Nine Muses (band)

Nine Muses (Korean: 나인뮤지스, often stylized as 9MUSES or NINE MUSES) is a South Korean girl group formed by Star Empire Entertainment in 2010 with an admissions and graduation concept. The group derives its name from the nine Muses of Greek Mythology. The group currently consists of five members: Sungah, Kyungri, Hyemi, Sojin, and Keumjo.

History

2010–11: Debut and line-up changes

The formation of Nine Muses was announced on March 26, 2010. Their first single album Let's Have a Party on August 12, 2010. The lead single No Playboy was produced by composers Rainstone and Park Jin Young. In October, Jaekyung withdraw from the group to focus on her modeling career and was replaced by Hyuna.^[1] To advance into the Japanese market, on December 26, 2010, Nine Muses performed six songs on Seoul Train, an event in which K-pop artists and groups perform for their Japanese fans, alongside V.O.S. and ZE:A.^[2]

In January 2011 it was announced that members Bini, Rana and Euaerin would leave the group to pursue other areas, and that they will not receive replacements. However, three months later Euaerin joining the group again. Nine Muses returned as 7 member group with release their digital single Figaro and its music video on August 18, 2011.^[3] During Figaro promotion period started, Star Empire announced that the group named would be change to 'Sweet Candy', as it would confuse people if Nine Muses was a group with only 7 members. A Months later, Star Empire confirmed that the group name was not changing since that in the future Starempire would add two new members to become 9 girls.^[4][5]

2012–13: New members, Sweet Rendezvous, Wild and Prima Donna

Nine Muses at a showcase event for their single "Wild" in 2013.

Nine Muses introduced a new member, Kyungri, during the group's performance in Abu Dhabi, UAE.^[6] Nine Muses released music video for their digital single News on January 10 and the single was official released on January 11, 2012. The song was produced by Sweetune, who was also behind their "Figaro" single.

On March 8, Nine Muses released their first extended play Sweet Rendezvous with lead single Ticket. On May 25, they released two music videos for their new military campaign song "My Youth's Allegiance"^[7] On December 12, Star Empire introduced new member, Sungah.^[8]

Nine Muses released digital single Dolls was released in January 2013.^[9] It debuted at number 35 on Gaon Top 100 Chart. On May 9, 2013, Nine Muses second mini album "Wild" with the same naming of the lead single was released. The single debuted on the Gaon chart at number 32,^[10] whereas the physical mini-album of the same name debuted on May 16, 2013 at number 4.^[11]

On October 13, 2013, Nine Muses released their first studio album Prima Donna with lead single Gun.^[12] Nine Muses released digital single Glue and its music video on December 4.^[13]

2014–15: Line-up changes, Drama, S/S Edition and Lost

On January 29, 2014, Star Empire announcer that Lee Sem and Eunji had graduated from the group, but Star Empire still managed their careers.^[14] On June 23, 2014, Star Empire announced that Sera's exclusive contract had expired and had decided to graduate from the group. It was confirmed a new member will be added with Nine Muses' August comeback.^[15]

On September 3, Kyungri was formed along with ZE:A's Kevin and Star Empire trainee Sojin on Star Empire's project unit named 'Nasty Nasty'.^[16]

On January 8, 2015, Star Empire announced the group's third mini-album Drama would be released on January 23.^[17] Star Empire later added two new members Jo Sojin, who debuted on Nasty Nasty unit, and Lee Keumjo. Nine Muses held their Drama showcase on January 21, 2015 with a new eight member line-up and performed their title-track "Drama" for the first time. The showcase was broadcast live on YouTube.^[18]

In July 2015, Nine Muses released their fourth mini-album S/S Edition with the title track "Hurt Locker".^[19] Followed by their fifth mini album "Lost", released on November 24.^[20]

2016–present: First solo concert, line-up changes, Nine Muses A

In December 2015, Star Empire announced that the girl group would be holding their very own solo concert for the first time in February. The concert took place at Wapop Hall in Seoul Children's Grand Park on February 19. They held two fan meets in China and are planning to have a comeback in May.^[21]

On June 7, 2016 Star Empire announced that Minha and Euaerin’s exclusive contracts have expired and they decided to graduate from the group. It was also revealed that Nine Muses are currently preparing for a summer comeback with a four-member sub-unit called Nine Muses A, an abbreviation for 9muses Amuse, with members Kyungri, Hyemi, Sojin and Keumjo.^[22] On October 4th, Star Empire announced that Hyuna's exclusive contract had ended and she decided to graduate from the group. They also revealed that the group will continue on with the remaining five members.^[23]

Members

Current members

• Sungah (성아) was born Son Sung-ah (손성아) – Main rapper, lead dancer and sub-vocalist.^[24]
• Kyungri (경리) was born Park Kyung-ri (박경리) – Lead vocalist and lead dancer. ^[25][26]
• Hyemi (혜미) was born Pyo Hye-mi (표혜미) – Main vocalist. ^[27][28]
• Sojin (소진) was born Jo So-jin (조소진) – Main dancer, lead rapper and sub-vocalist.^[29]
• Keumjo (금조) was born Lee Keum-jo (이금조) – Main vocalist.^[30]

Graduate members

• Jaekyung (재경) was born Jung Seo-young (정서영)
• Rana (라나) was born Kim Ra-na (김라나)
• Bini (비니) was born Lee Hye-bin (이혜빈)
• LeeSem (이샘) was born Lee Hyun-joo (이현주)
• Sera (세라) was born Ryu Se-ra (류세라)
• Eunji (은지) was born Park Eun-ji (박은지)
• Euaerin (이유애린) was born Lee Hye-min (이혜민)
• Minha (민하) was born Park Min-ha (박민하)
• Hyuna (현아) was born Moon Hyun-a (문현아)

Subgroups

• Nine Muses A (Kyungri, Hyemi, Sojin, Keumjo)

Discography

• Prima Donna (2013)

Videography

Music video appearance

Tours

• Muse In The City (2016)
• Star Empire Family Concert (2016)

Awards

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nine Muses.

• Official Korean website (Korean)