BLACKPINK’s Four Members Release Solo Albums Simultaneously Within Three Months — Transitioning into Global Pop Stars

BLACKPINK’s four members released their solo albums almost simultaneously over the past three months. Jisoo issued her mini-album “Amortage” in February, while Rosé released her full-length album “Rosie” in December and has continued with single promotions into early 2025. Lisa put out her album “Alter Ego” on March 1, and Jennie debuted her album “Ruby” on March 7. Over the past five years, BLACKPINK has crossed the boundary between K-pop and global mainstream music, setting records that no other female group has achieved. They have released two full-length albums since 2020 and reached number one on the Billboard 200 with “Born Pink” in 2022. Through collaborations with artists such as Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, and Cardi B, they have established themselves in the Western music scene and secured their status as global icons by achieving five Hot 100 top 40 entries, receiving multiple Grammy Award nominations, winning Billboard Music Awards, and winning MTV VMA awards. In 2023, they became the first K-pop group to headline Coachella Festival. These solo activities stem from each member signing contracts with different major American record labels — Jennie is with Columbia, Lisa is with RCA, Jisoo is with Warner, and Rosé is with Atlantic — allowing them to pursue their debut projects individually based on each label’s marketing strategies. They are carrying out these solo promotions within a limited timeframe ahead of BLACKPINK’s new world tour scheduled for July. In particular, Lisa is clearly shifting her identity from a K-pop artist to a global pop star. The tracks on “Alter Ego” include words related to rebirth, self-definition, and declarations such as “Born Again,” “Rockstar,” “New Woman,” and “FXCK UP THE WORLD.” The music video for “Rockstar,” released in June, was filmed in Thailand’s Yaowarat Chinatown, featuring Thai dancers and famous Thai transgender celebrities, with references to Bangkok (BKK) and Thai language in the lyrics. This project, involving a Thai production team, demonstrates an effort to break away from the Korea-centered K-pop framework and reposition themselves as global pop stars representing Thailand. On March 7, Jennie appeared on “Chicken Shop Date,” expressing her admiration for Ryanaira by mentioning her as an idol and saying she was so starstruck that she could hardly speak in front of her. Meanwhile, Lisa cited Ryanaira in an interview as the greatest artist who inspires her with “swag, style, music, and stage performance,” sharing her experience of performing Ryanaira’s song “Take a Bow” during BLACKPINK’s audition. This simultaneous solo activity follows the tradition seen in famous groups throughout pop music history, such as the Beatles, Jackson 5, Spice Girls, and One Direction, who launched solo projects after achieving mainstream success. However, it is rare in music history for all former members of one group to attempt to establish themselves as individual stars almost at the same time. Spotify held a “Rubify” event in Seoul to celebrate Jennie’s “Ruby” album, inviting 200 fans for a listening session that included album reviews, personal anecdotes from Jennie, merchandise giveaways, and photo opportunities.