AESPA

Aespa (/ˈɛsˌpɑː/ ES-pah; Korean: 에스파; RR: eseupa; MR: esŭp'a, commonly stylized in all lowercase or æspa) is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group consists of four members: Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The group is known for popularizing the metaverse concept and hyperpop music in K-pop.^[1][2][3]

Aespa debuted on November 17, 2020, with the single "Black Mamba", which achieved the highest number of views in 24 hours for a K-pop group's debut video. Their second single, "Next Level", was released in May 2021 to widespread commercial and critical success, peaking at number two on the Circle Digital Chart and earning the Daesang^[a] for Song of the Year at the 19th Korean Music Awards. In October of the same year, Aespa released their first extended play (EP) Savage, which became the highest-charting debut album by a K-pop girl group on the US Billboard 200 chart at number 20, while its title track peaked at number two in South Korea.

2024–present: Second concert tour, Armageddon, "Hot Mess" and Whiplash

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On January 9, 2024, SM announced that Aespa would be releasing a remake of "Regret of the Times", a single originally by Seo Taiji and Boys. The remake was released on January 15.^[101] On February 19, it was announced that Aespa would be embarking on their second world tour, Synk: Parallel Line, kicking off in Seoul on June 29 and 30.^[102]

On April 21, it was announced that Aespa would be releasing their first studio album Armageddon on May 27. The album is led by two title tracks "Supernova", which was pre-released on May 13, and "Armageddon", which was released together with the entire album.^[103] "Supernova" was a commercial success in South Korea and achieved perfect all-kill status, as it simultaneously reached number one on the real-time, daily, and weekly compo

nents of iChart.^[104] It became the group's first song to top the Circle Digital Chart,^[105] and their first top-ten hit on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, peaking at number six.^[106]

On June 3, it was announced that Aespa would be releasing their first Japanese single "Hot Mess" on July 3. The single marked the group's Japanese debut and includes two other songs "Sun and Moon" and "Zoom Zoom", the latter previously released on October 6, 2023, as the ending theme song to the anime series and franchise Beyblade X.^[107] Later on June 29 and 30, when kicking off their second world tour at Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Aespa revealed four solo tracks, one from each member.^[108] The solo tracks were later released in Synk: Parallel Line, their first digital single album, on October 9.^[109] Despite not having officially debuted as a soloist, Karina went on to win a solo music show award for the first time at Show! Music Core for her solo track, "Up", on October 19.^[110]

On September 23, it was announced that Aespa would be releasing their fifth extended play Whiplash on October 21, containing six tracks including the lead single of the same name.^[111] On November 15, the group won the Artist of the Year award at the inaugural TikTok Awards Korea event.^[112]

Rosé

Roseanne Park MBE (born 11 February 1997), better known by her stage name Rosé (Korean: 로제), is a New Zealand and South Korean singer.^[1] Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Rosé signed with South Korean label YG Entertainment following a successful audition in 2012 and trained for four years before debuting as a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink in August 2016.

2023–present: Solo activities and Rosie

On 5 December 2023, YG Entertainment announced that Rosé along with the other members of Blackpink had renewed their contracts for group activities and that the members' individual contracts were still under discussion.^[40] YG Entertainment subsequently confirmed on 29 December 2023 that Rosé and the other Blackpink members agreed not to proceed with a contract with the label for individual activities.^[41] In celebration of her 27th birthday on 11 February 2024, Rosé teased the upcoming release of new solo music and shared a snippet of a new song called "Vampirehollie".^[42] On 4 April, she released the song "Final Love Song" as the theme song for the survival reality show I-Land 2: N/a.^[43]

The Black Label, an associate company of YG Entertainment founded by Blackpink's main producer Teddy, disclosed on 17 June that they were in discussions with Rosé regarding an exclusive contract; it was confirmed the following day that she signed a management contract with the label.^[44][45] It was later revealed on 26 September that she had signed a solo deal with Atlantic Records.^[46] She recorded a cover of Coldplay's 2008 song "Viva la Vida" for the trailer and finale of the Apple TV+ series Pachinko's second season in 2024.^[47]

On 1 October, Rosé announced that her debut studio album Rosie would be released on 6 December 2024.^[48] On 18 October, she pre-released the album's lead single "Apt." in collaboration with American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars.^[49] The song was a huge commercial success worldwide and became Rosé's second number-one single on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. charts.^[50] It topped the charts in several countries including New Zealand and Australia, where it became the first song by a solo female K-pop artist to reach number one on the ARIA Singles Chart.^[51][52] The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, marking the first time a female K-pop soloist reached the top ten.^[53] In the United States, it debuted at eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, making Rosé the first female K-pop artist to enter the chart's top ten in history.^[54] On 22 November, Rosé pre-released her album's second single "Number One Girl".^[55] It was announced on 25 November that she signed a global publishing administration deal with Warner Chappell Music.^[56] Her album's third single "Toxic Till the End" was released on 6 December alongside the album.^[57]