2018 has been an incredible year for the music industry with many phenomenal records being released. It has also been a successful year for the migration of KPOP into the Western music industry, with one of the biggest success stories of 2018 being BlackPink. The fab four-piece, consisting of Jennie, Rosé, Jisoo and Lisa, have had the biggest year of their career, with many achievements to be proud of.
Square Up and DDU-DU DDU-DU
June 15th saw the long-awaited comeback mini album ‘Square Up’, consisting of four fantastic songs including the record-breaking title track ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU.’ The track garnered a phenomenal 36.2 million views in 24 hours, becoming the second most watched music video in 24 hours at the time of release. ‘DDU-DU DDU-DU’ made history by becoming the highest charting single by a Korean girl group on the Billboard Hot 100, landing in at number 55, while simultaneously becoming the first ever Korean girl group to enter the UK Official Charts at number 78. Simultaneously in South Korea, the single hit number one on the Gaon Download chart.
Square Up sold an incredible 102,001 sales on the Hanteo chart in South Korea and landed straight at Number One on the Gaon Weekly Album chart. Blackpink now hold the record for the highest peaking album by a Korean girl group after charting at number 40 on the Billboard 200 chart. Simultaneously, Square Up debuted at number 21 on the Canada Top 200, the highest entry by women of KPOP. The girls ended 2018 as the third best selling girl group of the year in South Korea with only the release of Square Up, showing the power that the fierce four-piece have.
Black Pink Arena Tour 2018
After the rerelease of their first Japanese mini album ‘Re:BLACKPINK’, the girls embarked on a 7 show arena tour across Osaka, Fukuoka and Chiba, selling out in mere minutes. With a mix of their Japanese and Korean releases and covers popular among their BLINKs, the girls lit up the stage and proved their popularity by announcing a concert at the infamous Kyocera Dome Osaka on December 24th, 2018, becoming the first overseas girl group to perform a dome stadium concert.
Kiss and Make Up collaboration with Dua Lipa
Fans went wild after Jennie and Lisa posted a photo meeting British pop sensation Dua Lipa at her concert in Seoul earlier this year and many fans hoped that the girls would collaborate with the star, and what fans wished for they indeed received. As part of the repackage of Dua’s incredible debut album ‘Dua Lipa: Complete Edition’, the party anthem ‘Kiss and Make Up’ was formed and pushed the girl’s international popularity to higher levels, exposing them to a mainstream audience without any promotion. Kiss and Make Up entered the UK Official Charts at 36, making Blackpink the first Korean girlgroup to enter the UK top 40. What an achievement!
BlackPink 2018 World Tour [In Your Area] Seoul concert
2018 was the year that the fab four-piece performed their first ever concert in Seoul. Within minutes the two dates at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena were sold out and November 10th and 11th hosted 40,000 Blinks for their concerts. The Seoul concert showcased BlackPink’s
Jennie’s Solo Debut
2018 saw the first solo debut from BlackPink from none other than Miss Jennie Kim. Fittingly titled ‘Solo,’ the pop perfect track aided Jennie to become the first KPOP female solo artist to top the iTunes Worldwide Chart. ‘Solo shot straight to Number One on the US Billboard World Chart and in her home of South Korea, she hit Number One on the Digital and Streaming charts on Gaon for two consecutive weeks. Solo was promoted on South Korean music show Inkigayo and achieved three show wins during her promotion period. Jennie’s successful solo debut proved herself as a force to be reckoned with and stabilises the girls as powerful whether it be as a group or in solo ventures.
Deal with Interscope Records
Another remarkable moment was the announcement of YG Entertainment’s partnership with Interscope Records for BlackPink. Universal Music Group’s CEO Sir Lucian Grainge stated that they are ‘looking forward to building upon BlackPink’s remarkable early success.’ This partnership confirms that the girls will soon be making their way over to the US very soon and we can only imagine the success that will come their way.
What does 2019 hold for BlackPink?
2019 is looking bright and promising for the girls. YG Entertainment have confirmed that BlackPink will be making their US debut in 2019 and Jennie teased in an interview with Billboard that the girls are currently in the process of preparing for exciting things for the new year. After the incredible success of Jennie’s solo debut, YG has confirmed that each girl will have a solo debut, with Rosé rumoured as the next to release solo music.
The quartet will also embark on their first world tour titled ‘BlackPink 2019 World Tour [In Your Area].’ Thus far the Asia leg has been announced and the girls have already sold their shows in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpar, Jakarta and Taipei. YG Entertainment have also confirmed that there will be more dates added so hopefully 2019 sees the girls venture across the pond to the United States and Europe.
2019 looks incredibly promising for the BlackPink girls and hopefully it is the year that we get the long awaited full length album, and more comebacks for one of the most exciting acts in the KPOP industry.
What was your favourite moment of 2018 for Blackpink? Let us know by tweeting the CelebMix account.