VIP Influencers At Stray Kids’ Concert Stir Backlash

As Stray Kids kicked off their 2026 “World Tour <Run It>” in Seoul, an unexpected controversy arose when invited influencers posted photos of their VIP tickets and perks. Some of the perks that influencers revealed included premium seating, lightsticks, and backstage meet-and-greets – all for free. This caused an uproar online within Stray Kids’ fandom (STAY), as fans were more concerned that these guests received special treatment and benefits that weren’t even available to attendees who would’ve been willing to pay extra for those perks. Even more perplexing is that many of the influencers didn’t even have substantial followings or appear to have any content related to Stray Kids at all. The incident calls into question what purpose influencers serve for agencies and why it reads differently in K-pop than other fan cultures.

Generally, influencers are used as another means of marketing and PR – their purpose is to generate hype for an artist, project, or product, and influence others to buy into or support whatever’s being promoted. Therefore, the more views and engagement an influencer’s posts get, the more exposure comes in for the brand, which includes K-pop artists. However, while this is common both in and out of the K-pop industry, it lands a little differently when K-pop fandoms are so immersed in these groups on a level that’s unlike most other subcultures. Fans spend years investing in these idols, both emotionally and financially, and are the sole reason they rise to mainstream popularity. At this stage in their popularity, Stray Kids doesn’t need outside influence to get the word out about their music or tours – they need opportunities to engage with the fans who have supported them throughout their career, and the fan response to this marketing ploy is a testament to that.

THE BOYZ To Continue As 9-Member Group Under New Label

On August 6, THE BOYZ announced its plans to continue as a nine-member group under a newly established label after being granted an injunction from their former label, ONE HUNDRED. While this is an exciting development – especially given the group's recent legal disputes with ONE HUNDRED – it's also bittersweet, as TBZ will have to move on without its 10th member, NEW, who remains signed with the label. So where does the group go from here, and how will this new venture benefit them?

After being granted an injunction from their former label in April, this allowed the remaining nine members to pursue activities independently while the legal dispute continues. TBZ is now using this to their advantage to start anew under a structure that benefits the group as a whole and the members individually. According to local media reports, each member will have the opportunity to pursue solo endeavors through separate management companies suited for their careers, while still maintaining the flexibility needed to promote as a group through close cooperation. 

This structure is similar to other acts who have had members leave and move on to different agencies but still manage to pursue group promotions when the time is right – like GOT7 or Girls’ Generation. However, while the aforementioned groups only come together once in a blue moon these days, it seems like TBZ is striving to stay together in a way that doesn’t require them to be separated more often than not. If this succeeds, not only will the members have creative liberty to chase other dreams and projects, but it’ll also showcase the group in its strongest form yet.

BLACKPINK Fans Mobilize Amid Underwhelming 10th Anniversary Celebrations

With BLACKPINK celebrating its 10th anniversary on August 8, it’s a time to look back and commemorate the quartet’s incredible journey. From young rookies in 2016 to the world’s biggest girl group, BLACKPINK is considered one of the pillars of K-pop’s global breakthrough and a leader in establishing Korean culture as a soft power. Naturally, one would think their 10th anniversary would be the group’s biggest celebration yet, considering how far they’ve come and all while keeping their lineup intact. But with YG Entertainment dishing out the bare minimum in festivities, fans are disgruntled with the company’s lack of effort on the occasion.

The crux of BLINKs' (BLACKPINK's fandom) frustration is how impersonal this anniversary felt compared to their fifth, in 2021, when YG revealed the "4+1 Project" alongside the theatrical release of BLACKPINK: The Movie in more than 100 countries. Initially, this year's commemorative plans included no direct member involvement – a gap that only closed after backlash from fans, including an open letter from one of the group's largest fan organizations. Fans made clear they weren't looking for merchandise or generic fan events; what they wanted was something that reflected the weight of a ten-year milestone.

YG responded with a meet-and-greet for 40 selected Weverse members and a short livestream, announced just two days before the anniversary. The short notice and limited scale drew further criticism, with many feeling the occasion had been under-planned relative to what a decade with BLACKPINK represented. Jisoo addressed the disappointment directly during the group's Weverse live, apologising to fans and acknowledging what she described as a communication issue behind the delayed planning. The gap between the anniversary BLINKs expected and the one they received says less about any single decision and more about how easily a milestone can be under-resourced when planning starts too late.