Can 'Superstar K' repeat early success?
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Roy Kim, winner of Superstar K's fouth season, is among the biggest stars that the audition program has produced. / Korea Times file
Judges are a crucial component of Superstar K. Pop star Lee Seung-chul is one of the judges that has raised the profile of the singing talent show.
By Baek Byung-yeul
"Superstar K” is coming off a lackluster fifth season, with fewer people watching the Korean equivalent of “American Idol.” To turn things around, entertainment conglomerate CJ E&M plans to incorporate some modifications into the singing competition’s format.
Ahead of the Superstar K’s new season, to be carried by cable TV’s Mnet starting Aug. 22, its creators talked to the press about some of the new elements that will be added to the show.
“To find more gifted musicians, we increased the number of local tryouts from seven to 14 this year,” said Kim Moo-hyun, the show’s new producer, at a press conference in Seoul, Monday. “We also want to find the next Busker Busker. For this reason, we are expanding audition opportunities for indie bands.”
Superstar K is among the biggest contributors to the success of entertainment mogul CJ E&M. The show’s distinctive appeal is found in its thrilling dramaturgy and participants’ gripping life stories. At its highest, the show’s ratings soared to 20 percent, catapulting finalists like Huh Gak, Ulala Session and Busker Busker to instant stardom.
Kim, who has been working on the program since its inaugural season in 2009 as an assistant producer, said he was nervous about taking a leadership role with such an important show that has arrived at a crossroads.
“I never expected that Superstar K would last this long,” Kim said. “But, I believe that the new season will be another success, as I believe in the brand power of Superstar K,” Kim said. “We are trying to redirect our focus onto the music itself.”
Superstar K is one of the biggest TV audition programs in the country. It started with a concept that revolved around finding the next superstar.
The winner is determined by a mix of scores from judges, including pop star Lee Seung-chul, and votes from viewers.
Each season has given winners the opportunity to appear at the Mnet Asian Music Awards, as well as other prizes. The winner of the sixth season will receive 500 million won ($490,000).
The program has suffered from stagnant viewer ratings for the last two years. The ratings plummeted to 2 percent last year. More people have started to criticize the show, with many complaining that some of the talented rookie musicians were not given sufficient opportunities.
Shin Hyung-kwan, executive vice president of CJ E&M, said officials have analyzed responses from fans and the media in deciding what needs to be fixed.
“We cannot unveil the full plan of the new season yet,” Shin said. “We will bring in some changes, but we remain devoted to the key spirit of the show — that is to find music that inspires people.”
The huge popularity of the show has led its rival broadcasters to launch numerous copycats.
Answering a question about its rival talent show, SBS TV’s “Survival Audition K-Pop Star,” another singing battle program that is judged by representatives of the nation’s top entertainment agencies, such as YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, said chief producer Kim Ki-woong, “The K-Pop Star has only focused on discovering future idol stars, which obviously is not the direction we have taken over the years.”
“The ultimate goal of the Superstar K is introducing talented musicians with the ability to promote themselves,” Kim said.
The creators added that popular TV host Kim Sung-joo, who has emceed the show from the first season, will continue to preside over the show, but the jury members have yet to be decided. Former jury members have included superstar singers such as Lee Seung-chul, Psy and Lee Hyo-ri.