BY POLARIS_TAE
MONDAY:
#1- We had two new contract updates on Monday. IHQ Talent Agency announced that former SONAMOO member Nahyun has joined their agency with the intention to promote as an actress. Meanwhile, former Busters member, Jeong Jisoo will promote as an actress under SM Entertainment's sub-label SM CC. We look forward to seeing their future activities under their new agencies!
TUESDAY:
#1- A few new rookie groups preparing to make their debut very soon! HYBE's female counterpart to ENHYPEN, I'LL-IT will be making their debut under the conglomerate's BE:LIFT LAB label in March. Then on Friday, FNC shared that they're preparing to debut a new 4-member boy band in 2025. This will be the company's first band since N-Flying's initial debut in 2013. Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming groups?
#2- BLACKPINK's Lisa had some exciting news to share with us this week! The Kpop idol will be joining the cast of the upcoming season of the HBO series, White Lotus. This will be her first foire into acting. She will be the third BLACKPINK member to try her luck at acting following fellow members Jisoo and Jennie in Snowdrop THE IDOL respectively. Nothing has been announced about the premise of this season's story yet, other than that it will take place within Thailand. Are you looking forward to the upcoming season of White Lotus?
WEDNESDAY:
#1- We have some new comeback announcements to share this week! Former LOONA member Chuu made her return on the 13th of February with a surprise Valentines-themed single, 'Chocolate'. Now moving on to upcoming March music releases, and two artists are set to come back with new music next month: DAY6 ICHIILLIN'! DAY6 will make their return in mid-March. This will be the group's first release following their discharge from mandatory military service in 2023.It was previously reported that the group has already begun production on their upcoming music video. ICHILLIN' will return on the 7th of March with a new mini-album, Fellin' Hot and its accompanying title track, 'ON MY LIPS'. Meanwhile, H1-KEY's label, GLG has shared that they will be postponing the release of the group's H1-KEYnote project single, 'Deeper'. The song was originally scheduled to be released on the 15th of February. The company has shared that they will share the new release date at a later date.
THURSDAY:
#1- NewJeans had some exciting news to share with us this week! The group has been selected as new brand models for Lotte Well Food's sugar-free dessert, 'ZERO'. Congrats!
FRIDAY:
#1- There were no relevant updates on Friday.
SATURDAY:
#1- on Saturday it was shared that Ahn Sung-il, the CEO of The Givers' — the agency responsible for the derailment of FIFTY FIFTY — had his case officially forwarded to the prosecution following ATTRAKT's 2023 complaint against the individual. In their June 2023 submission, the company sought damages against Ahn Sung-il on charges of interfering with business — through the poaching of FIFTY FIFTY members — damaging or destroying data or special records — seen through the destruction of documents and their hostile takeover of FIFTY FIFTY's official web page — and occupational breach of trust. Following the announcement that the suit with Ahn would be going forward, ATTRAKT released a statement — translation provided via Soompi — detailing that: "We are also continuing to investigate the additional case that we filed on July 7 last year on charges of occupational embezzlement, counterfeit of private documents, and uttering of falsified private documents", and that they are "confident that additional criminal charges against Ahn Sung Il will be revealed in the future.” What are your thoughts on this case? Do you hope to see Ahn Sung-il facing punishment for his actions against ATTRAKT FIFTY FIFTY?
SUNDAY:
#1- There were no relevant updates on Sunday.
BY DRAGON OF THE WEST POLARIS_TAE
#1. AKB48 - COLORCON WINK
AKB48 — short for Akihabra 48 — is a Japanese supergroup and the first of a series of city-centric groups conceptualized by renowned Japanese music producer Aki-P through the long-running concept of 'idols you can meet'. Through this concept, his groups would have a home theatre — or in the former case of STU48, a ship — where the groups would hold regular performances and events that their fans could attend live and in person. AKB48 were the pioneers of their time and came to popularize concepts that Jpop — as well as Kpop — fans often see as a given within the wider fandom landscape of today such as handshake events and sub-groups. An idol that has become almost synonymous with the name of AKB48 is that of Kashiwagi Yuki, who is the longest-serving AKB48 member — as well as the longest-serving 48G member in total — following her 17-year long tenure with the group from December 2006 all the way up to February 2024. This week, she has officially graduated from the group with the release of their 63rd single 'Colorcon Wink', a bright and upbeat single that acts as a farewell song both through its lyrics, and the presentation of the music video. It celebrates all of her contributions to the group, while also bidding goodbye to her sustained career with the group and into that of a solo artist. Kashiwagi Yuki is one of the few 48G idols to effectively transition into having a successful solo career without having to leave her activities with the wider group. Her departure from AKB48 will likely mark the end of an era with the group, who have been struggling to keep up with Aki-P's newer Sakamichi series groups — Nogizaka46, in particular — as seen through the recent group changes such as the dissolution of the major units within AKB48 its sister groups, though some sister groups such as HKT48 SKE48 have still managed to keep their groups following this official announcement in 2023. Overall, it's a fantastic farewell single to the group's longest-serving contributor. We will miss seeing her as a member of AKB48, but look forward to seeing just how she continues to develop her career as a soloist in the future.
~ Thanks for reading
