VIDEO Vinyl comes back from near-extinction New generation enters vinyl culture, boosts sales By Kwon Mee-yooPlacing a needle in the groove of a black vinyl record and listening to the scratchy analog sounds was common a few decades ago when vinyl was the major distribution vehicle of popular music. Vinyl records were ousted by the rise of smaller and more convenient cassette tapes, then CDs and then digital music.However, vinyl records have been spinning again since the late 2000s, sparking nostalgia of those who miss the analog sound as well as those who haven't seen vinyl before, but are curious enough to try out the retro tech.The vinyl revival is sweeping the world and Korea is no exception. Last year, K-pop singers such as Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, Big Bang, Wonder Girls and A-Pink's Jung Eun-ji released vinyl editions of their album.Collecting vinyl records has become a new hip hobby among people in their 20s and 30s as well. Kim Mi-jin, 29, recently bought a limited edition blue vinyl of the soundtrack of "La La Land," the latest addition to her vinyl collection."Most colored records are limited and it is hard Feb 16, 2017
Lotte Concert Hall releases live concert album By Yun Suh-youngThe Lotte Concert Hall releases a live recording album Friday from its opening concert held Aug. 19, 2016. This is a first for a local concert hall to release a live album from an opening concert held in its halls. The release of the album signifies the concert hall's confidence in its carefully designed acoustics.The album includes Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72a, Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3 in c minor, Op. 78 "Organ" and Choi Sung-hwan's Arirang Fantasias performed by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of maestro Chung Myung-whun."Many performers and conductors who have participated or listened to performances at the hall lauded the concert hall’s acoustics. It is extremely meaningful that we are releasing our second album even before our one year anniversary of opening. We hope to establish our hall as the optimum recording venue for classical music,” said Han Kwang-gyu, president of Lotte Concert Hall.Sound engineer Choi Jin, who directed the opening concert recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 with Gyeonggi PhilharmoniFeb 15, 2017
Violinist Lee Moon-kyung releases Tchaikovsky recording By Yun Suh-youngViolinist Lee Moon-kyung released her first Tchaikovsky recording earlier this month on Navona Records. The album, "Tchaikovsky Works for Violin & Orchestra," was recorded at Angel Studios in London with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Miran Vaupotic and directed by double-Grammy winning sound engineer Steve Price.The album includes recordings such as Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, Meditation in d minor from Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op. 42, and Serenade Melancolique in b-flat minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 26.Lee has a bachelor's degree from Boston's New England Conservatory, a master's from Yale University and a Ph.D. from New York University. She was the first classical string performer recipient of the NYU/Steinhardt Doctoral Fellowship. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Seoul.She has performed in various global venues, such as Berlin Konzerthaus, Dvorak and Smetana Halls in Prague, and the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, as well as at music festivals such as the International Summer Academy Mozarteum in SalzbFeb 15, 2017
Two iconic K-pop girl bands leave legacy Wonder Girls / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heunWonder Girls of JYP Entertainment and 2NE1 of YG Entertainment have undoubtedly been the two most iconic girl bands in recent K-pop history. However, the two bands were also unable to break a jinx that most girl groups break up within a decade. The break-ups of Wonder Girls and 2NE1 were both abrupt but the former was surprising while latter was somewhat expected. Wonder Girls walked an uncertain path from the beginning with former member Hyuna leaving the team less than a year after they debuted in 2007. Sunye also left the group to get married and Sohee left to pursue an acting career in 2015.Still, JYP Entertainment managed to bring in two additional singers Yubin and Hyerim to maintain its group that was writing new history to become a legendary K-pop girl group.It was popular singer-songwriter Park Jin-young’s first girl group ambition after he took the boy band g.o.d. and R&B singer Rain to unprecedented successes. Some doubted Park’s ability to produce a girl group, which is totally different from Feb 13, 2017
'In chaotic world, Journey is certain music for uncertain times' American rock band Journey. / Courtesy of Live Nation Korea‘Open Arms’ band sings hope and loveBy Park Jin-haiAmerican rock band Journey, best known for its classic hits “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms,” will hold its first live Seoul concert, Wednesday.Coming to Korea as part of their 2017 world tour, Jonathan Cain, the band’s keyboard player, said, “In the eighties we played Japan. But we didn’t have a promoter contact us who would book Journey in Korea. Since we have had Arnel, we have had many more opportunities in Asia since he is from Manila,” during the e-mail interview with The Korea Times.The five-member band, initially formed in San Francisco in 1973 with former Santana and Frumious Bandersnatch members, is regarded as one of the best-selling acts in rock and roll history. The 1988 greatest hits album, which remains the band’s best-selling record, spent 411 weeks on the Billboard 200 album chart.Their songs have been frequently covered by artists worldwide, including K-pop singer Younha and Feb 12, 2017
Former idol weds amid criticism from fans Moon held a press conference before his private wedding ceremony and made an official apology. / YonhapBy Lee Han-sooMoon Hee-joon, a member of first K-pop generation boy band H.O.T, married K-pop girl band Crayon Pop member Soyul on Sunday with fans criticizing Moon for being disloyal to them.They claim Moon raised money for his wedding by asking unreasonable ticket prices for his 20th anniversary concerts last November.Criticizing Moon for thinking of his fans as an “ATM,” fans have expressed disappointment.Moon told his fan club, he was distressed about the accusations.“My heart is filled with sorrow and distress over the accusations me,” he said in a letter to fans.“However, nothing saddens me more than the accusation about the 20th debut anniversary concert being a ploy to raise money for my wedding.”Moon said he had never thought of his fans as an ATM.“I’m afraid to even perform a concert,” Moon added. “I can’t bare the criticism that I used my concert to raise money for my wedding.“I have always Feb 12, 2017
Wonder Girls' farewell song 'Draw Me' sweeps charts Wonder Girls said goodbye to fans Friday by releasing its farewell song "Draw Me."The song, released at midnight through major music streaming services, soared to No. 1 on six music charts including Mnet, Olleh Music, Genie and Naver Music as of 9 a.m.The group's agency JYP Entertainment announced last month that its members -- Hyerim, Yubin, Sunmi and Yeeun -- decided to break up after being together for 10 years following a discussion with management."It's a farewell no words nor anything can make up for, but the best form of salutation for us has always has been music," Yeeun said on her Instagram. "Again, I want to thank everyone who have loved Wonder Girls," she added.Hyerim shouted "Truly truly thank you!" on her social media.The group enjoyed considerable popularity after starting off as a five-member team in 2007. When the group attained stardom in 2009, it flew to the U.S., seeking to make inroads into the world's top pop market. With "Nobody," Wonder Girls rose to No. 76 on Billboard's singles chart, but failed to make further gains.The team underwent some changes in memberFeb 10, 2017
Finnish music festival comes to Seoul From left are Kim Yong-yeon, vice president of the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, Vladimir Mendelssohn, artistic director of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and Eero Suominen, Finnish Ambassador to Korea, posing for a photo after a press conference held at the Finnish Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Kumho Art HallBy Yun Suh-youngThe Kumho & Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival kicked off Thursday, marking the first musical exchange between the Seoul-based Kumho Art Hall and the Finnish Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival. It will be held from Feb. 9 to 11 at the Kumho Art Hall in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul.The festival is one of the world’s largest chamber music festivals. Started in 1970 in the small Finnish town of Kuhmo, 600 kilometers from Helsinki, the festival has survived for over 40 years attracting 50,000 visitors annually. It runs every July for 14 days in Kuhmo which has now become a summer vacation destination, thanks to the music festival's success. Around 200 musicians and 100 music students participate in the annual event.This event will be the first in a serFeb 10, 2017
Korea-China dispute chips away at K-pop stars' wealth By Park Jin-haiThe dispute over a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to be installed here, continues to wreak havoc on stock-rich Korean entertainers. The stock values of two entertainment moguls ― S.M. Entertainment Chairman Lee Soo-man and YG Entertainment chief Yang Hyun-suk ― have seen their stock values plummet by almost 50 percent compared to a year ago, according to chaebul.com, Monday.The local consulting site said the value of SM chief Lee’s shares fell the most in the period, from 186.2 billion won to 103.7 billion won on Feb. 3 ― a 44.3 percent decline of 82.4 billion won.YG chief Yang’s stock values also tumbled to 95.8 billion won, losing 77 billion won, a 44.6 percent decline during the same period. It is the first time Yang’s stock value dropped below 100 billion won since YG’s initial public offering in November 2011.The combined losses of the 12 biggest stock-rich entertainers, including Lee and Yang, amounted to 239.3 billion won, a 40.7 percent drop.Keyeast Entertainment head Bae Yong-joon, ranked third in terms of stockFeb 6, 2017
Danish ukulele master brings workshop tour to Korea Tobias Elof plays the ukulele in this handout photo. / Courtesy of Paul Olutokunbo Kristian Henckel-OjoBy Jon DunbarTobias Elof is on a five-month musical tour of Asia with his ukulele.His “workshop tour” has brought him through the Chinese-speaking world, including Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, and now he has arrived in Korea to train people in the art of the uke.“I’ve been playing the uke since the age of eight and I remember early on having thoughts about how far I can get with this thing,” Elof told The Korea Times.Elof has traveled the world to hone his skills, spending three months studying traditional techniques in Hawaii and learning advanced techniques under ukulele legend James Hill in Canada, then he went back to Denmark where he practiced Scandinavian fiddle music.He was the first ukulele player to be accepted into Northern Europe’s most-recognized music school, Sweden’s Skurups Folkhogskola. Later, he joined the music conservatory in Odense, Denmark.“I was so privileged to be accepted with the ukulele!” he exclaimed. &Feb 6, 2017
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