YEONJUN, NCT 127 & 4 More K-POP Acts Take Over Apple Music Radio

Six K-POP acts turned Apple Music's global radio lineup into a K-POP showcase this week, using the platform to talk directly to international fans about their latest releases.

Apple Music rolled out K-POP specials of "The Global Chart Show with Brooke Reese" and its "Radio Takeover" series featuring six acts who traveled to Los Angeles for events including KCON LA 2026. The lineup covered TXT's YEONJUN, NCT 127, ALPHA DRIVE ONE, KickFlip, NEXZ and KiiiKiii.

Host Brooke Reese welcomed ALPHA DRIVE ONE, KickFlip and NEXZ to "The Global Chart Show" for individual interviews. ALPHA DRIVE ONE used their slot to introduce their second EP, "UNBREAKABLE : 少年BEAST," and its title track, "BORN DIRE."

"'BORN DIRE' has a much more raw energy and a wilder feel than anything we've shown before," the group said. "On the surface it looks intense and rough, but we wanted to express the vulnerability that lives inside that too."

KickFlip spoke about their songwriting process and their recent festival stages. "Just like our team name, we want to keep breaking the mold and trying new things," the group said. Member Dong-hyun also shared behind-the-scenes stories from his single "Breathe," a collaboration with Etham.

NEXZ discussed their fourth EP, "SAUCIN'," and picked "Beat-Boxer" as a recommended track. "Every member of NEXZ has a different dance style and different taste in music," the group said. "That difference is what makes our music and performances feel more varied and more intense."

The "Radio Takeover" episodes handed the mic to the artists themselves. KiiiKiii, NCT 127 and YEONJUN each hosted their own set, walking listeners through their new music and personal picks.

KiiiKiii built a summer playlist around tracks from their new EP, "WhyKiiiKiii," along with member recommendations. The group named "Pop Off Pop Off" as their standout. "This is the song we keep replaying these days," they said. "The lyrics stay stuck in your head, and we love running through the choreography whenever we get the chance."

NCT 127 used their episode to walk through the full tracklist of their seventh studio album, "BLINGY." The members spent extra time on the album cut "Getaway."

"'Getaway' is a song for people who are worn out by daily life that never slows down," the group said. "It's about giving yourself even just one day to rest, taking off with no set destination and enjoying that freedom."

YEONJUN played tracks from his second solo album, "NO LABELS: PART 02," and shared themed recommendations. "I've come to LA often for shows, and every time I visit I go looking for hidden spots around the city," he said. "For this takeover, I'm taking listeners on a journey through some of my favorite songs. I want to sink into that summer mood with everyone today."

The lineup shows how radio, once a supporting channel for K-POP promotion, has become a direct stage for artists to speak to global fans in their own words, timed around the biggest live moments of the year.