Highlight (band)

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Highlight

Highlight in 2017

Left to right: Dongwoon, Gikwang, Yoseob, Doojoon and Junhyung

Background information

B2ST
Also known as
Beast

Origin South Korea

Genres K-pop

Years active 2009–present

Labels Around Us

Cube

Universal

Members Yoon Doo-joon

Yang Yo-seob

Lee Gi-kwang

Son Dong-woon

Past members Yong Jun-hyung

Jang Hyun-seung

Highlight (Korean: 하이라이트) is a South Korean boy band formerly known

as Beast (Korean: 비스트). The band consists of four members: Yoon Doo-joon, Yang
Yo-seob, Lee Gi-kwang, and Son Dong-woon.[1] Originally a six-piece band, Jang Hyun-
seung departed from the group in April 2016,[2] and Yong Jun-hyung departed in March
2019.[3] In late 2016, the group moved labels from Cube Entertainment to Around Us
Entertainment and subsequently changed their name to Highlight in 2017. [4]
The group debuted in 2009 with the EP Beast Is the B2ST. In 2011, they released their
first full-length album, Fiction and Fact, and made their Japanese debut with the single,
"Shock". As Beast, the group released three Korean full-length albums, nine
Korean extended plays, two Japanese full-length albums, and numerous singles. The
group re-debuted as Highlight in 2017 with the EP Can You Feel It?. They have since
released three more EPs as Highlight.
 Beast initially received attention for the lack of industry success previously experienced
by its members, with media outlets referring to them as a "recycled group".[5] However,
the group has achieved significant commercial success and critical accolades and is
one of the most awarded groups of all time at the Golden Disc Awards, the Seoul Music
Awards, and the Melon Music Awards.[citation needed]

Contents

 1History
o 1.12009: Pre-debut documentary and Beast Is the B2ST
o 1.22010: Shock of the New Era, Mastermind, Lights Go On Again and My Story
o 1.32011: Japanese debut and Fiction and Fact
o 1.42012–2013: Beautiful Show, Midnight Sun and Hard to Love, How to Love
o 1.52014–2015: Good Luck, Time and Ordinary
o 1.62016: Guess Who?, Hyun-seung's departure, Highlight and new label
o 1.72017: Rebranding as Highlight, Can You Feel It?, Calling You, and Celebrate
o 1.82018–2020: Military enlistment, Outro, and Jun-hyung's departure
o 1.92021–present: The Blowing and Daydream
 2Discography
o 2.1As Beast
o 2.2As Highlight
 3Filmography
o 3.1Reality shows
 4Other activities
 5Concerts and tours
o 5.1Concerts
o 5.2Tours
 6Awards
 7References
 8External links

History
2009: Pre-debut documentary and Beast Is the B2ST
In August 2009, Cube Entertainment publicly introduced its new boy group B2ST (an
abbreviation for "Boys To Search for Top") on the TV documentary series MTV B2ST.
The group consisted of Yoon Doo-joon, who previously competed on another series to
be member of 2PM or 2AM; Jang Hyun-seung, who had competed on a series to be a
member of Big Bang; Lee Gi-kwang, who previously debuted as a solo artist under the
name AJ; Yang Yo-seob; Yong Jun-hyung; and Son Dong-woon.[6][7]
After changing their name from B2ST to Beast,[8] the group debuted on October 15, 2009
with the extended play Beast Is the B2ST.[9] They began promotions that day for the
album and its lead single, "Bad Girl", by holding a live showcase and performing
on KBS Music Bank.[10] The EP sold over 10,000 copes in its first week of release [11] and
went on to sell 40,000 copies by early 2010, an unusual feat for a Korean rookie group
at the time.[12]
In December, Beast won the Rookie of the Month award from South Korea's Ministry of
Culture, Sports and Tourism.[13] The group's second single, "Mystery", garnered them an
award for Rookie of the Month at the Cyworld Digital Music Awards that December.
[14]
 Beast also won Best New Artist at the 19th Seoul Music Awards in February 2010.[15]
2010: Shock of the New Era, Mastermind, Lights Go On
Again and My Story
Beast released their second EP, Shock of the New Era, on March 1, 2010.[16] Later that
month, the group achieved their first music show number-one win on Mnet’s M
Countdown with the album's lead single "Shock".[17] Beast released a music video for the
album's second single, "Take Care of My Girlfriend (Say No)", in April. [18] Shock of the
New Era quickly sold 20,000 copies in South Korea,[19] ultimately selling nearly 60,000
copies by the end of the year.[20] In August, Beast received the Golden Disk Award from
their international label, Universal Music, in recognition of the group's album sales in
Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.[21]

Beast performing in 2010.

On September 28, Beast released their third EP, Mastermind.[22] One week later, the
group claimed first place on KBS Music Bank with the album's lead single, "Breath".[23] In
October, Beast received the Asia Influential Artist Award at the 2010 Asia Song Festival.
[24]
 The group followed up this success with their fourth EP, Lights Go On Again, released
on November 9.[25] The album, which includes the single "Beautiful", was the group's first
to reach the number-one spot on the Gaon Album Chart.[26][27] Cumulative sales of Shock
of the New Era, Mastermind and Lights Go On Again exceeded 107,000 copies by mid-
December, making Beast the only South Korean rookie group to sell over 100,000
albums in 2010.[28]
On December 9, Beast was awarded Best New Artist at the 25th Golden Disc Awards.
[29]
 Three days later, they held their first solo concert, "Welcome to Beast Airline", at
the Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul to an audience of 10,000.[30] At the concert, the group
debuted three duets that they subsequently released online starting on December 21 as
part of the digital EP, My Story.[31][32][33]
2011: Japanese debut and Fiction and Fact
Beast released their first Japanese single, a Japanese version of "Shock", on March 16,
2011. The song sold 29,000 copies in one week and debuted at number two on the
daily Oricon Singles Chart, the highest-ranking debut by a foreign artist at the time. [34]
On May 17, Beast released their first full-length Korean album, Fiction and Fact.[35] The
album peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart[36] and sold over 142,000 copies
by the end of the year.[37][38] Its singles, "On Rainy Days" and "Fiction" were also
commercially successful, selling 2.8 million and 2.6 million copies, respectively, by the
end of the year.[39] The album garnered Beast wins for Artist of the Year for the 2nd
Quarter at the 2011 Gaon Chart Music Awards[40] and a Bonsang at the 2012 Golden
Disc Awards.[41] "Fiction" won Song of the Year at the 2011 KBS Music Festival,
[42]
 and Best Male Dance Performance at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards.[43]
On August 10, the group released their first Japanese album, So Beast, which includes
Japanese versions of "Shock" and "Bad Girl" as singles. The album debuted in the
number-two spot on the daily Oricon Albums Chart, selling over 26,000 copies in its first
day of release.[44]
In November, Beast was awarded the grand prize of Artist of the Year at the 3rd Melon
Music Awards,[45] as well as a commendation from South Korea's Minister of Culture at
the 2011 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards for the group's contributions to pop
culture and the spread of the Korean wave abroad.[46] In early 2012, the group was
awarded Best New Artist at the 26th Japan Gold Disc Awards in recognition of the
commercial success of their Japanese releases.[47]
2012–2013: Beautiful Show, Midnight Sun and Hard to Love, How to
Love

Beast performing at the Expo 2012.

Beast embarked on their "Beautiful Show" international tour in February 2012, in which
the group performed in cities throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. [48] Mid-tour,
the group released a self-filmed music video for their 2009 single "Mystery", which
subsequently charted at number one on YinYueTai, a major Chinese music video
sharing website.[49]
On July 21, Beast released their fifth extended play, Midnight Sun, which includes the
singles "I Knew It", "Midnight" and "Beautiful Night". The album was written, in large
part, by group member Yong Jun-hyung.[50] It debuted at number one on the Gaon Album
Chart[51] and marked Beast's first appearance on the Billboard World Albums Chart,
peaking at number 15.[52] The album sold over 140,000 copies by the end of the
year[53] and garnered the group a Bonsang award at the 27th Golden Disc Awards. [54] In
November, Beast won their second consecutive award for Artist of the Year at the 4th
Melon Music Awards.[55]
On July 19, 2013, Beast released their second full-length Korean album, Hard to Love,
How to Love, which was composed by Yong Jun-hyung and his writing partner Kim Tae-
joo.[56] The album includes the ballad, "Will You Be Okay?", which was released a month
prior and charted at number one on both the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard's K-Pop
Hot 100.[57] The album won the group Bonsang awards at the 28th Golden Disc Awards,
[58]
 5th Melon Music Awards[59] and 23rd Seoul Music Awards,[60] while the album's lead
single, "Shadow", won Best Music Video at the Melon Music Awards. [61]
2014–2015: Good Luck, Time and Ordinary
Beast in 2014.

On June 16, 2014, Beast released their sixth extended play, Good Luck.[62] The album
debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart, while its singles, "No More" and
"Good Luck", both reached the number-one spot on the Gaon Digital Chart. [63][64] "Good
Luck" was also a critical success, named the best k-pop song of the year
by Billboard and ranked number two for the year by Dazed.[65][66]
The group released their seventh EP, Time, on October 20, 2014 to mark their fifth
anniversary since debuting.[67]
They released their eighth mini-album Ordinary on July 27, 2015.[68]
2016: Guess Who?, Hyun-seung's departure, Highlight and new
label
On April 19, 2016, Cube Entertainment released a statement confirming Jang Hyun-
seung's departure from the group.[2] The band continued as a five-member group and
Hyun-seung proceeded under Cube as a solo artist. [69][70] The reason for his departure
was due to differences in music styles between him and the other members. [71]
On June 21, Beast announced the upcoming release of their third full-length
album, Highlight.[72] The album was released on July 3,[73] with the pre-release track,
Butterfly, released on June 26,[74] and Ribbon as their title tracks. This marked their first
comeback as a group of five.
On December 15, 2016, Beast officially announced the launch of their new label Around
Us Entertainment, subsequently leaving their label of seven years, Cube Entertainment.
[75]
 As the Beast name is trademarked by Cube, Beast was unable to promote under the
name legally.[76]
2017: Rebranding as Highlight, Can You Feel It?, Calling You,
and Celebrate
On February 24, 2017, Around Us Entertainment announced that the members would
continue as a group together, now under the name of "Highlight". [77]
On March 2, 2017, it was announced that Highlight would officially debut on March 20,
2017 with their mini-album Can You Feel It?.[78]
On April 9, 2017, Highlight announced that they would be holding their first concert tour
as Highlight and release a repackaged album Calling You on May 29.[79][80]
On October 16, 2017, Highlight released their second EP, Celebrate, in the celebration
of their eighth anniversary.[81]
2018–2020: Military enlistment, Outro, and Jun-hyung's departure
On August 24, 2018, Doo-joon enlisted for mandatory military service.[82] He was
discharged on April 10, 2020.[83]
It was announced that Highlight's special album, Outro, will be released on November
20, 2018, being promoted with 4 members.[84]
On January 24, 2019, Yo-seob began his mandatory military service as a conscripted
police officer.[85] On August 30, 2020, he was discharged from the military.
On March 13, 2019, Junhyung announced his departure from Highlight after he
admitted to watching illegal videos sent to him by singer Jung Joon-young, who is under
investigation for secretly filming women during sex. [86]
On April 18, 2019, Gi-kwang began his mandatory military service as a conscripted
police officer. [87] On November 17, 2020, he was discharged from the military.
On May 9, 2019, Dong-woon began his mandatory military service as a conscripted
policeman.[88] On December 7, 2020, he was discharged from the military, marking the
end of Highlight's military enlistment.
2021–present: The Blowing and Daydream
Following a two-and-a-half year hiatus, Highlight made their first comeback as a four-
member group on May 3, 2021 with their third EP, The Blowing.[1]
On March 21, 2022, Highlight released their fourth studio album, Daydream.[89]