Hellovenus“I’m Ill”Neowiz InternetGirl group Hellovenus joined forces once again with hit-making composer Brave Brothers for its fifth EP “I’m Ill.” He composed all but one of the tracks (“Whatcha Talk About”) on the EP, which was composed by Brave Entertainment’s producing team Galactika* and ChaKun of Brave’s hip-hop group Electroboyz.So it’s no surprise that the EP is one big party album. It starts with a club-style EDM punch on the album’s title track “I’m Ill,” where the girls sing about “s

Gfriend“Flower Bud”(KT Music)Gfriend played it safe for their second EP “Flower Bud,” opting to nestle comfortably into the bubble-gum pop niche in a market saturated by EDM and hip-hop beats. The group, which debuted in January with “Glass Bead,” was often referred to as the next Apink during their last promotions. That sweet, innocent vibe -- complete with matching white dresses and schoolgirl outfits -- continues into this second EP. Excluding the intro and instrumental track, there are four

Music label Mystic Entertainment, home to artists such as Lim Kim, Eddy Kim and Jane Jang, and peer-to-peer content streaming site Afreeca TV have joined to create a new content company, the companies announced Thursday. Afreeca TV Seo Soo-kiel (left) and Mystic Entertainment CEO Yoon Jong-shin pose for press at CGV Apgujeong Thursday. (Mystic Entertainment)The joint venture, called Freec, will be used to create and share content in a way that integrates and maximizes the advantages of new and o

Yunho, a member of K-pop duo TVXQ, enlisted for his mandatory military service on Tuesday. The 29-year-old singer arrived at the training camp located in Yangju, Gyeonggi province around 2 p.m. to begin his term. He was accompanied by his family, friends and his manager, his label SM Entertainment said. 　Earlier, he had withheld the exact time and place of the enrollment from the public with the intention of having a low-key enlistment, but many fans still gathered outside the camp to see the si

Super Junior is all style and sophistication in its new album “Devil,” a special release celebrating 10 years since the group’s debut. Featuring bouncy, stylized beats and collaborating with an eclectic bunch of musicians, the new album sees the band branching out musically and appealing to a wider audience.In more than a few ways, Super Junior has arguably been a group atypical to SM Entertainment. At a label known for producing ultramodern pop beats and veiling its artists in a pristine public

　Despite grueling temperatures that make going outside seem like an unwanted tax on the body, this summer still has all the makings of an unforgettable season of music festival fun. 　　Following last month’s two-day EDM blowout Ultra Music Festival, which drew more than 100,000 partygoers, the remaining summer months promise an eclectic array of big-time international acts and fan-favorite local names.　　Ansan M Valley Rock Festival　　Forced to cancel its festivities last year in light of the tragi

9Muses targets club scene with new EP9Muses “9Muses S/S Edition” (KT Music)9Muses are a group known mostly for their stunning looks. Nicknamed the “model idol” group, the eight members boast an average height of 172 centimeters and are known for their sexy choreography in songs like “Dolls” and “Wild.”On their new EP “9Muses S/S Edition,” the group continues to do what they are best known for, choosing consistency over variety. Thumping club-style beats underline both the lead track “Hurt Locker

Joy Williams goes solo and bares soulJoy Williams “Venus” (Sensibility/Columbia)Nearly 20 minutes into “Venus,” an acoustic guitar emerges from the computer clamor that fills most of the album. The refreshing sound of an actual musical instrument nudges Joy Williams into the set’s best song, the soul-baring ballad “What a Good Woman Does.”“I can’t carry the weight of this war,” she sings.Williams’ acrimonious split with Civil Wars partner John Paul White is at the core of “Venus,” her first solo

The leggy, statuesque eight-member group Nine Muses has made a comeback with a special summer album, “9 Muses S/S Edition,” jumping into the heated summer K-pop scene a mere few days after fellow girl groups Sistar and AOA.  The title track “Hurt Locker” is a throbbing Euro-electronic dance beat, written by Swedish songwriter Erik Lidbom -- who also composed “Genie,” the massive 2009 hit by Girls’ Generation -- British producer Herbie Crichlow and Norwegian songwriter Anne Judith Wik.  　The lyri

EXO. (SM Entertainment)South Korean mega-idol group EXO’s “Call Me Baby” was the most watched K-pop music video in the first half of 2015 on YouTube. “Call Me Baby,” the title song of EXO’s second regular EP “EXODUS,” released March 31, recorded a smashing 52.4 million combined views on YouTube with its Korean and Chinese versions as of July 2. The Korean version raked in 40,621,247 views, already enough to give it the most views of any K-pop music video released in the first half of 2015, while

A former top banking executive was appointed chief executive of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday, amid lingering troubles at the country’s finest ensemble after the scandalous departure last year of its former CEO. Choe Heung-sik, the former head of Hana Financial Group, the country’s fourth-largest financial group, will take office on July 1 as the orchestra’s CEO, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a press announcement. The orchestra is partly funded by the municipal governme

DAEGU -- From an out-of-this-world space musical set on a forbidden planet to the skin-crawling murder mystery of a serial killer, the ongoing Daegu International Musical Festival features a wide range of international productions, catering to all artistic tastes.The 9th annual DIMF kicked off its 18 days of festivities Friday in the southern city of Daegu, inviting cast members from all corners of the world, with shows that one would be hard-pressed to see in Korea or elsewhere in Asia. 　A scen

Seven-member boy group BTOB dropped their first full-length Korean album, “Complete,” on Monday. The title track, “It’s Okay,” is a heartfelt R&B ballad that seeks to comfort weary hearts, and topped musical charts upon its midnight release. “It’s a song meant to heal us of the everyday trials that we face. The lyrics are sincere and uplifting,” said leader of the group and vocalist Eun-kwang at a showcase for the album’s release Monday.“It might not have the showy performances of dance songs, b