The Korea Herald

Justin Bieber leaves Florida jail after drunk driving arrest

Jan 24, 2014

Teen pop star Justin Bieber’s tumultuous life off-stage landed him in jail for the first time on Thursday when police arrested the singer for drunk driving after he was caught drag racing on a main Miami Beach street in a rented Lamborghini.The 19-year-old Canadian initially resisted arrest, cursed at police officers and later told them he had consumed alcohol, pot and prescription drugs, police said. Then, changing his demeanor, he grew cooperative and even smiled for his mug shot, coiffed hair
EXO takes top prize at Seoul Music Awards

Jan 24, 2014

K-pop sensation EXO won a top prize at the 23rd Seoul Music Awards on Thursday, outshining 12 competitors including SHINee, Cho Yong-pil and Girls’ Generation. 　The idol group also earned awards for the main prize and Digital Song of the Year at the ceremony held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. 　“EXO had a tense and difficult year in 2013, but we were happy that we could be with our fans,” said Sooho, team leader of the idol group, expressing his gratitude to his fans and colleagues at SM En
Music festival asks public to compose ‘Tweetfonie’

Jan 23, 2014

FRANKFURT (AFP) ― A German music festival Wednesday invited social media users to compose all-new orchestral pieces for a “Tweetfonie” to be given a world premiere later this year.The world of classical music is eagerly embracing Twitter and Facebook with musicians, conductors, concert halls and opera houses enthusiastic users of the platforms.The Kurt Weill Festival is taking this newfound enthusiasm one step further and planning a “Tweetfonie” of melodies composed by music-lovers and budding c
Seoul Jazz Festival to take place in May

Jan 23, 2014

Early ticket sales will open on Feb. 4
EXO may win top prize at Seoul Music Awards

Jan 23, 2014

K-pop fans have their eyes on whether K-pop sensation EXO could win a top prize in the upcoming Seoul Music Awards to be held on Thursday night. If the boy band makes it to the top, it would be the fourth straight victory for the idol group.EXO, a South Korean-Chinese boy band consisting of 12 members, has gained explosive popularity at home and in China since making an official debut in early 2012.　Their first full-length album has sold more than 1.4 million by far, according to the Gaon chart,
Rock band YB to debut in U.S., U.K.

Jan 22, 2014

Korean group signs with former Guns N’ Roses manager Doug Goldstein
Opera star to sing national anthem at Super Bowl

Jan 22, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ― The Super Bowl will have a touch of the classical this year: Opera star Renee Fleming will sing the national anthem. The four-time Grammy winner will perform before the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Feb 2. Fleming is the first opera star to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. In recent years, it has been performed mainly by a mix of pop and country stars. Known as “The People’s Diva,” the soprano is closely id
Music ‘made by Korea’

Jan 21, 2014

Production power is driver of K-pop success, says SM Entertainment
Troubled Bolshoi presents new musical director

Jan 21, 2014

MOSCOW (AFP) ― The Bolshoi Theater on Monday presented its new musical director, who has been appointed to help restore the tarnished reputation of the scandal-ridden theater.Tugan Sokhiev, a 36-year-old conductor who studied in Saint Petersburg, is currently musical director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.On Monday, the Bolshoi’s general director Vladimir Urin presented Sokhiev to journalists, calling him “one of the most in-dem
Israel grants Filipina X-Factor winner license to sing

Jan 21, 2014

JERUSALEM (AFP) ― A 47-year-old Filipina carer who won Israel’s X-Factor talent show has been granted permission to earn a living as a singer in the Jewish state, officials said on Monday. Rose Fostanes, the only foreign contestant on the show, moved to Israel six years ago, obtaining a visa to work as a carer for the sick and elderly.Her success, which saw her winning last week’s final with a soaring rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” sparked celebrations across the Philippines and praise f
Koyote returns with ’90s retro feel

Jan 21, 2014

Veteran hip-hop and dance group Koyote returned to the music scene Tuesday with its new mini-album “1999,” bringing back ’90s style and celebrating the 17th anniversary of the group’s debut.Filled with upbeat, discoesque rhythms, Koyote’s new album is expected to bring a fresh array of the group’s signature “old school” sounds to a K-pop music scene dominated by an avalanche of young boy and girl groups. “We launched our new album with the hope of making listeners feel as if they have really gon
CNBLUE releases new documentary film in Japan

Jan 21, 2014

Popular K-pop band CNBLUE returned home from Japan on Sunday after promoting its first documentary film, “The Story of CNBLUE: Never Stop,” which was released in Japanese theaters last week.The two-hour film depicts the band’s daily life before its formal debut, personal interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of world tours. The documentary was directed by Jeon Yong-seung, a renowned director who produced highly acclaimed works including the “NHK Special” and “Jung Yul Dae Ryuk.”The four-membe
Billboard recognizes YG CEO as ‘international power player’

Jan 20, 2014

YG Entertainment CEO and producer Yang Hyun-suk has been recognized by U.S. Billboard magazine as an “international power player” for bringing about significant changes in the dynamics of the world music market. According to a press release on Saturday by YG Entertainment, Yang was the only South Korean leader on the list of “international power players” recognizing world-renowned leaders in the music business. The list was compiled for the first time by Billboard magazine and Midem, an annual i
Lee Hyo-ri to debut as producer with new album for SPICA

Jan 20, 2014

Sexy diva Lee Hyo-ri is to make her debut as a producer with a new album for the girl group SPICA. “Lee coached the styling the members and visited the studio set to film the music video for the song. Her husband Lee Sang-soon also took part as a session guitarist,” said an official from SPICA’s agency B2M Entertainment.Lee starred with the rookie girl group on cable channel On Style on a program training them how to become “real stars.” The senior singer has earlier worked collaboratively on SP
YG Entertainment to launch family world tour

Jan 19, 2014

Officials at YG Entertainment, home to some of the nation’s most popular K-pop acts, have announced that it will be launching the “YG Family 2014 World Tour” in April. The tour will include YG’s biggest acts, including world star Psy, Big Bang, 2NE1, hip-hop trio Epik High, the newly debuted Lee Hi and idol boy band Winner, and will take the artists to various locations in Japan, China and Korea. The tour will kick off in Japan at the Osaka Kyocera Dome for a two-day performance on April 12 and