The Korea Herald

Britney Spears to perform new song at MTV Video Music Awards

Aug 18, 2016

Britney Spears, who has been behind some of the racier moments of the MTV Video Music Awards, will return for the latest edition on August 28 with a new song.The former teen idol will present the live debut of her steamy track “Make Me ...” alongside rapper G-Eazy, the network said.Spears on Tuesday announced the upcoming performance in a video on social media with references to her past VMA performances as a python slithered through her dressing room.She was alluding to one of her past appearan
McCartney working on new album, signs with Capitol

Aug 18, 2016

Paul McCartney is back in the studio working on a new album, his new label Capitol Records said Wednesday as it announced a worldwide recording deal with the Beatles legend.The 74-year-old McCartney called the new contract, which encompasses his entire post-Beatles catalog, “genuinely exciting.”The record label said the music icon, who is still one of the biggest concert draws in the world, was “currently working on a new studio album,” without offering further details.“Paul McCartney’s associat
Gugudan to hold first fan meeting

Aug 18, 2016

Rookie K-pop girl group Gugudan is scheduled to hold its first fan meeting later this week, just two months after its official debut, according to the group’s management agency Jellyfish Entertainment on Thursday.　Jellyfish Entertainment’s first girl group debuted in June with the mini album “Act. 1 The Little Mermaid,” which gained favorable reviews on music charts and broadcast programs. 　 At the event, there will be opportunities to interact with the nine members of Gugudan and to celebrate t
Roy Kim to hold promotional tour in Malaysia

Aug 18, 2016

Singer-songwriter Roy Kim will be holding promotional activities and performances in Malaysia this month, according to his entertainment company CJ E&M on Thursday. The 23-year-old artist will start off his tour with a showcase at the Paradigm Mall in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 26, and perform at Dare Dare Come 2.0 Go! -- a festival hosted by MY FM radio station -- as the event’s first-ever Korean musician on Aug. 27. He is also scheduled to appear in television and radio programs.　 Since the release
Cosmic Girls dropped from space in new music video

Aug 17, 2016

As befits the girl group’s name, the members of Cosmic Girls are featured dancing on an extraterrestrial planet and being dropped from space onto earth in the music video for “Secret,” the title track of the group’s second EP.　The Korean-Chinese girl group, created by Korea’s Starship Entertainment and China’s Yuehua Entertainment, held a showcase for the release of its new album Wednesday in Seoul. The group performed onstage “MoMoMo,” the title track of its 2016 debut EP “Would You Like,” “Sec
CL to release first US single

Aug 17, 2016

Management agency YG Entertainment revealed the performing artist hinted at by a mysterious teaser image asking “Who’s next?” released Tuesday. 　After a lot of speculation from fans online, YG announced Wednesday that singer-songwriter and member of K-pop group 2NE1 Lee Chae-rin -- who goes by the stage name CL -- will be releasing her first US single “Lifted” on Aug. 19. Since her broadcast debut on SBS’ year-end music program “Gayo Daejeon” in 2007, she has garnered a global following, gaining
K-pop concepts: From supernatural to schoolgirl

Aug 16, 2016

Glittering costumes and colorful streaks of hair have become the trademark of K-pop singers, who are now known as much for their flashy visuals as for their hypnotic music. In the hypercompetitive world of K-pop, recent releases have been toying with niche concepts in an effort to stand out from the increasingly crowded market.Boy band VIXX chose to take the supernatural horror route for its single “Fantasy” from the group’s fourth album “Hades” released last Friday. The song’s music video featu
Seoul Academy Ensemble to hold 50th anniversary show

Aug 16, 2016

The Seoul Academy Ensemble, East Asia’s first ever female chamber orchestra, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of the milestone the ensemble is slated to perform at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. The repertoire will feature Edvard Grieg’s “Holberg Suite, Op. 40,” Mozart’s “Flute and Harp Concerto in C Major,” master gayageum player Hwang Byung-ki’s “Sounds of Spring” and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade For Strings.” In honor of its anniversary, Hwang’s “
[Herald Review] Weezer, Panic! at the Disco electrify Pentaport Rock Fest

Aug 15, 2016

Despite the scorching heat wave that has swept across the nation, thousands of music fanatics flocked to the Penta Park in Incheon to partake in one of the country’s time-honored summer traditions -- the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival. 　This year’s three-day festivities kicked things up a notch with some big-time heavy hitters including the alternative punk icons Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, Two Door Cinema Club, Suede and Group Love. 　The 11th annual festival kicked off Friday with the sounds
New entertainment complex to be built in Graceland

Aug 12, 2016

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) -- Graceland officials say a new 200,000 square-foot entertainment complex will be built across the street from Elvis Presley’s former home-turned-museum.Officials with the Memphis-based tourist attraction said Thursday that the $45 million complex will include exhibits that highlight the late singer’s life and career exploits in music and film. Presley died in Memphis on Aug. 16, 1977.Graceland says the entertainment complex is part of a $137 million expansion that inclu
[Album Review] Fradiani’s debut suffers multiple personalities

Aug 12, 2016

Nick Fradiani“Hurricane”(Big Machine)Nick Fradiani won season 14 of “American Idol” in 2015 more with his likable personality and impressive work ethic than with his voice.There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s happened many times before and will likely keep happening, as long as there are televised singing competitions where voters decide the winners.The problem is what happens after the show is over. Like several winners from “Idol” and “The Voice,” Fradiani needs the infrastructure of a networ
[Album Review] The Dead Daisies will impress rock fans with 3rd CD

Aug 12, 2016

The Dead Daisies“Make Some Noise” (Spitfire Music/SPV)For those who want their rock ’n rollers in long, teased hair, leather pants and strip clubs, The Dead Daisies are back with an album of squealing guitars, pounding drums and as many big hooks as a Home Depot.The ever-evolving Australia-based collective that has included former minor members of such bands as Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne and Thin Lizzy has been looking for the sweet spot between hair metal of the 1980s and ’70s classic rock. O
[Album Review] Haley Bonar’s observant songs own 'Impossible Dream'

Aug 12, 2016

Haley Bonar“Impossible Dream” (GNDWIRE/Thirty Tigers)Haley Bonar’s songs on “Impossible Dream” are both personal and universal, stories with an indie film ambience detailed enough to fill a larger screen.Born in Canada, raised in South Dakota and now living in St. Paul, Minnesota, the 33-year-old turned it up a notch on her previous album, 2014’s “Last War,” and this one continues in a similar vein -- gliding power-pop that‘s much more in-your-ear than in-your-face.The cinematic textures are enh
iKON to release 1st album in Japan

Aug 11, 2016

K-pop boy band iKON will release a singles album in Japan on Sept. 28, according to its management agency YG Entertainment.　The four-track album “Dumb & Dumber” will be the group’s first Japanese release and it will be unveiled alongside a DVD of music videos and behind-the-scenes footage. 　Those who preorder the deluxe CD and DVD set online by Aug. 22 will stand a chance to attend the group’s meet-and-greet event at either Pacifico Yokohama on Oct. 22 or at the Kobe Convention Center on Oct. 23
New release from C Jamm and BewhY tops charts

Aug 11, 2016

Within hours of its release, the single “Puzzle,” from rappers C Jamm and BewhY, topped eight local music charts -- MelOn, Mnet, Olleh Music, Soribada, Genie, Bugs, Naver Music and Monkey3.Rather than holding special promotional events or media announcements prior to the release, the duo quietly lifted the veil on “Puzzle” through BewhY’s personal social media outlet Tuesday. 　Released at midnight Wednesday, the new track ended the three-day streak of new K-pop girl group BlackPink in the top sp