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Phoebe Green’s ‘Ask Me Now’ EP: Embracing Love, Growth, and Artistic Freedom

May 29, 2024

Manchester’s alt-pop sensation Phoebe Green is back with another exhilarating release, offering fans a tantalizing taste of her forthcoming EP ‘Ask Me Now’...

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'American Idol' judge Katy Perry shuts down the 'biggest lie' of the music industry

May 26, 2024

Katy Perry, renowned for her dynamic pop hits and vibrant persona, has revealed a new source of inspiration for her upcoming music. Speaking at the "American Idol"...

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G-Dragon's Anticipated Comeback: A New Chapter for BIGBANG in 2024

May 26, 2024

The music world is buzzing with excitement as G-Dragon, the frontman of the legendary K-pop group BIGBANG, announces his much-anticipated comeback in 2024....

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BTS: Gearing Up for a Mega World Tour Next Year

May 26, 2024

The global music phenomenon BTS is set to captivate the world once again with the news of their upcoming mega world tour scheduled for next year。。。

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Twenty-One Pilots' 'Clancy': A Triumphant Finale to a Decade-Long Saga

May 26, 2024

The end of an era has come for Twenty-One Pilots, and with the release of their latest album, "Clancy," the duo has brought their long-running narrative to a triumphant close...

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Lady Gaga Says Her New Music Is ‘Nothing Like Anything That I’ve Ever Made’

May 25, 2024

Lady Gaga has never shied away from pushing the boundaries of her music, and her recent announcement at the Los Angeles premiere of "Gaga Chromatica Ball" signals...

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Megan Thee Stallion's "Hiss" Climbs to No. 1 Amidst High-Profile Feud

May 25, 2024

Megan Thee Stallion's latest single, "Hiss," has catapulted to the top of the charts, reaching No. 1 as it capitalises on the buzz generated by her recent public feud...

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Kendrick Lamar’s Rise to the Top: Chart-Topping Success Amidst Rap Feud

May 25, 2024

Kendrick Lamar's recent success on the charts marks a significant milestone in his career, highlighting his influence and dominance in the music industry. His diss track "Not Like Us" debuted...

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The Fine Line Between Inspiration and Infringement: Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul’ Lawsuit

May 23, 2024

In the intricate world of music creation, inspiration often blurs the lines between originality and infringement. The recent lawsuit against Beyoncé over her hit song "Break My Soul"...

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Zayn Malik Embraces Minimalism and Rawness in 'Room Under the Stairs'

May 23, 2024

Since leaving One Direction in 2015, Zayn Malik has embarked on a journey of artistic exploration and self-discovery. His solo debut, Mind of Mine (2016), featured the global hit "Pillowtalk"...

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Sony Music Group warns more than 700 companies against using its content to train AI

May 23, 2024

Sony Music Group (SMG) has issued formal notices to over 700 generative AI companies and streaming platforms, prohibiting the unauthorized use of its content for AI model training...

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Joshua Bassett Announces Debut Album ‘The Golden Years’: Here’s When It Arrives

May 23, 2024

Joshua Bassett is going for gold. After years of making waves in the music industry, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter has finally announced the release of his debut studio album, The Golden Years...

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They're Not Real? The Rise in Virtual Kpop Groups

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Photo Source: News24

As virtual technology continues to evolve and we move towards the metaverse future, the K-pop industry has begun delving into all the possibilities. Virtual/ AI groups and performers are becoming increasingly popular and widespread in the K-pop industry. In this article, we’ll dive into a few virtual groups that have debuted in recent years.

AESPA

In November 2020, SM Entertainment debuted Aespa, the first K-pop group with their own AI avatars. The group debuted with the single “Black Mamba” and has released three albums since. Having popularized the metaverse concept in K-pop, the group consists of four members and their virtual counterparts (“aes”). These online avatars have been created from the data that the members have uploaded online, being the reflection of Aepsa.

ETERN!TY

Created by Pulse9’s technology, the group, consisting of 11 members, made their debut in March 2021 with their first single, “I’m Real.” The company started by generating female faces using Deep Real AI, based on the traits: cute, sexy, innocent, and intelligent. Based on fan votes, the winning characters were designed and have been projected onto the faces of actual girls. However, the voices of the members are the voices of the actual singers.

MAVE

MAVE is a four-member girl group, entirely composed of AI members, under Metaverse Entertainment. The group debuted with their single album, “Pandora’s Box” in January 2023. The group’s name means “make a new wave,” as it hopes to create a new wave of K-pop that includes virtual idols. The group is formed through a collaboration between Kakao, an internet company, and Netmarble, a mobile game company.

PLAVE

In March 2023, PLAVE made their debut under Kakao’s VLAST with the single album “Asterum.” Unlike other virtual artists, PLAVE uses computer graphics to create manhwa-style characters in place of the real bodies. Each track on their album was written and composed by the members themselves.

FE:VERSE

FE:VERSE is a virtual 5-member girl group formed by the winners of Kakao’s survival show, GIRL’S RE:VERSE. The group debuted with “CHO” in May 2023. Although the members are virtual, they are played by idols from other K-pop groups.