Blackpink facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Blackpink
Members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa in 2021
Background information
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop EDM hip hop trap
Years active	2016 (2016)–present
Labels	YG YGEX Interscope Universal Polydor

Members	Jisoo Jennie Rosé Lisa

Blackpink (Hangul: 블랙핑크; RR: Beullaekpingkeu) is a very popular South Korean girl group. They were formed by YG Entertainment and have four members: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Many people call them "the biggest girl group in the world." They are known for being the most successful Korean girl group around the globe. Blackpink has played a huge part in spreading Korean pop culture worldwide. Their music often focuses on themes of self-confidence and girl power.

Blackpink started their music journey in August 2016 with their first single album, Square One. This album included popular songs like "Whistle" and "Boombayah". "Whistle" quickly became number one in South Korea. "Boombayah" was their first song to reach number one on the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart. Later that year, they released Square Two. A song from this album, "Playing with Fire", was the first by a Korean girl group to appear on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart.

The group became even more famous worldwide with their song "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" in 2018. This was the first song by a Korean girl group to enter the UK Singles Chart. It also received a special award in the United States for its sales. The music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was the first by a Korean group to get over one billion and then two billion views on YouTube. It is still the most-watched music video by a Korean group. Their music videos for "Kill This Love" (2019) and "How You Like That" (2020) broke records for the most views in the first 24 hours. "How You Like That" even broke five Guinness World Records.

Blackpink holds the record for the highest-charting female Korean act on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their song "Ice Cream" (2020) reached number 13. They also reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart with their album Born Pink (2022). Blackpink's albums The Album (2020) and Born Pink became the best-selling female albums ever in South Korea. They were the first to sell over one million and two million copies, respectively. Born Pink was the first album by a girl group to reach number one on the Billboard 200 since 2008. It also set two Guinness World Records. The main song from Born Pink, "Pink Venom" (2022), was the first song by a Korean group to reach number one in Australia. It was also the first by a girl group to top the Billboard Global 200 chart.

Blackpink has broken many records. Their Born Pink World Tour (2022–23) became the highest-earning concert tour by a female group. They were also the first Asian act to be a main performer at the Coachella music festival. On YouTube, they have the most subscribers and most views for a music artist channel. They are also the most-followed and most-streamed girl group on Spotify. Blackpink has won many awards, including Golden Disc Awards, Billboard Music Awards, People's Choice Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. They were the first girl group in the 21st century to win the Group of the Year award. They were also the first girl group to be on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list. Time magazine named them the 2022 Entertainer of the Year. Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in has praised them for spreading K-pop and Korean culture worldwide.

Career Journey

Starting Out: 2010–2016

Blackpink began to form when YG Entertainment looked for talented young people from all over the world. They wanted to create a new girl group. The members trained very hard, almost like going to a special pop-star school. Jennie said it was "more strict than school." Rosé compared it to a music competition with dorm rooms. For members who came from other countries, it was extra tough to get used to the training and a new culture.

YG Entertainment first talked about a new girl group in 2011. They said the group would have at least seven members and debut in 2012. But the debut was delayed many times. Finally, in May 2016, YG Entertainment confirmed the group would debut in July. They said the members were chosen after years of tough competition.

The official logo of Blackpink

Jennie was the first member introduced on June 1, 2016. She joined YG Entertainment in 2010 after moving from New Zealand. Lisa was the second member, revealed on June 8, 2016. She was the only person chosen from 4,000 applicants at a 2010 audition in Thailand. She became YG's first foreign trainee in 2011. Jisoo was the third member, revealed on June 15, 2016. She joined YG in 2011 and appeared in some ads and music videos before her debut. Rosé was the last member, revealed on June 22, 2016. She came in first among 700 applicants at a 2012 audition in Australia. She then moved to Seoul to train.

On June 29, YG Entertainment announced that the new girl group would have four members, not nine. They also revealed the group's official name: Blackpink. A company representative said the name means "pretty isn't everything." It shows that the group has both beauty and great talent. Jisoo later shared that other names considered were Pink Punk and Baby Monster. Blackpink released their first dance practice video on July 6, which got a lot of attention. Their official debut was on August 8, 2016.

First Hits: 2016–2017

Blackpink performing "Playing with Fire" at the 2016 Melon Music Awards on November 19, 2016

Blackpink released their first single album, Square One, on August 8, 2016. It had the songs "Boombayah" and "Whistle". These songs quickly became number one and two on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. This made Blackpink the fastest group to achieve this. "Whistle" also topped all Korean music charts. Blackpink had their first music show performance on August 14, 2016. They won first place on the show just 14 days after their debut.

On November 1, 2016, Blackpink released their second single album, Square Two. It included "Playing with Fire" and "Stay". "Playing with Fire" was their second song to reach number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. It was also the first K-pop girl group song to chart on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100. Blackpink won several "rookie" (new artist) awards at major Korean music shows. Billboard also named them one of the best new K-pop groups of 2016.

Blackpink performing "As If It's Your Last" at the Korea Music Festival held on October 1, 2017

On January 17, 2017, Blackpink announced their fan club name: "Blink." It's a mix of "black" and "pink." On June 22, they released their first digital single, "As If It's Your Last". This song was a bit different from their earlier music. It reached number three on the Korean charts and number one on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. The music video for "As If It's Your Last" broke records for being the most-liked music video by a Korean girl group on YouTube. It also had the most views for a K-pop group video in the first 24 hours.

On July 20, 2017, Blackpink held a special show in Tokyo, Japan. Over 14,000 people attended, and 200,000 tried to buy tickets! They officially debuted in Japan on August 30, 2017, with a Japanese album. This album reached number one on the Oricon Albums Chart in Japan.

Global Success: 2018–2019

On January 6, 2018, Blackpink started their first reality show, Blackpink House. It showed the members spending 100 days on vacation in their new dorm. On June 15, 2018, the group released their first Korean album, Square Up. This album reached number one in South Korea and was certified platinum. Square Up also became the highest-charting album by a female Korean group on the Billboard 200 chart at the time. It reached number 40.

Blackpink at Seoul Music Awards in 2018

The main song from Square Up, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", was a huge hit. It reached number one in Korea. In the United States, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made it the highest-charting song by a Korean girl group there. It was also the first time a Korean girl group entered the US Streaming Songs chart. The song later received a gold award in the US, making Blackpink the first Korean girl group to get such an award. In the United Kingdom, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was the first song by a female Korean group to enter the UK Singles Chart. The music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" got 36.2 million views in 24 hours. It became the most-viewed music video by a Korean group in January 2019. It was also the first K-pop group music video to reach one billion views in November 2019 and two billion views in January 2023.

Blackpink went on their first Japan tour, the Blackpink Arena Tour 2018. All the tickets were sold out. They also held their first concert in Seoul, South Korea, in December 2018. This concert was the start of their In Your Area World Tour. This tour continued through 2019 and early 2020, visiting North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. It became the highest-earning tour by a Korean girl group.

A crowd at Blackpink's Seoul concert on their In Your Area Tour in 2018

On October 19, 2018, Blackpink worked with English singer Dua Lipa on a song called "Kiss and Make Up". This song was their second to enter the UK Singles Chart. It also entered the Billboard Hot 100, making Blackpink the only Korean girl group with multiple songs on that chart. The song received a silver award in the UK and a platinum award in Australia. In October 2018, Blackpink signed with Interscope Records to help with their music outside of Asia. In November 2018, Jennie released her first solo song, "Solo". Blackpink also released their first Japanese studio album, Blackpink in Your Area, in November 2018.

Blackpink at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards

Blackpink made their American debut at a special music event in February 2019. They also appeared on popular American TV shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and Good Morning America. In March, they became the first K-pop girl group to be on the cover of Billboard magazine. Blackpink released their third album, Kill This Love, on April 5, 2019. This album reached number three in South Korea and was certified 2x platinum. The main song, "Kill This Love", reached number two in Korea. Kill This Love also debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The music video for "Kill This Love" broke the YouTube record for most views in 24 hours, with 56.7 million views.

After releasing the album, Blackpink performed at the 2019 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. They were the first female K-pop group to perform there. Their performance was praised by critics and fans. In October 2019, a Japanese version of Kill This Love was released.

New Album and Online Concert: 2020–2021

On April 22, 2020, it was announced that Blackpink would work with Lady Gaga on her album. Their song together, "Sour Candy", was released on May 28, 2020. It reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Blackpink's first top 40 hit in the US. It also reached number eight in Australia and number 17 in the UK.

Blackpink in 2020

Blackpink released their single "How You Like That" on June 26. It reached number one in South Korea for three weeks. "How You Like That" also tied "Sour Candy" as the highest-charting song by a Korean girl group in the US, reaching number 33. Its music video broke five Guinness World Records, including the most-viewed video in 24 hours (86.3 million views). The song won "Song of Summer" at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. On July 23, Blackpink announced a second single, "Ice Cream", with American singer Selena Gomez. It was released on August 28. "Ice Cream" debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking their own record for the highest-charting song by a female Korean act in the US.

Blackpink released their first Korean studio album, The Album, on October 2, 2020. "Lovesick Girls" was the main single. The Album set a new sales record for a Korean girl group, selling 590,000 copies in one day. Blackpink became the first K-pop girl group to sell over one million copies with this album. It debuted at number one in Korea and sold about 1.2 million copies in less than a month. The Album reached number two on the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. This made Blackpink the highest-charting Korean female act on both charts.

The group's first documentary film, Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, came out on Netflix on October 14, 2020. It showed their four years since debut, including training days and behind-the-scenes stories. Blackpink also announced their first online concert with YouTube Music. The concert, called "The Show", was held on January 31, 2021. It featured live performances of songs from The Album and Rosé's solo song "Gone". Over 280,000 people bought tickets to watch the show.

Blackpink released a Japanese version of The Album on August 3, 2021. It reached number three on the Oricon Albums Chart. On August 4, a documentary film called Blackpink: The Movie was released in theaters worldwide. It included interviews and live performances.

New Album and World Tour: 2022–Present

On July 6, 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Blackpink was finishing a new album. They planned to release a new song in August and start a second world tour later that year. On July 12, Blackpink held a virtual concert called Blackpink: The Virtual in the game PUBG Mobile. They also previewed a new song called "Ready for Love" during this event. The full song and an animated music video were released on July 29.

Blackpink performing in London for the Born Pink World Tour in December 2022

On July 31, Blackpink announced a new song, "Pink Venom", for August 19. This was before their second album in September and their world tour in October. "Pink Venom" topped the Billboard Global 200 for two weeks. It was the first number-one song by a girl group on that chart. It also reached number one in Australia. On August 28, Blackpink performed "Pink Venom" at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. They were the first female K-pop group to perform at this show.

On September 16, 2022, Blackpink released their second studio album, Born Pink, along with the song "Shut Down". "Shut Down" became their second song to top the Billboard Global 200. Born Pink debuted at number one in South Korea, selling over 2.1 million copies in less than two days. It was the first album by a K-pop girl group to sell over two million copies. In the United States, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. It was the first album by a female Korean act to top that chart. Born Pink also became the first album by a K-pop girl group to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. Time magazine named Blackpink the 2022 Entertainer of the Year.

After the album's release, Blackpink started the Born Pink World Tour. It began in Seoul on October 15, 2022, and continued through North America and Europe. The tour included live performances of songs from Born Pink and the members' solo releases. Blackpink also released a reality show called Born Pink Memories on YouTube. On January 28, 2023, the group performed in Paris at a charity event. The tour continued in 2023 with stadium shows across Asia and other continents.

Blackpink during their headlining set at Coachella 2023

Blackpink were the main performers at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 15 and 22, 2023. They made history as the first Asian act to headline the festival. Their performance was highly praised. On July 2, Blackpink became the first Korean band to headline a major UK festival in London. The tour continued with more stadium shows, setting records. They were the first Korean girl group to perform in a stadium in Europe. They were also the first girl group to perform at several major stadiums in the United States.

On May 18, Blackpink announced a new song called "The Girls". It was released on August 25, 2023, as part of the soundtrack for their mobile game, Blackpink: The Game. This song's physical version debuted at number one in Korea. At the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, Blackpink won "Best Choreography" for "Pink Venom" and "Group of the Year". They were the second girl group ever to win "Group of the Year".

The Born Pink World Tour ended on September 17 with two concerts in Seoul. The tour had 1.8 million attendees in total, making it the most-attended concert tour by a Korean girl group. It also became the highest-earning concert tour of all time by a female group, earning $148.3 million. It was also the highest-earning tour by an Asian act in history.

Blackpink at a fan sign event for their eighth anniversary in 2024

In December 2023, YG Entertainment confirmed that all four members of Blackpink renewed their contracts for group activities. They promised a new album and world tour in the future. A concert film celebrating their eighth anniversary, Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas, was released in theaters worldwide starting July 31, 2024. Blackpink also held a fan event in Seoul on August 8, their eighth anniversary. YG Entertainment's founder, Yang Hyun-suk, confirmed an upcoming comeback and world tour from Blackpink in 2025.

Their Music Style

How Blackpink Makes Music

Blackpink's music is mostly EDM and pop. It also has parts of hip hop and trap. But they also use other styles like R&B, Arabic music, ballad, disco, and rock. Their music is known for "bold rapping, powerful singing, and chic styling." They often use strong "bass drops" in their songs, especially before the chorus. This is part of their unique sound.

Jisoo said in an interview that the members are involved in making their music from the very beginning. They help "building the blocks" and "adding this or that feeling." They also share ideas with each other. Blackpink has said they were inspired by groups like TLC and the Spice Girls when they were growing up. They also look up to artists like Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, and Selena Gomez.

Their Impact on Culture

Blackpink's Influence

Since they started, Blackpink has become a very important group in K-pop. Many organizations call them "the biggest girl group in the world." They are also called "K-pop Queens." The Recording Academy noted that Blackpink's success took K-pop girl groups to a new level. Other artists have said Blackpink influenced their music.

Blackpink's Born Pink World Tour at The O2 Arena in London, December 2022

In South Korea, Blackpink has been ranked very high on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list. They were the first girl group to be on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia list. Time magazine also included them in their 100 Next list of rising stars. They were praised for helping Korean artists go global when they performed at Coachella. Bloomberg wrote that Blackpink, along with BTS, has reached a level of global fame never seen before in music. The New York Times called Blackpink one of South Korea's main cultural exports.

Sisa Journal said Blackpink's global influence stands out even among other great K-pop girl groups. They said that just as the Spice Girls were the symbol of girl groups in the 1990s, Blackpink is the main image of girl groups today. Billboard called Blackpink "the most successful K-pop girl group to have impacted the U.S. market." South Korean President Moon Jae-in praised Blackpink for promoting South Korea's image around the world. King Charles III also praised Blackpink for their work on environmental causes.

Blackpink has a huge following on social media and streaming sites. They became the most-subscribed music group on YouTube in 2019. In 2021, they became the most-subscribed music act overall, with over 90 million subscribers. They are also the most-followed girl group on Spotify. On Instagram, the Blackpink members are the four most-followed people from South Korea. Time named Blackpink the 2022 Entertainer of the Year for their impact in music, fashion, and acting.

Blackpink's influence goes beyond music into the fashion world. Each member is a global ambassador for a different luxury brand. Jisoo works with Dior, Jennie with Chanel, Rosé with Yves Saint Laurent, and Lisa with Bulgari and Celine. They have also brought international attention to the traditional Korean dress, hanbok. Jennie said that fashion "definitely empowers us as much as music does."

Other Activities

Brand Deals

Blackpink in an advertisement for PUBG Mobile

Blackpink has many endorsement deals with different companies. Globally, they were ambassadors for Kia Motors. They also worked with toy company Jazwares to create dolls and toys based on their music video outfits. In June 2020, Blackpink worked with Zepeto, a 3D avatar service. Fans could create characters that looked like the members and take pictures with them. The group also teamed up with the popular game PUBG Mobile.

In Asia, Blackpink worked with Samsung to promote their electronics. Samsung even launched a Blackpink Special Edition set of phones and smartwatches. Blackpink also became brand ambassadors for the e-commerce platform Shopee in Southeast Asia. They also worked with Thai bank KBank and became spokespeople for Pepsi in the Asia-Pacific region.

In South Korea, Blackpink has been ambassadors for brands like Sprite Korea, Woori Bank, Adidas, and hair-care brand Mise-En-Scène. They were also honorary ambassadors for Incheon Main Customs. They have worked with luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior Cosmetics.

Giving Back

Blackpink has also done a lot of charity work. In December 2018, they donated money from an award to help low-income families in South Korea. In April 2019 and March 2022, they donated money to help victims of wildfires in South Korea. In April 2020, Blackpink sold face masks to raise money for a fund helping the music industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2020, the group spoke out about climate change. They encouraged their fans to learn about it and help. On February 25, 2021, Blackpink was officially named advocates for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). They even received a thank-you letter from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. In October 2021, the group was part of a YouTube special called "Dear Earth," which encouraged people to be more environmentally aware.

Awards and Achievements

Blackpink at the 32nd Golden Disc Awards

Blackpink has won many awards, including fourteen Circle Chart Music Awards, seven Golden Disc Awards, eleven MAMA Awards, five Melon Music Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and three People's Choice Awards. They are the first Korean girl group to win an MTV Video Music Award.

After their song "How You Like That" was released in June 2020, Blackpink broke five Guinness World Records. These included the most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours (86.3 million views). In 2021, Blackpink won the Guinness World Record for the most-subscribed band on YouTube. They extended this record in 2024 with 93.8 million subscribers, becoming the most subscribed music act overall on YouTube.

In June 2022, Blackpink became only the third girl group in history to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. In August 2022, Blackpink won three more Guinness World Records. They were the first winners of the "Best Metaverse Performance" award at the MTV Video Music Awards. They were also the first K-pop girl group to top the UK and US album charts with their album Born Pink. Time magazine named Blackpink the Entertainer of the Year for 2022.

In 2023, Blackpink won the Guinness World Record for the most-streamed female group on Spotify, with 8.88 billion streams. They extended this record in 2024 with 13.09 billion streams. They also won the Guinness World Record for the most viewed music channel on YouTube for a group. In November 2023, King Charles III honored the members of Blackpink. He recognized their work as advocates for COP26.