Daft Punk sets record on Spotify with ‘Get Lucky’

NEW YORK (AP) ― Daft Punk has set a record on Spotify.The music service says the French electronic duo’s song “Get Lucky” had the biggest streaming day for a single track on Friday in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Spotify wouldn’t release the number of streams.Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” previously held the record for most streams in a day in the U.S. British band Bastille had the title in the United Kingdom with the song “Pompeii.”Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” features rapper-producer P

April 21, 2013

Eyelike: Shelton pushes sound in new directions

Shelton pushes sound in new directionsBlake Shelton“Based On A True Story”(Warner Bros.)The more Blake Shelton rises in stature, the more he parades his swaggering, mischievous personality. His high-profile role as a judge on NBC‘s ``The Voice’‘ has provided a platform for the entertainingly outspoken side of this tall, drawling country boy from Oklahoma. Now Shelton is creating music as brash as he is, fully integrating his colorful character into his songs. Before a career resurgence that incl

April 19, 2013

Psy’s ‘Gentleman’ behavior stirs controversy

Global star Psy’s ungentlemanly behavior in his new music video is sparking controversy over its possible influence on the public. Concerns have been raised about the entertainer’s comedic “Gentleman” music video in which the rapper is seen dancing in a public library as well as “defacing public property.” Seoul City Councilman Jung Sae-hwan brought the issue of Psy dancing in a public library up at a city council meeting held on Wednesday, stating that the video could cause foreigners to want t

April 19, 2013

Georges Rousse creates illusion of space at Seoul Arts Center

In the lobby of Hangaram Museum of Seoul Arts Center, red sheets are glued on the floor. But the seemingly random arrangement starts to make sense as the Korean word “dream” emerges when viewed from a certain vantage point. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Seoul Arts Center, French installation artist and photographer Georges Rousse has been invited to work with different places in the art center to shed light on its history as a leading cultural center in Korea. “It means a l

April 18, 2013

Psy’s ‘Gentleman’ debuts at No. 12 on Billboard

Psy has once again managed to penetrate the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, with his new single “Gentleman” making its debut at No. 12. Last year, the rapper’s claim-to-fame track “Gangman Style” entered the charts at No. 64 before eventually rocketing its way to No. 2, where it peaked. The song still ranks on the Hot 100 chart, at No. 48. The rapper’s follow-up single also made it onto the U.K. Singles Top 100 chart at No. 61, the exact same position that “Gangnam Style” debuted on the chart last

April 18, 2013

June wedding for Baek Ji-young and Chung Seok-won

Singer Baek Ji-young and actor Chung Seok-won announced Thursday their wedding set for June.“They have been dating about two years since early 2011. They are getting married in June,” an official from Chung’s agency Forestar Entertainment said. The official added, “The two families have met recently and decided to have the wedding in June.” According to the agency, Chung and Baek have been discussing wedding plans since the beginning of the year. They chose June due to Chung’s busy schedule wit

April 18, 2013

Fall Out Boy, Blood Red Shoes to rock Pentaport

This year’s first-string lineup for the annual three-day Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival includes international headlining acts Fall Out Boy, Blood Red Shoes, Story of the Year, Skid Row and Peace as well as local acts YB, Deulgukhwa, Hot Potato, Peterpan Complex, Dickpunks, Soran, Yellow Monsters and Black Bag.Fall Out Boy is a four-member American pop punk band that first formed in 2001 as an underground band. Although Fall Out Boy released its debut album “Take this to your Grave” in 2003, it

April 18, 2013

[Newsmaker] K-pop veteran bounces back

The 63-year-old Cho Yong-pil has returned to the music scene with his first single in 10 years, titled “Bounce.” The track is a prerelease single from his upcoming 19th album “Hello,” which will be unveiled next week. “Bounce,” released on Tuesday, was ranked in the top 10 on all the major local music singles charts, including Bugs and Soribada charts where it overtook Psy’s global hit “Gentleman” and claimed the No. 1 spot. The versatile artist showed a completely different side of himself with

April 17, 2013

Corporate buying needed to boost art market in Korea

K-Auction, one of the top auction houses in Korea, decided to hold a sale devoted to large-scale paintings on April 24 in anticipation of corporate buyers’ desire to acquire artworks when prices appear to have hit rock bottom. Corporate buyers make up a very small portion of art collectors in Korea and most of them are hesitant to start collections or expand their existing ones because in Korea, art collections are largely perceived as speculative investments by the wealthy. “It’s very rare for

April 17, 2013

SM, YG to launch new international auditions

S.M. Entertainment and YG Entertainment, the two most influential entertainment agencies in Korea, are launching an audition boom in Japan, following the success of SBS’ “K-pop Star.” SM is coproducing a TV audition program called “Performance A” with the Japanese agency Yoshimoto Kyogo to discover new talent across Asia for the international market. The panel of judges will include well-known industry experts from around the world including Korea, Japan, the U.S. and France. Japanese broadcaste

April 17, 2013

2NE1 and will.i.am release ‘Getting’ Dumb’

Singers CL and Park Bom from 2NE1 featured on a track called “Gettin’ Dumb” on will.i.am’s new album along with apl.de.ap, former member of Black Eyed Peas. The song released on will.i.am’s official website on Tuesday starts with his unique house beats finished by the Korean pair’s clear and powerful voices. The album “#Willpower” will be release on April 23. 2NE1 and will.i.am are close ― they have released private pictures of them celebrating CL’s birthday together. Also, CL and will.i.am have

April 17, 2013

Singing legend’s return gets unexpected support from youngsters

Cho Yong-pil, one of the most popular and influential Korean singers of all time, made his long-awaited comeback after almost a decade. Cho’s return is bolstered by unexpected support from people in their 20s.The 63-year-old singing legend released his new single “Bounce” on Tuesday. The single topped Korea’s biggest online music charts including Bugs Music and Naver Music just moments after it was released.While Cho’s comeback was widely anticipated to have an impact, the overwhelming support f

April 17, 2013

Jason Mraz: ‘We’re gonna rock. We’re gonna turn it up.’

The groovy singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, who is behind the hit tracks “I’m Yours,” “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry)” and “Geek in the Pink,” will soon be returning to Seoul to serenade his countless local fans in a night that promises to be yet another evening of peace, love and music. As Mr. A-Z gears up for his sixth concert performance in Korea, the star shared his thoughts behind his tremendous popularity in Korea. “I actually have yet to figure that out, and I do study that everywhere I go. But

April 16, 2013

‘Unchained Melody’revisited on stage

Whether you are a fan of the hit 1990 movie “Ghost” or musicals in general, the upcoming Asian premiere of the West End’s “Ghost the Musical” will likely come as a delight. For one, you get to hear the famous “Unchained Melody” live on stage, as well as witness the famed pottery wheel sequence. Two, it is being delivered in Korean and stars an all-Korean cast ― including “Bridal Mask” heartthrob Joo Won and talented up-and-coming actress Park Ji-yeon (“Mama Mia!” “Les Miserables”). Major local m

April 16, 2013

New K-pop star couple: Tony An and Hyeri from Girls’ Day

Thirty-four-year-old former idol star Tony An and 18-year-old Hyeri from Girls’ Day announced their relationship Tuesday. The couple was spotted on a date by news media on Sunday. With the 16-year gap in ages, the news of their relationship has caused much sensation.  “I worry that Hyeri might get hurt by this unexpected situation,” An said in news reports. An, owner of agency TN Entertainment, was a member of former super star idol group H.O.T. in the ‘90s.Hyeri graduated from Seoul Arts High S

April 16, 2013