Twice (band)

Pre-debut: New JYP girl group and Sixteen

On December 19, 2013, JYP Entertainment announced that they would debut a new girl group in the first half of 2014, the first female group to come out of the company since the debut of miss A in 2010. On February 27, 2014, JYP trainees Lena and Cecilia were confirmed as members of the group, while other rumored members included JYP trainees Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Jisoo (later Jihyo) and Minyoung. After Cecilia's departure, JYP trainee Sana replaced her and 6mix was about to debut when Lena left the company, effectively canceling their debut.

On February 11, 2015, Park Jin-young announced that the lineup of JYP's upcoming seven member girl group would be decided through Sixteen, a competition survival show that would air on Mnet later that year. Park explained in a press conference prior to the show's airing that he hoped the group would "have the Wonder Girls' and miss A's natural, healthy feel, with an edgier and wilder side. I want to upgrade this next group by adding elements like hip-hop and rap."

The show began on May 5 and ended with Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung as the seven Twice members. JYP then announced that he would be increasing the size of the group from 7 members to 9 by adding Tzuyu, who was the "audience's pick" since she was the most popular contestant by the show's end, and Momo, who was added by JYP himself since he felt the group needed someone with Momo's performance abilities. The decision was controversial at the time with many people complaining about eliminated contestants being able to join the group.

Twice was to debut in late 2015.

On July 10, 2015, Twice opened their official Instagram account with the first picture of the nine members posing together. JYP Entertainment released TwiceTV, a web series that shared the members' hopes and stories through interviews and followed them as they prepared for their debut.

2015–2016: Debut with The Story Begins, Page Two and Twicecoaster: Lane 1

On October 7, 2015, JYP Entertainment launched the band's official website and announced via SNS that the group would debut with the mini-album The Story Begins and title track "Like OOH-AHH". The track was described as a 'color pop' dance track with elements of hip-hop, rock, and R&B. The composition team included Black Eyed Pilseung, known for composing successful releases such as Miss A's "Only You." On October 20, the album and the song's music video were released online and through the Naver V Live. The group held a live showcase the same day, where they performed "Like OOH-AHH" along with dance tracks "Must Be Crazy" and "Do It Again." The music video hit 50 million views within five months of their debut and became the most-viewed debut music video for any K-pop group. By December, Twice had signed ten CF contracts totaling earnings of KRW1.8 billion. On December 27, the band performed a remix version of their single "Like OOH-AHH" at SBS Gayo Daejeon, Twice's first-ever attendance on a year-end music program.

Twice's second extended play, Page Two, was released on April 25, 2016. The album includes title track "Cheer Up", a remake of Park Ji-yoon's "Precious Love", and "I'm Gonna Be A Star", which served as the theme song for Sixteen. The group held their comeback showcase the same day at the Yes24 Live Hall located in Seoul, South Korea. The music video of the title track hit 10 million views on YouTube within five days. Twice won their first music program award on May 5, 2016, on M! Countdown, exactly one year after the initial airing of Sixteen. This was soon followed by wins on Music Bank and Inkigayo.

On August 16, 2016, it was reported that Page Two had sold over 150,000 copies, making it the first girl group having a sales record of more than 100,000 units this year.

On September 23, 2016, Twice released their two official colours, namely Apricot (Pantone 712 C) and Neon Magenta (Pantone 812 C), which signify the group and their fan club called "Once". Five days later, JYP Entertainment announced that the group is preparing for a late October comeback with a new album and another title track by Black Eyed Pilseung, though the final schedule has not been set. On October 10, the agency released a time table for their third extended play, titled Twicecoaster: Lane 1, through their official homepage and SNS, which shows Twice's promotion schedule beginning October 10 until the release of their album on the 24th. On October 19, Twice revealed their official light with their official colours called "Candy Bong", which is inspired by song "Candy Boy" from their first mini album. In celebration of Twice's first anniversary since debut, the group unveiled their new song "One in a Million", through a live broadcast on Naver V Live on October 20 at 22:30 KST.

On October 24, 2016, Twicecoaster: Lane 1 and the music video of the laid-back but light and cheerful pop dance song "TT" was released online. Twice held their showcase the same day, where they performed "One in a Million", "Jelly Jelly" and "TT" for the first time.

On November 11, 2016, the music video for "Like OOH-AHH" hit 100 million views on YouTube, which makes Twice became the fourth K-pop girl group to reach 100 million views, as well as the first debut music video for any K-pop group to reach this milestone. The music video for "Cheer Up" followed six days later. Eight days later, Twice's "Cheer Up" won Song of the Year at the 8th Melon Music Awards. It was then followed by another Song of the Year award at the 18th Mnet Asian Music Awards on December 2.

On December 5, 2016, it was announced through their official Twitter that the group would be releasing a Christmas edition of Twicecoaster: Lane 1. It was released on December 19 with the same track listing.

2017–present: First solo concert, special album and Japanese debut

On January 3, 2017, the music video for "TT" hit 100 million views, becoming the fastest K-pop group music video to do so and breaking Twice's own record previously set by "Cheer Up".

On January 10, 2017, JYP Entertainment announced Twice's first solo concert within just a year and four months after debuting in October 2015. The three-day sold-out concert titled Twice 1st Tour: Twiceland – The Opening was held on February 17–19 at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, and was the first stop of their world tour.

On January 18, 2017, JYP Entertainment also announced that Twice would release a special album in February after the Korean leg of the concert tour. The special album, named Twicecoaster: Lane 2, is the reissue of Twicecoaster: Lane 1. Lane 2 and its lead single, "Knock Knock", were both released on February 20, 2017. The EP sold 266,645 units in February 2017.

In early February 2017, Twice launched their Japanese website and other social media channels. Large photos and ads of Twice were seen on the walls of busy shopping districts and subway station in Tokyo on February 8. It is also notable that the "TT pose", which is part of the choreography of the group's song "TT", was imitated by several Japanese celebrities on SNS and became popular among teenagers. On February 24, they official announced their debut in Japan on June 28, 2017. They will be releasing a compilation album titled #TWICE which consists of 10 songs including both Korean and Japanese-language versions of "Like Ooh-Ahh," "Cheer Up" and "TT." On the same day, five Japanese morning programs informed viewers of the upcoming debut and featured Twice in an interview.

Nayeon

Im Na-yeon (Hangul: 임나연) was born on (1995-09-22) September 22, 1995 in Seoul, South Korea.

Nayeon secretly tried out and passed JYP Entertainment's 7th Open Audition and became a trainee on September 15, 2010. In 2013, she was cast as a member of 6mix, a JYP girl group that was planned but never debuted. Prior to Sixteen and her debut as a member of Twice, she appeared in few television advertisements and in several music videos of her label mates, including Jun. K's "No Love", Got7's "Girls Girls Girls" and miss A's "Only You." She also made a cameo appearance in the second episode of KBS2's 2012 Korean drama Dream High 2.

In 2017, she, along with Nichkhun, starred in the music video of Jun. K's "Your Wedding".

Jeongyeon

Yoo Jeong-yeon (Hangul: 유정연) was born as Yoo Kyung-wan (유경완) on (1996-11-01) November 1, 1996 in Suwon, South Korea. She is the younger sister of actress Gong Seung-yeon. As a child, she was often teased because Kyung-wan sounded like a boy's name. She legally changed her name to Jeong-yeon when she was in the third grade.

She joined the company after passing the JYP Entertainment's 6th Open Audition on March 1, 2010. Like Nayeon, Jihyo and Sana, she was originally set to debut in a group called 6mix. In 2014, she appeared with Nayeon in the music video of Got7's "Girls Girls Girls" and, in 2015, appeared in miss A's "Only You" music video.

She and her sister were the hosts of Inkigayo from July 3, 2016 to January 22, 2017.

Momo

Momo Hirai (平井 もも, Hirai Momo), known mononymously as Momo (Hangul: 모모), was born on (1996-11-09) November 9, 1996 in Kyōtanabe, Kyoto, Japan. She is the main dancer of Twice.

Momo started dancing at a very young age and decided to become a singer because of Amuro Namie and got into K-pop after watching Rain and Lee Hyori. She used to be a trainee at Step Out Dance Studio and was scouted by JYP Entertainment after they saw a dance video of her and her older sister. She was told to audition with her sister on April 13, 2012, though she was the only one who made it in.

In 2014, she appeared in the music video of Got7's "Stop Stop It" and the Japanese MV of Junho's "Feel". In the following year, she appeared in the music videos of Wooyoung's "R.O.S.E" and miss A's "Only You." She is the only eliminated member of the survival show Sixteen to be brought back to debut as a member of Twice.

In fall 2016, Kim Hee-chul and Min Kyung-hoon released a digital single, "Sweet Dream", under SM Entertainment, with the music video starring Momo and the rest of the Knowing Bros cast.

Sana

Sana Minatozaki (湊崎 紗夏, Minatozaki Sana), known mononymously as Sana (Hangul: 사나), was born on (1996-12-29) December 29, 1996 in Tennōji-ku, Osaka, Japan.

Sana attended EXPG (Exile Professional Gym) Osaka branch, a dance and vocal studio where many Japanese idols trained including some members of E-girls, Generations and The Rampage, from 2009 to early 2012. She first got interested in K-pop because of Girls' Generation's and KARA's rising popularity in Japan. In her last year of middle school, she was scouted by JYP Entertainment on the street and auditioned on April 13, 2012. In 2014, she appeared in the music video of Got7's "A" and Junho's "Feel".

Jihyo

Park Ji-hyo (Hangul: 박지효) was born as Park Ji-soo (Hangul: 박지수) on (1997-02-01) February 1, 1997 in Guri, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. She is the leader and main vocalist of the group.

When Jihyo was a third grader, she participated in a contest on Junior Naver for a child role. After she won second place, she was scouted by JYP Entertainment. She officially joined the company on July 15, 2005, and was a trainee for over 10 years. Jihyo was known mostly pre-debut as the face of Innisfree's teen line "TN" with boy band Boyfriend and later with future group mate Nayeon. She was set to debut in the girl group 6mix along with future group mate Nayeon, Jeongyeon and Sana, prior to competing on Sixteen. She also appeared in the music video of miss A's "Only You". She legally changed her name from Ji-soo to Ji-hyo before Sixteen.

Jihyo collaborated with Apink's Jung Eun-ji and Ben for the part 1 of Inkigayo's special project called "Inkigayo Music Crush". Their ballad song titled "The Reason I Got Pretty" (내가 예뻐진 이유) was released on November 6, 2016 as a digital single.

Mina

Mina Myoui (名井 南, Myōi Mina), known mononymously as Mina (Hangul: 미나), was born on (1997-03-24) March 24, 1997 in San Antonio, Texas, and moved to Kobe, Japan, when she was a toddler.

She studied ballet for eleven years before joining Urizip dance school for more modern dance training. In 2013, she was scouted by a JYP Entertainment staff member while shopping with her mother and was invited to join JYP Entertainment Global. She auditioned in a JYP audition in Japan and joined the trainee program in South Korea on January 2, 2014. In 2014–2015, she appeared in the music videos of Got7's "Stop Stop It", Junho's "Feel", Wooyoung's "R.O.S.E", and Miss A's "Only You".

Dahyun

Kim Da-hyun (Hangul: 김다현) was born on (1998-05-28) May 28, 1998 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Dahyun first gained attention in sixth grade after a video of her at church performing a "head-banging, wing-flapping, and thoroughly irrepressible dance" to Hillsong's "The Power of Your Love" went viral on YouTube in 2011 and earned her the moniker "Eagle Dance Church Sister." In middle school, she performed a solo in a youth dance festival and was scouted by JYP Entertainment. She auditioned for the company on July 7, 2012, and officially became a trainee. She later appeared in the music video of Got7's "Stop Stop It" and Wooyoung's "R.O.S.E".

She graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School in February 2017.

Chaeyoung

Son Chae-young (Hangul: 손채영) was born on (1999-04-23) April 23, 1999 in Seoul, South Korea.

Chaeyoung attended a dance academy for about a year when she was a sixth grader. She joined the company after passing the audition on June 6, 2012. Prior to Sixteen, she appeared in the music video of Got7's "Stop Stop It" and miss A's "Only You".

She is currently attending Hanlim Multi Art School as a 10th grader majoring in practical music.

Tzuyu

Chou Tzu-yu (Chinese: 周子瑜; pinyin: Zhōu Zǐyú), known mononymously as Tzuyu (Hangul: 쯔위), was born on (1999-06-14) June 14, 1999 in Tainan, Taiwan.

Tzuyu was discovered by entertainment scouts at the MUSE Performing Arts Workshop in Tainan in 2012, and went to South Korea on November 15 to start her training. She appeared in the music videos of Got7's "Stop Stop It" and Miss A's "Only You" before joining Sixteen. She is one of the two members added to the final line-up of Twice in the finale, along with Momo.

She is currently a freshman at Hanlim Multi Art School after passing her exam in Taiwan to certify her middle school education.

Discography

Filmography

Concert