Inside BLACKPINK’s 2024 Solo Eras And What’s Next

Since debuting in 2016, BLACKPINK has become the biggest girl group in the world, making an indelible impact on the music industry. While BLACKPINK’s influence as a group remains, the members — Jennie, Lisa, Rosé, and JiSoo — have been steadily expanding their solo ventures since the beginning of 2024, demonstrating their prowess as strong professionals, performers, and musicians individually.

The quartet parted ways with YG Entertainment in December 2023 regarding their solo endeavors. Though they are all pursuing separate projects, YG Entertainment’s founder and owner Yang HyunSuk confirmed that the quartet would make their return to the stage on a worldwide tour in 2025. Until then, their fans — BLINKs — are keeping a pulse on what the members are up to. This article will be an all-encompassing review of the BLACKPINK members’ activities and what to expect in the last quarter of 2024.

 

Jennie

Jennie wrapped up her 2023 with the announcement of her own label — ODD ATELIER aka OA. Their website states that OA “is a space that aims to create new things that attract attention in a different way from what is usual or expected.”

Jennie made her much-awaited comeback with her single ‘Mantra,’ on Oct. 11 at 9 a.m. KST, making it the first release under her label OA. The song stays true to the theme of the summer — bratty pop — featuring captivating bass lines and an empowering chant for pretty girls around the world for the chorus. During an interview with “Vogue Singapore”, Jennie described the song as, “a fun, upbeat anthem that celebrates girl power and inspires every woman to shine in her own way with confidence.”

This single comes after her collaborative songs ‘Slow Motion’ with Matt Champion in March and ‘SPOT!’ with Zico in April. ‘SPOT!’ hit No. 1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart — Zico’s first-ever No. 1 on a U.S. Billboard sales chart and Jennie’s second, with her first being her debut single ‘Solo.’

Jennie has taken ‘Mantra’ promotions from the streets of Los Angeles with her #MantraDayLA pop-up fan event to the sets of Wired and BuzzFeed and the stages with Jimmy Kimmel, MNET, and Show! Music Core. Her efforts have led to the anthem breaking the record for the highest ranking ever by a female K-Pop soloist on the UK’s Official Singles Chart, debuting at No. 37. ‘Mantra’ also made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 98, making it her first solo entry on the list. The song’s fun and dynamic choreography has become a viral dance challenge across social media platforms among both fans and celebrities.

@jennierubyjane

Show me your Mantra 💃🏻 #mantrachallenge

♬ Mantra – JENNIE

‘Mantra’ is expected to be followed by Jennie’s first solo album released under OA. Though no title has been confirmed yet, Jennie spoke to Harper’s Bazaar about the anticipated album. “BLACKPINK Jennie will always be a part of me, but you will also get to experience this new side,” she explained. BLINKs can expect various genres on the tracklist. Similar to ‘Mantra’’s theme, the star hopes this project will inspire women worldwide to find, understand, and stick up for their true selves, as she will be “bringing herself to the world for the first time.”

As a champion in South Korea’s top brand reputation rankings, the idol’s other activities revolve around brand collaborations. Jennie returned as the stunning and confident face of Chanel’s fine jewelry line Coco Crush “Human Chanel” campaign — along with many others since — and Calvin Klein’s Spring 2024 collection. In May, Jennie’s third eyewear collection with Gentle Monster — “Jentle Salon” — became a fashion sensation among Gen Z, riding the coquette aesthetic wave with detachable charms and pastel colorways.

Jennie had the most campaigns in June, collaborating with three brands. The singer added Jacquemus to her fashion portfolio, closing out its “LA CASA” show at Italy’s Casa Malaparte in June. Soon after, Jennie became the face of Beats by Dre’s new Solo Buds and Solo 4 campaign. As one of BLACKPINK’s rappers, her collaboration with Beats included a small song snippet showcasing her talent. She concluded the month with Adidas for the launch of their Clot Gazelle sneaker by Edison Chen. Jennie sported chic white outfits to match the fresh, beachy aesthetic of the campaigns.

Jennie’s other 2024 brand collaborations feature Maison Kitsune, Hera Beauty, and Tamburins. BLINKs can follow JENNIE HQ — created in early October — on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates on Jennie’s activities.

 

Lisa

Lisa announced the launch of her label — LLOUD — on Feb. 8, marking the beginning of her busy year. Her single ‘ROCKSTAR’ was released on June 28 at 9 a.m. KST, making it the first song she released under her label in partnership with RCA Records. Similar to her previous releases, the song features addictive clubby beats and boastful lyrics, cementing her place as a powerful rockstar in the music industry. The song was visualized with a stunning cyberpunk-themed music video, shot in Bangkok and the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui as an homage to her native country, Thailand.

‘ROCKSTAR’ became an immediate hit, debuting at No. 8 on Spotify’s Global Chart, the biggest debut for a female K-Pop soloist at the time. It later became her first Billboard Global Excl. U.S. No. 1 on July 8, only 10 days after its debut. The music video reached 100 million views on YouTube on July 11 and went on to win the Best K-pop Award at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in September.

Lisa didn’t stop there, releasing ‘New Woman’ with Spanish pop sensation Rosalía on Aug. 15. ‘New Woman’ features bold lyrics symbolizing Lisa rediscovering her identity, a perfect marker of her beginning with LLOUD and releasing more music as a soloist. ‘I hope everyone that watches this music video can also receive this energy,” Lisa said in her behind-the-scenes compilation of the MV shoot. The single debuted at No. 4 on Spotify’s Global, overturning her own previous record set by ‘ROCKSTAR.’

 

As a standout performer of BLACKPINK, Lisa gave BLINKs and Lilies — her personal fandom name — multiple performances of her hit singles. The “ROCKSTAR Special Stage Performance” was released on LLOUD’s YouTube channel on Aug. 1, featuring HolyBang — winners of Korea’s dance competition “Street Woman Fighter.” She made her solo performance debut at the 2024 MTV VMAs on Sept. 11, performing ‘ROCKSTAR’ and ‘New Woman’ before receiving her award.

In addition to performing this year’s releases, she surprised her fans by debuting ‘Moonlit Floor’ at the Global Citizen Festival in New York City’s Central Park on Sept. 28. It contrasts her previous releases, casting Lisa as the protagonist in a romantic story as she becomes enamored with a “green-eyed French boy.”

The song samples Sixpence None the Richer’s 1997 song ‘Kiss Me.’ “This song is so special because I grew up listening to ‘Kiss Me’ as a child and I now get to have my own version of this song,” Lisa reflected in an Instagram caption. The song was officially released on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Lisa made an iconic motorcycle entrance into her performance of ‘ROCKSTAR’ and continued to perform ‘Moonlit Floor’ at the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on Oct. 15.

As the most-followed K-Pop star on Instagram — boasting 104 million followers — Lisa’s influence is palpable. She collaborated with several luxury brands. Her ambassadorship with Bulgari continued throughout the year, as she unveiled her second limited-edition watch collaboration in January. Teasing fans with hints as early as March, Lisa joined Louis Vuitton as their newest ambassador on July 23. “I aim to be someone who can maintain originality,” Lisa said in her introduction video with Louis Vuitton, representing the brand’s timelessness. Her other brand collaborations include Dentiste and Kith’s Women’s Summer 2024 Collection.

As for the remainder of the year, Lisa is set to go on a mini-tour in mid-November, hosting several fan meetups in Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong. Fans are eagerly awaiting her upcoming album. Although there is no confirmed release date, Lisa revealed in an interview with “Vogue Korea” in September that she plans to step “outside the box” for her first full-length solo album, which presents an opportunity for her to redefine her career as an artist outside of BLACKPINK.

As part of this new phase of solo endeavors, Lisa will also venture into acting, following in the footsteps of her members Jennie and JiSoo. She will make her acting debut in the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus.” The season is set to begin production in Thailand. In a recent interview with Audacy, Lisa shared that she sought acting advice from her members, ultimately settling on the mantra: “Just do it.”

BLINKs and Lilies can now keep up with Lisa’s activities through Dear U’s “Bubble” via ‘bubble for LLOUD,’ launched in September. This platform allows Lisa to stay connected with her fans through active communication.

 

Rosé

Unlike her other members, Rosé did not start her own company. Instead, she opted to sign with Korean-American artist and producer Teddy Park’s agency and YG’s associate label, The Black Label, which also represents celebrities such as Jeon SoMi, Park BoGum, and TaeYang.

Arguably her biggest announcement of the year, Rosé revealed that her first full-length solo album — “rosie” — would be released on Dec. 6. In a sentimental Instagram caption, the BLACKPINK member confessed that she spent “many nights feeling confused and lost.” A culmination of her career as a musician, “rosie” promises to offer fans a more intimate experience, featuring songs that she describes as a “little journal of hers.”

A week after the groundbreaking announcement, fans noticed playful interactions between Rosé and renowned artist Bruno Mars. Rosé reportedly taught Mars how to play a Korean drinking game, which he described as “a super chill night,” except for when she tried to kiss him. Rosé played along by commenting, “what’s wrong with uuuu” under his post.

The next day, Rosé announced ‘APT,’ featuring Bruno Mars, as the first single from her upcoming album. The song is named after Rosé’s favorite Korean drinking game, and fans can hear what sounds like the singer playing the game with friends as the song’s intro. The carefree, fun music video features both Rosé and Bruno Mars playing the game, with Rosé indeed kissing Mars.

The addictive song stayed in listeners’ heads for days and eventually reached Spotify’s Top 50 Global playlist, ranking fourth on iTunes’ Top 100: Global chart. The song’s success led YG’s shares to peak at a seven-month high. The video became the biggest male-female duet debut of 2024 so far. The release of ‘APT’ has fans excited about possible collaborations to be seen on rosie.

Rosé has also engaged in a range of events and collaborations, too. She began the year with a partnership with Sulwhasoo, a popular Korean luxury skincare brand. Shortly after, she attended Yves Saint Laurent’s show in Paris. Her activities with YSL continued throughout the year. In April, Rosé graced the cover of “Dazed Korea” in partnership with RIMOWA. As RIMOWA’s global ambassador, she revealed its newest Essential collection, featuring suitcases and accessories in beachy pastel shades.

In June, Puma welcomed Rosé as their newest ambassador. As a style icon for her fans, Puma sought her voice to enhance the brand. “We are delighted to welcome her to our Puma family, and we eagerly anticipate the accomplishments we will achieve together,” said Maria Valdes, Chief Product Officer for Puma.

Since rosie will be the first album released by a BLACKPINK member this year, BLINKs are eager to hear what the singer has been working on. As Rosé said, “I know you have many questions, but this is only the first exciting puzzle piece to a much bigger picture.”

 

JiSoo

As the first member of BLACKPINK to join the acting scene and known as a “brand queen,” JiSoo has been making waves in K-Drama news and various campaigns under her new company BLISSOO, established on Feb. 21.

Following her acting debut as Jung HaeIn’s love interest in the K-Drama “Snowdrop,” fans look forward with great enthusiasm to her return to the screen. JiSoo also starred in “Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman.” She is set to star in “Newtopia”, an upcoming zombie thriller series, playing the girlfriend of actor Park JeongMin, who is an engineer.

 

JiSoo is also confirmed to star in “Monthly Boyfriend,” a drama where Seo InGuk plays the lead in a virtual world that allows people to subscribe to a boyfriend. The drama will be directed by Kim JungSik. Perhaps the most anticipated project of all, JiSoo will star alongside Lee MinHo and Ahn HyoSeop in “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint”, an adaptation of a popular Korean web novel.

Aside from her acting roles, JiSoo’s face has appeared in multiple campaigns, all showcased on BLISSOO’s company Instagram. Her largest endorsement is with Dior. She has been featured in its 2024 DiorBeauty, its “W Korea” cover shoot alongside Cartier, Dior Addict Lip Glow, Le Baume Limited Edition Pink Houndstooth, Haute Couture AW 2024-2025, Miss Dior Exhibition “Stories of a Miss,” and “Marie Claire” campaigns and appearances. Her second most notable brand collaboration is with Cartier, as seen in “Vogue Hong Kong”, Cartier Trinity and its Trinity 100 Pop-Up in Singapore, Le Voyage Recommencé High Jewelry Gala Event in Seoul, and its collaboration with “W Korea” and Dior.

JiSoo’s influence in brand endorsements is so strong that she was crowned “The Top Influencer at New York Fashion Week Womenswear SS25” for Tommy Hilfiger. Her presence alone boasted an $8 Million Earned Media Value (EMV). Tommy Hilfiger ranked No.1 on the list of Top Brands at Fashion Week with a $56.4 Million EMV. The idol joined the Tommy Hilfiger family on Oct. 22, appearing in their latest fall campaign.

Her other endorsements include Dyson, Alo, and Self-Portrait. BLINKs can also keep up with JiSoo’s activities since she joined “Bubble” in March after Lisa.

 

In the words of the BLACKPINK member Lisa herself, “Of course we’re continuing for sure. It is not just because of our fans, it’s for ourselves. There was no doubt. This is our life.” Though some BLINKS have expressed their fears of the members going their separate ways, BLACKPINK is set to return as a group in the upcoming year, stronger than ever before as they’ve been working on their skills individually. As 2024 draws to a close, BLINKS are excited to see what lies ahead for Jennie, Lisa, Rosé, and JiSoo, both as solo artists and as a group.

Which member’s activities are you most excited for? Tell us on X!