Three MTV VMAs for BTS, and this week's comebacks — September 29 news briefing

Today in one line: BTS picked up three awards at the MTV VMAs in the US. This week, ONEW, WOOAH, CRAVITY and CLOSE YOUR EYES arrive one after another, and on Friday the Busan International Rock Festival opens its gates.

Overnight, overseas

1. Three MTV VMAs for BTS

At the 2026 MTV VMAs, held on September 27 local time (September 28 in Korea), BTS won 'Song of the Year' and 'Best K-Pop' for 'SWIM', and 'Best Group' on top of that. They took every one of the three categories they were nominated in.
Sources: The Korea Times · Segye Ilbo

2. 'Best Pop' for LISA, no wins for the other K-pop nominees

The award LISA won for 'Dream' was 'Best Pop'. In that category, LISA was up against Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter. The other categories where BLACKPINK, CORTIS, KATSEYE and JENNIE were nominated didn't end in a win.
Sources: Billboard · Paste

New music this week

3. ONEW and YUJU's 'Mind Games', WOOAH's 'VOODOO DOLL' (September 29)

SHINee's ONEW releases 'Mind Games', sung together with YUJU, today. It's the first of three title tracks ONEW is putting out one after another: the second arrives on October 7, and the single 'Chakgak' (착각) comes out on October 20 at 6 p.m. KST. WOOAH also release their digital single 'VOODOO DOLL' today, and they'll perform it on stage for the first time at their fan concert 'WXW : WICKED' on October 3.
Sources: MK Sports · GoKorea

4. 'LOUDER' from CRAVITY, '256th Note' from CLOSE YOUR EYES (September 30, 6 p.m.)

CRAVITY release their ninth mini album, 'sonorous', together with the title track 'LOUDER'. The same day, they'll perform the song for the first time at a rooftop release night on the Han River. CLOSE YOUR EYES release their fourth mini album, '256th Note', and its title track, 'Drop That!', samples Yoon Si-nae's '이 밤을 즐겁게' ("Enjoy This Night"). At 8 p.m., there's a comeback live.
Sources: MHN · Nate

5. BOYNEXTDOOR on radio and YouTube this week

BOYNEXTDOOR, who released 'HOME: DELUXE' on the 28th, will appear on SBS Power FM's 'Cultwo Show' on the 29th, the podcast 'Daebak Show' on the 30th and the YouTube show 'Matchundakani' on October 2.
Source: Topstarnews

Coming up

6. IVE's 'Looks Can Kill' on October 26

Starship Entertainment announced that IVE will release the mini album 'Looks Can Kill' on October 26. A pre-release song comes out first, on October 19.
Sources: Ilgan Sports · Newsen

7. Busan International Rock Festival opens Friday

Over three days, October 2 to 4, the last set on the main stage each day belongs to Avenged Sevenfold (2nd), Megadeth (3rd) and The Libertines (4th). Xdinary Heroes and N.Flying (2nd), WOODZ (3rd), and LUCY and CNBLUE (4th) also take the stage. This afternoon, we'll post a NONOL guide laying out the stages for each day and the rules on what you can bring in.
Source: Busan International Rock Festival timetable