Weki Meki makes summer comeback to thank fans Weki Meki revealed this colorful teaser image for the group's comeback album, "WEEK END LOL." Capture from Twitter @fantagiomusic_By Lee Han-naGirl band Weki Meki will make a summer comeback on Thursday to celebrate its second anniversary and thank fans for their support. The comeback album, “WEEK END LOL,” is a repackaged version of the group's second single “LOCK END LOL.”On Wednesday, the band revealed colorful teaser images ― group and individual photos ― in a cheerful “summer crush” concept. The album's title song is “Tiki Taka (99 percent),” which is a common football term in Korea that means short passing and movement. As the band is known for synchronized performances, the powerful melody of its title song increases excitement surrounding the new choreography.Weki Meki will hold a fan meeting, “Weki Meki 2nd Wonderful Moment ~PICNIC~,” at Ilchi Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, on August 10.The eight-member girl band of Fantagio debuted on August 8, 2017, with the mini-album “WEME.” Before then, two members ― CAug 7, 2019
Rihanna to visit Korea to promote cosmetics Rihanna has had a string of smash-hits including “Umbrella” (2008). Courtesy of Fenty BeautyBy Dong Sun-hwaTop-tier pop star Rihanna will head for Seoul in September to celebrate the launch of her cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty in Korea, reports said Tuesday. As part of the celebration, Rihanna will participate in “Fenty Beauty Artistry & Beauty Talk with Rihanna” on Sept. 17 at Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul. She will reveal her unique makeup techniques in collaboration with acclaimed makeup artists Priscilla Ono and Hector Espinal. Tickets will be available at Interpark from Aug. 7. Fenty Beauty ― launched overseas in September 2017 ― will be launched in Korea on September 3. Rihanna visited Korea in 2010 to promote her album “Rated R,” released in 2009. The Barbadian singer has had a string of smash-hits including “Umbrella” (2008). Aug 6, 2019By Dong Sun-hwa
R. Kelly accused of soliciting 17-year-old girl in Minnesota U.S. singer R. Kelly stands under an umbrella looking for his vehicle as he leaves court at the Leighton Criminal Courts building after a status hearing on his sexual assault charges in Chicago, Ill., the U.S., May 7. According to reports, R. Kelly was charged in Minnesota with prostitution and soliciting a minor for sexual purposes. The alleged crimes occurred in July 2001. EPAA Minnesota prosecutor charged singer R. Kelly on Monday with prostitution and solicitation related to an allegation that he invited a 17-year-old girl to his hotel room in 2001 and paid her $200 to dance naked with him. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is accused of soliciting the girl after meeting her before a concert in Minneapolis. Freeman said the girl was trying to get an autograph from Kelly, and that the R&B performer gave her his signature and a phone number. When the girl called the number, she was invited to Kelly's hotel. There she was offered $200 to take off her clothes and dance, Freeman said. He said Kelly took his clothes off anAug 6, 2019
American indie pop band COIN to perform in Seoul By Park Si-soo American indie pop band COIN will give its first solo concert in South Korea on Aug. 14 at a concert hall near Hongik University in Mapo, Seoul. COIN, formed in 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee, consists of Chase Lawrence (lead vocals, synthesizers), Ryan Winnen (drums), and Joe Memmel (lead guitar, backing vocals).The band gained mainstream attention with the lead single "Run" in 2015 and “Talk Too Much” in 2016. Its third full-length album will be released later this year. Aug 6, 2019
Maestro Chung leads One Korea Orchestra, aiming to promote inter-Korean peace Maestro Chung Myung-whun and the One Korea Orchestra hold an annual concert, aiming to promote inter-Korean peace and cooperation in arts and culture. The photo was taken during the "Peace Concert" at the Seoul Arts Center, Sept. 2, 2018. Courtesy of CREDIABy Anna J. ParkMaestro Chung Myung-whun will be performing Mozart's “Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K.488” as a pianist during an upcoming concert with the One Korea Orchestra, Aug. 18 at the Seoul Arts Center. It is a rare chance for the audience to watch the 66-year-old maestro playing his original instrument, while conducting the orchestra, who began his music career by winning second prize at the 1974 Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia. The internationally renowned conductor has played the piano at some previous concerts, but this will be the first time for the maestro to play a concerto since a special concert with the Seoul Philharmonic in 2015. Following the Mozart concerto, Chung and the One Korea Orchestra will present Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6 “Pathetique.” The symphony is one of Chung's most fAug 4, 2019By Anna J. Park
R. Kelly pleads not guilty to sexually abusing women, girls R. Kelly turns himself in at 1st District police headquarters in Chicago. Chicago Tribune-AP-YonhapR&B singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges he sexually abused women and girls who attended his concerts. Kelly, 52, was denied bail in a New York City courtroom packed with his supporters. He appeared sullen as prosecutors told Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione he posed a flight risk and a danger to public safety. Kelly's defense attorneys requested his release so he could better fight charges they have dismissed as ``groupie remorse.'' Kelly, whose full name is Robert Kelly, is accused of using his fame to recruit young women and girls into having illegal sexual activity. Prosecutors say he isolated them from friends and family and demanded they call him ``Daddy.'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Geddes said Kelly and his inner circle had a history of paying off and intimidating witnesses. She said witnesses were told ``they had the option of choosing his side or the other side.'' ``There's a serious risk he'll attempt to obstruct justice,'' Geddes said. FridAug 4, 2019
Rapper A$AP Rocky 'back in Los Angeles' A$AP Rocky. Capture from A$AP Rocky's InstagramU.S. rapper A$AP Rocky has returned to Los Angeles after a Swedish court released him pending the verdict of an assault trial, U.S. media reported Saturday.The artist, 30, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, arrived around midnight aboard a private jet on a flight from Stockholm, ABC and CBS reported."The rapper was ecstatic," celebrity news website TMZ said, describing the rapper as smiling, taking photos and hugging supporters. "He actually stayed in the private terminal parking lot for around 45 minutes, talking and joking most of the time," TMZ added.Mayers had been held in Sweden since July 3 when he was arrested following a brawl in Stockholm on June 30, in which he and his crew were involved in a fight with a 19-year-old.The case had even prompted President Donald Trump to call for Mayers to be freed ― drawing complaints of interference from Swedish politicians.Mayers and two others had been held in custody because the court deemed him a "flight risk." On Friday, the Stockholm district court's presiding judge Per Lennerbrant said MayAug 4, 2019
Streaming music may make cases like Katy Perry's more common Katy Perry. Capture from Katy Perry's InstagramTo show that Katy Perry and the team that wrote her 2013 hit ``Dark Horse'' may have heard his song and stolen from it, Christian rapper Marcus Gray's primary evidence was that his 2009 song, ``Joyful Noise'' had millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify. Plaintiffs in copyright cases like Gray, who won a $2.78 million victory over Perry and her co-writers on Thursday, must prove that the artist who stole from them had a reasonable opportunity to hear a song that was widely disseminated, a principle lawyers simply refer to as ``access.'' But does access have any meaning in a streaming era when almost everyone has access to almost everything? The question, as other issues at Perry's high-profile trial did, suggested that technology may be outpacing copyright law, and that more David vs. Goliath victories for relatively obscure artists like Gray over superstars like Perry may be the result.``The law around it is a two-pronged test, access and substantial similarity,'' Michael Kelber, a Chicago attorney who specializes in intellectual properAug 4, 2019
'Trot' girl band makes debut Jung Da-kyung, Park Seong-yeon and Doo-ri." Courtesy of Pocket Doll StudioBy Lee Han-naJung Da-kyung, Park Seong-yeon and Doo-ri, from TV Chosun's survival audition program “Miss Trot,” are about to debut as semi-trot girl band Venus. The band has finished filming a music video of a summer dance song, but the release date has not been announced.“Miss Trot” ― an audition program in search of a trot singer ― aired from February to May, with a highest viewership rating of 18.1 percent.Jung Da-kyung, who ended up in the top 4, debuted in 2017 with a digital single “Like it.” Meanwhile, Doori caught viewers' attention with her remarkably humorous and vibrant presentations. She debuted in 2017 and has been main vocalist with girl band “GBB” since last year.Park Seong-yeon was first runner-up in Miss Korea China in 2017 and debuted as a trot singer in 2018 with the digital single, “Peach.” She is also known for her similar appearance to trot singer Hong Jin-kyung.Aug 2, 2019
Actor denies wrongdoing with former Hello Venus member Kwon Na-ra. Courtesy of A-MAN ProjectBy Ko Dong-hwanLee Jong-suk at a press conference earlier this year. Courtesy of A-MAN ProjectActor Lee Jong-suk and his management have denied reports of a scandal involving former Hello Venus member Kwon Na-ra.The reports claimed that Lee began dating Kwon after she moved to the agency last May following the end of her contract with Fantagio at the same time her five-member K-pop girl band disbanded in April.The reports also said that when Lee was A-MAN's CEO, before enlisting for military duty last February, had abused his power to bring Kwon to his company and then personally looked after her business affairs.A-MAN Project said Thursday the reports about Lee and Kwon dating were “groundless.” It said the actress' official businesses had been managed not by Lee but by new CEO Lee Jong-hyuk, who is the younger brother of former CEO, and veteran star manager Cha Gang-hoon.A-MAN said the older Lee stepped down as CEO in February before his enlistment in March. The company condemned Thursday's tabloid reports, saying, “It is heartAug 2, 2019By Ko Dong-hwan
