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The New BTS Album Title and What to Know about the K-Pop Band’s Comeback

South Korean boy band BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022. (AFP)
South Korean boy band BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022. (AFP)
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The New BTS Album Title and What to Know about the K-Pop Band’s Comeback

South Korean boy band BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022. (AFP)
South Korean boy band BTS arrives for the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, 2022. (AFP)

After a nearly four-year musical hiatus, the K-pop giants BTS are back. Well, almost.

On Thursday morning, the entertainment company BigHit Music shared on social media that the septet — RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope — will release a new album on March 20 titled “ARIRANG.” It is their fifth album.

So, what can listeners expect?

In addition to news of the album title, the retailer Target announced it was partnering with BTS for exclusive preorder editions of “ARIRANG.” Starting at 9 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, fans can preorder 10 different vinyl album editions. And for fans of CDs, there are two exclusive editions with collectible photocards.

Other than that, details are limited. BigHit Music shared a link on social media Thursday morning that led to WeVerse, the online fan platform owned by BTS management company HYBE. The webpage included international pre-order details for “ARIRANG” but appeared to omit all album artwork.

Earlier this month, BigHit Music shared a somewhat cryptic note on X: “March 20 comeback confirmed.” It wasn't much to go off, but it did further confirm news from last summer, when the group teased a world tour and announced that a new album would be released in the spring of 2026. At the time, they said they would begin working on the project in July 2025.

On Tuesday, the band announced a 2026-2027 world tour, kicking off in South Korea in April and running through March 2027 with over 70 dates across Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Europe.

This marks the group’s first headline performances since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. See the full tour dates here.

All seven members of BTS were tasked with completing South Korea’s mandatory military service.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men aged 18-28 are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren’t subject to such privileges.

Rapper Suga was the last group member to be released — from his duties as a social service agent, an alternative to serving in the military that he reportedly chose because of a shoulder injury. That was in June 2025. The six others served in the army.

BTS tiered their enlistments, giving ample time for its members to focus on solo projects while the group was on a break.

Jin, the oldest member, was the first to enlist in 2022. He was also the first to be discharged, in June 2024.

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Entertainment

Dudamel Says Chalamet Shows Ignorance in Claiming ‘No One Cares’ About Opera and Ballet

New York Philharmonic music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel appears at a special screening of "El Canto de las Manos" in New York on Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
New York Philharmonic music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel appears at a special screening of "El Canto de las Manos" in New York on Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
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Dudamel Says Chalamet Shows Ignorance in Claiming ‘No One Cares’ About Opera and Ballet

New York Philharmonic music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel appears at a special screening of "El Canto de las Manos" in New York on Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
New York Philharmonic music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel appears at a special screening of "El Canto de las Manos" in New York on Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Famed conductor Gustavo Dudamel said Timothee Chalamet showed ignorance when the Oscar-nominated actor claimed “no one cares” about opera and ballet.

“Sadly sometimes it’s a little bit of ignorance but, look, that is why we have to open more spaces for people to connect with classical music,” Dudamel said Tuesday night at an event to announce the programming of his first season as the New York Philharmonic's music director.

Dudamel spoke from the stage of Lincoln Center's David Geffen to an audience that included donors, musicians, the orchestra board, community leaders and composers in addition to journalists. Dudamel's remarks sparked loud applause.

During a conversation with fellow actor Matthew McConaughey at a CNN and Variety town hall at the University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication in February, the 30-year-old Chalamet was asked by McConaughey about whether shortened audience attention spans have impacted studio decisions about the content of theatrical films, forcing more early action.

“I admire people, and I’ve done it myself, to go on a talk show and go: Hey, we’ve got to keep movie theaters alive. We got to keep this genre alive,’” Chalamet said. “And another part of me feels like if people want to see it, like 'Barbie,' like 'Oppenheimer,' they’re going to go see it and go out of their way to be loud and proud about it. And I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera or things where it's like where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive,’ even though no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership.”

Chalamet received his third Academy Award nomination, for “Marty Supreme.” His comments sparked an online backlash from arts organizations.

“Everybody has the right to say, but you have to do things with knowledge, with facts. I think we have to say to the young generation, the opposite,” Dudamel said. “It’s very funny. Cinema is a result of opera, of music, of all of these kind of things.”

Matías Tarnopolsky, the New York Philharmonic CEO, was seated next to Dudamel and issued a public offer to Chalamet.

“He can sit with me anytime,” Tarnopolsky said. “I’ll give him a free ticket and he’s invited to come and hear the New York Philharmonic.”

Dudamel, 45, is among the world's most famous conductors. He is leaving the Los Angeles Philharmonic this summer after 17 seasons as music director to become the music director of the New York orchestra.

At one point, Dudamel feigned not knowing Chalamet, saying: “Which is the name of that?” before cutting off as the audience laughed.

“That way of thinking has to end,” he said. “Music is reborn all the time and it brings us the values of empathy through the beauty of what it is. So this is the reality of music. This is the real dimension of music and we need that more for our young people.”

Entertainment

Alleged Rihanna Mansion Shooter Charged with Attempted Murder

The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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Alleged Rihanna Mansion Shooter Charged with Attempted Murder

The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The exterior of Rihanna's residence is shown Monday, March 9, 2026, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

A woman alleged to have shot up the luxury Los Angeles home of global megastar Rihanna was charged Tuesday with attempted murder.

Prosecutors in the city said Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, had opened fire at the sprawling estate on Sunday.

Aerial footage after the attack showed bullet holes in a gate at the property, which Rihanna shares with rapper A$AP Rocky and the couple's three children.

Ortiz, who is from Florida, has previously been involuntarily committed and lost custody of her then 10-year-old child, entertainment news outlet TMZ reported.

A Facebook page that appears to belong to her includes a number of videos and posts that refer to celebrities including Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, according to AFP.

One post tags Rihanna, whom she challenged "to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you talking to me where I'm not at."

In another video, she claims Rihanna wants to kill her.

Ortiz was charged with one count of attempted murder, 10 counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at an inhabited vehicle.

She was ordered to be held on $1.875 million bail and instructed to have no contact with the Barbados-born singer.

Ortiz is next expected to appear in court on March 25.

Police officers previously said an AR-15-style assault rifle was used in the incident, which happened in the middle of day on Sunday while Rihanna was reportedly in the home.

Entertainment

Australian Katie Perry Wins Trademark Spat Against Singer Katy Perry

Katy Perry. (AFP)
Katy Perry. (AFP)
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Australian Katie Perry Wins Trademark Spat Against Singer Katy Perry

Katy Perry. (AFP)
Katy Perry. (AFP)

Australian designer Katie Perry has won the right to sell clothes under her name, claiming victory Wednesday in a years-long trademark spat with US pop megastar Katy Perry.

Designer Katie Perry accused her far more famous namesake of trademark infringement, arguing she had claimed the "Katie Perry" brand before the singer became a global sensation.

But songstress Katy Perry said her music had already gone "viral" as the designer started selling clothes around 2008 and sought to have the Australian trademark scrubbed out.

An Australian court agreed with the singer, ruling in 2024 the clothing trademark should be cancelled.

But Australia's High Court has now ruled in favor of the local designer on appeal, finding there was unlikely to be any risk of "confusion" between the two.

A representative for the singer told AFP that despite the legal action she "has never sought to close down" the Australian business.