Ryu Hyeong-sun, a prominent gugak composer and producer, has become artistic director of the state-owned Creative Music Troupe. Handpicked by Kim Hae-sook, chief of the National Gugak Center, Ryu took office Tuesday for a two-year term. “I will seek out new possibilities by putting on stage performances that are new and of high quality yet based on traditions,” the 48-year-old composer said.  The creative music troupe started a decade ago under the auspice of the NGC. It has been trying to add m

PARIS (AFP) ― Five years after the death of the “King of Pop,” a posthumous Michael Jackson album due in May is set to thrill fans with eight previously unreleased songs, Epic Records announced on Monday. The album, due for release on May 13, has been named “XSCAPE,” which is also one of the new tracks mined from Jackson’s archives. After gaining access to four decades of the late singer’s material, Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony, chose eight songs that featured completed vocal tracks by Jac

LOS ANGELES (AFP) ― Only a handful of professional musicians can play it, but a rare instrument banned in the 19th century is making a comeback, and even seducing a new generation of rock and electro stars.The glass armonica, invented by U.S. founding father Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, was blamed for driving musicians crazy, and is not taught in any of the world’s top conservatories.“There are five or six of us who play it, for our own pleasure. It’s a very small community,” said Fren

Lee Sun-hee makes strong return with “Serendipity” Lee Sun-hee'Serendipity'(LOEN Entertainment)Lee Sun-hee, one of South Korea’s iconic veteran singer-songwriters, has released her 15th studio album in celebration of the 30th anniversary of her debut.The 11-track album titled “Serendipity” features Lee’s mature and distinct vocals which have raised her to the peerage of local ballad legends since her debut in 1984. The album covers diverse genres from pop, rock, orchestral and acoustic to gypsy

The nation’s largest entertainment agency, SM Entertainment, has officially denied allegations that company CEO Lee Soo-man illegally acquired a lavish mansion in Malibu, California, through a joint purchase with a “paper company” in Hong Kong.KBS 1TV’s “News9” on Tuesday reported that the CEO had purchased the mansion in L.A. County for $4.8 million, which surpasses $3 million, the most that an individual could invest in overseas real state at the time. The report claimed that Lee evaded such r

Orchestra Festival brings 18 groups to Seoul Arts Center

CHICAGO (AP) ― Eminem and Outkast will headline a diverse lineup of more than 130 acts at this year’s three-day Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Jane’s Addiction lead singer and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced Wednesday. The lineup also includes recent Grammy darling Lorde, rockers Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys and electronic dance music stars Calvin Harris and Skrillex.  “Every year you’re shooting to have just an incredible bill that people will look at and say, ‘I’m the

It is certainly no secret in Korea that the training process to debut as a K-pop star is no quick or simple venture. Often referred to as music “boot camp,” K-pop training among some of the nation’s biggest talent agencies is intense, to say the least. And with only a fraction of trainees able to become K-pop stars, the atmosphere among trainees can be fiercely competitive and cutthroat. Although other nations’ talent agencies play a role in “grooming” acts to make it big in the entertainment in

Internationally famous British alt-rock band Travis returned to Seoul an old friend, kicking off a lively concert Tuesday night.“Hi everyone, it’s been a long time since we’ve been here,” said Fran Healy, the vocalist and leader, opening up the show. “And we’ve never forgotten you!” he shouted.Travis, considered a forefather of modern British pop-rock, is currently on its Asia tour for its recent album “Where You Stand,” which topped the U.K. album charts last year. Composed of vocalist and guit

Jang Sa-ik, Korea’s vocal maestro, will return to New York next month to present once again the unique world of his music that blends traditional Korean harmonies and rhythms with modern jazz, pop and blues. This time, he will perform with four of his longtime colleagues with whom he just “loves to have fun.” “For me, the ultimate fun has to involve some dancing. After all, don’t we all sing and dance when we’re happy?” Jang said at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. “So, it’s going to be m

Shakira’s domination in America has dwindled since she became a hip-swiveling goddess of festive pop hits like “Whenever, Wherever” and “Hips Don’t Lie.” Already a superstar in her native Colombia, the multitalented singer-songwriter-instrumentalist took the American pop scene by storm when she made her U.S. language debut in 2001 with personal, rich songs about romance and more. But her recent albums haven’t matched the spark, edge and charisma of her work a decade ago, and her new self-titled

The seven-track EP features the lead track ‘Yunaya,’ which the singer said should not be linked to Olympic figure skater Kim Yu-na

Incheon International Airport is holding a public music festival featuring diverse, renowned artists this week, in celebration of the airport’s 13th founding anniversary and the 9th anniversary of consecutively ranking No. 1 in airport service quality.The airport’s “Orchestra Festival” is scheduled to last for five days from March 26-30. Each day, an open-air performance will be staged for roughly one hour starting at 4 p.m. at the Millennium Hall on the ground floor of the passenger terminal. T

NEW YORK (AP) ― The fellas love Aretha Franklin: Denzel Washington helped the Queen of Soul celebrate her 72nd birthday in style, and Andre 3000 and Babyface are working on new music for the icon. Franklin held an exclusive and small party Saturday in New York City for her birthday, which is on Tuesday. Washington entered the Ritz-Carlton Hotel quietly, though the crowd got excited after realizing it was the Oscar winner under a baseball cap. Franklin thanked the actor for attending. Just hours