Blackpink Named TIME Magazine's 'Entertainer of Year'

Girl group Blackpink have been named TIME magazine's "Entertainer of the Year" for this year, becoming the second Korean act to make its annual year-end list after Bangtan Boys who achieved the feat in 2020.

Blackpink will continue to play their role "as a trendsetting icon, not only in music, but also in beauty, fashion, and other industries," the magazine quoted CEO of YG Entertainment Yang Min-suk as saying. 

It praised Blackpink as "the biggest musical act with over 83 million subscribers" on YouTube.

"You don't accomplish all that by being like other pop groups. Most have a limited life span: they age out, flame out, or see one member rise above," the magazine added. Blackpink have "managed to become the biggest girl group in the world precisely by allowing [each member] to be solo stars in their own right."

TIME also named American baseball player Aaron Judge its "Athlete of the Year" and Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh the "Icon of the Year."