Audition programs

More recently, I've been thinking about the impact of audition programs on the entertainment industry. There have been a significant increase of audition programs in Korea, primarily focusing on music audition survival, but also comedians and acting. Some compare Superstar K to American Idol, there is also Korea's Got Talent, the Voice Korea, Star Audition, and K-pop star. It's been interesting to watch the developments and the impact on the music industry.




While you can see the similarities between American Idol and Superstar K, there are definitely some Korean characteristics from the results of the Korean versions. Also, it makes sense for Korea to have a program like this, with the fan driven participatory element.

First, after audition programs... many of the auditionees enter the "star-making process". Simply put, after the process is over, they get signed to agencies and many start the (expedited) idol-making process, going through training, dieting, ect. Is this turning the idol-making system on its head? Not necessarily. For example, winner of K-pop star Park Ji-min entered JYP entertainment, went through training, and debuted in a duo.  Was her process faster than the 7 year process of some other JYP trainees now performing? Yes. Did she already start with a fanbase? yes. But in almost every case, people from audition programs still had to go through the process in some fashion. Some still haven't debuted. In the case of Park Ji-min, she didn't even debut as a solo artist, despite the fact that she won the audition program.

to be continued...