji-min ( Jimin ), Kim Tae-hyung ( V ), and Jeon Jung-kook ( Jung Kook ), seven hopefuls from across South Korea with one dream and thousands of hours of dedication to their craft.

A decade ago, it might have seemed impossible for a group like BTS to be at the top in their home country — let alone one of the biggest groups on the planet. In Korea, it was only likely to become successful if you had one of the legacy names, such as SM Entertainment, backing you, and they came from the virtually unknown Big Hit Entertainment (now Big Hit Music under conglomerate HYBE).

Year after year, the septet defied odds, from winning Best New Artist at the esteemed Melon Music Awards in 2013 to earning Top Social Artist across the globe at the Billboard Music Awards consecutively between 2017 and 2021. They have amassed 26 Guinness World Records and became the first Korean act to receive multiple nods from the GRAMMYs.

In honor of their 10th anniversary as BTS, Disney+ released BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star . The docuseries offers a deeper look at the septet's massive accomplishments, tracing back to their initial auditions in 2010. The first two of eight episodes are available to stream now.

Below, discover everything we learned thus far about the icons in their latest docuseries, BTS Monuments: Beyond the Star .

The BTS Grind Never Stops

You see their flawless choreography, calculated facial expressions and glamorous outfits, but you never know the amount of preparation it takes to get there.

For example, BTS rehearsed the lead single, "Danger," from their debut studio album, Dark & Wild , until the wee hours of the morning for weeks. They then traveled to Los Angeles to promote the single and, despite Big Hit’s unstable financial state, implemented a huge budget to produce the music video. The goal was to win the television competition "SBS Inkigayo."

"As expected, we didn’t place first and left the charts in a day," RM remarks in the episode.

The intense training and dieting caused them to question if their slow traction was worth the battle. "To be honest, I didn’t think this was fun in the past," Jin tearfully mentioned in a 2013 fan meeting. "There were a lot of things they couldn’t get started because they weren’t sure what path we were on."

Through their frustrations, BTS never gave up, and eventually, the perseverance led to their first mega-hits, "I Need U" and "Fire" in 2017. They obtained their desired results and still never decreased their work ethic, which skyrocketed their career to an even higher level. "We’ve always worked hard, whether there was a crisis or not," Jin explains.

Everyone Had Their Unique Strengths

What makes BTS a powerhouse is that each member had a clear-cut reason they joined, and as Suga notes, it took "countless" changes to perfect it into the current lineup.

According to HYBE chairman and the group’s creator, Bang Si-hyuk, he was impressed by RM’s "depth of character and base of knowledge"; Suga had a unique sarcastic, dark side; J-Hope was "the personification of diligence" and a strong dancer; Jin’s handsome features would easily attract a fandom; Jung Kook had "a lot" of potential; V was effortlessly charming; and Jimin was instantly talented and intrigued the team.

They’re More Than Colleagues — They’re Family

It’s common for manufactured groups not to bond beyond the stage. However, BTS see themselves more like family than co-workers.

Showing up for one another’s personal affairs was second nature. Without question, they watched Jung Kook enter high school, taking photos and teasing their younger brother, or maknae . The docuseries also flashes back to J-Hope’s surprise birthday party, where the six created a sentimental video of his family.

"I had found my place," J-Hope shares. "I believe that [joining BTS] was the most fateful moment of my life."

Being A K-Pop Idol Wasn’t Always Respected

For many aspiring musicians, especially those of Asian heritage, becoming an idol is the ultimate goal. You completely surrender to your art, spending nearly every waking hour doing what you love. If you’re lucky enough to debut at a company like HYBE, you will undoubtedly join the ranks of K-pop’s most influential. Better than anyone else, BTS knows that wasn’t always the case.

"There was a strong negative view of idols," Suga recounts of their breakthrough EP The Most Beautiful Moment in Life . "Nowadays, we are acknowledged for our achievements and performances overseas, but it was a really agonizing time for us back then. We had a lot of unreasonable controversies."

They became "desperate and spiteful," but because of the support from the Army, they overcame the rough patch and switched the narrative. As a thank you to their fans, they wrote "2! 3!" to say, "Let’s forget it all."

The United States Was A Turning Point In Their Career

By 2016, BTS knew they were stars in Korea. They performed in the biggest venue at the time, the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, with a capacity of 25,000 people. They won the Mnet Asian Music Awards' most coveted honor: Artist Of The Year.

"In a movie, the credits would start rolling. At that point, we’d done everything we could as Korean artists," Suga says with a laugh. So, what’s next? Conquer the rest of the world.

The following year, BTS performed at the Billboard Music Awards, certain that nothing would come of it. To their surprise, they won Top Social Artist, which had previously only been awarded to Justin Bieber .

"It was the start of raising people’s awareness of us as the group BTS," RM reveals. Things continued to snowball: they performed at the American Music Awards and dropped a remix with Steve Aoki.

By early 2022, BTS were making history. The group performed their smash hit "Butter" onstage at the 64th GRAMMY Awards.

They Believe In The Power Of Art

When the pandemic began in 2020, entertainment was the first sacrifice. "‘Concerts may never be held again. People are unable to gather,’" Suga recalls hearing on broadcasts. They began to wonder if there was a point in releasing music.

After two years of self-reflection and improvement, they knew COVID-19 could not be the end. Music gave them purpose. "That was the driving force," J-Hope says. "I wasn’t completely aware of how important music and dancing was to me. I realized that I shouldn’t take it all for granted."

The lockdown also showed them the impact Army had on their lives. They motivated them to keep going because they knew how much the band meant to their fans. They witnessed it constantly when they saw the fervent cheers and tears on tour. BTS has brought together millions of people. As Namjoon promises, "Art can change the world," and "Music transcends languages, nationalities and races."

Photo:Joshua Helms/ Gallery Films

Living Legends: Chicago's Robert Lamm On Songwriting and Longevity

Following decades of hits and holiday cheer, Robert Lamm discusses Chicago's evolution and their festive new Christmas album featuring Dolly Parton.

As one of the longest-running and biggest selling bands in music history, GRAMMY-winners Chicago have staked a claim as the ultimate “rock band with horns” since their debut album was released over a half-century ago.

Since those early days and throughout a run of instantly-recognizable songs from “25 or 6 to 4” to “You’re the Inspiration” and “If You Leave Me Now” (which won the GRAMMY for Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus at the 19th Annual Awards Ceremony), vocalist and songwriter Robert Lamm has remained an unchanging frontman in an ever-changing lineup.

It’s an ongoing legacy that continues this holiday season with their latest album Greatest Christmas Hits which extrapolates Lamm and company’s penchant for recording seasonal tunes accented by their unique sound, a creative kick that began in 1998 with Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album.

Along with holiday hallmarks like “Winter Wonderland,” the new album also features guest artists like Dolly Parton who joins in with the band on the Paul McCartney staple "Wonderful Christmas Time.”

Lamm spoke to GRAMMY.com about their long legacy, songwriting and choosing the right seasonal songs to give their personal spin.

You and the band recently performed on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Would that rank up there as one of the more unique places you've performed?

Well, there was a circus venue in Paris, and it was a very fancy night for some reason. I guess Chicago had made an impression in Paris, so one day they called us to play in a big top [tent] there. It was quite beautiful and strange.

Do unique spaces make performing more fun, or are you 'on guard' because you're out of your element?

Actually, it wasn't upsetting or scary or anything like that. It was curious, but then we got down to business.

I think the tendency is to group all of your songs together. As a result, a chronology is lost on people. They forget that "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" was the first song you recorded for your debut album. Did that feel like being the first batter of a baseball game scoring a home run?

Well, thank you. Yes, I feel that way. In the early days when we were first recording, a lot of the songs were songs that I had written, and I had no idea what was going to happen with them. We did have a great producer in James William Guercio and most of us had not ever been in a recording studio, so that was the most nervous thing for everybody. It was in a seriously good studio in New York and he had to show us where to stand and what instruments should be put here and there. So it was that kind of thing, all very new.

It was almost like the songs were secondary to figuring out how to do this and record. So thankfully it turned out fine. A number of songs from that first album became popular and for a recent performance, we brought out a lot of songs which were on that first album; we never played most of them for most of our career. We pulled them out to examine them; songs that were very strange rock songs.

When you look back at your peers from the early days, not too many are still touring or recording.

Or still alive.

That must give you a unique perspective on music, success and the industry?

I think we feel mostly very lucky. Obviously 55 years into a career where we really never stopped, the thing that changed was the various people who have come into the band and left for one reason or another. 

That was always something we had to figure out how to do, for someone to come in and be a drummer, bass player or singer even. Being open to learning the repertoire, which obviously throughout every year got larger and larger and larger. That was something we had to learn how to do again. We've done a lot of learning over the years [ Laughs ].

I know you have lectured at NYU and Stanford University about songwriting. Is there one big lesson you'd give to aspiring songwriters?

Wow, I'm making this up now as we speak, but I think that you have to believe in what you're writing. You have to like it, or love it. I've always tried to not repeat myself ever in writing songs, whether it's the lyrics or the musical structure.  

I have always said, "Don't repeat what you're doing." I've always thought that writing a song is like learning something completely different than I've ever done. Writing the song, I've learned something. It might be a small thing, or it might be a big thing. 

I love writing songs. I didn't know I was going to be a songwriter, I was just a guy in a rock band. For a long time I thought that's what I was. But I'm a songwriter .

So as a songwriter, what are you looking for when you choose to cover a Christmas song? There are millions to choose from, as evidence in your new Greatest Christmas Hits album.

There are millions of bad Christmas songs [ Laughs ]. I have to like it, the guys in the band have to like it. Like when we did "The Christmas Song," Mel Torme's composition, which is a great song and he's a great musician. But I was living in New York at the time when we had decided to do the first Chrisrtmas album. It's not that we wanted to disguise these songs as something else because these songs are legitimate, popular songs done by many, many people. What we had going for us as a band is that we have a sound. We have a way of arranging things that is us, so the combination of a good song and the arrangement by Chicago, that's the deal.

When it comes to the new Christmas album, the bulk of the songs are remastered. What's the remastering process like for an artist?

As recording technology has blossomed in the digital age, in the beginning it was a little tedious. Between the actual digital equipment on the one hand but also the playback equipment was very different. So the guys who do that for a living are extremely creative and extremely top-drawer. There's a lot of bad recording out there and there always has been.

This Christmas album is one of the only albums you released that isn't numbered. Where did the idea come from to start, and continue numbering?

I have to give credit to our original producer, James William Guercio, who produced probably among the greatest Chicago albums. He suggested, "Let's not get caught up in tricky, phony titles for the albums." So by and large we stayed with the numbering because we want to have people considering collecting the albums, like other collectors of music. We wanted to have it be somewhat more respectable.

What about your inspiration for a song like "Saturday in the Park," which lays out scenes in a park like a little musical?  

We were in New York when I think we were recording our third album. It was summer and those were the days when Central Park was open on the weekends to the public and I think that was a fairly new development in the city.  

Because we were in New York, I always in those days carried around a Beaulieu Super 8 camera just for the hell of it. I shot a lot of footage of what I was seeing and what I was experiencing on that particular day: the park being open like that and people really enjoying the park experience in Manhattan, which is still really great. I was trying to capture that and when I finally got home and looked at the film, I just described what I was looking at to write the lyrics.

What about writing a lyric like "Saturday in the park, I think it was the Fourth of July." Including "I think" adds a deeper layer to it, because you could have just as easily said that it was the Fourth of July.

Well, yeah. And that's because I actually had two consecutive years where I was filming the park. So it was either the Fourth of July, or it may have been the fifth of July the following year. And I also just liked it lyrically, whether it was accurate or not.

Going back to your debut, it was released in 1970. Does it feel like that was a fortuitous time to come onto the scene? If you came out in the mid-60s, maybe it wouldn't have been received at the time because the industry was dealing with the effect of the Beatles. But if you came out in the mid-70s, you would have gotten lost in disco.

Yeah, we would have been lost in the shuffle in the mid-70s and we virtually were by the end of the 70s. We really had to figure out how to survive. We wanted to keep recording, but it was tricky.

Was there a pressure to have a more disco sound?

For a minute, yeah; for as long as disco lasted. We actually came in during the later end of that trend and it was futile. It was awful. We've done other recordings without trying to be disco or thought of as disco. We had done subsequent recordings for subsequent albums that would have qualified but we were past it, and so was everybody else.

Is there a song in your entire discography that you thought should be a bigger hit?

Well, yeah. As the songwriter or the arranger or even the vocalist or instrumentalist of any particular song, there's a lot of them. They're my babies and I'd like people to be introduced to the babies they have never heard before. 

So, is there a song you'd tell people to stream right now?

I can't answer that, there's just too many. I haven't had enough coffee [ Laughs .]

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BTS Announce ‘Love Yourself’ World Tour

By Suzy Exposito

Suzy Exposito

Korean superstars BTS are set to kick off their Love Yourself world tour this August, opening with two dates in their home turf of Seoul. 

After their August 25th and 26th shows in Seoul’s Jamsil Olympic Stadium, BTS will continue their world tour across major cities in North America and Europe, starting with three nights in Los Angeles. North American tickets will go on sale on May 5th and May 7th at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. local time. 

“We have only released the concert schedule whose dates and venues have been confirmed, and will announce further schedules as they are confirmed later on,” said a representative of Big Hit Entertainment on Friday.

The tour follows the success of their 2017 EP, Love Yourself: Her , which has remained steadily on the Billboard 200 for 27 weeks and counting – a first for any K-pop artist. The next installment in their Love Yourself series, Love Yourself: Tear , is due for release May 18th.

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The band is set to perform May 20th at this year’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, NV, where they will debut a brand new song. They are nominated a second year in a row for the Top Social Artist award, which they won in 2017.

BTS Tour Dates

September 5th – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 6th – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 8th – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 12th – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 15th – Fort Worth, TX @ Fort Worth Convention Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 16th – Fort Worth, TX @ Fort Worth Convention Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 20th – Hamilton, ON @ First Ontario Centre (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 22nd – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 23rd – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) September 28th – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) September 29th – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (on sale May 5 @ 10am local) October 2nd – Chicago, IL @ United Center (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local) October 3rd – Chicago, IL @ United Center (on sale May 7 @ 4pm local)

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BTS Announce World Tour

By Noah Yoo

BTS have announced a new world tour. The K-pop group are set to begin a new series of U.S. dates in May, beginning with a performance at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Los Angeles, California on May 4. Other American cities on the itinerary include Chicago and New Jersey. BTS will also play shows in São Paulo, London, and Paris as well. Check out a teaser video and their full tour schedule below.

BTS are touring behind the release of their most recent full-length, Love Yourself 轉 ‘Tear’ . They recently appeared at the 61st Grammy Awards to present the Best R&B Album award.

Read “ BTS: How the Biggest Boy Band in the World Stays Radically Korean ” over on the Pitch.

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BTS’ ‘Permission to Dance on Stage’ Tour to Continue With April Dates in Las Vegas

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K-pop group BTS is continuing its world tour in April, with four newly announced dates at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The global superstars will perform on April 8, 9, 15 and 16, with the last day of the tour being streamed live online. Additionally, the group’s event “Live Play in Las Vegas” will be held on all four days at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The news comes after the group’s announcement last week of concert dates in Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 12 and 13 at the Seoul Olympic Stadium. Those performances will be BTS’ first in its home country since 2019. BTS performed four sold-out shows at SoFi stadium in Los Angeles at the end of last year, filling the stadium with tens of thousands of fans. According to Billboard , the group’s tour dates in L.A. grossed $33.3 million with 214,000 tickets sold — the most made by a run of shows at a single venue since 2012.

BTS is best known for hits “Butter” and “Dynamite,” with the former nominated for best pop duo/group performance at this year’s Grammy Awards . The nomination is BTS’ second, following last year’s nomination for “Butter.” The 64th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Las Vegas just before BTS’ concert dates, on April 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. BTS has yet to win a Grammy, but is known for its extremely devoted fans who have helped catapult the group to global superstardom since its debut in 2013.

Registration to purchase tickets for the group’s new dates is open from now until Feb. 26 at 5 p.m., when tickets will go on sale. Tickets for BTS’ Los Angeles dates sold out almost immediately.

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ARMY Around the Globe React to BTS’ Love Yourself World Tour Announcement

K-pop group BTS announced their upcoming world tour, and fans reacted accordingly.

By Tamar Herman

Tamar Herman

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Korean septet BTS announced their upcoming Love Yourself world tour on Thursday (April 25), surprising fans around the world with the news of more than 20 shows set to be held throughout Asia, North America and Europe, plus the promise of more dates to come.

See latest videos, charts and news

It will be the first tour from the boy band since they set multiple Billboard records with their Love Yourself: Her and Face Yourself albums and saw “DNA” and “Mic Drop (remix)” with Steve Aoki and Desiigner  certified gold by the RIAA . It will be preceded by the release of next month’s Love Yourself: Tear album.

BTS Announces World Tour With Stops In Six North American Cities

Anticipation is building for BTS’ upcoming world tour, and the official hashtag #Love_Yourself, plus several other related ones, trended worldwide following the news. Here’s what some of their fans, known collectively as ARMY , had to say.

There was excitement, to say the least.

DO YOU HEAR ME SCREAMING???!!!! THEY’RE COMING AND WE WILL GET TO SEE THEM!!!!!! —-?? #LoveYourselfWorldTour #PremiosMTVMiaw #MTVBRKPOPBTS @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/CV0Hnabj5a — Bangtan’s Army (@ARMY_california) April 26, 2018

bighit: #loveyourselfworldtour me: pic.twitter.com/ZDQPfbKFes — M!CH– (@bangtancisions) April 26, 2018

I STILL CANT BELIEVE THAT THEY DROPPED THE DATES LIKE THIS pic.twitter.com/RgSPXUcVez — HITMAN BANG FANBASE : HITMEN (@HITMAN_FANBASE) April 26, 2018

I am so damn excited to see @BTS_twt in TEXAS that I really might pass the fck out, I may throw up, I am DEFINITELY going to sob my entire lunch break away. #LoveYourselfWorldTour — Miche (@MicheBangtan) April 26, 2018

I’M FUCKING SCREAMING CAUSE THEYRE FOING TO EUROPE OH MY GOD #LoveYourselfWorldTour pic.twitter.com/jGxHpbcpwo — cadence (@jeonpadams) April 26, 2018

-BTS last year they performed in gocheok sky Dome with 40.000 capacity -This year They’re going to start #LOVE_YOURSEL World Tour in Seoul at Olympic Stadium with 70.000 capacity I’m someone proud of Them. #LoveYourselfWorldTour #PremiosMTVMiaw #MTVBRKPOPBTS @BTS_twt pic.twitter.com/WcICZONhg4 — ` (@Armys__Crew) April 26, 2018

Some expressed surprise at the grandiose scale of the Love Yourself tour.

Jamsil Stadium is one level of legendary but the O2 Arena….KOREAN artists/performers int he friggin O2 Arena (for their own concert too and not as package Kpop deal)??? O_____O Never in a million years did I think I’d see this day #LOVE_YOURSELF MORE DATES TO COME — Kommon Sense (@KommonSense77) April 26, 2018

Some ARMY began preparing.

A friendly reminder to everyone one that getting @BTS_twt tickets is basically like the hunger games so whoever is trying to get some make sure to have money in the next month because tickets get released when u least expect it & they run out in mins #BTSWORLDTOUR #LOVE_YOURSELF — Izzy– (@dancingkingJH) April 26, 2018

BTS world tour: -save money for plane ticket, concert ticket, and army light bomb – buy light bomb -buy concert tickets -buy plane ticket -sing with bts -wave army bomb with armys #LOVEYOURSELF_?_Tear #BtsWorldTour #btscomeback #bts @BTS_twt — BANGTAN —- SONYEONDAN (@bts_ot7_bts) April 22, 2018

Others started to come up with ideas for activities.

L I S T E N U P THE OAKLAND AND AMSTERDAM STOPS ARE GOING TO BE ON NAMJOON AND JIMIN’S BIRTHDAY. please plan something for their birthday. #BTSWORLDTOUR #LOVE_YOURSELF pic.twitter.com/42LuF9M5bQ — SINGULARITY (@ironchim) April 26, 2018

And some urged people not to inflate ticket prices.

Please do not buy concert tickets just to resell for a higher price,do not buy resale tickets from scalpers, They buy most concert tickets and resell them for 3x 4x the price.Wait for the offical websites to do resales #LOVE_YOURSELF #PremiosMTVMiaw #MTVBRKPOPBTS @BTS_twt — ` (@Armys__Crew) April 26, 2018

Many ARMY who don’t live in one of the cities currently announced for the tour began hoping as “More Dates to Come” also trended. 

“MORE DATES TO COME” two types of armys: #LOVE_YOURSELF #BTSWORLDTOUR pic.twitter.com/a7tLw13VrH — ? (@taenyjimin) April 26, 2018

Dear lord notice India —- #LOVE_YOURSELF #LOVEYOURSELFWORLDTOUR more dates to come has all my hopes–Fact-India is the 7th largest country in the world by size and 2nd largest by population..its a freaking huge country with vast number of ARMYs.on this map it’s this sparkly one pic.twitter.com/aKNIJoZdty — India —- ×BTS (@IndiaNeedsBTS) April 26, 2018

PRAYING FOR ?? LOVEYOURSELF TOUR IN MNL: MAY 2019 — s? (@ilyjikoook) April 26, 2018

when you see “BTS WORLD TOUR” #LOVEYOURSELF AND IN THE END #MOREDATESTOCOME AND YOU ARE LIKE pic.twitter.com/G3TtXOQurO — Meditation_Boii (@ironic_duck) April 26, 2018

BIGHIT: MORE DATES TO COME ARMYS: #LoveYourselfWorldTour pic.twitter.com/OarVDYOAuy — PLS BUY MY KIDNEY (@__jiminism) April 26, 2018

And, ARMY being ARMY, some fans noticed some hidden meanings in the concert’s video trailer.

did anyone else catch this: REAL LOVE FAKE LOVE LOVE MYSELF LOVE YOURSELF #LOVE_YOURSELF #BTSWORLDTOUR pic.twitter.com/VotmbRJbXm — SINGULARITY (@ironchim) April 26, 2018

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BTS singer Suga announces his upcoming solo world tour

Concerts kick off this spring in the U.S. before heading to Asia. The entire super group won't reunite until 2025 — when members of the K-pop sensation complete their mandatory military service.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BUTTER")

BTS: (Singing) Smooth like butter, like a criminal undercover.

ASMA KHALID, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Asma Khalid. BTS rapper Suga says he's going on a world tour. The concerts will kick off this spring in the United States before heading on to Asia. So here's hoping the concerts can tide over all those BTS fans. The supergroup is not reuniting until 2025. That's when some members of the K-pop sensation complete their mandatory military service.

BTS: (Singing) Get it, let it roll.

KHALID: It's MORNING EDITION.

Copyright © 2023 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

BTS member Suga announces historic solo world tour with US shows

Suga of BTS  announced a string of concerts around the world Tuesday, making him the first member of the record-setting Korean group to launch a solo tour. 

The tour will start in Belmont Park, New York April 26 and visit a slew of other cities between April and June with notable stops in Newark, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Oakland, California, plus destinations in Asia including Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and South Korea.

The South Korean rapper, music producer and songwriter who also goes by Agust D, took to Instagram Tuesday to share the news, simply posting a fire emoji as the caption.

Ticket pre-sales start March 1

Ticket pre-sales begin March 1 for Army Membership holders with  Ticketmaster's  Verified Fan Registration open now through Feb. 23. All tour tickets will be on sale during the pre-sale and if they sell out, there will not be a "General Verified Fan" pre-sale or public sale of tickets. 

If tickets remain after the Verified Fan pre-sale, then general verified fan tickets will go on pre-sale March 2 and the public will have access to tickets March 3.

From Bono to j-hope: Here are new music documentaries we can't wait to see in 2023

'Time for a curtain call': BTS' Jin begins South Korean military duty at boot camp

Full tour date list

• April 26 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena
• April 27 – Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena
• April 29 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
• May 3 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
• May 5 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
• May 6 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
• May 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
• May 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
• May 14 – Los Angeles, CA – Kia Forum
• May 16 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
• May 17 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
• May 26 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6
• May 27 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6
• May 28 – Jakarta, ID – Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE BSD) Hall 5-6
• June 10 – Bangkok, TH – Impact Arena
• June 17 – Singapore, SG – Singapore Indoor Stadium
• June 18 – Singapore, SG – Singapore Indoor Stadium
• June 24 – Seoul, KR – Jamsil Indoor Stadium
• June 25 – Seoul, KR – Jamsil Indoor Stadium

Dates for tour locations in Japan have not yet been announced.

BTS members focusing on solo projects

BTS said in June that the group is taking a break — but the mega-star K-pop group is making it clear that they're not breaking up. 

"We're going into a hiatus now," Suga said in a more than hour-long video on YouTube and translated from Korean into English subtitles.

A statement from Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, said they’ll still be working on projects as a group, as well as individually. “BTS are not taking a hiatus. Members will be focusing more on solo projects at this time,” the statement said. 

What BTS members have been up to recently

While Suga has announced a world tour, the rest of BTS has been busy, too.

BTS'  j-hope performed at Lollapalooza, where he was the first South Korean act to headline and has a documentary dubbed "j-hope IN THE BOX" coming out this year, exploring his first solo album. 

Jimin is working on his debut solo album that he anticipates releasing next month, according to Rolling Stone . 

Jungkook performed at the World Cup, debuting his new song "Dreamers." 

V is involved in an upcoming reality television program, tvN's 'Seojin’s, set to begin Feb. 24. He'll build a restaurant with fellow Korean celebrities Park Seo Joon ("Itaewon Class"), Choi Woo Shik ("Parasite"), Jung Yu Mi ("Train to Busan") and Lee Seo Jin ("Three Meals a Day").

And RM is setting records with his solo album , "Indigo." He was the first Korean soloist to enter the Top 3 of the Billboard 200 album chart and the first Korean male soloist to have an album spend at least five weeks on the Billboard 200

Contributing: Marco della Cava, Naledi Ushe and Hannah Yasharoff

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The K-Pop superstars’ dates kick off in Santa Clara, CA, on 25 April and conclude in Barcelona on 18 July.

Published on

K-Pop superstars BTS have announced their return to the U.S. and Europe with their ‘Map Of The Soul’ Tour in April. The outing follows last year’s massive BTS World Tour ‘Love Yourself: Speak Yourself’ which sold out 6 stadium shows in the US in minutes.

The ‘Map Of The Soul’ tour will be their biggest North American tour ever and kicks off on 25 April in Santa Clara. The outing will also travel to Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Toronto before wrapping on 6 June in Chicago. Please see full itinerary below.

Tickets can be purchased through the Verified Fan platform. BTS Global Official Fanclub Army Membership users will have the first chance to participate in the Global Official Fanclub Army Membership Verified Fan Presale beginning at 3pm local time on Wednesday, 5 February through 11pm local time on Thursday, 6 February. The General Verified Fan pre-sale (for non-fan club members) will begin at 3pm local time on Thursday, 6 February through 11pm local time that same day. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, 7 February at 3pm local time. Visit BTS’ official website for further information.

ATEEZ Announces Details Of Third Japanese Single ‘Not Okay’

‘blackpink: a vr encore’ set to premiere on december 26, bts’ ‘monuments: beyond the star’: how to watch.

BTS’ 2020 ‘Map Of The Soul’ tour includes the following US dates:

Sat Apr 25: Santa Clara, CA, Levi’s Stadium Sun Apr 26: Santa Clara, CA, Levi’s Stadium Sat May 02: Los Angeles, CA, Rose Bowl Stadium Sun May 03: Los Angeles, CA, Rose Bowl Stadium Sat May 09: Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Stadium Sun May 10: Dallas, TX, Cotton Bowl Stadium Thu May 14: Orlando, FL, Camping World Stadium Sun May 17: Atlanta, GA, Bobby Dodd Stadium Sat May 23: East Rutherford, NJ, MetLife Stadium Sun May 24: East Rutherford, NJ, MetLife Stadium Wed May 27: Washington, DC, Fed Ex Field Sat May 30: Toronto, ON, Rogers Centre Sun May 31: Toronto, ON, Rogers Centre Fri Jun 05: Chicago, IL Soldier Field Sat Jun 06: Chicago, IL Soldier Field

BTS’ ‘Map Of The Soul’ tour includes the following UK and European dates:

Fri Jul 3: London, Twickenham Stadium Sat Jul 4: London, Twickenham Stadium Sat Jul 11: Berlin, Olympiastadion Berlin Sun Jul 12: Berlin, Olympiastadion Berlin Fri Jul 17: Barcelona, ESP, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys Sat Jul 18: Barcelona, ESP, Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

Listen to the Best of BTS on Apple Music and Spotify.

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• LOVE YOURSELF TOUR

[NOTICE] SUGA | Agust D TOUR Announcement

https://ibighit.com/bts/eng/tour/suga_agust_d_tour

BTS's Jungkook's world tour in works? Here's what we know

Jungkook , the golden maknae of BTS , has set the music world on fire with his debut album, GOLDEN , released last week . As fans revel in his success, a tantalizing development has taken center stage: a potential Jungkook solo world tour. It all started when Tanu Muino, the director of Jungkook's Standing Next To You music video posted behind-the-scenes photos with "JK World Tour" signage.

Jungkook's 'potential' tour ignited frenzy among ARMYs

Despite the secrecy that veils the situation, a subtle yet evocative hint in the form of "JK World Tour" signage has ignited a frenzy of speculation and optimism among the ARMYs. Fans are eagerly searching for clues about the potential tour announcement. They hope to hear official confirmation from Jungkook or his management soon.

World tour buzz has been there for a while

During a September episode of his talk show, American Top 40 , renowned media personality Ryan Seacrest unveiled some insights into Jungkook's aspirations. According to Seacrest, the musician expressed his desire to embark on a world tour but believed he wasn't quite ready for it due to his limited song catalog. However, Seacrest teased ARMYs by stating, "After his album releases, watch out for his tour announcement because he's hitting the road once he's got a set list ready."

Meanwhile, Jungkook won 'Best Song' award at 2023 MTV EMAs

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Jungkook won two awards at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs). One was for Best Song for his chart-topper SEVEN featuring Latto. The song, which belongs to the GOLDEN album, was released back in July. Jungkook also clinched the Best K-pop award. The spotlight also reached the K-pop group, TXT (Tomorrow X Together) who won the coveted Best Push Artist award.

Here's everything about Jungkook's 'GOLDEN' album

Jungkook's debut solo album—which features an all-English tracklist—is preceded by captivating singles like SEVEN and 3D . The 11-song album boasts some impressive collaborations, including one with DJ trio Major Lazer on the track Closer to You , while music producer DJ Snake takes the helm on Please Don't Change . Ed Sheeran has a co-writing credit on the track Yes or No . Earlier, BigHit announced that Jungkook will hit the stage for a live performance in Seoul on November 20.

• Discount Codes

Twenty One Pilots announce 2024-2025 world tour dates in UK, Europe, US and Australia

The announcement also coincides with the release of a new single, 'Next Semester'

Twenty One Pilots have announced a huge world tour with dates planned across the UK, Europe, the US and Australia across 2024 and 2025.

• READ MORE:  Twenty One Pilots: “I hope our fans will hang on for the ride

The tour is in support of their forthcoming seventh album ‘Clancy’, which will land on May 17 via Fueled By Ramen. The social media accounts of several huge arenas have been simultaneously sharing billboards and screens that feature a silhouette image of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun in the run-up to the announcement of what will be the Columbus duo’s biggest tour to date.

It kicks off in the US in the summer, with the first date taking place in Denver on August 15. They will then be taking in arenas across the US till October, while in November, they’ll be heading to Australia for a string of shows.

Next year, they’ll be taking their show around Europe, starting in Hamburg on April 7. They will then spend the rest of the month in the continent before heading to the UK and Ireland for the last section of the tour, starting in Glasgow on May 5 and signing off with two nights in London from May 13-14.

To coincide with the tour, Twenty One Pilots have also dropped the next single from ‘Clancy’, an energetic, punky track titled ‘Next Semester’.

Check out the song, as well as the tour dates below – you can find tickets for UK dates here, and US dates here. The pre-sale will open on April 2 while general sale will begin

Twenty One Pilots’ ‘Clancy’ world tour dates are:

15 – Denver, CO, Ball Arena 18 – Salt Lake City, UT, Delta Center 21 – Portland, OR, Moda Center 22 – Seattle, WA, Climate Pledge Arena 24 – Oakland, CA, Oakland Arena 25- Sacramento, CA, Golden 1 Center 27 – Los Angeles, CA, Intuit Dome 28 –  Los Angeles, CA, Intuit Dome 30 – Phoenix, AZ, Footprint Center 31-  Las Vegas, NV, MGM Grand Garden Arena

SEPTEMBER 3 – Austin, TX, Moody Center 4 – Houston, TX, Toyota Center 6 – Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center 10 – Duluth, GA, Gas South Arena 11 – Orlando, FL, Kia Center 13 – Raleigh, NC, PNC Arena 14 – Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center 15 – Baltimore, MD, CFG Bank Arena 17 – Newark, NJ, Prudential Center 18 – Brooklyn, NY, Barclays Center 20 – Boston, MA, TD Garden 25 – Montreal, QC, Bell Centre 27 – Toronto, ON, Scotiabank Arena 28 – Cleveland, OH, Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse 29 – Detroit, MI, Little Caesars Arena

OCTOBER  1 – Chicago, IL, United Center 2 – Chicago, IL, United Center 4 – Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena 5 – Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena 8 – Indianapolis, IN, Gainbridge Fieldhouse 9 – Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena 10 – St. Louis, MO, Enterprise Center 12 – Minneapolis, MN, Target Center 17 – Auckland, NZ, Spark Arena 19 – Melbourne, AU, Rod Laver Arena 21 – Brisbane, AU, Brisbane Entertainment Centre 24 – Sydney, AU, Qudos Bank Arena

APRIL 7 – Hamburg, DE, Barclays Arena 8 – Berlin, DE, Uber Arena 9 – Lodz, PL, Atlas Arena 12 – Prague, CZ, O2 Arena 13 – Vienna, AT, Wiener Stadthalle 16 – Zurich, CH, Hallenstadion 17 – Bologna, IT, Unipol Arena 21 – Madrid, ES, WiZink Center 22 – Barcelona, ES, Palau San Jordi 24 – Lyon, FR, LDLC Arena 27 – Munich, DE, Olympiahalle 28 –  Milan, IT, Forum 30 – Amsterdam, NL, Ziggo Dome

MAY 1 – Cologne, DE, Lanxess Arena 2 – Paris, FR, Accor Arena 5 – Glasgow, UK, OVO Hydro Arena 6 – Birmingham, UK, Resorts World Arena 8 – Belfast, UK, SSE Arena Belfast 9 – Dublin, IE, 3Arena 11 – Manchester, UK, AO Arena 13 – London, UK, The O2 14 – London, UK, The O2

Earlier this month, the band  revealed that they were in the process of filming music videos for every song on their new album. The lead single, ‘ Overcompensate ‘, was released last month.

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TWICE’s Latest Announcement Has Filipino K-Pop Fans Stressed Out

TWICE ‘s recent announcement just left K-Pop fans in the Philippines stressed out, but in the best way.

The Philippines has been a huge market for K-Pop, as most groups have included the country in their tour dates.

This includes TWICE , who most recently visited the Philippines in October for their Ready To Be Tour , returning to the country after four years. Fans filled the venue in Manila over two nights, showing just how in demand the group is in the country.

On March 22, TWICE announced they would return to the Philippines for their first-ever fan meeting in the country in collaboration with snack brand Oishi .

Of course, many fans were excited for the group’s return…

Omgggggg fanmeet 🥹 https://t.co/RbVkDt1Zqd — V SAW SVT!!!! (@VanillaaBiscuit) March 21, 2024

Imma have my chance to see them! 😍 https://t.co/xOiqPyN0br — 🫰 FanGirL LiFe 🫶 (@MyBuhayFanGirL) March 20, 2024

OWBSBSIWBWSVSHSH https://t.co/tP3F4XhPFD — 🍪 (@mohyomi) March 20, 2024

…however, many were left stressed out by a detail of the fan meeting.

The fan meeting is scheduled to take place on June 1, 2024, the same day as the previously announced IU concert!

IU announced her  Her world tour in mid-January 2024, releasing dates for concerts in Asia, North America, and Europe. The idol’s concert in Manila will take place on June 1 at the Philippine Arena.

If two events on the same day weren’t hard enough, it was also announced that former TREASURE member Bang Yedam will hold his first solo fan meeting in Manila on June 1.

Naturally, fans are having a timing picking which of the great K-Pop acts they will see on June 1!

once who is also an uaena knowing that twice and iu will perform on philippines same day but not the same venue https://t.co/jPOTa2LqnW pic.twitter.com/aliLWjSB1D — julie (@tzujuliee) March 22, 2024

https://t.co/JpXYg0DHIb pic.twitter.com/lMg8GyvCxp — yani (@cxtrafries) March 22, 2024

WHY, JUST WHY? 🥺 https://t.co/nTTuKUSVzm — shey ⓥ (ꪜ) (@kthv9597_) March 22, 2024

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‘I quit’: Lizzo’s sad career announcement

Singer Lizzo has posted a sad public message to fans, announcing that she’s sick of “disrespect” and feels “the world doesn’t want me in it.”

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Musical superstar Lizzo has shocked fans today with a worrying announcement on Instagram, declaring that she feels “the world doesn’t want me in it” and finishing with the declaration: “I quit.”

It’s unclear at this stage whether the singer and rapper, 35, is referring to quitting social media, or to music altogether.

“I’m getting tired of putting up with getting dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet,” Lizzo begins in the statement.

“All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.

“I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout & views … being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look … my character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name.”

“I didn’t sign up for this s**t – I QUIT,” she ended the message.

Lizzo’s comments section has already been flooded with messages of support from her fans, begging her to reconsider.

“If you quit then they’ve succeeded. Music is your life path whether you believe or not. Stand firm and stay in the race,” wrote one.

“You quitting lets them win! Don't stop doing what you love! You make that music and come back stronger!” wrote another.

Lizzo released her first album in 2013 but didn’t experience widespread success until 2019 when her breakthrough single Truth Hurts topped charts globally.

Since then, she’s become a hugely successful pop star, with a string of chart hits and last year, a sellout Australian arena tour.

But in August last year Lizzo also faced an unexpected battle, for a star whose public persona is so focused on positivity: a string of allegations from former dancers on her tour, including claims of body shaming and sexual harassment.

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Lizzo denied the allegations at the time, saying they were false and “unbelievable”.

“These last few days have been gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing,” the singer said at the time.

She said the claims were “sensationalised stories” from former employees who had “publicly admitted they were told their behaviour was inappropriate and unprofessional”.

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She was pegged as the next Amy Winehouse, with a debut album that sold millions of copies worldwide. Then the unthinkable happened.