The Korea Herald

Spotify says it‘s reached 30 million subscribers

Mar 22, 2016

NEW YORK (AFP) - Leading streaming service Spotify said Monday that it had reached 30 million paying subscribers as the company suggested it would keep expanding to more countries.　The milestone was announced by Spotify's chief executive Daniel Ek as he commented positively about President Barack Obama’s historic visit to longtime US adversary Cuba.　“We have 30 million Spotify subscribers, but none of them are in Cuba ... yet. So cool to see Cuba opening up!” the 33-year-old Swedish entrepreneur
Jay Park releases digital single

Mar 21, 2016

Jay Park, Korean-American rapper and founder of independent hip-hop label AOMG, released digital R&B single “The Truth Is” along with a music video at midnight Sunday.　In his new R&B ballad, Park talks about his complex and volatile post-breakup feelings frankly from a third-person perspective in his song. The song was jointly produced with producer team Groovy Room. A screen capture of Jay Park in a trailer video for his new digital single, “The Truth Is.” (AOMG)　“The song features various com
EXO, fans quake Olympic arena in Seoul concert

Mar 21, 2016

South Korean boy band EXO, the darlings of S.M. Entertainment, rocked the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in its Seoul encore concert on Sunday, with an ear-popping mass chorus by its fans. EXO's nine heartthrobs shot up the temperature of the early spring stage for "EXO PLANET #2 The EXO'luXion [dot]," an encore concert held in the gymnastics arena at Olympic Park in southeastern Seoul. The concert was an encore to the exclusive show that the band staged in Seoul in March 2015 -- herein comes the "dot
G-Dragon features on ‘Harlem Shake’ producer’s new album

Mar 20, 2016

Rapper G-Dragon of K-pop boy band Big Bang has collaborated with Baauer, best known for his 2013 hit song “Harlem Shake,” on a song on the American producer’s debut LP “Aa” released Friday.　“Temple,” the ninth track on the album, features G-Dragon rapping in both Korean and English to a hypnotic trap melody, alongside British rapper M.I.A. Screenshot of music video for “Temple,” produced by Baauer and featuring G-Dragon and M.I.A (YouTube)　This is the second time the two artists have collaborate
Adele to headline Glastonbury music festival

Mar 20, 2016

LONDON (AFP) - Adele will headline this year's Glastonbury music festival on June 25, the bestselling British singer and organizers said Friday.　“She will headline Saturday night at this year’s Glastonbury Festival!” read a message on the festival's official Twitter account.　The singer announced the news to fans live on stage in London as part of her first world tour in four years which she began this month.　Adele has broken several records with her third and latest album, featuring the ballad “
Korean agency, Chinese singers lock horns in first pleading

Mar 18, 2016

A South Korean entertainment management agency struck back at its Chinese K-pop hip-hop duo Tasty over a contract nullification suit Friday, claiming the artists' arguments are groundless.The first pleading between Woollim Entertainment, the defendant and subsidiary of S.M. C&C, and the two Chinese rappers, the plaintiffs, took place on Thursday. S.M. C&C is a listed music label of S.M. Entertainment, the country's second-largest talent agency by market capital.The trial opened about six months
[Herald interview] Pianist Aviram Reichert, witness of sea change in Seoul’s classical scene

Mar 17, 2016

Following a landmark win at Seoul’s inaugural international piano competition two decades ago, Israeli-native and longtime Seoul National University music professor Aviram Reichert continues to leave his mark in the local classical music scene. 　“I moved to Korea in 2009 to assume the position as a professor at Seoul National University, but what first brought me here, it all started in 1996,” Reichert told The Korea Herald on Thursday.　“That was the year they had Seoul’s first international pia
Madonna angers Australian fans with 2-hour concert delay

Mar 17, 2016

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) -- Madonna has angered fans by starting a concert in the Australian city of Brisbane more than two hours late and finishing the show early Thursday morning after the last train had left the venue.　The pop star had been due to start at 9 p.m. local time but did not take the stage at the Brisbane Entertainment Center until 11:22 p.m.　Hundreds of angry fans had left the venue by then and demanded refunds at the ticket office after a public announcement that the "Rebel Hear
Sam Kim debuts two years after ‘K-pop Star’

Mar 17, 2016

Korean-American musician Sam Kim will release the first part of his debut album “My Name is SAM” on March 28, the singer’s agency Antenna Music announced Wednesday. 　Kim was the runner-up in the third season of the SBS music competition program “K-pop Star.” In 2014, Kim signed with Antenna Music, which is run by Yoo Hee-yeol, one of the judges of the television program. 　Kim, a self-taught singer and songwriter, will present his debut album, which is written entirely by himself. Singer-songwri
Super Junior's Ryeowook to join military in June

Mar 17, 2016

Ryeowook of K-pop boy band Super Junior will be enlisted in the Army for his mandatory military service in June, a South Korean talent agency said on Thursday. The singer, 29, will join the South Korean army on June 14, according to his star label S.M. Entertainment. He will join basic military camp for the first five weeks and then be dispatched to a regional military base for his 21-month service. The South Korean heartthrob did not disclose the hour or venue for his military entrance, hoping
Indie bands, Artists Union fight back against ‘unfair’ contracts

Mar 16, 2016

Public backlash continues against big-time media entertainment and production companies in Korea after a number of local indie artists recently went public about their working conditions. 　The controversy first ignited when some of the artists who helped make the soundtrack to the popular TV drama “Cheese in the Trap” took to social media to vent their anger at not being paid for their work.　The outrage has spiraled throughout the local artist community, prompting the Artists Social Union -- a l
Mariah Carey to turn life into reality series

Mar 16, 2016

NEW YORK (AFP) - Mariah Carey announced Tuesday that she would star in a reality television series about her upcoming tour and marriage.　The pop diva known for her soaring five-octave range said that the E! entertainment network would follow her for an eight-part series entitled “Mariah's World.”　“Mariah is one of the most captivating pop superstars of our time and one of the rare artists whose first name alone is instantly recognized around the globe,” Jeff Olde, the network’s executive vice pr
[Herald interview] A violinist’s relentless pursuit of joint South -North Korea orchestra

Mar 15, 2016

Even after eight years of dedicated struggle and failed attempts to hold a unified South and North Korean orchestra performance, violinist and human rights activist Won Hyung-joon has not lost hope. 　Inspired by the work of Daniel Barenboim, who in 1999 founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra composed of Israeli and Palestinian musicians, Won established the Lindenbaum Music Company in 2009, combining his musical and humanitarian efforts to forge a historic orchestra alliance between the two ho
[Hallyu power] How paths crossed for Love X Stereo

Mar 15, 2016

Electro-rock duo with modest but loyal following of foreign fans talks about chance, planning and how they came to be
EXID's Hani to return to work after three-week break

Mar 15, 2016

Hani, a member of K-pop girl group EXID, will resume public activities after taking a three-week break for health reasons, her agency said Tuesday.Hani will attend the group's "meet and greet" session for Chinese fans in Shanghai on Friday, her first public appearance in three weeks, Banana Culture said.She took the short leave to focus on receiving treatment for enteritis and due to fatigue.During the band's first fan event overseas since its debut in February 2012, the members will perform the