On June 12, LE SSERAFIM, ILLIT, and KATSEYE released “ICONIC BY MISTAKE,” an electronic dance-pop collaboration that brought together three of HYBE’s popular girl groups. While they share the same corporate ecosystem, each group has spent the last few years carving out a distinct artistic identity, making the collaboration one of the most exciting releases of the summer. The music video premiered on June 10, while the song arrived on streaming platforms two days later and has

TWS (pronounced “Two-Us”), consisting of SHINYU, DOHOON, YOUNGJAE, HANJIN, JIHOON, and KYUNGMIN, returned on April 27 with their 5th mini album NO TRAGEDY. The PLEDIS Entertainment boy group, whose name is short for “TWENTY FOUR SEVEN WITH US,” has built their reputation on ‘Boyhood Pop,’ a musical style rooted in refreshing, unstoppable energy that has carried them from debut to one of K-pop’s fastest-rising acts.

Coachella may be over, but there are still many more outdoor music festivals to enjoy across the United States this year. Anyone who has been to a music festival knows there’s always too many stages and not enough time, so we’ve pulled together some of the acts you should see while sweating it out and dancing with your friends. While the headlining sets are always memorable moments at a festival, further down the lineup is where true gems often lie.

There is something quietly magical about the way Nandini Nayal, better known by her stage name gini (pronounced JEE-nee), makes music. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter and producer does not rely on loud theatrics or elaborate pop formulas to hold attention. Instead, she creates songs that feel like the kind of conversation you need while scrolling through Instagram at 3 AM—intimate, thoughtful, melancholic, yet comforting all at once.

When you listen to many different musicians, it can be difficult to keep track of new releases. If you like pop, electronic, or atmospheric music, then here are five new releases that you should definitely check out.

“To be cringe is to be free.” It’s a philosophy most idols might shy away from. Yet CORTIS lives by the phrase. For them, this mindset is the foundation of their raw and honest sound. Embracing cringe and weirdness is a huge part of their creative process and musical direction, as it allows them to be genuine, let go of external pressures, and choose to have fun rather than conforming to traditional expectations.

On April 24, 2026, LE SSERAFIM, consisting of SAKURA, KIM CHAEWON, HUH YUNJIN, KAZUHA, and HONG EUNCHAE, dropped their lead single “CELEBRATION” from their upcoming second studio album PUREFLOW, Pt. 1, set to release on May 22.

2026 is the year of yearning. From romantasy novels to Netflix series, the “will they, won’t they” troupe is prevalent in every media source, pulling at our heartstrings. Whether it’s a personal experience or living vicariously through a favorite character, we could all use a soundtrack to our yearning era. These artists understood the assignment and we’re living for it. (Maybe they’ll even encourage you to make your way out of the friendzone.)

In 2016, music surrounded me, infiltrating every part of my life. I did not search for it, did not analyze it, and never gave much thought to the people behind it. Songs simply existed around me, playing on loop through shared earphones, Bluetooth speakers in school corridors, and YouTube autoplay that always seemed to know what to play next. My playlists were a mix of Shreya Ghoshal songs and global hits that had taken over the world. At the time, that felt like more than en

2026 is the new 2016. At least that’s the current social media trend. A largely nostalgic time for Gen Z-ers who were participating in the mannequin challenge and bottle flip battles, dance pop and upbeat music was born from a year dogged with political turmoil and uniquely positioned in pop culture.

Before you press play, you’ve already felt it. The color palette. The teaser photos. The typography. The new hair color. You don’t just listen to the music anymore. You sought to enter it. We live in a visual-first culture. Feeds move fast. Attention is competitive. To stand out, artists don’t just refine their sound; they sharpen their silhouette. The Aesthetic Era isn’t shallow. It’s strategic. Visual identity builds loyalty. It builds shareability. It builds cultural memo

To celebrate Black History Month, we at Mido have compiled a comprehensive list of 43 Black musicians you should check out and add to playlists for year-round listening. This list includes indie artists, artists from smaller labels or with smaller followings, and some artists with larger followings who, in our opinion, could still have more attention. Whether or not you recognize these names, we hope you discover a new love or rediscover an old one.

I usually notice the sound before anything else. The instrumental. The way the voice comes in. Whether the song feels accelerated or if it gives itself time. That’s why, when it comes to music in languages other than English, I almost always lean toward R&B rather than pop. We’re taught that meaning comes from understanding—that to connect with something, we need context, translation, and clarity. But music doesn’t always work like that.

For several decades, India’s popular music industry revolved around film soundtracks, solo playback stars, and independent singer‑songwriters. But over the past three years, something distinctly different has been taking shape in the mainstream music scene. After the rising popularity of bands like Parikrama, Pentagram, Agnee, and Indian Ocean, Indian pop—or “I‑pop”—has now evolved into a carefully developed ecosystem with global‑facing branding strategies.

KPop Demon Hunters emerged as one of 2025’s most unexpected hits, with its standout track “Golden” breaking into the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and pushing the animated film into the global spotlight. The feel-good Netflix release debuted June 20, 2025, and centers on a group of K-pop idols balancing fame with secret lives as demon hunters. The film embodies strong themes of friendship and overcoming insecurities and appeals to audiences of all ages.

Nothing hits harder than a breakup–it’s the plot twist none of us asked for, but all of us end up living through. Whether they end in betrayal, or slowly growing apart, or the classic “it’s not you, it’s me,” the aftermath can sting in ways that are difficult to articulate. But the silver lining? Music. Breakup songs have a way of putting our feelings into lyrics, turning heartache into something you can sing, scream, and heal through.

Before launching into 2026, we'd like to reflect on the music of 2025—the melodies that accompanied us through our highs and lows, the live shows that left us starstruck, and the artists who inspired us. The Mido team listens to a wide range of genres and artists, which is why we've surveyed some of our members, asking them about their favorites from this year—the songs, concerts, and interviews. What has defined 2025 in our memories musically?

Fall isn’t just a season—it’s a mood. The air feels lighter, the nights are a little colder, and everything around you seems to slow down in the best way possible. What better way to soundtrack that than with the perfect mix of soulful R&B, K-pop softness, and heartfelt lyrics? Here are five songs that capture the vibes of fall and make every moment feel like you’re the main character of a rom-com.

This week’s been heavy in ways I can’t quite put into words—and my headphones have been my safe space. You know that feeling when a song just gets you, like it’s been eavesdropping on your thoughts? That’s been me—leaning on these artists who, in their own ways, tug at different corners of my heart. If these songs were people in my life, they would be...

You Didn’t Just Come for the Music — KCON 2025 Fashion Was a Whole Moment