SM Entertainment artists to become SM Entertainment shareholders

 

SM Entertainment, one of Korea’s largest entertainment companies, has recently announced that it would be issuing approximately $881,000 worth of new shares for its artists. As a part of their capital increase through a third party allotment, SM Entertainment artists will become major shareholders of the company, thereby effectively owning a piece of their company.

On March 26th, SM Entertainment announced the plan through DART Financial Supervisory Service, which will provide SM artists Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior, Girl’s Generation, SHINee, f(x), Go Ara, and more of approximately $881,000 worth of SM Entertainment stock.

SM Entertainment will issue 22,120 new shares of stock with each individual share valued at 44,550 won (approximately $39 – $40 USD) each.

Kangta, BoA, and most of the Super Junior and Girls’ Generation members will be receiving 680 shares each (value of around $27,200 for each member), while SHINee and f(x) members will be receiving 340 shares each (value of around $13,600 for each member).

SM Entertainment released a statement saying, “This capital increase represents a strengthening partnership between the company and its artists, and we hope that as shareholders, our artists will share and take part in the vision and growth of the company.”

They continued, “We are expecting a global growth of the company through this renewed partnership with the artists.”

Source & Image: Starnews via Nate ; allkpop

SM reveals individual profile shots for SMTOWN’s The Warmest Gift!

SM Town released “Santa U Are The One” MV!

Check out the MV below!

BoA and Shin Se Kyung show their close relationship through twitter

A recent twitter conversation between singer BoA and actress Shin Se Kyung has proved their close sunbae-hoobae relationship!

On November 25th, Shin Se Kyung uploaded a set of cute photos on her twitter which had BoA responding with, “Se Kyung, cute~~~ hehe“.



After receiving the warm response from her sunbae, Se kyung asked BoA, “Unnie, where are you right now?” to which BoA hilariously answered back with, “In your heart…keke. I’m just kidding, I’m going to Japan~~You’re doing well for your drama shoot right?! Let’s see each other more often next year ^^“.

Concerned about her sunbae’s well-being, Se Kyung responded, “Ah…I thought you were in the States….I celebrated your birthday through Kakao Talk TT_TT. Have a safe trip. Be careful of catching a cold!”

In related news, BoA will be releasing her single DVD, ‘Milestone‘  on December 7th in light of her 10th anniversary in Japan. The singer will also hold a concert on December 10th at the Tokyo International Forum in celebration of the Christmas holiday. Meanwhile, actress Shin Se Kyung is busy shooting for her SBS drama, ‘Deep Rooted Tree‘.

Source + Photos: mtstarnews via Naver ; allkpop

Billboard, “Girls’ Generation Making Its American Dream Come True”

Via Billboard :

After its performance on Oct. 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Girls’ Generation has continued to receive rave reviews from both critics and press worldwide. Due to its outstanding showing at this American concert, the girl group can now rightfully be named one of the international representatives of K-Pop.

Girls’ Generation recently released its title song, “The Boys,” from its third regular album, which has earned a spot in the top 5 on Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100 chart ever since its debt. “The Boys”, created a lot of buzz even before the single’s release, as it was produced by none other than Teddy Riley – the famed producer of the late pop legend, Michael Jackson. The group also released an English version of this hit track for their international listeners (see the music video below). Girls’ Generation’s music video was recently released on YouTube and has already garnered over 17 million views – proving the girl group’s internationally spreading fame. The girls are under contract with Universal Music Group, which also boasts such talents as Lady Gaga, Eminem, and the Black Eyed Peas. This past June, this K-pop girl group released its second album in Japan, which shot to the top of the Billboard Japan weekly chart by selling an impressive 230,000 copies.

Since its debut, Girls’ Generation has continued to top the music charts in Asia, and now the girls are seeking to finally break into the US market. As their name states, the girls are seeking to represent a new generation of female Korean artists conquering the global music market.

Girls’ Generation is managed by SM Entertainment, one of Korea’s largest entertainment agencies, which has developed other top Korean artists such as HOT, BOA, TVXQ, and SUPER JUNIOR. This nine-member girl group is by far one of the most versatile groups in the SM Entertainment arsenal. Each of the nine members brings a unique individual talent/color to the group, which allows Girls’ Generation to command a diverse fan following.

The leader of the group, Taeyeon, who won first place at the SM Youth Singing Competition, is known for her vocal abilities. Tiffany and Jessica, both born and raised in the States, are known for their fluency in both Korean and English. Hyoyeon made a name for herself as the dancing queen of pack. Youri and Yuna were previously fashion models and Seohyun and Sunny are well-rounded vocal artists due to their long and arduous training under SM Entertainment.

The girls debuted in August of 2008 with their first single “Into the New World”. Their first single was a bright and cheerful song that gained adequate attention from the public, however, was not the blockbuster that many industry experts expected. Three months later, however, they released a remake of Lee Seung Chul’s 1989 hit song, “Girls’ Generation”, which first helped them gain a strong domestic fan base.

The release of the single “Gee” propelled the girls into stardom. With a catchy melody and chorus, as well an irresistibly addictive and adorable choreography, Girls’ Generation started its domination of the Korean music industry. The group’s ascendancy didn’t stop there — five months later, they released “Tell Me Your Wish (Genie),” which saw Girls’ Generation stand tall as the No.1 girl group in Korea.

Every album that Girls’ Generation released afterwards has proven to be a major success. The repackaged second album, “Run Devil Run,” saw the girls showcase a new sexy charisma that contrasted starkly from their previous cutesy image. Their new found sex appeal helped the young ladies widen their fan-base from mostly female teens to the male population of Korea. Girls’ Generation also has the unique distinction of being the singers most requested to perform before the Korean Army.

After sufficiently dominating the Korean music market, Girls’ Generation ventured off to conquer the Japan music market as well. The girl group released “Tell Me Your Wish (Genie)” in the Japanese language followed by their first debut Japanese album, “Genie”, which sold over 75,000 albums within 4 weeks. This album secured top tier positions on Billboard Japan’s album sales charts and their second single “Gee” sold over a hundred thousand copies, and helped this girl group become the face of K-POP to the Japanese public.

The girls’ newest and English-only single, “The Boys”, is causing a commotion throughout the world and is turning their dream of being charted in America, into a reality. The sky’s the limit for the young ladies of Girls’ Generation!

BoA receives a surprise birthday party on the set of ‘K-POP STAR’

 

BoA was honored with a surprise birthday party on the set of her new show, SBS’s ‘K-POP STAR‘.

When BoA was with fellow judges Yang Hyun Suk and J.Y.Park, MC Yoon Do Hyun appeared with a cake in hand, taking BoA completely off guard. The main panel serenaded their co-star with ‘Happy Birthday‘, after which BoA blew out the candles and repeatedly thanked everyone. BoA turned 25 this year (26 in Korea).

In related news, ‘K-POP STAR’ will air its first episode in December. The winner of this survival audition program win $300,000 USD and an opportunity to produce their own album with the agency of their choice. They will also gain the chance to film a CF and a personal car as well.

Source + Image: Naver ; allkpop

SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in Madison Square Garden is Set to be Released in the First Half of Next Year!

 

 

SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in New York which was held at Madison Square Garden, the home of pop, as the first Asian artist will be made into a movie.

 

[I am: SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in Madison Square Garden(working title)](Produced by CJ Entertainment, Co-Produced by S.M.Entertainment, Distributed by CJ Entertainment) is set to be released in the first half of 2012. The movie will be about historic performance in New York and undisclosed real stories of SM artists including Kangta, BoA, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, and f(x).

 

Moreover, the movie will show SM artists’ preparation for touching stages, their real everyday lives off the stage and frank confessions inside their hearts. Further, the process of their growth from the period as trainees, current images, and dreams for the future will be featured in the movie as well.

 

On October 23rd, ‘SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in New York’ ended in great success at Madison Square Garden in New York (renowned as the dream stage of singers and the Mecca of American pop culture). Since it was the first Asian artist’s concert, international medias such as Japan’s Sankei Sports, Nikkan Sports, China’s MING PAO DAILY NEWS as well as local medias such as NEWYORK TIMES, NEWYORK DAILY, BILLBOARD, VILLAGE VOICE, COMCAST, NEWYORK 1, MTV and etc. attended and competed to cover the concert.

 

Meanwhile, [I am: SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in Madison Square Garden(working title)], which will feature live scenes of the concert in New York and daily lives and dreams of SM artists, will be released in the first half of 2012.

 

credit : SM Town Facebook Page

The United States, Japan and China Exclusively Reported SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in New York!

“New Yorkers Admitted SM Family”

 

Not only the U.S. but also Japan and China’s media attention was focused on the SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR in New York, which was held at the Madison Square Garden of New York on the 23rd as the first Asian artist.

 

Sankei Sports of Japan introduced the review of SMTOWN LIVE IN NEW YORK and performance of SM artists. It also mentioned that “KPOP swept over the hometown of entertainment” conveying the fever of on site.

 

Especially when U-Know of TVXQ! shouted out loud at audiences as”감사합니다. Thank you New York!”, all the audiences stood up and shouted all together. Sankei showed great interest in this scene and expressed it as “It was the moment when New Yorker admitted SM Family”

 

Also, Nikkan Sports made headline that “SMTOWN showed up in New York wrapping up with great excitement,” and introduced high popularity of SMTOWN LIVE IN NEW YORK. It not only reported about the enthusiastic reaction of the fans in the U.S. but also mentioned flash mob protest which was held in Central Park on July for requesting SMTOWN LIVE IN NEW YORK.

 

Along with these Japanese media release, China’s major portal site, such as sohu and sina, reported the concert. Especially, Chinese portal site, 环球网(환치우왕), reported that “SMTOWN LIVE IN NEW YORK caused a sensation at New York Madison Square Garden and showed charms of KPOP all over the world.”

 

Meanwhile, New York Times praised the SM artists by saying that “any one of which any American reality-TV talent show or major-label A&R department worth its salt would be thrilled to have discovered.” Moreover, Billboard made a headline review as “SMTOWN IN NEW YORK at Madison Square Garden surprises Billboard.” New York Daily News released the interview of Tiffany of Girls’ Generation and KPOP Special report focusing on SMTOWN LIVE IN NEW YORK convincing SM’s global brand power once again.

credit : SM Town Official Facebook

Billboard, “K-Pop Hits Madison Square Garden at SMTown Live”

Via : Billboard

If fans storming hotel rooms or camping out at 4:00 a.m. for their general admission seats wasn’t enough indication, K-Pop officially hit New York City this weekend.

October 23 marked the first performance of an Asian pop group in Madison Square Garden with the SMTown Live ’10 World Tour. In previous years SMTown, a South Korean entertainment company, has put on the popular tour but never ventured to America. This New York stop follows successful shows in Los Angeles, Paris, Toyko, Shanghai and Seoul as part of the 2010/2011 run. That L.A. performance at The Staples Center was a sell-out landing the show at No. 9 Billboard’s Boxscore Grosses that week with 15,015 tickets sold.

The sold-out showcase brought out some of Korea’s biggest pop acts, including solo stars BoA and Kangta, girl groups Girls’ Generation, f(x), male groups SHINee, Super Junior, and male duo TVXQ.

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“We would like to have this opportunity, if there was any a wall between the West and East, to take this opportunity to squash this wall,” said Kangta via a translator at the start of a press conference that included all the performing artists. “Hopefully we could be much more famous in the United States, as well as all the other Western countries.”

Musically, the show brought down walls with the performers singing their biggest hits, plus occasional dance battles. Yet there were some English songs. In 2009, BoA released her first English album, “BoA,” and last night performed four of those cuts, including “I Did It For Love,” which originally features Sean Garrett, with Key from SHINee taking over his part.

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Last Tuesday, Girls’ Generation released its first English single, “The Boys” (produced by Teddy Riley). This concert marked the first live performance of the English version of “The Boys” for the group.

“It’s going to be new for both the group and all our fans but I think that’s going to be totally fun and something to look forward to,” said member Tiffany. “We put a lot of effort and energy in the song so the result is turning out to be very satisfying and rewarding.”

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When asked whether the other artists on the roster would be seeing U.S. releases in the future (“The Boys” was released by Interscope Records), Tiffany responded, “There’s nothing for sure, but in the future if everyone gets the right time and opportunity, they’re more than ready to take on the U.S. market as well.”

“We’re simply very flattered to have so many fans around the world, not just us, but all the members of SM Town. They really appreciate all the fans,” said TVXQ’s U-Know via translator. “Since this is our first time in Madison Square Garden performing, we’re going to do our best and we hope everyone has a great time.”

If the massive roars of the sold-out show were any indication, everyone had a great time at the first — and most likely not last — major Korean pop show at Madison Square Garden.

SMTOWN will Perform at the Madison Square Garden Arena as the First Asian Artist!

 

 

 

SM artists including Kangta, BoA, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee and f(x) will perform at Madison Square Garden, Mecca of pop culture, as the first Asian artist.

 

SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR, which has fascinated music fans all over the world with great success in Seoul, LA, Tokyo, Shanghai and Paris, will perform at the main venue of Madison Square Garden in New York on the 23rd at 7:00 p.m. for 15,000 audiences so it is expected to attract the attention of music fans in the U.S. once again.

 

Especially, according to Madison Square Garden, SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR is making headlines by holding a concert at the main venue of Madison Square Garden, the Arena, for the first time as Asian artist’s concert. Top artists who represent Asia will appear in the concert and present their best performance at the Mecca of American pop culture.

 

Also, with the support of LG Electronics Inc. ‘SMTOWNLIVE WORLD TOUR in New York’ promotion video, which is made of music video highlights of Kangta, BoA, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee and f(x), has been playing on large electronic board in Times Square, Manhattan (NY) since the 17th.

 

In addition, since Girls’ Generation will perform the English version of their new song, ‘The Boys,’ at the concert in New York for the first time, it is expected to receive an explosive response from music fans in the U.S.

 

Meanwhile, ‘SMTOWNLIVE WORLD TOUR in New York’ will also release the pictures of the concert and backstage and highlights of the concert through facebook SMTOWN page (www.facebook.com/smtown), YouTube SMTOWN channel (www.youtube.com/smtown) and KakaoTalk Plus Friend. And also, the pictures of Kangta, BoA, TVXQ!, Super Junior, Girls’ Generation, SHINee and f(x) at the airport will be available from the 22nd.

credit : SMTown Official Facebook