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The cast of MBC’s “I am a Singer” pose for photo (MBC) |
Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, producer and distributer of hit TV program “I’m a Singer” announced on Wednesday that it would end the first season of the show next week.
“We will run the last episode of ‘I’m a Singer’ season one on Feb. 12. We’ll introduce a reformatted show after taking a break,” MBC said in a statement. It didn’t elaborate on when the second season will start or who will take charge. The broadcaster is expected to replace the current producers and staff of the program.
MBC is reportedly having difficulties producing and operating the program as its union went on general strike last week. The MBC union is demanding its CEO resign, claiming that the TV station is politically biased.
“I’m a Singer,” a weekly reality show in which the country’s top singers compete, was one of the most popular programs here last year. The show captivated the eyes and ears of viewers and was at the center of attention throughout the year. However, the popularity of “I’m a Singer” or “Nagasu” isn’t what it used to be.
The viewer share of the TV reality program dropped as low as 8.9 percent last month from the 17 percent it garnered in November. TV audiences seem to have started to question whether some of the new singers are qualified to be on the stage, saying they are not fresh enough to draw their attention anymore.
Rumors involving singers and staff kept spreading, and there is conflict between MBC and the original writers of the songs rearranged for the stage.
Singer Kang Saneh blasted MBC for taking profit from selling covers of his songs performed on the “Nagasu” stage without his permission.
The singers of the show who performed remakes of Kang’s songs include singer Tei and the bands Jaurim and YB.
“I don’t care if the artists used my songs to perform on the show. But it’s a problem when someone is making profit from someone else’s work,” Kang said in a recent interview.
Some observers say Nagasu has lost its loyal viewers to other rival programs such as SBS’ audition program “K-Pop Star.”
“K-Pop Star,” featuring world star BoA and two big name producers in Korea ― Yang Hyun-seok of YG Entertainment and Park Jin-young of JYP Entertainment ― has been drawing attention for its unique format and enthralling talents of the show’s young contestants.
By Cho Chung-un (
christory@heraldcorp.com)
<한글기사>
'나는 가수다' 잡음 속에 휴지기 돌입
MBC '우리들의 일밤-나는 가수다'가 휴지기를 거쳐 새로운 모습으로 시청자들을 찾아온다.
MBC는 1일 "'나는 가수다'가 12일 방송을 끝으로 시즌 1을 마무리한다"며 "휴지 기를 거친 후 새로운 형식의 시즌 2를 선보일 예정"이라고 밝혔다.
현 제작진은 6일 예정된 13라운드 2차 경연 녹화까지 진행하며 시즌 2는 새 제 작진이 맡는다. 시즌 2의 연출자로는 '나는 가수다'를 처음 기획한 김영희 PD가 거 론되고 있다.
MBC 관계자는 "노조의 파업으로 인해 휴지기가 얼마나 될지는 아직 모른다"며 "
새로운 연출자나 형식도 아직 결정된 사항이 없다"고 전했다.
작년 3월 6일 첫선을 보인 '나는 가수다'는 실력파 가수들을 재조명하며 방송가 와 가요계에 신드롬을 불러왔다.
임재범, 박정현, 김범수, 김연우, YB, 자우림, 바비킴 등은 새로운 전성기를 누 렸고 리메이크된 추억의 명곡들이 음원시장을 휩쓸었다.
그러나 최근 시청률이 하락세를 보이고 방송곡의 저작권과 관련한 잡음이 일면 서 위기설이 불거졌다. (연합뉴스)
