Happy Friday! This became an unexpectedly busy week after BTS’ major Grammy decision on Wednesday that I feel like threw the entire music industry into a discourse that is far from over. I wrote my thoughts on Billboard and shared some more on CBS Mornings. If you want to share your thoughts with the newsletter readers (on or off the record — you can ask to stay anonymous), hit reply!

CORTIS, “MOTION (feat. Juicy J)” — A surprise collaboration single released ahead of CORTIS’ Lollapalooza debut this weekend, “MOTION” fits well into the group’s established sound with Juicy J fitting well in with the guys while still holding his own. While it’s been a minute since I can remember Juicy J scoring a megahit, but “MOTION” is a good look for everyone involved and continues to show BIGHIT MUSIC’s unparalleled A&R abilities.

Mark Tuan, “Alone” — Surprisingly, delightfully funky, the latest single from the Los Angeles–based GOT7 member brings in the likes of Tone Stith (who has collaborations with H.E.R., Ty Dolla $ign, Kiana Ledé) and Petoye Beats (Doechii, Jhené Aiko, Trippie Red). “Alone” dabbles with overthinking, restlessness and late-night drives you take to leave your own head.

Stray Kids, Four Tracks From SKZ-REPLAY 2026 Pt.1 — The chart-topping group released a 17-track compilation, pulling songs that previously lived only on their YouTube series SKZ-RECORD and SKZ-PLAYER onto streaming for the first time, as well as solo cuts previously performed on tour. Stray Kids have framed it as a gift for the eighth anniversary of their fans, STAY, but it doubles a way to get fans back in a streaming mood exactly one week before their new albumTHIS & THAT arrives on August 7. SKZ’s last Korean release opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,000 units (the fifth-largest sales week for a K-pop album in the U.S.) and T&T should likely post similarly high numbers.

Here are the four English tracks from the compilation as crossover-ready tracks:

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Plus, the following K-pop albums are having their official physical releases in the U.S. this week to make the most potential chart impact:

Another notable crossover records from this week:

COMING SOON RELEASE CALENDAR

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