K-pop star Psy claimed the grand prize at the 22nd Seoul Music Awards on Thursday, marking another victory in the pop music scene. In the “Gangnam Style” singer’s absence, Tablo, leader of hip-hop group Epik High and fellow artist at YG Entertainment, accepted the award on his behalf at the award ceremony held at the SK Olympic Handball Stadium. Psy instead appeared in a video message to express his gratitude. “I am sorry to accept the award through a video, but I am very thankful,” he said. “Th

Korean idol group JYJ member Kim Jae-joong’s first solo album topped Japanese and Taiwanese music chart, his agency said.C-JeS Entertainment announced on Monday that Kim’s EP album titled “I” ranked No. 1 on both “Five Music," the biggest Asian music chart in Taiwan, and Japan’s “Shinseido” weekly album chart.The new album includes the title track “Mine,” an intense rock single, as well as Kim’s original composition “All Alone.”“Kim’s album held first place on both domestic and overseas sales ch

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Verdi goes Vegas in a flashy new production of the opera “Rigoletto” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York that features neon lights, a Cadillac and a naked cabaret dancer.Tony award-winning director Michael Mayer has moved the original story from 16th century Italy to 1960s Sin City. His gamble appears to have paid off with audiences, although theater critics are not so sure.One of Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpieces, the opera tells the tragic story of the deformed jester Rigoletto

Recording artist Rihanna confirmed to Rolling Stone magazine she has reconciled with Chris Brown, the boyfriend who beat her up in Los Angeles in 2009.Brown pleaded guilty to assault, then was ordered to perform community service and stay away from his ex-girlfriend for a brief period of time. Although the restraining order against him has been lifted, he remains on probation.Brown was widely criticized after the incident by fans, journalists and some other musicians outraged by what he did to R

The man behind several hit drama soundtracks releases solo album

Kim Suh-hyun (also known as Kris), the teenage daughter of veteran rocker Kim Tae-won of “Boohwal,” has made public her plans to follow in her father’s footsteps and enter the music scene as a singer/songwriter. Kris announced that she will release her debut mini-album titled “Into the Skies,” on Thursday. The upcoming album will include two single tracks that she wrote and composed. The album’s title track of the same name is a modern rock ballad piece, while the second single “Goodbye” is an A

Hip-hop artist and actor Yang Dong-geun plans to marry a woman he has been dating for a long time. His bride-to-be is also pregnant. The artist updated his status in his KakaoTalk account to “Dad” to inform his close friends about the good news. A source close to Yang told a television entertainment news program on Jan 29, “Yang Dong-geun did not really care about the public’s eye, he always dated freely. Up to now he has been very happy with the news of his girlfriend’s pregnancy.” The source a

NEW YORK (AP) ― Taylor Swift has been turning heads with her new, sexy wardrobe, but the 23-year-old says it’s just a reflection of getting older.Swift has people buzzing about her recent red carpet choices, which have included plunging necklines and shorter skirts. “As far as wardrobe, we have been operating from a different place,’’ Swift said.While her choices may be demure compared with the Kim Kardashians of the world, for Swift, a former teen sweetheart, it’s raised eyebrows, and she ackno

Marking 13 months since the release of her first full album, solo singer Ali will be making a comeback on Jan. 30 with her new album “Bittersweet Ballad.” Her agency stated that her album will include a bittersweet ballad that shows off her amazing voice.She took an extended break after she was criticized for her song “Na Young-I,” which she composed and wrote in December 2011. The song was about a victim of sexual assault, which took place in 2008.Ali said she wrote the song to comfort the vict

The dynamic duo of Leessang released its latest hip-hop single “Tears” on Jan. 25, immediately topping all of the major Korean real-time music charts. The track knocked off Superstar K2 winner Huh Gak’s newly released “Monodrama,” which had sat at the top spot on most of the charts. As of Monday morning, the mid-tempo ballad rap piece ranked at the top on the Naver, Daum, MelOn, Mnet and Bugs music charts. Hip-hoppers Gary and Gil worked the hit-making production team Duble Sidekick on the track

K-pop sensation Psy garnered three awards at the NRJ Music Awards of France on Saturday, local time. With his international smash-hit, “Gangnam Style,” the 35-year-old star won Chanson Internationale de L’anne (International Song of the Year) and Clip de L’anne (Video Clip of the Year) and also received an Award d’honneur (honor.) He is the first Korean to be invited to the noted French ceremony held at the Cannes Festival Palace. “This is my second time in France. The first time was in Paris. A

A$AP Rocky is impressive on debut albumA$AP Rocky``Long.Live.A$AP‘’(RCA Records)Rapper A$AP Rocky meshes his laid-back lyrical persona with a melodic sound, delivering an impressive piece of work with just a few flaws on his debut album, ``Long.Live.A$AP.‘’ Much of the 12-track set is an easy listen with solid production from Jim Jonsin, Hit-Boy, T-Minus and Clams Casino. The 24-year-old, who hails from Harlem, N.Y., raps with abstract rhymes and metaphors that are easy to grasp on songs like ``