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Kim Wilde: From Pop Princess to Gardening Queen and Back Again

December 23, 2024

Few artists embody the concept of reinvention as completely as Kim Wilde. From dominating the pop charts in the 1980s to cultivating a second career as a gardening expert, Wilde’s journey is...

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The Uncertain Road Ahead: Britney Spears and Her Potential Comeback

December 23, 2024

Britney Spears, a pop icon who has captivated audiences for decades, is once again at the center of media attention. As the star recently celebrated her 43rd birthday in Mexico, questions about her...

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Joe Jonas and Alex Warren Team Up for Powerful New Single ‘Everything I Had’

December 23, 2024

Joe Jonas and Alex Warren have joined forces for their latest collaboration, Everything I Had, a track that highlights the creative synergy between the two artists. Combining Jonas’ polished vocals...

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Zach Bryan: A Modern-Day Storyteller in Music

December 23, 2024

Zach Bryan, a name that resonates with authenticity, raw emotion, and heartfelt storytelling, has taken the music world by storm. With his distinct sound and poetic lyrics, he has become a voice...

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How Timothée Chalamet Found His Voice: Hollywood Coach Shares Training Secrets for Bob Dylan Role

December 23, 2024

Timothée Chalamet’s transformation into music legend Bob Dylan for the upcoming biopic Going Electric is already generating buzz, but what does it take for an acclaimed actor to embody one of the...

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How Phoebe Bridgers Found Her Voice: The Albums That Shaped a Modern Indie Icon

December 22, 2024

Phoebe Bridgers has become a defining voice in indie music, seamlessly blending raw vulnerability with hauntingly beautiful soundscapes. Whether she’s performing solo in her now-iconic skeleton...

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The Uncertain Future of Music Jobs: Study Warns of Massive Cuts in the Next Four Years

December 22, 2024

A recent report commissioned by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) has raised alarms within the music industry, predicting that the rise of generative...

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Hozier’s Latest Hit, ‘Too Sweet’, Showcases His Mastery of Soulful Storytelling

December 22, 2024

Hozier, the Irish singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics and soulful melodies, is making waves once again with his latest single, “Too Sweet”. Released on March 22, 2024, as part of his EP...

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Spotify Wrapped 2024: Taylor Swift Tops the Charts as Women Lead the Global Albums List

December 22, 2024

Spotify Wrapped 2024 has officially dropped, and it’s no surprise that Taylor Swift reigns supreme as the most-streamed artist of the year. Her chart-topping success is a testament to her enduring...

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Harry’s House of Pop Culture: A Space for Fans to Be Themselves

December 22, 2024

Harry Styles, a name synonymous with groundbreaking fashion and boundary-pushing artistry, has become a cultural icon whose influence transcends music. From a young talent on *The X Factor* to a...

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Tyla: South Africa's Rising Star Set to Shine at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards

December 22, 2024

Tyla Laura Seethal, known professionally as Tyla, has rapidly ascended from her Johannesburg roots to international acclaim, blending amapiano rhythms with pop sensibilities to create a distinctive...

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Tate McRae: The Gen Z Powerhouse Changing the Music Scene

December 22, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, artists who resonate with listeners on a deeply personal level often rise to the top. Among this elite group is Tate McRae, a 20-year-old Canadian...

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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.