2NE1 to expand music career into Japan in Feb 2011

Girl group 2NE1 [Official 2NE1 website]

Korean girl group 2NE1 will expand their singing career into Japan in February 2011, according to YG Entertainment on Thursday.

YG's CEO Yang Hyun-suk made the announcement through a message on the agency's official blog site (http://www.yg-life.com), saying that the girls will officially kick off their careers in Japan under the country's major recording company AVEX in February.

Yang explained that YG had planned to debut 2NE1 in Japan last year but postponed the date in order to focus on their career in Korea, adding that they will promote themselves in Japan for two months until March and work on their new album in Korea for its release in May or June.

He also said that they have yet to set an exact date or detailed plan for 2NE1's debut in the United States since Black Eyed Peas frontman and producer Will.i.Am has been busy with his own group's next album.

In August, Yang had announced that the girls have finished recording ten songs with will.i.am, who offered to produce songs for the group and help with their U.S. debut.

Composed of members CL, Bom, Sandra and Minzy, the girls have been one of the most successful groups in the country since their debut in May 2009.

They have enjoyed a successful return to the local music scene with their first full-length album "To Anyone," topping numerous music charts with title tracks "Go Away," "Clap Your Hands" and "Can't Nobody" which they promoted simultaneously after its release in early September.

The girls have been busy attending various year-end programs including 2010 MelOn Music Awards and SBS' "Gayo Daejun" as well as performing with YG labelmates Big Bang, Se7en and Gummy during the "2010 YG Family Concert" early this month.

Reporter : Lucia Hong luciahong@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@