Paul McCartney is back in the studio working on a new album, his new label Capitol Records said Wednesday as it announced a worldwide recording deal with the Beatles legend.The 74-year-old McCartney called the new contract, which encompasses his entire post-Beatles catalog, “genuinely exciting.”The record label said the music icon, who is still one of the biggest concert draws in the world, was “currently working on a new studio album,” without offering further details.“Paul McCartney’s associat

Aug. 18, 2016

Rookie K-pop girl group Gugudan is scheduled to hold its first fan meeting later this week, just two months after its official debut, according to the group’s management agency Jellyfish Entertainment on Thursday.　Jellyfish Entertainment’s first girl group debuted in June with the mini album “Act. 1 The Little Mermaid,” which gained favorable reviews on music charts and broadcast programs. 　 At the event, there will be opportunities to interact with the nine members of Gugudan and to celebrate t

Aug. 18, 2016

Singer-songwriter Roy Kim will be holding promotional activities and performances in Malaysia this month, according to his entertainment company CJ E&M on Thursday. The 23-year-old artist will start off his tour with a showcase at the Paradigm Mall in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 26, and perform at Dare Dare Come 2.0 Go! -- a festival hosted by MY FM radio station -- as the event’s first-ever Korean musician on Aug. 27. He is also scheduled to appear in television and radio programs.　 Since the release

Aug. 18, 2016

As befits the girl group’s name, the members of Cosmic Girls are featured dancing on an extraterrestrial planet and being dropped from space onto earth in the music video for “Secret,” the title track of the group’s second EP.　The Korean-Chinese girl group, created by Korea’s Starship Entertainment and China’s Yuehua Entertainment, held a showcase for the release of its new album Wednesday in Seoul. The group performed onstage “MoMoMo,” the title track of its 2016 debut EP “Would You Like,” “Sec

Aug. 17, 2016

Management agency YG Entertainment revealed the performing artist hinted at by a mysterious teaser image asking “Who’s next?” released Tuesday. 　After a lot of speculation from fans online, YG announced Wednesday that singer-songwriter and member of K-pop group 2NE1 Lee Chae-rin -- who goes by the stage name CL -- will be releasing her first US single “Lifted” on Aug. 19. Since her broadcast debut on SBS’ year-end music program “Gayo Daejeon” in 2007, she has garnered a global following, gaining

Aug. 17, 2016

Chosun Opera Company’s “Seonbi: The Noble and Wise Man” opera is gearing up for its New York premiere, slated to take place at Carnegie Hall next month.The upcoming performance will mark the first-ever Korean opera to be staged at the prestigious concert venue. “This opera has a genuine storyline and melody, and we are hoping that it will elevate Korean operas to an entirely new level,” said a Chosun Opera Company spokesperson. “This concert opera will showcase the best of our country’s musicali

Aug. 17, 2016

Glittering costumes and colorful streaks of hair have become the trademark of K-pop singers, who are now known as much for their flashy visuals as for their hypnotic music. In the hypercompetitive world of K-pop, recent releases have been toying with niche concepts in an effort to stand out from the increasingly crowded market.Boy band VIXX chose to take the supernatural horror route for its single “Fantasy” from the group’s fourth album “Hades” released last Friday. The song’s music video featu

Aug. 16, 2016

The famous Coney Island boardwalk will host some special hot dogs with a Broadway flavor this fall. The second annual Elsie Fest, a one-day outdoor music festival celebrating theater stars, is set for Sept. 5 at the 5,000-seat Ford Amphitheater, offering a new location and a new slate of singers.This year’s performers include Megan Hilty, Tituss Burgess, Darren Criss, Evan Rachel Wood, composer Jason Robert Brown, Tony-winner Lena Hall, Corey Cott, Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo, radio host Julie Jam

Aug. 16, 2016

The Seoul Academy Ensemble, East Asia’s first ever female chamber orchestra, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In honor of the milestone the ensemble is slated to perform at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. The repertoire will feature Edvard Grieg’s “Holberg Suite, Op. 40,” Mozart’s “Flute and Harp Concerto in C Major,” master gayageum player Hwang Byung-ki’s “Sounds of Spring” and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade For Strings.” In honor of its anniversary, Hwang’s “

Aug. 16, 2016

Despite the scorching heat wave that has swept across the nation, thousands of music fanatics flocked to the Penta Park in Incheon to partake in one of the country’s time-honored summer traditions -- the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival. 　This year’s three-day festivities kicked things up a notch with some big-time heavy hitters including the alternative punk icons Weezer, Panic! at the Disco, Two Door Cinema Club, Suede and Group Love. 　The 11th annual festival kicked off Friday with the sounds

Aug. 15, 2016

Theater “Nori”: In celebration of the Seoul Performing Arts Company’s 30th anniversary, the company has unveiled its newest, multi-cultural live song and dance theater production, “Nori.” The production follows the four SPAC performers on a journey around the world to learn about new musical cultures and present them to the Korean stage. “Nori” will be staged daily (except on Mondays) at the Arko Arts Theater’s Grand Theater in Daehangno, Seoul until Aug. 21. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won

Aug. 12, 2016

Nick Fradiani“Hurricane”(Big Machine)Nick Fradiani won season 14 of “American Idol” in 2015 more with his likable personality and impressive work ethic than with his voice.There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s happened many times before and will likely keep happening, as long as there are televised singing competitions where voters decide the winners.The problem is what happens after the show is over. Like several winners from “Idol” and “The Voice,” Fradiani needs the infrastructure of a networ

Aug. 12, 2016

The Dead Daisies“Make Some Noise” (Spitfire Music/SPV)For those who want their rock ’n rollers in long, teased hair, leather pants and strip clubs, The Dead Daisies are back with an album of squealing guitars, pounding drums and as many big hooks as a Home Depot.The ever-evolving Australia-based collective that has included former minor members of such bands as Guns N’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne and Thin Lizzy has been looking for the sweet spot between hair metal of the 1980s and ’70s classic rock. O

Aug. 12, 2016

Haley Bonar“Impossible Dream” (GNDWIRE/Thirty Tigers)Haley Bonar’s songs on “Impossible Dream” are both personal and universal, stories with an indie film ambience detailed enough to fill a larger screen.Born in Canada, raised in South Dakota and now living in St. Paul, Minnesota, the 33-year-old turned it up a notch on her previous album, 2014’s “Last War,” and this one continues in a similar vein -- gliding power-pop that‘s much more in-your-ear than in-your-face.The cinematic textures are enh

Aug. 12, 2016

K-pop boy band iKON will release a singles album in Japan on Sept. 28, according to its management agency YG Entertainment.　The four-track album “Dumb & Dumber” will be the group’s first Japanese release and it will be unveiled alongside a DVD of music videos and behind-the-scenes footage. 　Those who preorder the deluxe CD and DVD set online by Aug. 22 will stand a chance to attend the group’s meet-and-greet event at either Pacifico Yokohama on Oct. 22 or at the Kobe Convention Center on Oct. 23

Aug. 11, 2016

Within hours of its release, the single “Puzzle,” from rappers C Jamm and BewhY, topped eight local music charts -- MelOn, Mnet, Olleh Music, Soribada, Genie, Bugs, Naver Music and Monkey3.Rather than holding special promotional events or media announcements prior to the release, the duo quietly lifted the veil on “Puzzle” through BewhY’s personal social media outlet Tuesday. 　Released at midnight Wednesday, the new track ended the three-day streak of new K-pop girl group BlackPink in the top sp

Aug. 11, 2016

Australian artist Emma Hack paints on a model’s body until it perfectly aligns with the intricate, colorful patterns of the wallpaper behind the model. In other work, she perfectly adjusts the contours of her models to match the detailed patterns of flowers and animals. The artist’s work -- captured in photographs -- have been exhibited in major cities around the world, including New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. She is holding her first solo exhibition in Korea at Savina Museum of Contemporary

Aug. 11, 2016

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Seoul Performing Arts Company.has unveiled a multicultural live song and dance theater production, “Nori.” Under the theme “A Journey with Music of the World,” the new show features a melting pot of worldwide cultural performances intertwined with Korean flair. “In honor of this milestone (the 30th anniversary) we knew we needed to tackle something new and bigger for our stage. So we tried to broaden our vision when coming up with this storyline,” said

Aug. 11, 2016