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SEOUL -- In recent years, South Korea has become a surprisingly strong cultural force in Asia. It has the strongest domestic film industry in Asia, and, increasingly, its movies are [...]

HONG KONG--For the live-concert industry in Asia during the past year, business could only get better. Two years ago, in 2000, Ricky Martin was the only major international artist to [...]

SEOUL -- Diversify or die. That's the message in South Korea, where music companies are coping with a slowdown in digital growth by expanding into other entertainment sectors--while, at the [...]

SEOUL, South Korea -- Telecom companies here are taking a major role in the development of the country's music industry. Buoyed by soaring digital sales, telcos have moved beyond just [...]

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia -- For most people, Mongolia evokes images of Genghis Khan and his hordes galloping on horseback to conquer immense territories. But the developing Central Asian nation sports a […]

SEOUL -- South Korea is making phones ring to the tune of cash registers. In 2003, revenue from mobile-phone music services outstripped sales of recorded music, according to industry sources. […]

SEOUL, South Korea -- With the new year bringing an end to remaining restrictions on Japanese culture in South Korea, local labels are rushing to get releases by Japan's leading […]

SEOUL, South Korea--Understanding, anger, resigned acceptance--the range of reaction in South Korea to once again being put on the United States Trade Representative's Priority Watch List for intellectual property rights […]

SEOUL, South Korea -- The Recording Industry Assn. of Korea is taking legal action for the first time against individuals it claims are guilty of illegal file sharing. The RIAK […]

This story was prepared by Steve McClure in Tokyo and Mark Russell in Seoul. A decision by the South Korean government to lift remaining restrictions on Japanese music is being […]

SEOUL, South Korea -- How will the music industry and artists benefit from the future growth of high-speed Internet connections? Korea offers an answer right now. More than 70% of […]

As the number of deaths attributed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) nears 400 worldwide, efforts to stop the spread of the epidemic are beginning to take a toll on […]

Asia Pacific markets offer exciting new touring opportunities for Western artists. But the costs, risks and effort involved in performing in the region often tip the scale for acts toward [...]

Web site: cyworld.com (United States: us.cyworld.com) Owner: SK Communications, Seoul Registered users: 22 million in South Korea, 6 million abroad (United States, China, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan) Cyworld has long [...]

In support of the album 'Back to Stage,' Korean R&B singer Park Jin-Young is setting his sights on the U.S. market--and not just for himself. Since its 1995 launch, Park's [...]

SK TELECOM Key business: Mobile telecommunications South Korea's biggest mobile carrier (with a 50% market share, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications), SKT has recently been moving aggressively [...]

Skull is a true rarity from a South Korean music market dominated by bubble-gum pop stars. The 27-year-old reggae star, who sports long dreadlocks, a growling voice and an oversized [...]

South Korea's largest telecommunications company, SK Telecom, has launched a Web-based audio streaming service aimed at stores, restaurants, bars and other businesses that use background music. SK claims to be [...]

INCHEON, South Korea -- The last time promoter Steven Kim was involved with organizing a summer rock festival in Korea, it was a washout. Literally. In 1999, a passing typhoon [...]

Soribada, once South Korea's most popular peer-to-peer (P2P) music service, is back in business. Soribada 5 went live earlier this month in a new incarnation offering both a subscription service [...]

South Korea's most popular file-sharing service Soribada says it will be back online shortly, only four months after a court order shut it down. At a joint press conference Feb. [...]

TOKYO -- While political disputes between Japan and Korea have dominated international press coverage of the two countries lately, music is helping bridge the divide between the East Asian neighbors. [...]

The picture shows a model taking a bite out of an apple. It is part of an advertising campaign to promote the latest iriver-brand digital music player, the H10, by [...]

SEOUL, South Korea -- The March 28 announcement by the South Korean government that it has granted six terrestrial licenses for the next generation in mobile-phone technology--digital multimedia broadcasting--indicates that [...]

SEOUL -- The record industry in South Korea--the third-largest music market in Asia--has given a mixed welcome to the territory's first download subscription service. South Korea's leading mobile-phone service operator, […]

South Korean record companies are threatening legal action to block sales of a new generation of MP3-capable mobile phones. The Korean Assn. of Phonograph Producers wants to stop mobile telecommunications […]

The music business in Asia in 2003--coping with the global challenges of physical piracy, file sharing and competition from mobile phones and videogames--continued to develop exciting and often brilliant new […]

SEOUL, South Korea -- A much anticipated consolidation in South Korea's music-TV market looks a step closer, with the two biggest music specialists in Asia's second-largest market actively pursuing a […]

More than 30,000 screaming K-pop fans filled the soccer stadium in Olympic Park, Seoul, May 17 for South Korea's biggest pop concert of the year. The show was dubbed F*--not […]

SEOUL -- With music-video programming 24-hours a day, seven days a week, South Korea's M.net is a local leader in showcasing domestic artists. The video outlet is a division of […]

SEOUL -- Ask anyone in the Korean music industry whom they think of when it comes to music videos, and the answer is Jo-Sung Mo. At a time when most […]

SEOUL, South Korea--New guidelines handed down by the government's Ministry of Culture and Tourism have buoyed the South Korean music industry's attempts to police the digital distribution of music online. […]

SEOUL, Korea--The past 18 months have seen music charts taking a beating in Korea, and some have now even disappeared entirely. Dogged by scandal, unreliable numbers, and complaints by citizens […]

Local hip-hoppers CB Mass ended 2002 on a high with the best show of the year, playing two nights at the Cultural Center in Seoul, South Korea. Backed by funk […]

Korea's most popular music file-sharing service, Soribada, is up and running again after a court ordered it to shut down in July (Billboard Bulletin, July 16). Soribada 2 launched at [...]

SEOUL, Korea--The prevalence of payoffs and kickbacks in the South Korean music industry has long been known to almost everyone in the business, with the occasional investigation by law enforcers [...]

SEOUL -- After several weeks of legal wrangling, the Recording Industry Assn. of Korea (RIAK) has finally succeeded in shutting down South Korea's most popular peer-to-peer music-file-sharing service, Soribada. The [...]

SEOUL--South Korea's music industry has become the target of a sweeping government investigation into alleged bribery and corruption. Since July 15, the Seoul District Prosecutors Office has been issuing summons [...]

A South Korean court has ordered Soribada, the country's most popular music file-sharing service, to shut down its online operations--temporarily at least. The Suwon District Civil Court issued a preliminary [...]

SYDNEY--Australian tour promoters are returning to Asia with gusto. One is setting up an office in Shanghai. Another predicts that Asia will constitute half his company's business. A third is [...]

The article offers several news briefs related to the music industry. The company MTV Games announced the availability of full album downloads for the video game "Rock Band," the Chrysalis Group reportedly rejected a cash offer to acquire the company, and Mariah Carey's album "E=MC²" is projected to top Billboard's album chart based on first-day sales figures.

The article discusses how music companies in South Korea are looking to diversify as they experience a slowdown in digital growth. Music companies in the country are trying to expand into entertainment sectors, while telecommunication and media companies are increasingly buying in the local music business as well. INSET: MULTITASKING WITH MUSIC.

The article briefly reviews the work of three popular music performers from South Korea: Clazziquai, J-Lim, and Dong Bang Shin Gi/TVXQ.

The article reports on moves into international markets by popular music performers and record labels in South Korea suffering from domestic piracy, file sharing, and declining physical sales. The largest neighboring markets are in China and Japan. Korean music companies mentioned include JYP Entertainment and SM Entertainment.

The article looks at twelve different nations that had increased their recorded-music revenue in 2006. The music market of Argentina generated over $56 million in 2006. Venezuela's music market recovered thanks to the increasing price of oil. Ireland's sales have increased due to online retail methods such as downloading music.

Reports that the South Korean government has declared that the distribution of Japanese music, videogames, movies and television dramas was no longer illegal in South Korea. Responsibilities of the Korea Media Rating Board; Action taken by Japanese record label Avex in response to the move of the South Korean government; Background of the issue on the importation of Japanese entertainment products.

Reports on the decision of the Recording Industry Association of Korea (RIAK) to take legal action against individuals it claims are guilty of illegal file sharing. Description of individuals presented by RIAK for prosecution; Statement from Lee Yeong-ah of South Korea's Ministry of Culture and Tourism about copyright issues; Result of legal actions of RIAK against file-sharing Internet sites.

Presents updates on the achievements of several artists in the music industry in Asia as of November 23, 2002. Sun Yanzi from Singapore; BoA from Korea; Karen Mok from Hong Kong.

The article reports on the efforts of the MySpace online social networking site to expand its reach throughout Asian, including such countries as Japan, India and South Korea. MySpace international vice president Sung Lee is quoted discussing the company's plans. In South Korea, MySpace is competing against the local company Cyworld. In China, MySpace has helped labels and artists connect with the international music industry.

The article focuses on South Korean reggae artist Skull. The article explains that Skull is different than many artist in the South Korean music market, which is dominated by "bubble-gum pop music." According to the article Skull is beginning to gain attention in the United States, and his single, "Boom Di Boom Di," reached No. 4 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart. Skull is managed by Morgan Carey, brother of musician Mariah Carey, and he is working on Skull's U.S. launch.