Virtual concert (K-pop)
In Korean pop music, a V-concert or virtual concert refers to a performance in which the virtual avatars of South Korean idols and singers are projected as three-dimensional images onto a stage backdrop.[1]
History
Early beginnings
Within the K-pop music industry, V-concerts were first introduced by several South Korean record labels such as SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment. In 1998, SM Entertainment attempted to kick start its first holographic debut with H.O.T. (a now-defunct boy band), but failed to do so.[2]
Revival of V-concerts and planned expansion
In January 5, 2013, a breakthrough occurred after SM Entertainment held a V-concert in Gangnam District with life-sized images of Girls’ Generation projected onto the stage, attracting thousands of K-pop fans.[1]
After its first V-concert featuring Psy's Gangnam Style took off at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in May 2013, the South Korean record label YG Entertainment announced that it plans to establish 20 venues for virtual performances of its K-pop singers by the year 2015 in North America and Europe, as well as China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.[3]
Production costs
A virtual K-pop music video costs over US$180,000 and is about two to three times more expensive than a normal K-pop video.[4]
Criticism
V-concerts have been criticized by K-pop fans because singers do not appear in person and are only projected onto a screen. Some claim that V-concerts could possibly endanger the quality of live music.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Girls' Generation holds 'virtual concert' with Naver Music". Allkpop. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Can holograms replace real K-pop stars?". The Korea Times. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
SM has been experimenting with the holographic performances for more than a decade, although its first attempt to make H.O.T., a now-defunct boy band, a holographic debut failed in 1998.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Can holograms replace real K-pop stars?". Retrieved 23 July 2013.
NIK released its holographic images of Psy in World IT Show in COEX on May 23 before opening the exclusive theater for K-Pop Hologram-YG at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province this month. The Everland showcase will include the holographic performances of Psy's "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" in July and add more holographic content from Big Bang and 2NE1 in September. After launching the Everland theater, it will establish some 20 venues for virtual performances of its K-pop singers in major theme parks or others in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and North American and Europe by 2015.
- ^ "K-pop to go virtual with hologram theater". Retrieved 23 July 2013.
Holograms have yet to fully catch on, so making them is still expensive; one hologram video costs about 200 million won ($183,908) to make, which is two or three times more than a run-of-the-mill K-pop video.
- ^ Siow, Shannon. "The next big thing in Korea's music industry: Holograms". CNET. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
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