(From left) 2NE1 and Blackpink. Pictures: Instagram/@chaelincl, @blackpink
Legendary lady group 2NE1 will reunite for live shows and Blackpink will set off on a much-anticipated world tour subsequent 12 months.
Yang Hyun-suk, founder and chief producer of YG Leisure, revealed the corporate’s short-term plan Monday through its YouTube channel, saying 2NE1 live shows within the second half of this 12 months and Blackpink live shows subsequent 12 months. He additionally hinted that YG Leisure is getting ready a brand new Ok-pop band to debut quickly.
Essentially the most eye-catching announcement is the comeback of 2NE1, almost eight years because it disbanded. In line with Yang, 2NE1 will maintain live shows in Seoul beginning in early October, adopted by performances in Osaka and Tokyo in November and December, respectively.
“We’re at the moment adjusting the schedule for extra exhibits. I imagine these live shows will likely be very particular, because the era that grew up with 2NE1 will have the ability to share their recollections,” Yang mentioned.
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2NE1, YG Leisure’s first lady group, debuted in 2009 and went on to develop into a top-tier second-generation Ok-pop group with quite a few hit songs, equivalent to “I Don’t Care,” “I Am the Greatest,” “Lonely,” “Ugly” and “Come Again House,” earlier than the company abruptly disbanded the group in 2016.
The 2NE1 reunion live shows and Blackpink world tour, seen as a part of YG Leisure’s try at a rebound, are unlikely to achieve attaining that aim, nonetheless.
Business insiders recommend that the Ok-pop powerhouse is merely exploring enterprise alternatives and will be unable to beat its stoop introduced on by the 2018 Burning Solar scandal that continued with the departure of Blackpink members for solo actions final 12 months and the unsuccessful promotion of Child Monster, its newest lady group.
A former official from YG Leisure famous that whereas 2NE1’s comeback holds significance, its total impression stays modest.
“The return of 2NE1 is nice information for the followers. They’ve quite a lot of hit songs, that are nonetheless stylish,” a former YG Leisure official mentioned Tuesday. “Nevertheless, the live shows celebrating the group’s fifteenth anniversary might find yourself a mere pop-up occasion except 2NE1’s comeback is successful and results in a brand new album,” the official mentioned. “It appears extra about fostering unity (between 2NE1 and YG Leisure) and creating alternatives for his or her additional engagement.”
YG Leisure additionally admitted that Yang’s announcement lacked particular intentions and was merely a sharing of the corporate’s short-term agenda.
The return of Blackpink as an entire group subsequent 12 months is one other notable announcement. Yang hinted, “Subsequent 12 months marks the start of Blackpink’s comeback and world tour.”
Blackpink, which debuted in 2016 following within the footsteps of 2NE1, has launched a bevy of hit songs that embody “Boombayah,” “Kill This Love” and “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du,” establishing itself as a world idol group. With Large Bang on a “hiatus” and 2NE1 disbanded, Blackpink has been a vital driver of YG Leisure’s enterprise.
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Nevertheless, final December, Blackpink members solely renewed their group contract with YG Leisure, leaving the corporate for solo actions. Rose moved to The Black Label, whereas the opposite three established impartial labels.
YG Leisure is in want of latest mental property, which is predicted to be addressed by the upcoming new Ok-pop band that Yang talked about.
Nevertheless, the leisure firm has confronted criticism for failing to innovate musically after Blackpink.
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“YG Leisure is all about hip-hop music, which is its identification, however this has prevented them from following international music tendencies and introducing new teams with totally different kinds,” a neighborhood leisure official mentioned Wednesday. “BabyMonster, for instance, doesn’t differ a lot in model from Blackpink, which is why it failed to realize international recognition like Blackpink.”
Music critic Kim Do-heon believes YG Leisure ought to use this momentum correctly. “Yang disclosed the corporate’s short-term street map, which has garnered quite a lot of fan expectations. … The important thing level is whether or not it could possibly bounce again from the brink of failure to success,” Kim mentioned Tuesday.
“What’s essential is whether or not 2NE1’s actions contain releasing a brand new album or if YG Leisure is simply supporting its tour. Beforehand, YG relied closely on Blackpink as its primary mental property, however now it has the extra asset of 2NE1. This will increase their strategic choices,” Kim added.
