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☆ How Do ‘Barbie’ and Blackpink Figure in a Dangerous Territorial Dispute?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Mike Ives | More About Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Of all the things that could inflame tensions in a region that could someday be a theater of war between superpowers, the movie “Barbie” was not an obvious catalyst. The authorities in Vietnam this week banned the upcoming Greta Gerwig film over a map in “Barbie” that they said shows a Chinese map of territory in the South China Sea, where the two neighbors have competing claims. The Philippines, another Southeast Asian country that disputes China’s territorial claims in the sea, is now deciding whether to ban the star-studded film as well. And Vietnam said on Thursday that it was investigating a South China Sea map on the website of a company promoting Blackpink, a K-pop band scheduled to perform in Hanoi this month. But Vietnam’s responses make more sense if they are viewed within historical and political contexts.

Persons: Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig Locations: Vietnam, South China, Philippines, China, Hanoi

☆ Vietnam probes Blackpink concert organiser over South China Sea map
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HANOI, July 6 (Reuters) - Vietnam has launched an inspection into K-pop group Blackpink's tour organiser's website, ahead of its concert in Hanoi, over criticism from fans that it shows a map of the South China Sea with disputed boundaries. Chinese organiser iME Entertainment and South Korean agency YG Entertainment (122870.KQ), which manages Blackpink, had no immediate comment. The organiser's website was inaccessible on Thursday but a cached version seen by Reuters and last updated on July 4, shows a vague nine-dash line that encompasses nearly the whole South China Sea. Vietnam and China have long had overlapping territorial claims to a potentially energy-rich stretch in the waterway. The culture ministry's move followed complaints by Vietnamese internet users who noticed the nine-dash line on the organiser's website.

Persons: Phuong Nguyen, Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Hyunsu Yim, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Warner Bros, Vietnam, iME Entertainment, YG Entertainment, Reuters, Facebook, Thomson Locations: HANOI, Vietnam, Hanoi, South, South China, Korean, China, The Hague, Seoul

LOS ANGELES, July 6 (Reuters) - Warner Bros (WBD.O) studio on Thursday said a map in its upcoming "Barbie" movie of the South China Sea is a "child-like" drawing with no intended significance, days after Vietnam said it would ban the film over the map. Vietnam balked at a scene of the map that shows China's unilaterally claimed territory in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday. “The map in Barbie Land is a whimsical, child-like crayon drawing," the studio said in a statement. Vietnamese authorities objected to a scene showing a map that includes the so-called nine-dash line, the newspaper said. "Barbie" is the latest movie to be banned in Vietnam for depicting China's nine-dash line, which was repudiated in an international arbitration ruling by a court in The Hague in 2016.

Persons: China's, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Warner Bros, Kien Thanh, Danielle Broadway, Lisa Richwine, Mary Milliken, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Warner Bros, Warner, Vietnam, Department of Cinema, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, South China, Vietnam, Barbie, United States, The Hague, China, Hanoi, South, Los Angeles

Shares of K-pop agencies dipped briefly on Wednesday after a reported investigation by South Korea's antitrust watchdog. The report said government agencies sent "examiners" to the offices of Hybe, SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, according to a CNBC translation of the article. Hybe, the agency behind BTS, saw its shares fall as much as 3%, while SM Entertainment fell as low as 2.19%. When contacted by CNBC, South Korea's FTC said they could not confirm or deny the Yonhap report. Hybe said that it has no comments, while YG Entertainment and SM Entertainment did not respond to requests seeking comments to the Yonhap report.

Persons: Lisa, Jennie, Yonhap, Hybe, — CNBC's Kimberly Kao Organizations: Coachella, Valley Music, Arts Festival, Korea's Fair Trade Commission, Yonhap, SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, CNBC, South, FTC Locations: INDIO , CALIFORNIA, Indio , California, South Korean, Hybe

☆ BTS 10th anniversary: Superfans make pilgrimage to South Korea to celebrate the K-pop band that conquered the globe
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Kathleen Magramo Yoonjung Seo Paula Hancocks | Kathleen Magramo | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Scroll through the gallery to see how the K-pop group went global. ilgan Sports/Multi-Bits/Getty Images BTS fans at the "Love Yourself" North American Tour at the Staples Center on September 9, 2018 in Los Angeles. Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/Getty Images BTS won all three awards they were nominated for at the 2021 American Music Awards held in Los Angeles. Theo Wargo/Getty Images BTS addressed Asian inclusion and representation at the White House in Washington, DC on May 31, 2022. “Being in America and not seeing that much of Asian representation, when I saw that seven Asian guys were trending … that totally like piqued my interest immediately.

Persons: Rowan Joss, Katie Myles ’, they’re, ’ ”, Joss, HYBE, Myles, Kim Tae, Jung Ho, Kim Nam, Kim Seok, Jeon Jung, kook, Min Yoon, Psy’s, ”, Chelsea Guglielmino, Jimmy Fallon, Andrew Lipovsky, Matt Winkelmeyer, Theo Wargo, Kent Nishimura, CedarBough Saeji, ” Saeji, Katie Myles, –, hasn’t, Anthony Wallace, ’, Lisa Trinh, Diana Phung, they’ve, Trinh, they’ll, Jimin, Hwang Young, Startrip, Yoonjung Seo, Jungkook, dad, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, it’s, Michelle Cho, It’s, Phung Organizations: Seoul CNN —, BTS, Records, YouTube, ilgan, Staples Center, Chelsea, NBC, Getty, White, Los Angeles Times, East Asian Studies, Pusan National University, ARMY, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Tower, CNN, The, Guinness, Spotify, University of Toronto Locations: Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, Scotland, Los Angeles, Washington , DC, Korean, AFP, Seoul’s, California, Gangwon province, Busan, Korea, Cafe, America

☆ Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos to visit S.Korea this month - Yonhap
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 7 (Reuters) - Netflix Inc's (NFLX.O) co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos is planning a two-day visit to South Korea from June 20 to meet Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other key officials, Yonhap News Agency reported on Wednesday. Sarandos' decision to visit comes about two months after the U.S. streaming service announced its plans to invest $2.5 billion in South Korea over the next four years to produce Korean TV series, movies and unscripted shows. Sarandos met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Washington in April, catering to international success enjoyed by South Korea's entertainment industry in recent years. Known as the "Korean Wave" or Hallyu, the country's entertainment industry has enjoyed a global boom in recent years. Reporting by Rahat Sandhu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ted Sarandos, Han Duck, Sarandos, Yoon Suk, Rahat Sandhu, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Netflix, Yonhap News Agency, Reuters, South, Thomson Locations: South Korea, U.S, Washington, Bengaluru

☆ For Some, the Only Reason to Watch ‘The Idol’ Is for Blackpink’s Jennie
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Wilson Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Not the main character Jocelyn, the show’s aspiring idol played by Lily-Rose Depp, but Dyanne, one of Jocelyn’s backup dancers portrayed by Jennie Kim, better known as Jennie of the K-pop girl group Blackpink. Blackpink — which consists of Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé — has become one of the most globally recognized K-pop acts in recent years. Though Jennie isn’t the only member of the group to try her hand at acting, she may have its most high-profile role. On the internet, clips abound praising Jennie in her acting debut. In one widely circulated scene, Dyanne, eyes half-lidded, lips parted and hair perfectly tousled, shows Jocelyn how to do the choreography for her new single.

Persons: Sam Levinson, ”, Amy Seimetz, Rolling Stone, Jocelyn, Lily, Rose Depp, Jennie Kim, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé —, Jennie isn’t Organizations: HBO, Idol, Cannes Film

Last year the former leader of Yoon’s party hit out at what he said was the “evil influence” YouTube channels. “After President Yoon Suk Yeol came to power, there have been many cases where the presidential office filed complaints to the media,” Jung said. It has since consistently ranked top in terms of real-time daily viewership on YouTube in South Korea. To Professor Jung, it’s a success that demonstrates “voices cannot be silenced.”Kim, meanwhile, hopes to build a show with as much recognition as any on traditional media. “I will create a type of press that has not yet existed on YouTube,” Kim said.

☆ After Warmth From Biden, South Korea’s Leader Faces a Different Tune at Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Yoon Suk Yeol went to Washington to reset South Korean diplomacy by drawing closer to the United States and taking a larger role on the international stage. If the warmth of his reception there was the gauge of success, he did well. President Biden welcomed him as “my friend.” Mr. Yoon belted out “American Pie” while the crowd whooped along during the White House dinner. “Even if you didn’t know my name, you may know BTS and Blackpink,” Mr. Yoon said to chuckles from American lawmakers. “BTS beat me to the White House.

☆ YouTube offered shopping features for viewers to buy merch during the Coachella livestream event, part of its continued testing in the space
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

YouTube sold merch virtually during the official Coachella livestream event. Viewers could purchase the merch exclusively through YouTube Shopping. YouTube Shopping partnered with Coachella to sell exclusive merch during the platform's annual livestream event. The Coachella products were made available for purchase directly on the livestream and through YouTube shorts on Coachella's YouTube channel. Alphabet execs mentioned YouTube's shopping efforts during its Q1 earnings call on Tuesday, highlighting that there were more than 100,000 stores connected to sell products on YouTube Shopping.

☆ BTS, one of the biggest celebrity accounts on Twitter, has refused to pay Musk $8 for a blue tick
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

K-Pop supergroup BTS — like hundreds of other celebrities — lost its blue checkmark on Twitter. At press time, the band had not paid to restore its blue checkmark under Elon Musk's Twitter Blue. On Thursday, Musk tweeted that he's personally funding some celebrities' Twitter Blue statuses — but did not specifically say whose subscriptions he's paying for. It's unclear who's paying for the Twitter Blue subscriptions on Hybe's and BTS' official accounts. Other K-Pop groups have also refused to give Musk $8 for Twitter Blue.

☆ I grew up in Coachella Valley. Here are 10 mistakes I see tourists make when they visit for the music festival.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Kaitlin Clapinski | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewI was raised in the Coachella Valley, a destination known for its excessive heat, older demographics, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Getting home with a rideshare is also challenging since the cell service on the festival grounds isn't always great. Related storiesIf you can, rent a locker on the festival grounds and store a jacket for later. The need for a cohesive outfit should never override functionality, especially at a music festival. The music festival has water-bottle-refill stations and they usually aren't super crowded, in my experience.

Persons: —, I've, isn't, Kaitlin Clapinski, fanny, groaning, BLACKPINK Organizations: Service, Coachella Valley Music, Arts, Business, Coachella Locations: Coachella, Santa

☆ Blackpink's Jisoo makes solo debut with 'ME'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, March 31 (Reuters) - K-pop group Blackpink's Jisoo became the last member to make a solo debut with her EP "ME" released on Friday. Many meetings and a lot of thought went into her first record, she said, before adding that she was not nervous about her solo debut. Rose and Lisa also made their solo debut in 2021. Earlier this month, the K-pop superstars also became the most-streamed female band on streaming app Spotify, according to Guinness World Records. Their songs had a whopping 8,880,030,049 individual streams, overtaking British pop group Little Mix, Guinness World Records said at that time.

☆ The Arnaults are betting big on K-Pop, and it shows the power of South Korea's luxury spending machine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Experts tell Insider this is a calculated move to tap into the booming South Korean market. A targeted move to win over the South Korean marketBTS member Jimin (left) and BLACKPINK singer Rosé. "Fashion trends tend to be created and adopted in South Korea, before being diffused to other markets in Asia," Dubois said. She also said South Korea is "increasingly known" for its K-Pop stars, movies, and shows in the US — which helps with promotions stateside too. Once the COVID situation settles, it is possible that Chinese tourists, with their spending power, return to Korea," Kim said.

Bad Bunny continues to break barriers seemingly every other week — and rightfully so. He is now the first Latin American artist and the first Spanish-language musician to headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Blackpink perform at Sahara Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival, in Indio, Calif., on April 19, 2019. Other notable performers at Coachella this year include Rosalía, Calvin Harris, Gorillaz, Pusha T, Bjork, Becky G, SG Lewis, Burna Boy, EarthGang, Labrinth and Chemical Brothers. Bad Bunny is expected to perform on both Fridays, Blackpink will go on both Saturdays, and Frank Ocean will close out both Sundays.

☆ BTS fandom tech firm Weverse reaches beyond K-Pop
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We are a fandom business," Weverse President Joon Choi told Reuters. The app also currently has more than 80 teams of artists represented including BTS, and about 8-9 million monthly active users. However, Weverse users' 'superfan' qualities make engagement in those services turbo-charged, Choi said. Users are based in more than 200 countries and only about 10% of the app users speak Korean, Choi said. Top 5 countries Weverse users are from include Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, the United States and South Korea.

☆ Zelenskyy and the Spirit of Ukraine win Time’s 2022 Person of the Year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the spirit of Ukraine have been named Time’s 2022 Person of the Year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But the answer as to why he did it was simple: “It’s the people.”“My security was 100% against it,” Zelenskyy told Time during the trip to Kherson. “Zelenskyy gives me confidence,” a 35-year-old woman identified as Natasha in Ukraine told TODAY. In addition to Zelenskyy, Felsenthal revealed the women of Iran as 2022’s Heroes of the Year.

☆ K-Pop Sells Out Arenas. Can ‘KPOP’ Sell Broadway Tickets?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Ashley Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

K-pop is one of the most commercially successful music genres in the world. The heartthrob boy band BTS once grossed $33 million in ticket sales for a concert event. Blackpink, a girl group whose members have become style icons, sold more than 1 million copies of its debut album in a month. Now, as live theaters are struggling to bring audiences back, can the magic extend to Broadway ticket sales?

☆ CEO of multimillion-dollar company Casetify shares his No. 1 'super underrated' business tip
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Ng now runs his own business, Casetify, with the same philosophy. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the tech accessory brand is most well-known for its wide range of trendy phone cases. Wesley Ng Co-founder and CEO, CasetifyTo date, Casetify said it has sold more than 15 million phone cases worldwide. BootstrappingCasetify was first launched as an e-commerce platform back in 2011 that allows customers to customize phone cases with Instagram photos. There are currently 19 stores globally, where customers can design their own phone cases and "get it within 30 minutes," he added.

☆ American Music Awards 2022: See the winners list
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The 50th American Music Awards are taking place on Sunday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Elton John, first nominated for an AMA in 1974, is now regarded as the longest-recognized artist in the awards show’s history. Taylor Swift led the pack with three AMA wins ahead of broadcast, including best female country artist. Below is a list of nominees for this year’s American Music Awards. The list will be updated with winners in bold throughout the broadcast, along with the winners from non-televised categories.

☆ The K-pop ETF hasn't been doing well, but its creator says Korean content is at 'inflection point'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Since its launch on Sept. 1, the KPOP and Korean entertainment ETF has not performed well — recently trading on the New York Stock Exchange Arca at $15.05 — a roughly 23% drop from its debut. Shares of Korean entertainment companies have been underperforming overall, with YG Entertainment's stock price down around 26% year-to-date and Hybe down more than 64% year-to-date. The fund is a 30-stock index, which includes entertainment companies that manage bands such as BTS, BlackPink, and Twice — their respective agencies being HYBE, YG Entertainment, and SM Entertainment. Shares of Korean entertainment companies have been underperforming overall. Johnny Nunez | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

☆ Bad Bunny dominates American Music Award nominations
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bad Bunny performs during his World's Hottest Tour at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, U.S., September 30, 2022. Bad Bunny received a total of eight AMA nominations and will compete for artist of the year against British singers Adele and Harry Styles and Canadian musician The Weeknd. Bad Bunny's other nods included favorite male pop artist, favorite music video and favorite touring artist. If Bad Bunny wins all eight awards he is eligible for, he would tie 1980s superstars Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston for the most AMA wins in a single year. In country music categories, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen are among the nominees for favorite male country artist.

☆ American Music Awards 2022: See the full list of nominees
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Puerto Rican performer is the most-nominated artists for the 2022 American Music Awards, earning eight nominations, among them his first-ever for artist of the year. Beyoncé, Drake and Taylor Swift each earned six nominations, while Adele, Harry Styles and The Weeknd came in with five a piece. And elsewhere, Elton John made history for what the show called being “the longest-recognized artists” in the show’s history. The show also boasted about the addition of a new category dedicated to the K-Pop genre, favorite K-Pop artist. The American Music Awards will air Sunday, November 20 at 8 p.m.

☆ Factbox: Key nominees for the 2022 American Music Awards
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Nominations were announced on Thursday for the 2022 American Music Awards. Fan votes will determine the winners, and the awards will be presented at a televised ceremony in Los Angeles on Nov. 20. Following is a list of key nominations:ARTIST OF THE YEARAdeleRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBad BunnyBeyonceDrakeHarry StylesTaylor SwiftThe WeekndNEW ARTIST OF THE YEARDove CameronGAYLELattoManeskinSteve LacyCOLLABORATION OF THE YEARCarolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast -- "We Don’tTalk About Bruno"Elton John & Dua Lipa -- "Cold Heart"Future featuring Drake & Tems -- "Wait for U"Lil Nas X ft. Jack Harlow -- "Industry Baby"The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber -- "Stay"FAVORITE TOURING ARTISTBad BunnyColdplayEd SheeranElton JohnThe Rolling StonesFAVORITE MUSIC VIDEOAdele -- "Easy On Me”Bad Bunny featuring Chencho Corleone -- "Me Porto Bonito"Harry Styles -- "As It Was"Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow -- "INDUSTRY BABY"Taylor Swift -- "All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)"FAVORITE MALE POP ARTISTBad BunnyDrakeEd SheeranHarry StylesThe WeekndFAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTISTAdeleBeyonceDoja CatLizzoTaylor SwiftFAVORITE POP DUO OR GROUPBTSColdplayImagine DragonsManeskinOneRepublicFAVORITE POP SONGAdele -- "Easy On Me"Carolina Gaitan, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast -- "We Don’tTalk About Bruno"Harry Styles -- "As It Was"Lizzo -- "About Damn Time"The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber -- "STAY"FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTISTChris StapletonCody JohnsonLuke CombsMorgan WallenWalker HayesFAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTISTCarrie UnderwoodLainey WilsonMaren MorrisMiranda LambertTaylor SwiftFAVORITE COUNTRY DUO OR GROUPDan + ShayLady AOld DominionParmaleeZac Brown BandFAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTISTDrakeFutureKendrick LamarLil BabyLil DurkFAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTISTCardi BGloRillaLattoMegan Thee StallionNicki MinajFAVORITE ROCK ARTISTImagine DragonsMachine Gun KellyManeskinRed Hot Chili PeppersThe LumineersFAVORITE K-POP ARTISTBLACKPINKBTSSeventeenTomorrow X TogetherTwiceRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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☆ Saint Laurent heats up Eiffel Tower runway with sizzling Parisian glamour
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A model presents a creation by designer Anthony Vaccarello as part of his Spring-Summer 2023 Women's ready-to-wear collection show for fashion house Saint Laurent during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 27, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna GeronPARIS, Sept 28 (Reuters) - French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent took to an open-air runway facing the glowing Eiffel Tower to showcase designer Anthony Vaccarello's summer collection of sleek eveningwear. Sticking mostly to monochrome looks - the first model was dressed in olive tones - Vaccarello threw the spotlight on the silhouettes. After the show, which closed the second day of Paris Fashion Week, guest including Carla Bruni and Rossy de Palma lingered for photos with friends. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Mimosa Spencer; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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