February 23, 2023
Tobias Jesso Jr. You may know his name from his 2015 solo album Goon. Or maybe from his work on various popular songs, such as “When We Were Young” by Adele and “Alive” by Sia. Or even from his rece
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February 23, 2023
HBO’s The Last of Us is arguably the hottest show out right now, receiving near universal acclaim from viewers and critics alike. This holds especially true for episode three: “Long, Long Time”.
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February 21, 2023
Folk singer. Songwriter. Canadian. Polyglot. All of these titles belong to Gina Lam, also known by her stage name Ginalina. In November 2022, she released her latest album titled Going Back: Remembe
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February 21, 2023
Rihanna is an illustrious artist. She is among the best selling female artists of all time, and was one of the greatest hitmakers of the 2000s and 2010s. She has since grown to become the richest...
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February 20, 2023
Streaming is now the driving force of the music industry, making up 84% of the industry revenue in the U.S. While streaming is much more convenient for listeners, many artists argue that it is near im
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February 23, 2023
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Is it even possible to crown just one person? Well, Billboard and Vibe did exactly that. And, according to them, that person is Jay-Z. In honor of Hip-Hop’s
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February 18, 2023
Kaytranada (Louis Celestin) is a Haitian-Canadian record producer and DJ. He is a highly acclaimed electronic artist, having earned two Grammys and countless other awards for his work. Kaytranada has
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February 17, 2023
What happens when a famous music producer takes an interest in self-help books? The Creative Act is your answer. But who is Rick Rubin? Without a doubt, Rubin has an impressive track record in the
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February 14, 2023
The music industry is a place full of musicians, producers, and creators who have the magical ability to make those perfect sounds we hear everyday through our digital devices. We want to listen close
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February 14, 2023
What do popular video games franchises Super Mario, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox all have in common? They were all produced and published by Nintendo, and the iconic music themes that you hear in...
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February 8, 2023
Being a successful woman in the music industry is no easy feat. Not only do they deal with the typical trials and tribulations of being a musician, but there are also gender-specific challenges.
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February 8, 2023
“Is it just me, or are songs getting shorter these days?” This is a question I have often pondered, especially in the last few years. It appears that in the era of social media, attention spans are
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Photo Credit: Kpop Corn
In the past few years, the K-pop culture has experienced a number of suicides, which has devastated the Korean entertainment industry. Sulli from f(x), Jonghyun from SHINee, Goo Hara from KARA, and most recently, Moonbin from ASTRO are a few of the most notable cases of suicide.
These heartbreaking tragedies have sparked a debate on the extreme strain and scrutiny that celebrities face in the entertainment industry, as well as the need for better mental health care.
Recently, the 25 year-old member of ASTRO, Moonbin, was found deceased in his home on April 19th, 2023. Although the particular reason for passing has not been disclosed, it is thought to have been a suicide. Recent articles have stated that Moonbin reportedly struggled with stress and life-long anxiety before his death.
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Photo Credit: NME
With Moonbin sharing his mental-health issues, it led him to take time away from any group activities with ASTRO to focus on his well-being. Sadly, this is a common pattern in the Korean music industry.
The K-pop industry is well-known for its rigorous training system that pushes young trainees’ to their physical and mental abilities. Trainees will often spend years in demanding training systems that have extreme dietary restrictions, intense dance and singing lessons, and long hours of practice.
There have been numerous reports of trainees experiencing severe pressure to perform as well as physical and psychological abuse from their trainers. This harsh training system has been criticized for its toll on young artists’ mental health.
Photo Credit: YouTube
Many young artists’ in Korea often feel afraid to speak out about their mental health in fear of judgement or backlash. In K-pop, there’s a culture of perfectionism and competitive attitude that can make artist’s feel that they have to present a flawless image to their fans.
Sulli, a former member of the girl group f(x), committed suicide as she had been a victim of severe internet harrassment. Sulli had spoken out about the pressure she felt to live up to social norms after being a target of cyberbullying but continued to receive criticism from anti-fans.
There is also concern that disclosing mental health issues can harm an artists’ image and profession, leading them to stay silent about their struggles. Numerous fans and industry professionals have urged for more transparency on mental health issues and for companies to prioritize their artists’ well-being over profits.
In response, some entertainment companies have introduced mental health initiatives and increased support for their artists’. It’s important for fans and struggling artists’ to continue to raise awareness about this issue in the Korean entertainment industry and advocate for better services and support regarding mental health.
Photo Credit: Mindset
Photo Credit: Mindset
