Andrea Bocelli, the internationally acclaimed blind Italian classical crossover tenor, is gearing up for a solo concert in Seoul next month -- his first in Korea in six years. 　“I am excited and happy to come back. The love your people have shown me is hard to forget,” said Bocelli in an e-mail interview with The Korea Herald. 　Best known for his repertoire of classic operatic arias and classical-inspired contemporary pieces, the 57-year-old Grammy nominee last year released his 15th solo album,

Singer Lee Seung-chul has been appointed the promotional ambassador for the 66th U.N. DPI/NGO Conference, the world’s largest event for nongovernmental organizations.　“Lee Seung-chul has been selected due to the sincerity he has showed through his consistent charity work,” an organizer of the conference said at the ceremony for his appointment on Thursday morning at the Korea Press Center in Seoul.　Lee gave funds to build schools in the Central African country Chad from 2010 to 2015, visiting th

I.O.I, the final 11-member girl group from Mnet’s recently concluded music competition show “Produce 101,” dropped their first single, “Crush,” Tuesday.　“Crush,” written by Ryan Jhun, was performed by 22 competitors of the audition show for the final match that aired April 1. This time, the song was recorded by the 11 winners who will debut as I.O.I, said CJ E&M.　The song features a melody that is easy to sing along to and powerful choreography that matches the group’s concept.  A screen capture

Singer and producer Park Jin-young is out to prove his relevancy. He will be releasing a digital single “Still Alive” on April 10, JYP Entertainment announced Tuesday.　“Still Alive,” which was written by Park, reflects the singer’s perpetual enthusiasm with its uplifting rhythm and melody, added the agency.　The singer also released a teaser video on YouTube on Tuesday.A screen capture of singer and producer Park Jin-young‘s “Still Alive” teaser video (JYP Entertainment)　In the video, the singer

Rock bands Suede and Two Door Cinema Club will be performing at this year’s Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, announced the festival’s organizer Yescomm Entertainment in a second lineup list released Wednesday.      　English alternative band Suede released its seventh album “Nothing Thoughts” earlier this year, while Irish indie rock band Two Door Cinema, whose second album “Beacon” in 2012 topped the Irish Albums Chart, has gained international popularity for its electro pop rock.  British rock

Member Gong Minzy will be leaving four-member K-pop group 2NE1, while the other three members will return as 2NE1 this summer with a new song, YG Entertainment said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.　“We held one-on-one talks with each member in light of 2NE1’s contract expiring on May 5. During the talks, we expressed our wish to renew their contracts and revitalize 2NE1 as a team,” the statement said. “Unfortunately, Gong Minzy is no longer willing to continue with us.　Former K-pop gir

Rock band launches sixth mini album ‘Blueming’

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- For the second year in a row, the iHeartRadio Awards became the iHeartTaylorSwift show.　Not only did Swift claim three prizes, including album of the year, but her bestie and her boyfriend took home trophies, too.　Swift, who swept the awards last year, won the first and last prize Sunday night -- female artist and album of the year. In between, she claimed best tour honors for her star-studded "1989 World Tour," thanking boyfriend Calvin Harris (real name: Adam Wiles) from th

Male indie duo 10cm’s new song “What the Spring??” topped music charts including MelOn, Mnet, Olleh Music, Bugs Music on Saturday.　“What the Spring??,” released on April 1, depicts single men complaining about couples enjoying the spring season. Unlike other songs about spring, 10cm’s piece speaks for the singles, not for couples, with the chorus “Flowers all fall down at last just like you two fall apart soon. Screw all up.” 　The duo’s new song garnered great attention with its April Fools’ Day

K-pop boy band JYJ’s Kim Jun-su will release his fourth studio album in May, the singer’s agency C-JeS Entertainment announced Friday.　Kim will kick off the Asia Tour in June, starting in Seoul. The tour will see the singer perform in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Kobe in Japan, the agency added. Kim Jun-su performs his song for KBS drama series “Descendants of the Sun” at a concert on Saturday. (C-JeS Entertainment)　Kim unveiled the video announcing his May comeback during the finale of his spring tour at

 NEW YORK (AFP) - David Bowie had many faces -- the attention-grabbing glam rocker, the inward-looking experimentalist -- and for a tribute to his life, leading names in music celebrated him by embracing his eclectic spirit.　Nearly three months after the shock of Bowie's death from an undisclosed battle with cancer, some of the many musicians influenced by the rock legend honored him with two sold-out nights in New York.　Yet the concerts were not about dutiful covers of Bowie’s hits, many of whi

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Recording star Beyonce launched a women’s fitness clothing line on Thursday featuring bodysuits, leggings and headbands.　It is named partly after her 4-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy. Called Ivy Park, the 200-piece active wear collection is a joint venture with British businessman Sir Philip Green, who owns the Topshop fashion chain.　The collection will feature leggings, T-shirts, crop-tops and jackets all designed for fitness and leisure wear. It will go on sale at selected To