BLACKPINK’s Lisa has achieved a monumental milestone in the convergence of music and digital entertainment, becoming the first K-pop artist ever to headline a major season of the popular Fortnite Festival.
In a strategic collaboration with Epic Games, the global superstar is set to be the main focus of Season 12 of the in-game event, confirming her status not just as a music icon, but as a leading figure in global pop culture that transcends traditional entertainment platforms.
This move is a powerful affirmation of K-pop’s reach and influence within the massive global gaming community.
A Historic First for K-Pop in the Metaverse
The significance of Lisa headlining the Fortnite Festival cannot be overstated. By securing this position, she joins an exclusive roster of international music heavyweights who have previously partnered with the game, including artists like Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, and Sabrina Carpenter.
Lisa’s inclusion marks the first time a K-pop artist has been given the prestigious headliner role, cementing K-pop’s continued expansion into one of the world’s most popular digital spaces.
The Fortnite Festival is the game’s dedicated music mode, which functions similarly to classic rhythm games like Rock Band or Guitar Hero, allowing players to perform songs using rhythm notes.
By centering Season 12 around Lisa, Epic Games is directly appealing to the massive and dedicated global K-pop fandom, known as BLINKs, providing them with a completely unique, interactive way to engage with their idol’s music and aesthetic.
Lisa (Credit: X)
Exclusive In-Game Content Inspired by Alter Ego
The Season 12 collaboration is dedicated entirely to Lisa’s image and music, featuring a substantial collection of in-game content inspired by her successful solo debut album, Alter Ego.
The new items allow players to immerse themselves in her iconic concept and style.
Key elements of the limited-time content include:
- The LISA Outfit: A new cosmetic item allowing players to don an outfit inspired by the star’s bold fashion.
- Freestyle Tracks: Players can access and perform to two of her hit freestyle tracks: “Rockstar” and “New Woman,” available for purchase in the in-game store.
- Starlux Music Pass: This seasonal pass offers additional LISA-themed cosmetics and exclusive rewards. The final reward for the pass is the iconic “Rockstar” outfit featured in her music video promotional posters.
- Unlockable Accessories: The pass also includes an unlockable “Rockstar” microphone, a custom in-game item that syncs with several freestyle tracks available, including “Fxck Up The World (Vixi Solo Version),” “Rockstar,” and “New Woman.”
This collection provides a rich, dedicated experience for players, blending Fortnite’s signature customization with Lisa’s instantly recognizable pop identity.
Event Timing and Global Accessibility
The Lisa-centric Fortnite Festival content is scheduled to go live starting November 29th and will be available for a limited time only, creating a sense of urgency for fans to jump into the game.
The event is accessible across all major platforms where Fortnite is played, ensuring that her global fanbase can participate, regardless of their preferred device.
This includes PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2/Switch, as well as PC and mobile devices.
By using a massive, multi-platform game like Fortnite as her stage, Lisa effectively transforms the digital landscape into her own global concert venue, proving that K-pop’s influence is now a dominant force in the metaverse and solidifying her unmatched status as a global entertainment leader.
The monumental K-pop group, SEVENTEEN , has achieved a landmark cultural milestone by becoming the first K-pop group in history to perform a concert at the physical National Public Radio (NPR) headquarters for their highly prestigious ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ series.
The roughly 30-minute performance, released on November 24th, 2025, on the NPR Music YouTube channel, demonstrated the group’s world-class vocal ability, versatility, and enduring charm in one of the most intimate and respected music formats in the Western world.
This appearance is being lauded as a major triumph, validating K-pop’s artistic credibility beyond its signature high-production spectacle.
The Significance of the Historic Debut
While other K-pop acts have previously participated in the series during the pandemic-era ‘Tiny Desk (Home)’ sessions, SEVENTEEN holds the honor of being the first group to perform live behind the iconic desk at the NPR offices in Washington, D.C.
This venue change is significant, as the Tiny Desk series is celebrated for showcasing an artist’s pure musicality and charisma in a stripped-down, acoustic environment.
Joining a legacy that includes artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, and Sabrina Carpenter, SEVENTEEN’s performance validated their talent through musicality rather than theatrics, proving that their music transcends language and production styles.
Despite the fact that SEVENTEEN consists of thirteen members, the intimate setting and scheduling constraints meant that only five members took the stage: Joshua, Mingyu, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino.
This lineup featured representatives from their Vocal, Hip-Hop, and Performance teams, highlighting their unit-based specialization.
Notably, main vocalist DK was sadly unable to participate due to a sudden loss of his voice, requiring the five remaining members to quickly and flawlessly adjust the arrangements and line distribution—a testament to their professionalism and deep understanding of their catalog.
A Career-Spanning Setlist and Improvised Moments
The setlist was thoughtfully constructed to provide the audience—many of whom were screaming fans, or Carats, who filled the office space—with a perfect sampling of their extensive ten-year career.
The quintet was backed by a full live band, which provided rich, new arrangements to their electronic-heavy tracks.
The performance kicked off with the energetic and explosive hit, “Super,” setting an immediate tone of vocal strength.
They then smoothly transitioned into their softer, melodious numbers, including “Darl+ing,” “_WORLD,” and “To you,” allowing Vocal Team member Seungkwan and Joshua to shine.
The energy built back up with pop-rock tracks like “SOS (Prod. Marshmello),” “Rock with you,” and the beloved fan-favorite “CLAP” and “HOT,” with Mingyu’s well-known intro to the latter track.
One of the most memorable segments was an entirely unscripted moment of pure fan service. When the members asked the audience for their favorite SEVENTEEN song, a fan shouted out “HBD.”
Although the track was not on the official setlist, the members responded instantly with an impromptu, a cappella rendition of the song from their recent album, Happy Burstday, showcasing their versatility and genuine rapport with their audience.
The concert concluded with their signature final song, “VERY NICE,” which they traditionally extend endlessly at their world tour concerts.
Staying true to this custom, they ended their Tiny Desk session on a high note by performing an encore of the infectious track, actively engaging the audience and eliciting generous cheers and singing.
Proving Global and Artistic Credibility
SEVENTEEN’s success on the Tiny Desk platform reinforces their reputation as a self-producing group—a key factor that critics and media outlets emphasize when discussing their artistic merit.
This ability to create, arrange, and execute their own music is what allows them to confidently adapt their tracks to a live, acoustic setting.
The performance has already generated massive views and overwhelmingly positive social media response, validating the strategy of featuring their music in non-traditional, artist-focused media.
This strategic move is expected to introduce their music to new demographics and solidify their status as global entertainers whose work resonates beyond the K-pop sphere.
