The 2018 Seoul convention marked the primary appearances for some major-label Ok-pop firms.
While it has been one in all Asia’s largest music-industry conventions all through this decade, a very thrilling yr for Ok-pop appeared to have led to the most mainstream-leaning MU:CON but, topped off with performances from a number of the scene’s promising newcomers.
The three-day, Seoul-based pageant happened in Korean tv community MBC headquarters with its common schedule of panels, educational courses and networking alternatives. What wasn’t common was the clientele out there this yr with the seventh iteration of MU:CON marking the primary time executives from all three of South Korea’s “Big Three” Ok-pop companies — the nickname given to SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment — in attendance. Representatives from different Korean and Asian labels, and firms each company and unbiased, had been additionally current together with FNC Entertainment, Brand New Music, Starship Entertainment, H1ghr Music Records, Happy Face Entertainment, FeelGhood Music, APA Agency, The Orchard, Paradigm Agency, CJ ENM, Universal Music Japan, Chile’s NoiX Entertainment, Hong Kong’s Wowstar Entertainment and extra.
MU:CON’s three nights of showcases introduced collectively the {industry} and South Korea’s intense fan tradition, most clearly seen on the Ok-pop-focused Asian Music Network (A.M.N) stage that took over MBC’s Open Hall theater for 2 days.
The first day of the A.M.N stage opened with Ok-pop/rock bands like W24 (who shocked the worldwide crowd by greeting them in Spanish), TheEastLight (who intrigued audiences with their three-singer, three-instrumentalist setup) and N.Flying. Despite simply making their debut earlier this month, seven-member lady group GWSN earned giant hollers from the viewers, however no act of the night time appeared to be extra anticipated than The Boyz. The 12-member outfit delivered exact and complicated choreography to cuts like “Right Here,” incomes cheers from an viewers that appeared to largely be attending for them. Somewhat sadly, the venue largely cleared out after The Boyz’s efficiency leaving energetic units from Japan-based lady group BANANALEMON and Korean band South Club with far fewer viewers members.
The pleasure was extra unfold out for the second showcase the place rising newcomers like Dreamcatcher and A.C.E enchanted followers earlier than standouts like lady group DIA, male duo MXM and standout Produce 101 contestant Kim Dong Han scored a number of the largest assist of the night time (and noticed probably the most followers depart after their units). Former INFINITE member and Ok-pop veteran Hoya delivered a considerably un-Ok-pop efficiency by going over his allotted time restrict and chatting with the followers there to see him, hilariously sharing what he ate for the day and that the teleprompters had been constantly telling him to wrap it up earlier than a efficiency from Vietnam’s Da Lab.
With the world’s eyes on Asia and the Ok-pop scene greater than ever now, an occasion like MU:CON additional proves how the continent and its markets have gotten more and more extra sought out as its firms search for higher and larger alternatives.
