History of Blackpink in Timeline

Blackpink is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. They are widely regarded as the "biggest girl group in the world" and are a leading force in the Korean Wave (Hallyu). The group is known for popularizing the "girl crush" concept within K-pop, focusing on themes of self-confidence and female empowerment in their music and performances.

1999: Blackpink Named Group of the Year

In 2023, Blackpink was awarded Group of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, making them the second girl group since TLC in 1999 to receive the honor.

2001: First Time a Girl Group Simultaneously Topped the Album Charts in the US and UK Since 2001

In 2001, Destiny's Child's Survivor was the last album by a girl group to simultaneously top the album charts in the United States and United Kingdom before Blackpink's Born Pink in 2022.

2008: Danity Kane Billboard Achievement

In 2008, Danity Kane was the last girl group to have their album reach number one on the Billboard 200 before Blackpink achieved the same feat in 2022 with the album Born Pink.

2008: First Album by a Female Group Since 2008 to Top Billboard 200

In 2008, Danity Kane's Welcome to the Dollhouse was the last album by a female group to top the Billboard 200 before Blackpink's Born Pink in 2022.

2009: Wonder Girls' "Nobody" Record

In 2009, Wonder Girls' "Nobody" set a record surpassed by Blackpink's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" in 2018.

2010: Jennie Joins YG Entertainment

In 2010, Jennie joined YG Entertainment as a trainee after moving back to South Korea from New Zealand.

2010: Jennie Admired the creativity and fashion of "Telephone"

In 2010, Jennie recalled how she admired the creativity and fashion of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" music video when she saw it for the first time.

2010: YG Entertainment Tryouts Begin

In 2010, YG Entertainment held tryouts worldwide to recruit members for a new girl group, following the launch of 2NE1.

July 2011: Jisoo Joins YG Entertainment

In July 2011, Jisoo joined YG Entertainment as a trainee.

2011: Lisa Becomes YG Entertainment Trainee

In 2011, Lisa became YG Entertainment's first foreign trainee after passing auditions in Thailand in 2010.

2011: Preparations for Debut Begin

In 2011, preparations for Blackpink's debut began, with YG Entertainment announcing that their new girl group would debut in the early half of 2012 and feature at least seven members.

May 2012: Lisa's Introduction via YouTube

In May 2012, Lisa was introduced in a video posted on YG Entertainment's YouTube channel, titled "Who's that girl???".

2012: Rosé's YG Entertainment Audition

In 2012, Rosé ranked first among 700 applicants in the YG Entertainment audition in Australia, after which she signed a trainee contract with the label and moved to Seoul to begin training. She was credited as '? from YG New Girl Group' in G-Dragon's song 'Without You'

2012: Debut Delay Rumors

In 2012, numerous news stories and rumors surfaced surrounding delays for the debut of YG Entertainment's new girl group.

2013: Jennie's Features on G-Dragon and Lee Hi Songs

In 2013, Jennie featured in the songs "Black" from G-Dragon's album Coup d'Etat, and "Special" from Lee Hi's album First Love.

2014: Jisoo Appears in Epik High and Hi Suhyun Music Videos

In 2014, Jisoo appeared in the music videos for Epik High's "Spoiler + Happy Ending" and Hi Suhyun's "I'm Different."

2015: Jisoo's Cameo Appearance in The Producers

In 2015, Jisoo made a cameo appearance in the drama The Producers.

2015: Lisa Becomes Nona9on Spokesperson

In 2015, Lisa became a spokesperson for street-wear brand Nona9on.

May 18, 2016: YG Confirms Blackpink Debut

On May 18, 2016, YG Entertainment officially confirmed that their new girl group, Blackpink, would debut that July. The members were selected through years of competition.

June 1, 2016: Jennie Revealed as First Member

On June 1, 2016, Jennie was revealed as the first member of Blackpink. She had joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in 2010 and had been previously introduced to the public in 2012.

June 8, 2016: Lisa Revealed as Second Member

On June 8, 2016, Lisa was revealed as the second member of Blackpink. She had passed the 2010 YG Entertainment audition in Thailand and became the label's first foreign trainee in 2011.

June 15, 2016: Jisoo Revealed as Third Member

On June 15, 2016, Jisoo was revealed as the third member of Blackpink. She joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in July 2011 and appeared in several advertisements and music videos before her debut.

June 22, 2016: Rosé Revealed as Final Member

On June 22, 2016, Rosé was revealed as the final member of Blackpink. She ranked first in the 2012 YG Entertainment audition in Australia and signed a trainee contract.

August 8, 2016: Blackpink Debut Date Confirmed

On July 29, YG Entertainment confirmed that Blackpink's debut would be on August 8, 2016.

August 14, 2016: First Music Show Performance

On August 14, 2016, Blackpink's first music show performance aired on SBS's Inkigayo, launching their promotion for the new single.

August 2016: Blackpink's Debut with Square One

In August 2016, Blackpink debuted with the release of their single album Square One, featuring "Boombayah" and "Whistle". The songs achieved number one and two, respectively, on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.

September 11, 2016: End of Square One Promotions

On September 11, 2016, Blackpink wrapped up promotions for their debut single album, Square One, with a second win on Inkigayo.

November 1, 2016: Release of Square Two

On November 1, 2016, Blackpink released their second single album, Square Two, featuring the tracks "Playing with Fire" and "Stay".

2016: Blackpink Debuts

In 2016, Blackpink debuted and The Recording Academy noted how "the success of K-pop girl groups shot to a new level".

2016: Four Years Since Debut

In 2016, Blackpink debuted as a group. The documentary "Blackpink: Light Up the Sky" covered the four years since the group's debut in 2016.

January 17, 2017: Fandom Name Revealed

On January 17, 2017, Blackpink revealed the name of their fandom as "Blink", a portmanteau of "black" and "pink".

May 2017: Honorary Ambassador for Incheon Main Customs

In May 2017, Blackpink became an honorary ambassador for customs service company Incheon Main Customs.

July 20, 2017: Showcase at Nippon Budokan

On July 20, 2017, Blackpink held a showcase at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, attended by over 14,000 people, demonstrating their popularity and high demand.

August 30, 2017: Japanese Debut with Self-Titled EP

On August 30, 2017, Blackpink made their Japanese debut with the release of a self-titled Japanese extended play (EP) that included Japanese versions of their previous singles.

January 6, 2018: Blackpink House Reality Show Premiere

On January 6, 2018, Blackpink released the first episode of their reality show, Blackpink House, showing the members on a 100-day vacation in a new dorm.

June 15, 2018: Release of Square Up EP

On June 15, 2018, Blackpink released their first Korean-language EP, Square Up, which achieved significant success, debuting at number one on the Gaon Album Chart in South Korea and entering the Billboard 200 at number 40.

July 2018: Ranked First in Brand Reputation

In July 2018, Blackpink ranked first among all artists in brand reputation based on analyses by The Korea Reputation Research Institute.

October 19, 2018: Release of "Kiss and Make Up" with Dua Lipa

On October 19, 2018, English singer Dua Lipa released "Kiss and Make Up" with Blackpink, which became a top-40 hit in the UK and marked Blackpink's second entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

November 2018: Additional Tour Dates Announced and Jennie's Solo Debut

In November 2018, Blackpink announced additional tour dates for their In Your Area World Tour and Jennie made her solo debut with "Solo" at Blackpink's Seoul concert.

November 2018: Shopee Brand Ambassador

In November 2018, Blackpink became the first regional brand ambassador for Singaporean e-commerce platform Shopee.

December 2018: Donation to Low-Income Households

In December 2018, Blackpink donated their prize money from the Elle Style Awards 2018 to low-income and single-parent households in South Korea.

2018: Blackpink establishes confident image in K-pop

Following the release of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" in 2018, Billboard called Blackpink "K-pop's most visible representatives" of girl crush.

2018: Blackpink Arena Tour 2018 and First Concert in Seoul

In 2018, Blackpink embarked on their first Japan tour, Blackpink Arena Tour 2018, and announced their first concert in Seoul, Blackpink 2018 Tour [In Your Area] Seoul x BC Card.

2018: "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" Chart Success

In 2018, Blackpink's single "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" achieved widespread popularity, marking the first song by a Korean female group to enter the UK Singles Chart and receive RIAA certification. The song's music video also became the first by a Korean group to surpass one and two billion views on YouTube.

January 2019: "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" Most-Watched Music Video by a South Korean Group

In January 2019, the music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" became the most-watched music video by a South Korean group.

February 9, 2019: American Debut at Universal Music Group's Grammy Artist Showcase

On February 9, 2019, Blackpink made their American debut at the Universal Music Group's Grammy Artist Showcase in Downtown Los Angeles.

March 2019: In Your Area World Tour in Asia until March 2019

Blackpink's In Your Area World Tour covered various dates across Asia until March 2019.

April 5, 2019: Release of Kill This Love EP

On April 5, 2019, Blackpink released their third extended play, Kill This Love, along with its lead single of the same name, achieving significant success on both the Gaon Album Chart and the Billboard charts.

April 2019: Donation for Goseong Wildfire Victims

In April 2019, Blackpink donated to the Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief for the victims of the Goseong wildfire in South Korea.

August 2019: "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" Certified Gold by RIAA

In August 2019, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making Blackpink the first Korean girl group to receive a certification in the country.

August 2019: Samsung Blackpink Special Edition Launch

In August 2019, Samsung launched a Blackpink Special Edition set in Southeast Asia.

September 2019: Most-subscribed music group on Youtube

In September 2019, Blackpink became the most-subscribed music group on YouTube.

October 16, 2019: Japanese Version of Kill This Love Released

On October 16, 2019, a Japanese version of Kill This Love was released to the Japanese market, peaking at number five on the Oricon Albums Chart.

November 2019: Most-followed girl group on Spotify

In November 2019, Blackpink became the most-followed girl group on Spotify.

November 2019: KBank Partnership

In November 2019, Thai bank KBank began its partnership with Blackpink.

November 2019: "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" Music Video Surpasses One Billion Views

In November 2019, the "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" music video became the first K-pop group music video to surpass one billion views.

2019: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity

In 2019, Blackpink ranked first on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list.

2019: "Kill This Love" Music Video Release

In 2019, Blackpink released the music video for "Kill This Love," setting a record for the most-viewed music video within the first 24 hours of its release.

2019: Spice Girls' Record Broken

In 2023, Blackpink's Born Pink World Tour broke the record held by Spice Girls' Spice World – 2019 Tour to become the highest-grossing concert tour of all time by a female group.

2019: In Your Area World Tour Continued

Throughout 2019, Blackpink continued their In Your Area World Tour, expanding to North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia.

April 2020: Face Masks Release for MusiCares

In April 2020, Blackpink released face masks via Bravado, with all proceeds benefiting Recording Academy's MusiCares initiative.

April 22, 2020: Lady Gaga Confirms Collaboration with Blackpink

On April 22, 2020, Lady Gaga confirmed that Blackpink would be featured on the track list of her sixth studio album, Chromatica.

May 28, 2020: Release of "Sour Candy" with Lady Gaga

On May 28, 2020, Blackpink's collaboration with Lady Gaga, "Sour Candy", was released as a promotional single, achieving success on the Billboard Hot 100 and in Australia.

June 2020: Collaboration with Zepeto

In June 2020, Blackpink collaborated with Zepeto, a South Korean 3D avatar service, to offer fans avatar characters and virtual fan-sign events.

June 26, 2020: "How You Like That" Release and World Records

On June 26, 2020, Blackpink released "How You Like That" and its music video, breaking five Guinness World Records.

July 2020: Most-subscribed female artist on Youtube

In July 2020, Blackpink became the most-subscribed female artist on YouTube.

August 2020: Ranked First in Brand Reputation

In August 2020, Blackpink ranked first among all artists in brand reputation based on analyses by The Korea Reputation Research Institute.

September 11, 2020: Zepeto Fan-Sign Event Success

On September 11, 2020, Blackpink's virtual fan-sign event on Zepeto surpassed 30 million participants.

September 2020: Pepsi Spokesperson

In September 2020, Blackpink became a spokesperson for Pepsi in the Asia-Pacific region.

October 2, 2020: Release of The Album

On October 2, 2020, Blackpink released their first Korean studio album, The Album, with "Lovesick Girls" as its main single, achieving record-breaking sales and chart success.

October 14, 2020: Premiere of Blackpink: Light Up the Sky on Netflix

On October 14, 2020, Blackpink's first documentary film, Blackpink: Light Up the Sky, premiered on Netflix, covering the four years since the group's debut.

October 2020: Blackpink ranked as biggest music act in the world

In October 2020, Blackpink was hailed as the biggest music act in the world in Bloomberg's Pop Star Power Ranking.

December 2020: Globe Telecom Brand Ambassador

In December 2020, Blackpink became a brand ambassador for Philippine telecommunications company Globe Telecom.

December 2020: Climate Change Action Call

In December 2020, Blackpink called for action on climate change and promoted the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

December 27, 2020: Rescheduled Date of "The Show" Livestream Concert

On December 27, 2020, Blackpink's livestream concert "The Show" was initially set to take place but was rescheduled due to new COVID-19 pandemic regulations in South Korea.

2020: International Breakthrough

In 2020, Blackpink had an international breakthrough that led to The Circle Chart observing a significant increase in the incorporation of English lyrics in songs by South Korean girl groups.

2020: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity

In 2020, Blackpink ranked third on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list.

2020: Highest Charting Korean Girl Group with "Ice Cream"

In 2020, Blackpink reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Ice Cream", marking them as the highest-charting Korean girl group on the chart at that time.

2020: "How You Like That" Release and Records

In 2020, Blackpink released "How You Like That," which topped the Gaon Digital Chart and broke five Guinness World Records, including setting another record for the most-viewed music video within the first 24 hours of release.

2020: Success of "How You Like That" and Announcement of "Ice Cream"

In 2020, Blackpink's single "How You Like That" achieved significant success, breaking Guinness World Records, and YG Entertainment announced the release of "Ice Cream" with Selena Gomez.

2020: CJ E&M Honors Blackpink as Visionary Figures

In 2020, CJ E&M honored Blackpink as one of the ten "2020 Visionary" figures for their contributions in spreading Korean pop culture globally.

2020: Blackpink Expresses Influence of Lady Gaga

In 2020, while working with Lady Gaga for "Sour Candy", the group members expressed that they considered her a major musical influence.

2020: In Your Area World Tour Continued until Early 2020

In early 2020, Blackpink continued their In Your Area World Tour, which eventually became the highest-grossing tour by a Korean girl group.

January 31, 2021: "The Show" Livestream Concert

On January 31, 2021, Blackpink held their livestream concert, "The Show", featuring live performances of songs from The Album and Rosé's solo song, streamed across 100 countries.

February 25, 2021: COP26 Official Advocates

On February 25, 2021, Blackpink was formally appointed official advocates for COP26 in Seoul.

August 3, 2021: Release of Japanese Version of The Album

On August 3, 2021, Blackpink released a Japanese version of The Album, featuring Japanese versions of select tracks.

September 2021: Most-subscribed music act overall on Youtube

In September 2021, Blackpink became the most-subscribed music act overall on YouTube.

October 23, 2021: Dear Earth Participation

On October 23, 2021, Blackpink was a part of the lineup for the YouTube Originals special entitled "Dear Earth", which focused on encouraging viewers to become more environmentally conscious.

2021: South Korean President cites Blackpink as a leader

During South Korean President Moon Jae-in's 2021 New Year's address, Blackpink was cited as a leader in the promotion of South Korea's image abroad.

2021: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity

In 2021, Blackpink ranked second on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list.

2021: Guinness World Record for Most YouTube Subscribers

In 2021, Blackpink was awarded the Guinness World Record for the most-subscribed band on YouTube.

2021: Release of Solo Albums by Rosé and Lisa

In 2021, Rosé and Lisa released their solo albums, R and Lalisa respectively, which were later featured in live performances during the Born Pink World Tour starting in 2022.

March 2022: Donation for Wildfire Damage Repair

In March 2022, Blackpink donated ₩500 million to pay for damage repair caused by the wildfires happening in Gangwon and North Gyeongsang Province.

June 2022: Rolling Stone Cover Feature

In June 2022, Blackpink became the third girl group in history to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

July 6, 2022: YG Entertainment Announces New Album and World Tour

On July 6, 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Blackpink was in the final stages of recording for a new album and planning a new world tour.

August 2022: Blackpink's Identity Defined at 'Pink Venom' Press Conference

At the press conference commemorating the release of "Pink Venom" in August 2022, Jennie elaborated on Blackpink's identity as confident and full of confidence.

September 16, 2022: Release of Blackpink's second studio album, Born Pink

On September 16, 2022, Blackpink released their second studio album, Born Pink, alongside the single "Shut Down", achieving significant success on global charts. The album sold over two million copies in less than two days and topped both the Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart, marking historic milestones for a K-pop girl group.

October 15, 2022: Start of the Born Pink World Tour

On October 15, 2022, Blackpink began their Born Pink World Tour in Seoul, featuring the first live performances of songs from their new album and solo releases.

2022: Blackpink at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards

In 2022, Blackpink made history as the first female K-pop group to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards with "Pink Venom." They also won the award for Best Metaverse Performance for The Virtual.

2022: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity

In 2022, Blackpink ranked second on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list.

2022: Born Pink World Tour and Recognition

In 2022, Blackpink's Born Pink World Tour began, becoming the highest-grossing concert tour by a female group and Asian act. They were also named Time's 2022 Entertainer of the Year.

2022: Born Pink Album Success

In 2022, Blackpink's album Born Pink reached number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming the first album by a girl group to do so since 2008. It also set two Guinness World Records. The lead single, "Pink Venom," achieved number one on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart and the Billboard Global 200.

January 2023: "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" Music Video Surpasses Two Billion Views

In January 2023, the "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" music video became the first K-pop group music video to surpass two billion views.

January 28, 2023: Blackpink Performs at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes

On January 28, 2023, Blackpink performed "Pink Venom" and "Shut Down" in Paris at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes, a charity event organized by the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron.

April 2023: Spotify Followers

As of April 2023, Blackpink has over 40 million followers on Spotify.

July 2023: YouTube Subscriber Count

As of July 2023, Blackpink has over 90 million subscribers on YouTube.

August 2023: Contract Renewal Discussions

In August 2023, Blackpink's contracts with YG Entertainment were set to expire, leading to discussions about contract renewals.

August 25, 2023: Release of 'The Girls' for Blackpink: The Game

On August 25, 2023, Blackpink released the promotional single "The Girls" as part of the soundtrack for their mobile game, Blackpink: The Game. The physical version of the album debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart.

November 2023: Honorary MBE Investiture

In November 2023, King Charles III invested the members of Blackpink as honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

December 5, 2023: Blackpink renews contracts with YG Entertainment

On December 5, 2023, YG Entertainment officially confirmed that all four members of Blackpink had renewed their contracts for group activities, with plans for a new album and world tour.

2023: Records Sold Worldwide

As of 2023, Blackpink has sold over 20 million records worldwide.

2023: Blackpink Inspired by TLC and the Spice Girls

During an episode of Carpool Karaoke in 2023, the members of Blackpink expressed how they were inspired by TLC and the Spice Girls as they grew up listening to their music.

2023: Blackpink Headlined Coachella and British Summer Time Hyde Park

In 2023, Blackpink became the first Asian act to headline Coachella and the first Korean band to headline British Summer Time Hyde Park in London, marking significant milestones in their career.

2023: Forbes Korea Power Celebrity

In 2023, Blackpink ranked third on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity 40 list.

2023: Honorary MBE Investiture

In 2023, Blackpink was invested as honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their work as advocates for climate change awareness.

July 2024: YG Entertainment Announces 2025 Comeback and World Tour

In July 2024, YG Entertainment's founder Yang Hyun-suk confirmed a 2025 comeback and world tour for Blackpink, detailing the label's upcoming plans.

July 31, 2024: Release of Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] in Cinemas

On July 31, 2024, Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] in Cinemas was released in theaters worldwide, showcasing performances from the Seoul Gocheok Dome and other cities.

2024: Official Global Streams

As of 2024, Blackpink has earned 40 billion official on-demand global streams.

2024: Extended YouTube Subscriber Record

In 2024, Blackpink extended their YouTube subscriber record with 93.8 million subscribers, becoming the most subscribed music act overall on YouTube.

2024: Most-streamed female group on Spotify

In 2024, Blackpink extended their record as the most-streamed female group on Spotify, with 13.09 billion streams. They also were awarded the Guinness World Record for the most viewed music channel on YouTube for a group, with 30.15 billion views.