BLACKPINK Return Stateside After 3 Years Away as a Group

Fresh off the release of new single “JUMP,” Jennie, Jisoo, Rosé and Lisa sold out two nights at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Times set the scene in their recap, “After taking a two-year break to focus on solo projects, the group reunited for its first U.S. concert since the Born Pink Tour concluded in 2023. Despite dropping only one group number since then, BLACKPINK sold out two nights at one of the Los Angeles area’s biggest venues.” Writer Lauren Harvey made a note about the universal appeal of the group, saying that the band’s “concert also united fans of all ages, with plenty of families arriving in coordinating outfits. At one point, BLACKPINK even shouted out all the Baby BLINKs’ in the audience — many of whom were not even born when the group debuted in 2016.”

Rolling Stone published the most extensive review of the show so far, writing of the show’s opening U.S. date that “their Deadline World Tour didn’t just reunite the group: it reminded BLINKs why they shine brightest together.” Tomás Mier noted, “What stood out from the show was how much each of the girls’ individuality shone throughout the performances…it’s clear that the time away has allowed each of the girls to hone in on what makes them great as individuals, and it makes BLACKPINK as a group work even better.”

But Mier also pointed out, “The only drawback of the night was the show’s storyline and the lack of grand stage production moments. With stadium acts, we expect cohesive storytelling and dynamic elements like flying performers or moving stage pieces. However, here the interlude narratives and extra visual effects were missing. Between acts, videos showed the girls stuck in the desert or cruising down a highway, and at one point, Rosé’s classic car floated across neon Las Vegas signs. Visually, it didn’t quite connect with the onstage action or the graphic aesthetic of the ‘Deadline’ theme.”

For BLACKPINK’s Day 2 concert, Bruno Mars made a surprise appearance to perform “APT.” with Rosé, which scored headlines on Rolling Stone, Billboard, Consequence, and UPROXX. “Wearing matching jackets, Mars and the New Zealand-born K-pop star jump up and down while singing the lyrics to their smash hit ‘APT.’ accompanied by a fleet of backup dancers,” Hannah Dailey wrote for Billboard. “At one point, the two performers share a hug while harmonizing. As confetti rains down, fans in the audience scream-sing along to every word.”

The Crossover friend Nicole Fell wrote for The Hollywood Reporter how, “There’s something to be said for why K-pop groups make for the ideal stadium act. BLACKPINK, much like other K-pop groups, puts on a show seemingly tailor-made for a stadium with a non-stop, visually exciting nearly three hours of performance.” I also liked this point about why it was smart to heavily incorporate the girls’ individual material in the Deadline Tour. “The choice to include these solo sections contributed to the overall feeling that any attendee of the show likely felt when leaving Sunday night — BLACKPINK is at the top of their game.”

Parade Magazine wrote the headline, BLACKPINK Praised After Making History Over the Weekend, but didn’t cite any praise, just that “the SoFi Stadium’s official Instagram announced that BLACKPINK became the first girl group in history to sell out the stadium for two consecutive nights, drawing over 100,000 fans in total.”

Live on the scene in Los Angeles, BTS’ RM and Suga were spotted attending BLACKPINK’s Deadline Tour in Los Angeles. Diplo was also in attendance.

KPop Demon Hunters singer and The Crossover friend Kevin Woo also linked up with Lisa backstage the LA concert: Fun fact: The two are very close and Kevin even moderated a Q&A at one of Lisa’s pop-up events for her Alter Ego album earlier this year before BLACKPINK’s reunion. Woo was at the show with more Crossover friends singer-songwriter Vanessa Jefferson and Kelly Clarkson Show producer Jasmine Stephens.

Monday, July 14

• Squid Game actress Jo Yuri released her 3rd mini album Episode 25, with lead single “Farewell for now!” (above) co-written by the star with this EP marking her most creative involvement to date

• TWICE dropped the deluxe version of their latest album THIS IS FOR which includes their KPop Demon Hunters single “TAKEDOWN” and an extended version of new single “THIS IS FOR” — likely to boost streams and take advantage of the Demon Hunters interest

• NCT DREAM unleashed their fifth full-length Go Back to the Future

Tuesday, July 15:

• aespa’s “Dark Arts,” a new single with the online game PUBG: Battlegrounds, the same brand that BLACKPINK, i-dle and BABYMONSTER previously teamed up with

Thursday, July 17

• Creative indie band Silica Gel releases a new single featuring Japanese Breakfast

Friday, July 18:

• BTS’ first-ever live album PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LIVE is unveiled

• Jackson Wang’s latest English album MAGIC MAN 2

• MAX’s single “LOVE INSANE” featuring Jay of ENHYPEN, marking the singer-songwriter’s latest K-pop team-up after BTS’ Suga and LE SSERAFIM’s Huh Yunjin

• Chinese-pop group WayV under SM Entertainment release their 7th Mini Album BIG BANDS

• 1VERSE, the new K-pop boy band with two members who are North Korean defectors, release their first project, THE 1ST VERSE ✶ Single Album Release

Monday, July 21:

• Tomorrow X Together’s new album, The Star Chapter : Together is released globally (but not the physical version in the U.S.)

Friday, July 25:

• Rosé releases her 2024 hit album rosie on vinyl

• TXT The Star Chapter : Together, drops physically in the U.S.

—Kaylee, the 15-year-old member of JYP Entertainment’s American girl group VCHA, announced her departure from the group and K-pop company: “I wanted to inform everyone that my journey with JYP Entertainment and VCHA has come to an end. Firstly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to JYP Entertainment for the incredible opportunity they gave me and for all the experiences I gained during my time as a trainee and member of VCHA.” (Full statement above)

Kaylee is the second member to exit VCHA following KG’s explosive announcement in December last year that not only was she leaving the group, but was suing the management under JYP Entertainment USA alleging “abuse and exploitation” (Los Angeles Times) and “child labor exploitation, child neglect and abuse, unfair business practices, and for breach and rescission of an unconscionable contract for the services of a minor” (Forbes). Notably, Kaylee and KG were both VCHA’s youngest members and the only minors at ages 15 and 17 at the time of their respective departures.

JYP USA confirmed Kaylee’s exit, writing in a statement that the two “mutually agreed to part ways as she concludes her journey with VCHA. Both parties sincerely wish each other all the best in their future endeavors.” Previously, the company refuted KG’s initial statement and claims, and the two parties are engaged in a legal battle, with the dispute predicted to go to court this summer.

Before KG’s lawsuit surfaced, JYPE founder and namesake J.Y. Park shared in a press conference that preparations for VCHA’s upcoming music would “differentiate this group from our existing K-pop artists with special and unique contents…I wanted to make sure they’re not K-pop as far as music and visuals even though they’re produced by a K-pop company.”

Reports that the group would return in the first half of 2025 didn’t come to fruition.

—KPop Demon Hunters slays the charts again, putting it alongside some excellent soundtrack company: “The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack climbs 3-2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated July 19 — a new peak — in its third week on the list. The set earned 75,000 equivalent album units (up 21%) in the United States in the tracking week ending July 10, according to Luminate. It’s the first soundtrack to debut in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 and then see unit increases in its second and third weeks since the Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 album in 2017…as the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack racked up 96.33 million streams for its songs in its third week, it scores the biggest streaming week for a soundtrack in more three years. The last soundtrack to post a bigger streaming figure was Encanto, on the March 12, 2022-dated chart, when it rang up 101.16 million streams for its songs in its eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.” (Billboard)

—Professor of Psychology Dr. Paul Youngbin Kim, wrote about how Demon Hunters and the BLACKPINK concert helped him find and feel belonging. “The crowd was visibly diverse (read: not just Korean). When we made it inside, we walked by a stadium worker — whom we quickly gathered, was not Korean — singing and bopping along to the Korean words of ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU.’ Moreover, Abigail’s fear of me being the only 40-something-year-old dad at the concert never materialized, as we saw multiple generations enjoying the concert. In fact, I was seated next to another dad/daughter pairing, and the dad gave his daughter a run for her money in terms of the number of songs he could sing and dance along to…

“Many have asked (and have tried to answer) the question, ‘What makes K-pop, K-pop?’ Honestly, I am not sure if I can define it in a compelling way. But perhaps one way to think about it is what K-pop can do for one’s sense of identity. That is, one important lesson of K-pop is belonging. Fully belonging, without the need to hide. When K-pop is consumed in a healthy manner, so clearly demonstrated at the BLACKPINK concert, it is an unapologetic centering of Korean culture. And when it is brought to light, revealed to others, there is acceptance and validation — just like Rumi ultimately experienced in KPop Demon Hunters.“ (Psychology Today)

—BTS’ Jin’s solo tour is hitting the big screen: “Trafalgar Releasing and HYBE & BIGHIT MUSIC are proud to announce the global cinema broadcast of BTS Jin’s first-ever solo tour, #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR, live from his August 9 performance at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. For the millions of audience members outside the tour stops (South Korea, Japan, US, UK, and the Netherlands), this special live event, #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR in AMSTERDAM: LIVE VIEWING, is their unmissable opportunity to collectively experience Jin’s distinct charm as a multi-talented musician in cinemas worldwide. Screenings will be available globally on Saturday, August 9, with some broadcasting the concert later to accommodate international time zones. Encore screenings will follow on Sunday, August 10 in select regions. (Press Release via ThatEricAlper)

—THE BOYZ announced dates and cities for ‘THE BLAZE’ World Tour with six U.S. dates starting on September 12 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

This will be the group’s first overseas trek since member Ju Haknyeon left the group after allegations he engaged in prostitution, which he’s denied. International fans have largely defended his dismissal, and it will be interesting to see if any crowd-led chants are calling for his return, similar to those at RIIZE’s first concert in the States. (@THEBOYZ_officl)

—Speaking of RIIZE, the boy band announced a North American leg in their RRIIZING LOUD Tour that will start on October 30 in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont

—SF9 also announced a new tour throughout the States and Europe. Originally a nine-member group, five members of SF9 will kick off their tour with a show on October 30 in Boston, marking the first of 18 dates

While last Friday’s newsletter also included tour updates from Tomorrow X Together, EVNNE and Wonho, is K-pop flooding the tour market at the market (maybe before/if Trump tariffs come through)? Does this person have a point?

—Morat Signs With WK Entertainment and HYBE Latin America for Global Expansion: “The Colombian pop-rock band joins Walter Kolm’s (WK Entertainment’s CEO and founder) prolific roster that includes Carlos Vives, Emilia, Prince Royce, Wisin and Xavi, to name a few.”

“Morat is one of the most consistent and respected bands in Latin music today” Kolm said in a press release statement. “We're thrilled to work together and support their next chapter with a global strategy that matches their ambitions.” While Isaac Lee, Chairman and CEO of HYBE Americas, added ,“This partnership with Morat reflects our conviction in the power of Spanish-language music as a global force. Morat is one of the most influential bands of their generation, and their incorporation into HYBE Latin America aligns with Bang Si-Hyuk’s vision of building a truly global ecosystem for superstar development. We are honored to be in business with Walter Kolm.” (Billboard)

—BIGHIT Music, the label that houses BTS and Tomorrow X Together under HYBE, confirmed its new boy band will debut on August 18. “The label has announced that Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon and Keonho will be the creative forces behind the new K-pop outfit. BIGHIT MUSIC said in a statement: ‘The new band is a ‘young creators crew’ with members who will create their own music, choreography and videos. All the members are teenagers and they will express their creative talent based on their own stories. All members will take part in the creative process, regardless of their set positions.’ The band members have previously contributed choreography to BIGHIT's other acts, including Tomorrow X Together.” (Yardhouse)

—Jay of ENHYPEN attended the Ralph Lauren Suite during The Championships for Wimbledon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, in London. He posed for photos with David Lauren, one of Ralph Lauren’s sons and the brand’s Chief Innovation Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board.

The former Seattleite shot some social content focused on tailoring with Polo. Jay’s social content is blowing all the other celeb engagements from the day out of the water. At press time, one Instagram reel narrated by the 23-year-old has over 447,000 likes and 7,000 comments, while a carousel post (below) has 109,000 likes and 2,000 comments. The closest piece of IG content from the day is a shot of cricket player Sachin Tendulkar with 25,500 likes and 90 comments. Similar numbers are on RL’s TikTok, where a Jay video has 835,000 plays, behind two promotional spots posted ahead of Wimbledon, one featuring Absolutely Fabulous icon Joanna Lumley, which has 3.7 million views.

Alongside other stars at the event like Lumley, Cynthia Erivo, Liam Hemsworth, Cara Delevingne, Joe Alwyn, Matt Bomer, Robin Wright, Theo James, Cooper Koch and many more, was Krystal Jung, formerly a member of SM Entertainment girl group f(x). Earlier this year, the singer-actress-model teased that she is hoping to release her debut solo album in 2025. The Ralph Lauren heir also posed alongside Krystal, while both K-pop stars snapped photos with Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet as well.

According to shots on the ground during the actual Wimbledon matches, Krystal was seated next to Henry Cavill and his partner Natalie Viscuso in the row behind Cooper Koch and Theo James. Jay was seated in the row behind Jung.

—Rosé is on the cover of Vogue Korea with four different editions.

—But San of ATEEZ is on the cover Arena Homme+ Korea with five different editions. I’ve never seen a K-pop artist put their hands down their pants, but trust the ATEEZ guys to always push the boundaries

—JVKE pulled down the AI-created music video of “butterflies” featuring Tomorrow X Together’s Taehyun and LE SSERAFIM’s Huh Yunjin following fan backlash. There’s still a lyric video if you want to listen to it on YouTube.

—Lim Jimin of boy band JUSTB showed his support when a fan came out to him as trans during an event. When the fan said they were hesitant to share because people can not understand trans people, the star pointed out that the group has Bain (who recently made history as the first active K-pop boy band member to come out) who seemingly helps them understand the LGBTQ+ community. For Pride Month, I spoke with JUSTB about the importance of the band being allies to the community.

—K-Pop fans have mixed opinions about someone showing up to P1Harmony’s fansign event in lingerie tights.

—One final Jennie clip to close the newsletter: