Jennie, Lisa, and Enhypen… ‘Dream Stage’ Coachella also brings ‘K-pop Power’

MUSIC Nov 21, 2024

Translation

Blackpink’s Jennie and Lisa (left) will perform as solo artists at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in the United States. Photo courtesy of OA Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Korea

It is no longer a ‘dream stage’ that can never be achieved.

Blackpink‘s Jennie and Lisa, Enhypen, and others will be appearing on the stage of ‘Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival’ (Coachella), the largest music festival in the U.S. next year, proving the changed status of K-pop in the global market.

‘Coachella’, filled with hot stars from the North American market, considered the global pop mecca, is a stage where just getting your name on the lineup will be recognized for its global influence. That’s why it‘s been called the “dream stage you definitely want to stand on’ among many K-pop singers.

BLACKPINK’s Jennie and Lisa are drawing attention by confidently appearing as solo singers, not as a group, on the 2025 lineup of Coachella.

Official poster for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Lisa, Enhypen, and Jennie were all named as key performers, with their names on the first line. Photo courtesy of Coachella official website

According to the list released by Coachella on the 21st (Korean time), Jennie will perform on April 13th and 20th of next year, while Lisa will perform on the 11th and 18th. Although they performed on stage as sub-headliners as BLACKPINK in 2019, this will be their first time performing as solo artists.

ENHYPEN is on the lineup for April 12th and 19th. They will be the only K-pop boy group to perform next year. Since their debut in November 2020, they have set a record for the fastest Coachella debut among K-pop boy groups, just 4 years and 6 months later.

Their entry into Coachella is interpreted as a reflection of their recent rapid rise in popularity in North America. Previously, ENHYPEN broke their own record by entering the second place on Billboard‘s main album chart, Billboard 300, with their 2nd full-length album, ‘Romance: Untold’ in July and staying on the chart for 10 consecutive weeks.

They plan to gain popularity beyond their fandom through the Coachella stage, which attracts over 200,000 people every year.

In addition, Japanese girl group XG, which was produced based on the K-pop system, will also perform on April 13th and 20th. Headliners include American pop stars Lady Gaga and Post Malone, and American punk band Green Day.

Reporter Yoo Ji-hye yjh0304@donga.com