CULTURE LINE
“Big Bang” hits 952 million on Weibo
‘Big Bang’
Searches for the K-Pop group Big Bang recorded over 950 million hits on China’s most popular social network service (SNS) Weibo, the boy band’s management said, Wednesday.
YG Entertainment announced that some 952 million searches involving the hugely popular group has been made on Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter since the five-member band released its new single on May 1.
Weibo recorded that about 850 million searches were made for the keyword “#BIGBANG#,” about 24 million searches for the song title “#LOSER#,” 14 million for another song title “#BAEBAE#” and 64 million for the title of the band’s album “#MADE SERIES#,” the company said.
Comprised of G-Dragon, T.O.P, Taeyang, Daesung and Seungri, Big Bang began its ambitious project to release new tracks on the first day of every month from May to August and later compile the singles in to one studio album which will be titled “Made” in September.
The band released its first two singes “Bae Bae” and “Loser” on May 1. Big Bang has embarked on a world tour and is scheduled to perform in front of over 1.4 million audience members during 70 concerts across 15 countries.
Chung Myung-whun awarded Franco Abbiati Prize
Chung Myung-whun
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) music director Chung Myung-whun was conferred the Franco Abbiati Prize in the conductor category by the Italian National Association of Music Critics (ANCM).
The SPO said Wednesday that this is Chung’s second Franco Abbiati Prize. He first received Italy’s most distinguished musical prize in 1988.
The Franco Abbiati Prize, named after the late Italian musicologist, is awarded to outstanding musicians, conductors and vocalists nominated by the ANCM. Chung was recognized for his remarkable interpretations of Italian operas, including his work with “Simon Boccanegra” with Venice’s Teatro la Fenice.
Former recipients include French conductor and composer Pierre Boulez, Italian conductor Riccardo Muti and American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein.