'MZ wannabe icon' IVE (IVE: Ahn Yujin·Gaeul·Ray·Jang Wonyoung·Leeseo) will appear on a special broadcast of Japan's NHK flagship music program.
According to Tokyo-based public broadcaster NHK, IVE will appear on the special broadcast 'Venue101 Presents IVE LIVE SPECIAL' of 'Venue101 (Venue101),' which will air tonight (31st) at 11 p.m. This program will be presented as a standalone special broadcast, and IVE is expected to showcase a variety of stages.
This special broadcast is arranged not only with spectacular stages but also with segments designed for viewers to fully enjoy IVE's diverse charms. In particular, through a corner where members directly answer questions fans sent in advance, IVE is expected to continue interacting with fans with an honest and friendly charm different from their onstage personas.
So far, IVE has solidified its position by recording outstanding figures in Japan's record and live performance markets. Based on Billboard Japan chart streaming counts last year, following 'ELEVEN' and 'LOVE DIVE,' 'After LIKE' also pushed their cumulative streams past 200 million, marking successive mega-hits. Also, their third Japanese album released last July, 'Be Alright,' topped Billboard Japan's top album sales chart, proving their strong local popularity.
Their growth in live performances has also been clear. IVE, which officially debuted in Japan in 2022, entered Tokyo Dome for the first time with the encore of their first world tour in 2024, drawing about 95,000 spectators over two days. At the time, IVE received intense coverage from major local media, even making special front-page headlines, proving their hot popularity. Then, during last year's Japan fan-con tour, they drew about 100,000 spectators across 11 performances in four regions, reaffirming their powerful ticket-selling ability and the 'IVE syndrome.'
Having cemented a solid presence in Japan, IVE is stepping up preparations for a domestic comeback. Recently, IVE has released various promotional contents for their second full album, 'REVIVE+,' on official social media channels, heightening global fans' expectations. Amid this excitement, they will kick off comeback activities by releasing the pre-release track 'BANG BANG' on Feb. 9 and then drop the new album on Feb. 23.
Also, they are scheduled to hold the second world tour, 'SHOW WHAT I AM,' at Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 18 and 19, drawing attention to IVE's activities that will span both domestic and international stages this year.
Meanwhile, 'Venue101 Presents IVE LIVE SPECIAL,' featuring IVE, will air tonight (31st) at 11 p.m. on NHK.
[Photo] Starship Entertainment
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