NEWS Kicks Off New Era with Surprise Single "KMK" and High-Energy Festival Performance

The popular Japanese group NEWS, consisting of members Keiichiro Koyama, Takahisa Masuda, and Shigeaki Kato, has announced the start of a new chapter with the release of their digital single "KMK" on May 18. Subscription streaming services will begin hosting the track at midnight on May 18, with a music video premiere scheduled for later that evening.

The announcement was made in spectacular fashion during the group's performance at the outdoor music festival "METROCK 2026." The venue served as the site for the world premiere of "KMK." In an unusual turn of events prompted by Takahisa Masuda’s spontaneous suggestion, the group performed the song twice. The crowd erupted in handclaps and call-and-response, creating a powerful sense of unity. Social media was quickly flooded with fan reactions such as, "It was amazing to hear it twice!" and "The rhythm is so good; it’s a perfect song for live shows."

During the stage talk (MC), the members shared a humorous moment regarding the song being played in Shibuya’s Center-gai district ahead of the official announcement. The trio joked about being "grumpy" that their carefully planned information reveal had been slightly preempted by the public broadcast. In another spontaneous moment, Shigeaki Kato accidentally leaked the music video’s release schedule on stage. The official social media accounts subsequently confirmed the details, adding a layer of "live" excitement to the entire announcement drama.

On May 18, fans can look forward to the song’s first television performance on "CDTV Live! Live!" at 7:00 PM JST. This will be followed by the YouTube premiere of the music video at 9:15 PM on their official channel, "NewTube." Positioned as the first installment of a "new trilogy," "KMK" is set to be a pivotal track symbolizing the trio’s latest journey.

The context

NEWS is a prominent male idol group under the management of Starto Entertainment (formerly Johnny & Associates). Debuting in 2003 with nine members, the group has navigated numerous lineup changes over two decades and currently operates as a highly successful trio. Each member pursues diverse individual projects: Keiichiro Koyama is known for news reporting and variety shows, Takahisa Masuda is a frequent face on variety programs and a costume designer, and Shigeaki Kato is a critically acclaimed, award-winning novelist.

METROCK (Metropolitan Rock Festival) is one of Japan's major annual outdoor music festivals, typically held in Tokyo and Osaka. While traditionally focused on rock bands, the festival has increasingly invited top-tier J-pop acts like NEWS to perform, often resulting in high-energy collaborations between idol fans and general music enthusiasts.

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