ASTRO member Rocky is leaving the group.

Fantagio, the agency, announced on the official ASTRO website on the 28th, "After having deep conversations with Rocky, who has been with ASTRO for seven years as a member, we have decided to end our exclusive contract with him and his activities as an ASTRO member."

Fantagio emphasized, "ASTRO will maintain a 5-member system in the future, and the members who are working with Fantagio will focus on their solo, unit, and personal activities, and we will spare no support for them to actively work in various fields."

Earlier, Fantagio announced that Cha Eun-woo, Jinjin, Moonbin, and Yoon San-ha had renewed their contracts. MJ, who is serving in the military, is expected to discuss his contract after his discharge and has said that he is in deep discussions with Rocky.

Meanwhile, Rocky has been the center of attention for admitting to dating actress Park Bo Yeong. However, Park Bo Yeong's management side denied the dating rumor, saying they were just colleagues.

Below is the full statement from Fantagio.

"Hello.

This is Fantagio.

First of all, we sincerely thank all the fans who have loved and supported ASTRO.

After having deep conversations with Rocky, who has been with ASTRO for seven years as a member, we have decided to end our exclusive contract with him and his activities as an ASTRO member.

We thank Rocky for his hard work as a member of ASTRO for a long time, and we will sincerely support his future endeavors.

We also thank the many fans who have supported and watched over Rocky, and we ask for your continued interest and support for his new beginning.

ASTRO will maintain a 5-member system in the future, and the members who are working with Fantagio will focus on their solo, unit, and personal activities, and we will spare no support for them to actively work in various fields.

We ask for your continued interest and support for the members of ASTRO in the future.

Thank you."

Source[1]

BTS’s Jungkook continues to make waves globally with his solo song “Standing Next to You”. The track has now surpassed 100 million views on YouTube's official topic audio video, proving his immense popularity. Despite being just a music track without any elaborate visuals like a typical music video, the song has captivated fans worldwide, marking an impressive achievement for Jungkook.

Not only did “Standing Next to You” reach the 100 million views milestone, but Jungkook's solo single “Seven” also reached the same impressive number, with both tracks now joining the exclusive club of 100-million-view songs in YouTube’s Topic section. This is a clear testament to Jungkook's overwhelming presence in the music world.

The official music video for “Standing Next to You” is also making waves, surpassing 180 million views and inching closer to the 200 million mark. On Spotify, the song has accumulated an impressive 1.18 billion streams, securing its place at the top by dominating the global charts. It reached the Daily Top Songs chart and stayed in the Top 50 for over 120 days, cementing Jungkook's status as a global music sensation with over 300 days on the charts.

Jungkook’s chart performance has been nothing short of remarkable. “Standing Next to You” debuted at #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for 19 weeks. It also topped both the Global 200 and Global (excluding the U.S.) charts for 38 and 44 weeks, respectively. In the UK, it entered the Official Top 100 Singles Chart at #6 and stayed on the chart for 11 weeks. The song also topped iTunes charts in 102 countries and regions, including a week-long reign at #1 on the Worldwide iTunes Song chart.

Beyond the charts, “Standing Next to You” has gained recognition from international music media and award shows. The Honey Pop, a prominent U.S. pop culture media outlet, named the “Standing Next to You-Usher Remix” one of the top 5 K-pop collaborations of 2024. The Grammy Awards also highlighted the song in their “15 K-pop Songs that Dominated 2023”, calling it a “timeless hit that will last for years to come.” Furthermore, The Los Angeles Times included it in their “Top 100 Songs of 2023,” a further affirmation of its impact on global music.

With countless accolades, records, and the ongoing love from fans around the world, Jungkook’s name remains synonymous with success. As his song continues to break records, it’s clear that his voice will resonate for many years to come. Whether on playlists or music charts, “Standing Next to You” has solidified its place in music history as one of the defining hits of this era.

Source (1)