Following an eight-year run, the popular singing audition program “Superstar K” will be taking a break. “There is no ‘Superstar K’ in this year’s program lineup,” cable music channel Mnet said.  (Mnet)However, the company denied the rumor that it will not be continuing with the show. It is re-examining the show, leaving open the possibility of a title and format change, Mnet explained.The show, which began in 2009, achieved record-breaking success for a cable program, drawing a viewership rating

K-pop artist Jay Park on Wednesday released “Hulk Hogan,” his first single of the year.The song, written by producer Woogie, is a hip-hop track that is a follow-up to Park’s hugely popular album “Everything You Wanted.” Starting off with chants of “Hulk Hogan flex on em flex on em,” the rapper shows off supreme confidence in himself and his “team,” indicating pride in his work and his hip-hop label AOMG.The cover for “Hulk Hogan” (AOMG)The unscheduled release of the single took place at noon via

For girl group Brave Girls, producer and songwriter Brave Brothers is both a solid foundation and a looming shadow. Following its debut in 2011 as a seven-member group, Brave Girls was widely publicized as being produced by the K-pop mega-name, but quickly faded into obscurity with mediocre music.“It’s the seventh year for ‘Brave Girls,’ but its members only debuted last year and are practically rookies. However, the expectations (toward us) are those of a seven-year veteran, which puts a lot on

Beijing Symphony Orchestra has scrapped its planned concerts in South Korea, its organizer said Wednesday, as China curbs cultural exchanges in response to the deployment of a US missile shield in the neighboring country.The Korean and US militaries began the installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense this week despite China's vehement opposition to the missile defense system which it feared would hurt its security interests. Seoul-based concert organizer JK & Company said that it w

South Korean singer Lim Hyung-joo has been named a voting member of the Grammy Awards for the first time as an Asian operatic pop artist, his management agency said Wednesday.The renowned singer was recently accepted as a new member of the Recording Academy and was granted a five-year term as a voting member, the highest of all membership grades, according to DGNcom.The Recording Academy is a US organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals that host

Mexico, Australia stops added to Hallyu showcase

CNBLUE will release its seventh EP, titled “7℃N,” on March 20, the K-pop band’s agency FNC Entertainment announced Tuesday.The upcoming EP is the band‘s first recording since “Blueming” was released nearly a year ago. “The new album will be about various emotions felt by CNBLUE, which commemorates the seventh anniversary of its debut this year,” the agency said.The band’s leader and vocalist Jung Yong-hwa wrote the main track of the EP, according to FNC Entertainment, adding that the four-man gr

The Herald Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a concert titled “The Sound of Spring” on Friday in Donghae, Gangwon Province, marking the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the Donghae Culture and Art Center. The concert will be a family-friendly event that seeks to transcend generational gaps, according to Lee Kang Play, the event organizer. “This will be a great opportunity for families to get together for a live performance of classical opera and songs from popular TV shows,” said Choi

(Yonhap)First came TV censorships of Korean stars. Then a ban on concerts, followed by an implicit prohibition of retail goods from South Korea. Now, K-pop is also bracing for a possible export ban to China, the biggest single-nation market in the world, as Beijing continues its political hissy fit towards Seoul's decision to deploy a high-tech U.S. anti-missile battery on its soil.Since October, Beijing has denied Korean entertainers permission to perform or appear on Chinese television. More r

GFriend released its fourth mini album “The Awakening” on Monday via online music streaming sites. “Fingertip” from the album made it to the top of the Genie music chart, while coming in at No. 4 and No. 7 on the Melon and Mnet charts, respectively.  GFriend (Source Music)“The Awakening” has already sold more than 100,000 copies in preorders, according to its agency Source Music.The girl group also unveiled a music video for “Fingertip” on the same day. Uploaded on YouTube, it garnered attention

K-pop group Mamamoo on Saturday issued a public apology for its parody video in which the members dressed up as African-Americans, saying that they did not understand the meaning of blackface.“There is no excuse for what we did and there are not enough words to explain how regretful we are. We are heartbroken to have hurt our international K-Pop fans so deeply...We were extremely ignorant of blackface and did not understand the implications of our actions,” the group said in a public statement r

South Korean pop musician Psy plans to showcase a new album in April, marking his first release since December 2015.　YG Entertainment said the South Korean rapper has also finished filming the accompanying music video. Singer Psy (Youtube)　The rapper-producer became a global sensation with his track “Gangnam Style” in 2012. Psy also gathered popularity with other songs including “Gentleman,” “Hangover” and “Daddy.”　The music video for “Gangnam Style” boasts more than 2.7 billion views on the pop

Herald Philharmonic Orchestra is holding its fourth regular concert on March 9 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall in Seoul.Titled “A Spring Day,” the program features popular opera arias as well as traditional Korean music performed by the orchestra with a Korean traditional percussion group. Led by conductor Kim Bong-mi, the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra will opening the concert with the overture from the opera “The Bartered Bride” by Smetana. Soprano Yu Seong-nyeo will perform “Queen of the Nig

YB is set to release a new single in the US around mid-March or early April, the rock band’s agency said Wednesday.“There are no specific plans for a US concert yet. But the recording for the single has been completed,” said a representative from Dee Company, adding that they have yet to decide whether to also release the song in Korea.The single is part of YB’s ongoing attempts to crack the US market. Yoon Do-hyun, the band’s leader and vocalist, said earlier this year that YB plans to release

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Coldplay on Thursday released a piano ballad in surprise new music by the English rockers to mark front man Chris Martin’s 40th birthday.“Hypnotised,” described by the band as a “new non-single song,” is the first track off an EP entitled “Kaleidoscope” announced for June 2.“Hypnotised” starts off with dream-like chimes and piano with hints of Sigur Ros before turning into a more traditional rock ballad.The song -- in which Martin confesses he’s “never gonna be a saint” but fin