BLACKPINK Releases “Jump” Alongside TWICE’s 10th Anniversary Album, Revitalizing the K-pop Market

BLACKPINK and TWICE, two of K-pop’s most prominent female idol groups, have injected new energy into the music industry by releasing new songs simultaneously. BLACKPINK released its digital single “Jump” at 1 p.m. on July 11 through YG Entertainment. This marks their first new release in 2 years and 10 months, following their second studio album “Born Pink” in September 2022, and it is their first original song since “The Girls,” which was included on a video game soundtrack. “Jump” represents a shift away from the group’s previous “charismatic music style.” According to YG Entertainment, the track features “an addictive chorus that captivates listeners, along with a guitar riff reminiscent of Western movies and layered vocals from the members.” Music producers including Teddy and 24 collaborated with international songwriters, while the music video was directed by award-winning director Dave Meyers. YG Entertainment stated that fans will be able to witness “the perfect synergy of the four members reunited after 2 years and 10 months,” adding that “the music video will deliver a powerful visual representation of BLACKPINK’s story and influence.” BLACKPINK first performed “Jump” at the kickoff show of their “Deadline” world tour, held last week at the Goyang Sports Complex Main Stadium. The tour is set to expand to 15 cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Milan, London, and Bangkok. On the same day, TWICE also released its fourth studio album “This Is For.” Celebrating the group’s 10th anniversary, this album is their first new release in nearly 4 years, since their last studio album in November 2021. Containing 14 tracks, it demonstrates TWICE’s consistency as one of K-pop’s most prolific groups. The title track, “This Is For,” is described by the label as having an “high-energy summer anthem” vibe. It was created by a star-studded team including Teddy, Diplo, 24, Zico, Claudia Valentina, JYP, Malaki, and Jesse Blue, with Diplo, 24, Boaz Vanderbeek, Zekka, and Ape Drums handling production. TWICE boasts a global fanbase and has gained significant attention due to its strong presence in the United States and Japan. Following the album release, the group will commence its sixth world tour, “This Is For,” starting on July 19 at the Incheon Inspire Arena, with performances in 12 cities across Asia and Sydney lasting until December 14. The release of new songs by both groups has also impacted the stock prices of their respective agencies. YG Entertainment’s stock, which owns BLACKPINK, rose more than threefold from a low of 30,000 won in the previous year to 95,200 won by the end of June. However, on the morning of the new song release, it closed down 0.8% at 86,500 won, falling from a session high of 89,300 won. JYP Entertainment’s stock, which manages TWICE, rose 5.5% to end at 74,900 won, indicating that investors expect this comeback to reverse the company’s poor financial performance. In the first quarter, JYP Entertainment reported album sales of 2.97 billion won (a 3.8% decrease from the previous year), music streaming revenue of 15 billion won (a 5.5% decline), and live performance earnings of 21.7 billion won, which dropped by 26.3%. TWICE’s new release is expected to serve as a turning point that could reverse this downward trend.