Music Asia

Kakao Talk, Korea’s fastest-growing mobile messenger service, introduced new features on Wednesday that allow handset users to receive real-time messages from K-pop stars, companies and local merchants.

Its operator Kakao Corp. also added features that enable users to play mobile games with friends on Kakao Talk. Companies will also be able to send discount coupons or promotional tips to users who have added them as friends.

“While Plus Friend is for corporations and brands, Kakao Link 2.0 is for application developers,” said Jaebum Lee, the five-year-old firm’s chief executive officer.

The latest features, if they garner enough support from corporate customers and entertainment celebrities, could pose challenges to Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc., which already offer similar services to a much larger and more international audience.

Kakao Talk, which had 25 million users as of September and forecast that number would hit 30 million before year’s end, said it aims to become a global platform for social networking, online commerce, mobile games and corporate marketing, as are Facebook and Twitter.

The young messenger service operator has created a huge buzz in Korea’s mobile market in recent years thanks to its popularity and also due to a privacy flop that spawned a backlash.

The firm’s chief said its service will differ from that of Facebook and Twitter because of its focus on mobility and on users’ choice.

“Amid the flux of data, it was difficult to sort through the information people need. That is the PC (personal computer) way of getting information,” the CEO said. “But during the mobile era, people can find the information they need at the place they designated during the time they choose to.”

Kakao Talk partnered with 21 retailers, magazine publishers, broadcasters, food companies, game developers and popular K-pop singers for the launch.

Retailers can send mobile coupons, broadcasters can send real-time news and K-pop singers can send videos of their concerts, similar to the way Twitter users follow celebrities to get instant updates of the messages sent by world stars. Facebook has also been courting corporations to use its service to offer personalized marketing for users.

Kakao also hinted that it aims to take on giant online discount coupon sites like Groupon Inc. Its CEO said Kakao’s mobile coupons could be a better means for local brick-and-mortar shops to promote their products to mobile users.

The mobile messenger, which is available for iOS devices and Android handsets and soon to be available for BlackBerry users, declined to disclose its profit outlook.

The service could also create more tensions between the mobile service and mobile carriers, which have expressed complaints on data-guzzling Kakao Talk users.(Yonhap)

Durrani said the goal of developing Iggy is to serve as “an entry point for emerging [international] bands.”

MTV Iggy content will be available online, on-air and through social media destinations such as Twitter and Facebook.

The network will also premiere a weekly, 30-minute showcase, “The MTV Iggy Show,” on Monday. The show will spotlight new music and artists from around the world and air on mtvU, with other editions of the series airing on MTV, MTV2 and online. 

“The launch of MTV Iggy reinforces our commitment to supporting an eclectic mix of artists and further extends our music strategy,” Amy Doyle, the network’s executive in charge of music and talent, said in a statement. “Great new artists from around the world will have a home base in the U.S, our audiences will discover fresh sounds on MTV, and hopefully we will create great opportunities for collaboration with U.S. acts.”

Durrani said the brand’s first major initiative is their best new band in the world campaign which features 10 breakthrough acts from countries including the U.K., Australia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea.  The winner, determined by fan votes, will perform on the series.

“Bands are finding fan bases in unlikely places. We want to be a part of their success stories in the U.S.,” Durrani said. “American pop culture should be open to more what’s going on in the world. There’s no better connective tissue than music.”

In recent years, MTV has garnered a sizable amount of criticism after the network began distancing itself from music videos and gravitating towards scripted and reality programming. Popular shows such as “Jersey Shore,” “Teen Mom” and “Awkward” have taken over real estate once devoted to videos. The network even dropped the word “music” from its logo a few years ago.

Stephen K. Friedman, president of MTV, previously told Pop Hiss the network is working aggressively to identify new ways to musically engage their demographic of viewers who don’t “wait very long to see a video.”

“Our audience is discovering music everywhere. We’d love to have a music franchise that’s a big hit,” he said. “The bar has been raised for the TV franchise that’s going to get them engaged. I don’t know that we’ve got the answer yet.”

MTV Iggy is the latest in a string of initiatives the network has introduced as a way to reclaim music fans. The network launched an algorithm-based site called Music Meter last year which allows users to explore 100 of the most buzzed about up-and-coming artists on any given day, premiered a revamped version of “120 Minutes” and introduced indie music hub the Hive.

RELATED:

‘I Want My MTV’ back: Network fist-pumps its way to 30th birthday

MTV tries to regain music video junkies with new algorithm-based site, Music Meter

MTV remakes itself for the millennial generation

– Gerrick D. Kennedy
Twitter.com / gerrickkennedy

Photos: (Top) Korean Pop girl group, 4Minute, takes the stage for their first US appearance at the MTV Iggy K-Pop showcase at MTV Times Square Studios.(Bottom) Thousands of fans line up outside MTV’s Times Sq. studios to catch a glimpse of the MTV Iggy K-Pop Showcase. Credit: MTV Iggy.

10,000 seniors and their family members will take part in a dance marathon on Oct 16 as part of the People’s Association’s attempt to promote an active lifestyle among seniors.

The Anlene – PA Dancethon 2011 is an eight-hour jointly organised by the People’s Association (PA) Active Ageing Council and Anlene.

Heart surgeon Dr Tan Yong Seng, 52, chairman of the PA Active Ageing Council said dancing is a good form of physical exercise and can help in “growing” our brain.

“By learning new dance routines each time, we are creating new neuronal connections inside our brain. Dancing can help to delay the onset of dementia as we age.

“In addition when seniors dance in the community with other seniors, they will get to know more friends of all ages and races. It widens their social network and deepens trust amongst residents living in the same neighbourhood,” he said.

Highlights of the Anlene – PA Dancethon 2011 include general dancing, “Learn A New Dance” – K-Pop and community dances as well as a national K-Pop dance competition.

There will also be guest performances by popular Korean singer, Lee An.

Some of the participants this year include siblings Ms Tng Lay Kian, 50, Ms Tng Lay Khim, 46 and Ms Lynn Tng Lay Eng, 43

Mdm Tng Lay Eng’s three daughters will join them.

“K-Pop dance is something new and we should give this trendy dance a try” said Mdm Lynn Tng enthusiastically.

Another participant, 43-year-old Mdm Chan Soo Lie, said that dance was a great way for people of all ages to stay in shape and that it created opportunities for bonding.

paullim@sph.com.sg

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For this week’s Kpop Music Monday we review Super Junior’s “A-Cha” and uncover their deep, deep love of sandwiches. Focaccia! Focaccia! It’s so delicious!

–The Showdown–
Super Junior “A-Cha” –
Super Junior “Mr. Simple” –

Also, if you want to request a song for Music Mondays, do so here:
http://www.eatyourkimchi.com/requests.

BOOM!

Thanks to B1A4 Chile for the Spanish subs! Woot!
– http://www.facebook.com/pages/B1A4-Chile/214161441943009

More than 180 people flocked to the Korean Cultural Center’s
“K-Pop KCC’s Got Talent” show last Saturday in Wheeling.

According to Toni Jo, programming director, 18 teams consisting of
30 total members competed in the competition.

Jo said teams were made up of a diverse group of
participants.

“Of the 18 teams, eight were non-Korean teams and 10 were Korean,”
she said.

Groups performed songs and dances from what Jo called a popular
trend in Korean culture called K-Pop.

“K-Pop is a mixture of Korean music, hip hop, pop, rock, RB
and electro pop,” she said. “It’s a big subculture all around the
world among Korean children and adults.”

She added: “It was amazing watching non-Koreans sing Korean songs.
The energy level was high.”

First place winner of the contest was Jeong Kim.

Nikki Guevarra took second place.

The team made up of Chloe Foronda and Samantha Lisson took third
place.

The talent show was just one part of series of programming that has
taken place at the center located near Palatine and Wolf
roads.

The center, which opened last June, has more than 30,000 sq. ft.
and five buildings that were renovated to include an art gallery,
museum, dance studio, library and community hall.

According to Jo, the center has seen an increase over the summer of
local residents interested in using its services and visiting
exhibitions.

“It’s been great after the open house,” she said. “Our museum has a
constant flow of visitors as well as field trip groups.”

The center is also accomplishing its goal of exposing those from
other cultures to the Korean language and culture, Jo said.

“We have Korean language classes and more than half of the students
are non-Korean,” she said.

Rain gets massive send-off on his enlistment day
Posted: 11 October 2011 1845 hrs

SEOUL: Over 1200 fans of K-pop superstar Rain turned up outside a military training camp in Korea’s Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday to send the star off as he leaves civilian life behind to fulfil his national service obligations.

Under Korean law, all Korean men must serve for two years in the military before they turn 31.

The crowd, comprised of his fans from across the region, cheered when Rain appeared at the training camp on Tuesday afternoon.

The 29-year-old pop sensation, whose real name is Jeong Ji-hoon, then took off his hat to reveal his army regulation buzz cut and addressed the crowd.

“Thank you everyone for the care you have shown me over the past ten years.

“I will take good care of myself,” said Rain, fighting back tears and giving a salute before entering the training camp to renewed cheers from the crowd.

Rain’s send-off attracted much media attention – he is only the second Korean celebrity (after actor Hyun Bin) to have his send-off streamed live by some Korean media outlets.

-CNA/ha

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SNSD Singapore concert brought forward to December 9
Posted: 11 October 2011 1643 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore fans of K-pop girl group SNSD (aka Girls’ Generation) won’t have to wait much longer to see their idols in action.

Concert promoter Running Into The Sun (RITS) announced Tuesday that SNSD’s concert here – their first solo concert in Singapore – has been brought forward from February next year to December 9, due to changes in the girls’ schedule.

RITS added that tickets to the concert, which will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, are likely to go on sale by the end of October.

“We hope this will be an early Christmas present for fans and we’re sure this will end the year on a sweet note.

“With many fans young and schooling, we hope the change will be for the better, with Girls’ Generation performing here during the school holidays,” said RITS Creative Director Beatrice Chia-Richmond.

SNSD is currently one of the most popular girl groups in Korea and are known for their lithe figures as well as their long slender legs, which are accentuated by the short shorts and heels they favour during their performances.

The nine-member girl group debuted in 2007 and shot to fame in 2009 with their hit songs “Gee” as well as “Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)”.

SNSD is scheduled to release their new album “The Boys” on October 19.

-CNA/ha

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Two K-pop singers, Donghae of Super Junior and Seohyun of Girls’ Generation, on Monday unveiled the theme song “Dreams Come True” for the upcoming 2011 Asia Song Festival.

The one-day festival is to be held at the Daegu Stadium in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province, on Saturday at 6 p.m., where 13 pop artists from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand will gather to hold arguably the largest pop concert in Asia.

The annual music festival is in its 8th year and this is the first time it has announced a theme song.

All revenue from online sales of the theme song will be donated to UNICEF to help children suffering from famine in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti.

The two singers have been appointed UNICEF envoys.

“I am very pleased to be able to help society with my talent. While K-pop is enjoying worldwide popularity, I will try my best to promote UNICEF’s efforts,” Seohyun said. 

Donghae (left), a member of boy band Super Junior, and Seohyun of Girls’ Generation hold UNICEF dolls that help raise funds for children in Africa at the Korean Committee for UNICEF in Seoul, Monday. (Kim Myung-sub/The Korea Herald)
“As for the Asia Song Festival, I look forward to enjoying the concert with many other Asian artists,” she said.

The theme song was composed by Jo Yeong-su and lyrics were written by An Yeong-min.

Korean participating artists for the upcoming festival include Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, miss A, Beast and Lee Seung-gi.

The host Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange said it has picked miss A as the Best Asian New Artist, U-KISS and G.NA, the Asia Influential Artists.

Japanese acts such as Perfume and AAA will heat up the stage, while Chinese singer Zhou Bichang and Thai singer Tata Young will also showcase their representative songs.

Actress Lee Ha-nui, who is also a former Miss Korea, and MC Jeon Hyeon-mu will host the 2011 Asia Song Festival, it said.

It is the second time that the Asia Song Festival is being held outside Seoul. In 2005, the second Asia Song Festival took place in Busan.

Over 40,000 fans are expected to attend the free concert in Daegu, the organizer said.

By Kim Yoon-mi (yoonmi@heraldm.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Korean pop groups are set to storm Las Vegas as Billboard Korea and MGM Grand Las Vegas will stage the “2011 Billboard K-pop Masters” concert in November.

The concert will be held on Nov. 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which has a seating capacity of 16,800.

K-pop groups performing at the concert are TVXQ, BEAST, 4Minute, Brown Eyed Girls, G.NA, MBLAQ and SISTAR.

This is the first time that a K-pop event will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which is also the venue for Manny Pacquiao’s boxing match against Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12.

The arena has hosted the Billboard Music Awards and concerts by Barbra Streisand, Cher, Britney Spears, Elton John and Billy Joel.

“The powerhouse acts from some of Korea’s top music agencies will also be joined on stage by guest appearances from celebrated US artists in a one night blowout show,” organizers of the concert posted on Facebook.

K-pop groups are also in New Jersey for the New York Korea Festival KBS Open Concert scheduled on Oct. 9 (Oct. 10 in Manila), an event organized by KBS to celebrate Korea’s joining the United Nations.

The performers in the festival are TVXQ, 2PM, SHINee, BEAST, 4-Minute, SISTAR, G.NA, Patti Kim, Tae Jina, Seol Woon Do, Insooni, Kim Tae Woo, MAYA, Jang SaIk, K Young Im, soprano Hye Kyung Hong and baritone Hyun Gu Ryeo.