The popular K-pop group Blackpink has signed a new contract with their agency, which means they will keep performing together. They formed in 2016 and are known as the biggest K-pop girl group in the world. This new contract is one of the most valuable contracts signed by any music group this year. Their agency, YG Entertainment, said that Blackpink plans to release new albums and go on world tours to thank their fans all over the world. But they are still working out the details of each member’s individual contract.

In South Korea, it’s not common for K-pop groups to stay together when some members leave or don’t renew their contracts with their management. This has happened to other popular groups from YG in the past. A local newspaper called Munhwa Ilbo reported that as of November, none of the Blackpink members had agreed to an individual contract with YG. They had offers from other agencies that were worth a lot of money. Fans of the group were worried because their contract expired in August, so they are really happy to hear that they will keep working together.

Blackpink is super popular, and you can see that from their huge following on social media. They have over 92 million subscribers on their official YouTube channel, and each member has more than 70 million followers on Instagram. They have also worked with big fashion brands and performed at big music festivals around the world. Even though YG Entertainment’s stock market value is lower than it was six months ago, their share price went up by more than 25% after they announced the new contract.

In conclusion, Blackpink has signed a new contract to stay together as a group, which is great news for their fans who were worried they might break up. They have plans to release new music and go on world tours. Even though they are still figuring out the details of their individual contracts, each member is already famous and has a huge following on social media. People are really excited and happy about the news that they will keep working together.

Original news source: Blackpink sign new contract ensuring K-pop group will stay together (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in one or two sentences. Afterward, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the students form pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and share their opinions on the following questions related to the article:
1. How important is it for K-pop groups to stay together?
2. Do you think it’s fair for some members to leave while others stay?
3. Are social media followers and subscribers a good measure of a group’s popularity?
Afterward, ask each group to share their opinions with the class.

– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write down a list of keywords from the article on separate index cards. Divide the class into two teams. One person from each team will come to the front of the class. Show them a keyword and give them one minute to describe it to their team without using the actual keyword. The team members must guess the keyword based on the description. The team that guesses the most keywords correctly wins.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group takes turns choosing a word and drawing it on the board while their teammates try to guess what it is. The group that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and list the pros and cons of K-pop groups signing new contracts with their agencies. Each group will share their lists with the class and engage in a class discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of these contracts.

Comprehension Questions:

1. When did Blackpink form as a group?
2. Why is their new contract considered valuable?
3. What are Blackpink’s plans for the future?
4. Why were fans worried about the group’s contract expiring?
5. How popular is Blackpink on social media?
6. What other opportunities have Blackpink had outside of music?
7. How did YG Entertainment’s stock market value change after the new contract was announced?
8. Why are people excited about Blackpink staying together as a group?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The popular K-pop group (1)______ has signed a new contract with their agency, which means they will keep performing together. They formed in 2016 and are (2)______ as the biggest K-pop girl group in the world. This new contract is one of the most valuable (3)______ signed by any music group this year. Their agency, YG Entertainment, said that Blackpink plans to release new albums and go on world tours to thank their fans all over the world. But they are still working out the (4)______ of each member’s individual contract.

In South Korea, it’s not common for K-pop groups to stay together when some members leave or don’t renew their contracts with their (5)______. This has happened to other popular groups from YG in the past. A local newspaper (6)______ Munhwa Ilbo reported that as of November, none of the Blackpink members had agreed to an individual contract with YG. They had offers from other (7)______ that were worth a lot of money. Fans of the group were worried because their contract expired in (8)______, so they are really happy to hear that they will keep (9)______ together.

Blackpink is super popular, and you can see that from their huge following on social media. They have over 92 million subscribers on their (10)______ YouTube channel, and each member has more than 70 million followers on Instagram. They have also worked with big (11)______ brands and performed at big music festivals around the world. Even though YG Entertainment’s stock (12)______ value is lower than it was six months ago, their share price went up by more than 25% after they announced the new contract.

In conclusion, Blackpink has (13)______ a new contract to stay together as a group, which is great news for their fans who were (14)______ they might break up. They have plans to (15)______ new music and go on world tours. Even though they are still figuring out the details of their individual contracts, each member is already famous and has a huge following on social media. People are really (16)______ and happy about the news that they will keep working together.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is K-pop and why is it so popular?
2. How do you feel about Blackpink signing a new contract to stay together as a group?
3. Do you like K-pop music? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if your favorite music group broke up?
5. What do you think it takes to become a successful music group like Blackpink?
6. Have you ever been to a music festival? If so, what was your favorite part?
7. Do you follow any celebrities or music groups on social media? Why or why not?
8. How important do you think social media is for promoting music and artists?
9. If you were a member of Blackpink, what kind of music would you want to release?
10. Why do you think Blackpink’s agency, YG Entertainment, is so successful?
11. Have you ever been to a concert? If so, who did you see and how was it?
12. Do you think it’s important for music groups to go on world tours? Why or why not?
13. How do you think the individual contracts for each Blackpink member will be different?
14. Do you think it’s better for music groups to stay together or for members to pursue solo careers? Why or why not?
15. What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a famous musician or singer?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. contract
2. valuable
3. agency
4. renew
5. expired
6. subscribers
7. followers
8. fashion brands
9. performed
10. stock market value
11. break up
12. release
13. tours
14. figuring out
15. excited

Meanings:
(A) Trips or journeys to different places, usually for entertainment or education
(B) People who choose to receive updates or content from a particular person or organization on social media
(C) Worth a lot of money
(D) People who have chosen to receive updates or content from a particular person or organization
(E) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic
(F) To end a relationship or partnership
(G) A company or organization that represents and manages artists
(H) The total value of a company’s shares on the stock market
(I) To give a performance or show
(J) Well-known clothing companies
(K) No longer valid or in effect
(L) To make something available to the public, usually music or a movie
(M) To understand or solve something
(N) A formal agreement between two or more parties
(O) To extend or continue an agreement or contract
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. When did Blackpink form as a group?
(a) 2016
(b) 2017
(c) 2018
(d) 2019

2. Which agency represents Blackpink?
(a) SM Entertainment
(b) JYP Entertainment
(c) YG Entertainment
(d) Big Hit Entertainment

3. What does Blackpink plan to do to thank their fans?
(a) Take a break from performing
(b) Disband as a group
(c) Release new albums and go on world tours
(d) Start their own agency

4. What is the concern for K-pop groups in South Korea?
(a) Lack of popularity
(b) Financial struggles
(c) Lack of talent
(d) Members leaving or not renewing their contracts

5. How many subscribers does Blackpink have on their official YouTube channel?
(a) Over 50 million
(b) Over 92 million
(c) Over 100 million
(d) Over 10 million

6. How many followers does each Blackpink member have on Instagram?
(a) More than 30 million
(b) More than 70 million
(c) More than 100 million
(d) More than 50 million

7. What happened to YG Entertainment’s stock market value after the new contract announcement?
(a) It went up by more than 25%
(b) It went down by more than 25%
(c) It stayed the same
(d) It fluctuated but did not change significantly

8. How do people feel about Blackpink staying together as a group?
(a) Indifferent
(b) Disappointed
(c) Angry and frustrated
(d) Excited and happy

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Blackpink has a massive following on social media, with over 92 million subscribers on YouTube and each member having over 70 million followers on Instagram.
2. Blackpink, a popular K-pop group, has signed a new contract with their agency to continue performing together.
3. They formed in 2016 and are considered the biggest K-pop girl group in the world.
4. This new contract is one of the most valuable contracts signed by any music group this year.
5. The details of each member’s individual contract are finalized.
6. It’s common for K-pop groups in South Korea to stay together even when some members leave or don’t renew their contracts.
7. Blackpink doesn’t plan to release new albums or go on world tours to thank their fans all over the world.
8. Some of the Blackpink members had agreed to an individual contract with their agency as of November.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the new contract that Blackpink has signed with their agency?
2. How long has Blackpink been together as a group?
3. Why were fans of Blackpink worried about their future as a group?
4. How many subscribers does Blackpink have on their official YouTube channel?
5. What happened to YG Entertainment’s share price after the announcement of the new contract?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. When did Blackpink form as a group?
Blackpink formed as a group in 2016.

2. Why is their new contract considered valuable?
Their new contract is considered valuable because it is one of the most valuable contracts signed by any music group this year.

3. What are Blackpink’s plans for the future?
Blackpink plans to release new albums and go on world tours to thank their fans all over the world.

4. Why were fans worried about the group’s contract expiring?
Fans were worried because when K-pop groups’ contracts expire, it’s common for some members to leave or not renew their contracts, which could lead to the group breaking up.

5. How popular is Blackpink on social media?
Blackpink is very popular on social media. They have over 92 million subscribers on their official YouTube channel, and each member has more than 70 million followers on Instagram.

6. What other opportunities have Blackpink had outside of music?
Blackpink has had opportunities to work with big fashion brands and perform at big music festivals around the world.

7. How did YG Entertainment’s stock market value change after the new contract was announced?
YG Entertainment’s stock market value went up by more than 25% after they announced the new contract.

8. Why are people excited about Blackpink staying together as a group?
People are excited about Blackpink staying together as a group because they are a popular and talented group, and fans were worried they might break up.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Blackpink
(2) known
(3) contracts
(4) details
(5) management
(6) called
(7) agencies
(8) August
(9) working
(10) official
(11) fashion
(12) market
(13) signed
(14) worried
(15) release
(16) excited
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. contract
Answer: (N) A formal agreement between two or more parties

2. valuable
Answer: (C) Worth a lot of money

3. agency
Answer: (G) A company or organization that represents and manages artists

4. renew
Answer: (O) To extend or continue an agreement or contract

5. expired
Answer: (K) No longer valid or in effect

6. subscribers
Answer: (D) People who have chosen to receive updates or content from a particular person or organization

7. followers
Answer: (B) People who choose to receive updates or content from a particular person or organization on social media

8. fashion brands
Answer: (J) Well-known clothing companies

9. performed
Answer: (I) To give a performance or show

10. stock market value
Answer: (H) The total value of a company’s shares on the stock market

11. break up
Answer: (F) To end a relationship or partnership

12. release
Answer: (L) To make something available to the public, usually music or a movie

13. tours
Answer: (A) Trips or journeys to different places, usually for entertainment or education

14. figuring out
Answer: (M) To understand or solve something

15. excited
Answer: (E) Feeling very happy and enthusiastic
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. When did Blackpink form as a group?
Answer: (a) 2016

2. Which agency represents Blackpink?
Answer: (c) YG Entertainment

3. What does Blackpink plan to do to thank their fans?
Answer: (c) Release new albums and go on world tours

4. What is the concern for K-pop groups in South Korea?
Answer: (d) Members leaving or not renewing their contracts

5. How many subscribers does Blackpink have on their official YouTube channel?
Answer: (b) Over 92 million

6. How many followers does each Blackpink member have on Instagram?
Answer: (b) More than 70 million

7. What happened to YG Entertainment’s stock market value after the new contract announcement?
Answer: (a) It went up by more than 25%

8. How do people feel about Blackpink staying together as a group?
Answer: (d) Excited and happy
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Blackpink has a massive following on social media, with over 92 million subscribers on YouTube and each member having over 70 million followers on Instagram. (Answer: True)
2. Blackpink, a popular K-pop group, has signed a new contract with their agency to continue performing together. (Answer: True)
3. They formed in 2016 and are considered the biggest K-pop girl group in the world. (Answer: True)
4. This new contract is one of the most valuable contracts signed by any music group this year. (Answer: True)
5. The details of each member’s individual contract are finalized. (Answer: False)
6. It’s common for K-pop groups in South Korea to stay together even when some members leave or don’t renew their contracts. (Answer: False)
7. Blackpink doesn’t plan to release new albums or go on world tours to thank their fans all over the world. (Answer: False)
8. Some of the Blackpink members had agreed to an individual contract with their agency as of November. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧