Amid the buzz caused by Hybe’s merger with Ithaca Holdings, key figures from the two companies expressed their excitement through a video released on YouTube Monday. Hybe, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, announced Friday it would acquire Ithaca Holdings and its properties, including SB Projects and its management clients Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato. “Hybe has achieved continued growth by facing head-on new challenges that drive change such as the recent r

Virtuoso pianist Son Yeol-eum is set to embark on a 10-day tour this month. According to tour organizer Credia on Monday, the upcoming tour will kick off in Daejeon on April 15, followed by more recitals in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on April 16, Seoul April 17-18, Ulsan April 22 and Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, April 23. The tour will wrap up in Busan on April 24. In Seoul, Son will go on the stage at Nowon Culture & Arts Center on April 17 and Gangdong Arts Center on

Hybe, the company behind K-pop phenomenons BTS, announced Friday a deal to buy a 100 percent stake in American music entrepreneur Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings. Under the deal, Hybe -- formerly Big Hit Entertainment -- will be acquiring the media company, which owns affiliates like SB Projects, founded by Ithaca chief executive Scott "Scooter" Braun and Big Machine Label Group, the company said in a statement. In a separate regulatory filing, the company said it plans to buy an ad

Live clubs in the Hongdae area will now be able to hold performances under the current social distancing scheme, as details of the infectious disease prevention and control measures have been changed. “The Mapo-gu district office has decided general restaurants with stages and performance facilities in its jurisdiction can host performances while complying with the government’s infectious disease prevention and control measures for performing arts facilities,“ the Korea Live

With music halls and auditoriums shut down or under strict limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year, bands are turning to “performing” at local cinemas. Under the government’s social distancing scheme, audience numbers at concerts are limited to under 100. Though the rules were relaxed in late-February for musicals and classical music performances -- the number of people in the audience is not capped as long as the middle-seat vacancy rule is practiced -

2021 festival titled ‘Changing Reality’

Conductor Chung Myung-whun is to return as a pianist for the first time in seven years. Chung is to release his second piano album in April and will hold recitals in Seoul, Gunpo and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province and Daegu. The album, featuring the late piano works by Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms, among others, will be released under the Deutsche Grammophon label. Though more familiar to the classical music audience as a conductor, Chung was the first Korean to win the joint-second place at the

Texu Kim says contemporary music should be ‘spicy yet delicious’

World-class violinist Chung Kyung-wha has abruptly called off several performances due to an injury in her left hand. The 73-year-old virtuoso violinist was to hold a solo recital on Saturday at Namdong Sorae Arts Hall in Incheon. The sell-out recital, however, was canceled on the day, following Chung’s injury. “The recital has been unfortunately canceled due to the artist’s left hand injury. We ask for the understanding of the audiences who have waited for the recital,&rd

Though K-pop superstar band BTS failed to secure a Grammy with its latest single, “Dynamite,” the septet delivered an epic performance as the first South Korean act to perform at the music event. The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards were held Sunday night in Los Angeles in a hybrid format that featured pretaped performances. The septet’s single “Dynamite” -- the first single the group has performed entirely in English -- was nominated in the Pop Duo/Group Performance

Third time’s the charm for violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill. The three-time Grammy nominee took home the award for the best classical instrumental solo for his recording of Christopher Theofanidis’ “Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra” in the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday, local time. The recording was made under the baton of conductor David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. “This is a great day for the viola,” O’N

Kakao Entertainment and Spotify Technology on Thursday announced that it will make songs distributed by the Korean company available on the Swedish audio giant’s streaming platform across the globe, after a one-week suspension. The agreement will allow listeners overseas to resume enjoying songs by popular Korean artists, including IU and Zico, which were removed temporarily from the Spotify platform from the beginning of March. The platform operator at the time explained that the song

Violinist says value of classical music can be found in designer suits, hip-hop and more

Music from the hit video game League of Legends will be brought to life by an orchestra at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. “League of Legends Live: The Orchestra” will be held at the Sejong Center in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, April 2-3. The concerts were originally to be held in November, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the first time for the Sejong Center, a major performing arts venue in Seoul, to present a show with music from a video ga

Korean online music festival #saveourstages kicked off Monday with the aim of supporting indie music venues hit hard by COVID-19. A total of 67 groups will be performing through Friday at five different stages -- Rolling Hall, West Bridge, Prism Hall, Radio Gaga and Dream Hall -- all located in the Hongdae area in Seoul, which is known for its indie music scene. Each venue will host about two acts per day, giving guests a diverse choice of music to listen to. “We can’t solve this