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Selena Gomez: A Unique Popstar

July 31, 2023

Selena Gomez, the multi-talented American singer, songwriter, and actress, has undoubtedly shown her role in the music industry. With her captivating voice, relatable lyrics, and...

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Lana Del Rey’s Unique Music Style

July 31, 2023

In a sea of modern-day artists, Lana Del Rey stands out like a rare gem. With her hauntingly soulful voice and captivating lyrics, she has carved out a niche for herself in the music industry...

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Soundscapes: The Powerful Relationship Between Music and Our Feelings

July 31, 2023

Music has the remarkable power to connect with our emotions, taking us on a rollercoaster ride of feelings and sensations. Whether it's a heartwarming melody that brings tears...

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Treasure Drop 2nd Album 'Reboot'

July 31, 2023

The long-awaited album is officially out! Treasure has released their second full-length album, 'Reboot,' in which they show-off improved versions of themselves. The album's vibrant title track...

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Kendrick Lamar - A Modern Musical Genius

July 28, 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern music, Kendrick Lamar stands out as a true musical genius. With a unique blend of deep and meaningful lyrics, masterful storytelling...

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Justin Bieber Sells His Share of Song Rights for $200 million

July 28, 2023

The Canadian pop star sells his share of rights to his music to Hipnosis Songs Capital for just over $200 million. He has sold some of his biggest hit songs, such as Baby and Sorry...

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Re-recording Taylor Swift's “Speak Now”

July 28, 2023

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has been taking the music world with her re-recorded albums. Among these highly anticipated re-releases is "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)"...

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Powfu: The Rising Star of Lo-fi Hip-hop

July 25, 2023

There are always new artists emerging in the hip-hop scene that have unique and captivating sounds. Powfu, born Isaiah Faber, grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and has been gathering a large fanbase...

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How Yoko Kanno Brilliantly Made the Soundtrack of Netflix's Cowboy Bebop

July 21, 2023

When it comes to anime soundtracks, there are plenty of contenders, but one stands tall above the rest – Cowboy Bebop. Released in 1998, this genre-defying space western captivated audiences...

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NewJeans Drop 2nd EP ‘Get Up’

July 23, 2023

NewJeans is a girl-group composed of 5 members, Hanni, Minji, Danielle, Haerin and Hyein. Newjeans debuted in 2022 with their EP 'NewJeans,' bringing a totally new attitude to the K-pop industry...

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Billie Eilish joins ‘Barbie’ hype with new release ‘What was I made for?’

July 21, 2023

The upcoming 'Barbie' film, scheduled for release on July 21st, has captured the hearts of fans who have long admired the animated Barbie films. Greta Girwig's live-action remake of the famous film...

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Songwriting BTS’ Jungkook New Single “SEVEN” ft. Latto

July 21, 2023

BTS, the global sensation, continues to astound the music industry with their incredible music and meaningful lyrics. Among the members, Jungkook, also referred to as the "Golden Maknae," is.....

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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.