KPopped
| KPopped | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Music competition |
| Directed by | Yeonkyu Lee |
| Presented by | Soojeong Son |
| Starring | |
| Countries of origin |
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| Original languages |
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| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Cinematography |
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| Running time | 32 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Release | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) – present |
KPopped (stylized in all caps) is a music reality competition television series that premiered on Apple TV+ on August 29, 2025. Produced by CJ ENM and Eureka Productions, the series pairs Western recording artists with K-pop idols to reimagine the artists' most popular songs in a K-pop style. Each episode culminates in head-to-head song battles judged by a live audience in Seoul. The show stars Psy and Megan Thee Stallion and is hosted by Soojeong Son. Stallion additionally serves as an executive producer alongside Lionel Richie and Miky Lee.
Format
[edit ]Established K-pop groups are divided into two subunits, each paired with a Western solo artist to reinterpret one of the guest's songs. In cases where acts like Boyz II Men are featured, the show skips having two guest artists, and each group performs twice—once with each subunit. Artists have 48 hours to rehearse before performing live for a studio audience, who then vote for the winning performance.[1] [2]
The series also features brief cultural exchanges, such as the members of Billlie introducing Megan Thee Stallion to spicy Buldak Ramen and Ateez joining Kylie Minogue to learn the traditional Buchaechum dance.[3]
Production
[edit ]Apple TV+ announced the series on February 5, 2025.[4] It premiered on August 29, 2025.[5] The soundtrack was released in two installments by Sony Music Masterworks: the first volume, containing seven songs from the series, arrived on September 5, 2025, followed by the complete album on September 19, 2025.[6] [7]
Reception
[edit ]Hannah J Davies of The Guardian gave the series three out of five stars, describing it as "harmless but largely vibeless" and "a fairly blatant attempt to cash in on the ubiquity of K-pop." She also noted that it lacked the tension and unpredictability typically associated with music competition shows.[1]
Episodes
[edit ]- Note: Winners are listed in bold.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 1 | Megan Thee Stallion. Patti LaBelle. Billlie. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Megan Thee Stallion with Moon Sua, Sheon and Siyoon of Billlie: Patti LaBelle with Suhyeon, Haram, Tsuki and Haruna of Billlie: "Flipping a Coin" performed by Billlie, Megan Thee Stallion and Patti LaBelle | ||||
| 82 | 2 | Spice Girls (Emma & Mel B). Itzy. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Spice Girls with Lia and Yuna of Itzy: Spice Girls with Ryujin, Yeji and Chaeryeong of Itzy: "Gold" performed by Itzy and Spice Girls | ||||
| 83 | 3 | Vanilla Ice. Taylor Dayne. Kep1er. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Vanilla Ice with Dayeon and Hikaru of Kep1er: Taylor Dayne with Chaehyun, Youngeun, Yujin, Huening Bahiyyih and Xiaoting of Kep1er: "Wa Da Da" performed by Kep1er, Vanilla Ice and Taylor Dayne | ||||
| 84 | 4 | Eve. Kesha. JO1. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Eve with Takumi Kawanishi, Sho Yonashiro, Sky, Keigo Sato, Shion Tsurubo and Ruki Shiroiwa of JO1: Kesha with Junki Kono , Ren Kawashiri, Mamehara Issei , Shosei Ohira and Syoya Kimata of JO1: "Love Seeker" performed by JO1, Eve and Kesha | ||||
| 85 | 5 | Kylie Minogue. J Balvin. Ateez. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Kylie Minogue with Jongho, Yunho, Wooyoung and Seonghwa of Ateez: J Balvin with Yeosang, San , Hongjoong and Mingi of Ateez: "Bouncy (K-Hot Chilli Peppers)" performed by Ateez, Kylie Minogue and J Balvin | ||||
| 86 | 6 | Boy George. TLC. STAYC. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Boy George with Sieun, Yoon and Sumin of STAYC: TLC with Seeun, Isa and J of STAYC: "Run2U" performed by STAYC, TLC and Boy George | ||||
| 87 | 7 | Ava Max. Jess Glynne. Kiss of Life. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Ava Max with Belle and Natty of Kiss of Life: Jess Glynne with Haneul and Julie of Kiss of Life: "Get Loud" performed by Kiss of Life, Ava Max and Jess Glynne | ||||
| 88 | 8 | Boyz II Men. Blackswan. | August 29, 2025 (2025年08月29日) | |
|
Boyz II Men with Fatou , Gabi and Sriya of Blackswan: Boyz II Men with NVee of Blackswan: "Roll Up" performed by Blackswan and Boyz II Men | ||||
References
[edit ]- ^ a b Davies, Hannah J. (August 29, 2025). "KPOPPED review – making this star-packed singing contest must have been absolutely wild". The Guardian . ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on August 29, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "Apple TV+ unveils thrilling trailer and star-studded lineup for global K-pop song battle series "KPOPPED," premiering August 29" (Press release). Apple TV+. August 1, 2025. Archived from the original on August 1, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Wang, Mel (September 9, 2025). "'KPOPPED' is One of the Weirdest Reality Musical Contests Out There". Rolling Stone Philippines . Archived from the original on October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "Apple TV+ announces new K-pop song battle series "KPOPPED," starring PSY and Megan Thee Stallion" (Press release). Apple TV+. February 5, 2025. Archived from the original on April 1, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "KPOPPED" (Press release). Apple TV+. August 29, 2025. Archived from the original on October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "KPOPPED (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack) Vol. 1 by Various Artists". Apple Music . Archived from the original on September 7, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ "KPOPPED (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack) by Various Artists". Apple Music . Archived from the original on September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
External links
[edit ]- 2020s American music television series
- 2020s American reality television series
- 2020s Australian reality television series
- 2025 American television series debuts
- 2025 Australian television series debuts
- 2025 South Korean television series debuts
- English-language American television shows
- Apple TV (streaming service) original programming
- English-language Australian television shows
- Australian music television series
- Korean-language television shows
- Music competitions in South Korea
- English-language South Korean television shows
- South Korean music television shows
- South Korean reality television series
- Television series by CJ ENM
- Television series by Eureka