logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
26m 55s

NewJeans, Hybe, and the battle at the he...

CBC
About this episode

There’s a very messy and public fight between Hybe and the CEO of its subsidiary label ADOR, Min Hee-jin, who produces the popular K-pop group NewJeans. Michelle Cho and Jennifer Zhan look at what this feud says about the high stakes of the K-pop economy and the future of NewJeans. Plus, Afrobeats superstar Rema continues to reinvent himself with his new album 'HEIS'. Music journalist Matt Amha talks about why this album is significant not only for the artist, but also for upholding African heritage and Rema's musical legacy.

Up next
Today
The doubt surrounding Amy Griffin’s memoir The Tell, and what MTV’s Catfish taught us about the Internet
One of the bestselling books of the year has to be The Tell by Amy Griffin. It's a memoir about how MDMA-assisted therapy helped her unearth this buried childhood trauma, but a New York Times investigation is now casting doubt on the book. Elamin chats with Nathan Maharaj and Jen ... Show More
33m 21s
Yesterday
Mariah Carey's new album, and why she's still one of the most iconic singers of our time
Elamin is joined by culture critics Pablo The Don and Michael Blackmon, along with Juno nominated singer Tanika Charles to discuss ‘Here For It All’ - the new album from Mariah Carey, and why she remains one of the most iconic singer/songwriters of our time. Fill out our listener ... Show More
25m 35s
Oct 7
The pressure on writers to write the next bestseller, and the Japanese film Demon Slayer
There’s a mounting pressure on writers to turn their debut books into bestsellers, but it hasn’t always been this way. The Walrus writer Tajja Isen and author Jen Sookfong Lee join Elamin to talk about how publishers are relying on incomplete data to predict the next big thing, i ... Show More
25m 11s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
BLACKPINK - Rise of the K-Pop Queens and Global Phenomenon
This comprehensive episode chronicles the meteoric rise of BLACKPINK, the wildly popular K-pop girl group. It covers their carefully curated formation by YG Entertainment, trailblazing debut that shook the K-pop world, global tours and record-breaking music releases like "DDU-DU ... Show More
13m 24s
Apr 2025
K-pop Stans (teaser)
Ever since Seo Taiji and Boys broke onto the scene in their baggy overalls back in 1992, Korea has been working to cast as wide a cultural net as possible on the world stage. And, by placing young talent through rigorous game show incubators and pumping out dozens of attractive, ... Show More
5m 49s
Dec 2019
96 - The Rise of BTS
What makes BTS so successful? It's a question with no simple or single answer. Join Kayla and Bethany as they discuss the multitude of components that have contributed to the rise and popularity of BTS worldwide, regardless of linguistic and geographical barriers. Let us know ... Show More
1h 10m
Dec 2024
Who’s got the power? K-pop stars, their label, or their fans?
K-pop girl group NewJeans announced they were leaving their record label during an emergency press conference last week. This follows months of public disagreements between the label, the band, and fans. But the group is tied into a contract until 2029. So, what happens now?Our r ... Show More
16m 51s
Aug 2024
How AI is changing K-pop
IITERNITI, formerly Eternity, is a South Korean pop group created entirely by artificial intelligence. The group first launched back in 2021, and now has millions of views online. And they’re not the only ones. There are other AI K-pop groups around too. BBC reporter Iqra Farooq ... Show More
14m 48s
Feb 2018
4- Billboard Does BTS Proud
Billboard had the pleasure of interviewing BTS in Seoul at the Korea House. Journalist E. Alex Jung provided us with a well-written, thoughtful article that asked meaningful, fulfilling questions that each BTS member deserves. After all the poor interviews done in America during ... Show More
51m 54s
Feb 2024
The Cult of K-Pop
We have NEVER had such a hard time finding a guest brave enough to appear on the show than we did for the week's episode on the flashy, fanatical, downright culty (sorry!!!) world of K-Pop. Thank goddess that Lai Frances, music reporter and expert in the "cult" at hand, was down ... Show More
1 h
Jun 2025
The Tragic Downfall of a K-Pop Idol - The Goo Hara story
Goo Hara was a South Korean singer and actress who rose to fame as a member of the K-pop girl group Kara in 2008, later embarking on a successful solo career in Japan . Despite professional success, she endured relentless online harassment, a traumatic breakup in which her ex-boy ... Show More
8m 19s