Author: Samar Khouri

BLACKPINK singer and rapper Lisa has released her much-anticipated single ‘Born Again,’ featuring Doja Cat and RAYE, continuing the themes of empowerment and freedom from her previous track ‘New Woman.’ Cross-cultural collaboration Released through RCA Records and her own management company LLOUD CO., the energetic pop, empowering banger explores post-breakup clarity, with religious imagery symbolizing strength and self-realization. In the music video, the three artists are portrayed as deities, symbolizing empowerment and transformation. While Lisa’s verse focuses on leaving a failed relationship, Doja Cat incorporates references to the Garden of Eden, and Raye’s bridge touches on prayer and the need…

K-pop stars are among the high-profile guests and A-list stars who made appearances at the Haute Couture Week in Paris.

BLACKPINK’s Jisoo has kicked off the next phase of her solo career by signing a global deal with Warner Records before releasing her upcoming debut mini-album, ‘AMORTAGE’ on February 14. New chapter “I’m excited about this new era and the continuation of my musical journey,” the K-pop singer and actress said in a statement. “I feel like I’m just getting started and I’d like to thank the BLINKs for all of their love and support. This is just the beginning and I’m thrilled to kick off this seismic moment with Warner Records.” “There is no question that Jisoo is one…

South Korean medical drama ‘The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call’ debuted third place on Netflix’s top 10 non-English film list with 4.7 million views, the streaming behemoth revealed in its weekly top 10 tally between January 20 and 23, 2025. Debut performance The Netflix original series was in the top 10 TV list in 26 countries. Regionally, it was charting in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It was also the most-watched title in South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Furthermore, it registered 32.6 million hours of viewing time globally. Its debut performance led it to become the third…

The year 2024 witnessed a set of trends, moments, and movements that redefined and reshaped the global music scene, including in the K-pop industry. Here’s a look at the most popular artists and songs in the MENA region last year, based on 2024 data from music charts and audio streaming platforms. Spotify: MENA’s top artist in 2024 was Jung Kook, followed by bandmate Jimin, as per data from January 1 to November 30, 2024. BTS came in third despite not releasing any music as a group for the whole year. Jimin has the most-streamed song in Saudi Arabia, thanks to…

CIX made their first comeback of the year with seventh EP, ‘Thunder Fever,’ marking a new chapter as a quartet following Bae Jin-young’s departure in August 2024. New beginnings The lead track, ‘Thunder,’ is electronic pop release with dynamic beats and intense energy that aligns the EP’s theme of overcoming adversity and confronting emotional turmoil. It compares the chaotic mix of emotions and the overwhelming rush of love to the power of thunder and lightning. The music video features bold visual aesthetics—lightning storms, dark storm clouds and flashes of neon lights—emphasizing the themes of intensity and inner strength. In addition…

K-pop group GOT7 made its full-group comeback after three years with the mini-album, ‘WINTER HEPTAGON.’ 11th-anniversary album The nine-track album is led by ‘PYTHON,’ a song produced by member BamBam that explores the inescapable fate of those destined to be together. The ‘PYTHON’ music video portrays the septet as both glamorous artists on stage and carefree boys in a snowy field. iTunes Chart performance Following its release, ‘WINTER HEPTAGON” debuted atop the iTunes Top Albums chart in 27 regions, including Australia, Brazil, France, and Singapore, and entered the top ranks in 49 regions. Its lead track, ‘PYTHON’ also saw international success,…

ATEEZ’s leader Hongjoong has jumped on rising American-Palestinian artist Odetari’s song ‘SMB.’ It marks Hongjoong’s first international collaboration and his second overall, following Chung Ha’s ‘Eenie Meenie’ in March 2024. The release blends Odetari’s signature style that matches the experimental energy ATEEZ is known. In ‘SMB,’ the K-pop star delivers a rap verse that has garnered attention for its pointed lyrics, which some interpret as a critique of Bang Si Hyuk, the billionaire founder of HYBE. The verse includes lines such as: “Think you’re something, Hitman? If you’ve got time to watch others, better watch your own back.” These lines…

Romantic comedy ‘When the Stars Gossip’ debuted at number 8 on Netflix’s top 10 non-English film list with 2.4 million views, the streaming behemoth revealed in its weekly top 10 tally between January 6 and 12, 2025. Global, regional performance The Netflix series, which debuted on January 4, garnered 10.8 million viewing hours from its release until the end of the viewing window. It reached the top 10 in 19 countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Korean series dominated Netflix’s Non-English TV list during the viewing period, with the second season of Squid Game maintaining its top…

Eugenius, a Korean media company led by entertainment industry veteran Eugena Jung, has secured $3 million in funding from Shorooq, an Abu Dhabi-based alternative investments manager, to bring Korean content to the MENA region. New funding The cross-culture storytelling startup aims to release a range of TV programming such as a football variety show connecting K-pop stars and influencers with former Premier League players in the Middle East, and a K-pop music academy show with K-pop artists and MENA-based talent. “From a K-pop Music Academy Show to a Soccer Variety Series, Eugenius is redefining global entertainment by blending cultures and…