Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Although it’s challenging to say that anything at Coachella could be considered ground breaking (especially considering this year’s lineups of reunions vs. new discoveries) it seems that Hologram Tupac may have led the way for the future of K-pop. The Korea Times reports that SM Entertainment, home to some of today’s most popular idol groups, are seriously considering investing in holographic theatres that would offer “concerts” of their top acts. As their story points out, they had to use a hologram Tupac at Coachella, because he’s DEAD. According to The Korea Times, SM Entertainment has been wanting to do this for a while, and after they pulled off a successful holographic Girls Generation concert, their passion for 1980s futurism was re-ignited. Just imagine how AWESOME it would be to be able to pay to go to a holographic concert, watch the whole thing through your Galaxy s3 screen (wriggling through the crowd of people in front of you with their giant phones blocking your view) while you record the show to post on your tumblr on the subway ride back home to your parents house. The future is bright for groups like Girls Generation and steady hitter, BoA. At least they get to have boyfriends and be “themselves” in real life, unlike their J-pop counterparts, AKB48. GR Familia, Anne Ishii wrote a brilliant piece about the weirdness of AKB48′s idol reality. It’s like K-pop is Jem and the Holograms, and J-pop is the Misfits – seriously, like with the evil manager, and the orphanage, and the holograms, and the Misfits always having hard times but better outfits… Everything we thought was only a cartoon futuristic techno fantasy is our now.
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The group which is now spread larger than ever with teams of 16 females in more than one city in Japan is now beginning in other countries as well. Jakarta has a team and so forth. Fans get to cast votes and the top can record a single, solo. Beginning in 2005, this project has grown to 200 million in sales and will continue onward. But… will we see LA48 or NY48? That might be a scary one. (NY Daily – AKB48)
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Must buy candy… [youtube]HrSoGu1kWh4[/youtube]
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There’s that number again, $200 million dollars. That’s how big AKB 48 is. According to the Cnet report, it’s more than what U2 makes. There’s 90 members and growing and their all day live performances which began as a novelty in geekville Akihabara is now a larger enterprise. Number one hits, sponsorships, commercials, and more. They’ve become a serious household name and it shows how a geek idea can be taken to the top. Five years ago, no chance. (Cnet – AKB48)
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We’re already familiar with the stereotype that AKB48 fans consist of Wota Pedobears. But hey, it’s just a stereotype, right? Here’s a recent snapshot from a Momoiro Clover Z concert in Saitama on December 25th, 2011 for idols as young as 15. Yes, “love knows no age” .
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