[OP-ED] Goodbye Superstar K – The End of an Era

superstar k
(Photo Credits: Mnet)

Can audition programmes like Superstar K and Produce 101outlast the test of time?

With Superstar K joining the latest lineup of Korean audition programmes calling it quits, many wonder if shows such as ‘High School Rapper’ and Produce 101 Season 2 are built to last.

Superstar K has confirmed in a latest Korean report that the show will not be continuing with another season. The show aired its first episode in 2009 and has continued with 7 subsequent seasons, with its last season being ‘Superstar K 2016’.

Superstar K was known to produce artists that were not just a flash in a pan. As compared to its counterparts ‘Kpop Star’ and ‘Kpop Star Hunt’, Superstar K boasts an extensive list of successful alumnus. It has discovered many vocal talents such as Seo In-guk, Huh Gak, John Park, Jung Joon Young just to name a few and they have all continued to pave their own paths in the competitive Korean music industry.

The show started to see its decline after season 5. This was the same struggle for Kpop Star who even opened up the playing field to trainees, artists who have previously debuted and changed their concept to a show that transforms people who are at their last ditch efforts to make it big. Even after several format and concept changes, the shows were unable to gain back their viewership.

The decline of audition programmes are not only seen in the Korean music industry. The father of modern day audition programmes, American Idol, ran its final season last year after running for 15 seasons.

It seems like through years of feeding the audience with talent, the expectations rise and the audience is looking to sieve out the most talented in a pool of talents rather than a talent in the crowd. Does this spell the end of audition programmes? But we for sure know, it’s the end of a good era for audition programmes in the Korean music industry. Thanks for all the talents we would have never known if not for you!

 

Check out some of the artists who were discovered on audition programmes below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGN3GQVpokQ]

Jung Joon Young x Roy Kim – Becoming Dust (먼지가 되어)

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foNVZzcoj0Q]

Akdong Musician – Officially Missing You

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lei5BoESoI]

Huh Gak – Hello

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuBCXYf6Wxo]

Busker Busker – Cherry Blossom Ending

 

Watch this space for more updates about music, entertainment and Korean culture at “KAvenyou: Your Avenue to Non-Stop Entertainment, Lifestyle and Fashion

 

Source: 1

Article by: Cass Zheng @ KAvenyou

KAvenyou: Singapore to Korea – Music, Wanderlust, Foodie, Lifestyle.

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