The Korean entertainment scene is experiencing a boom in audition programs.
Following the smash success of programs like "Superstar K" (2009-16), "K-Pop Star" (2011-17), "Produce 101" (2016-19) and "Miss Trot" (2019-2021) ― which not only scored impressive viewership ratings but also propelled numerous aspiring singers and lesser-known celebrities to stardom ― more producers are devoting themselves to creating similar shows.
Next month, local broadcaster SBS is set to launch "LOUD" in cooperation with JYP Entertainment founder-producer Park Jin-young and PSY, the "Gangnam Style" (2012) star and head of K-pop agency P NATION. MBC will also air a new audition program in November with producer Han Dong-chul, who was behind the success of "Produce 101." Mnet's "Girls Planet 999" is in the pipeline later this year auditioning aspiring female singers.
There's a reason why viewers love audition programs. They can take part in the nail-biting competition through voting and support their favorite contenders. Many people also believe these programs are impartial, because the contestants have to rely on only their musical talents to compete with each other. On top of that, they are often captivated by the stories of the contenders, most of whom have experienced twists and turns in their lives to pursue music careers.
"Viewers today seem to have grown addicted to these survival shows," pop music critic Seo Jeong Min-gap told The Korea Times. "Many of them may find other music programs, which do not pit contestants against each other, to be quite boring."
As for broadcasters and TV networks, the rationale behind their preference is more obvious ― these shows are lucrative. Since many of them have proven to be successful in terms of viewership, it is easier to attract sponsors. For instance, TV Chosun's trot audition program "Mr. Trot" garnered a whopping 35.7 percent viewership rating last year, an all-time high for a cable channel program in Korea.
Critics also point out that the hit songs from the shows also play vital roles in making profits.
"The songs featured in popular audition shows can grab the public's attention and secure the top positions on music streaming charts for months, as evidenced by the case of VVS (2020), a track unveiled on Mnet's hip-hop competition program Show Me the Money 9," music critic Han Dong-yoon said. "The performance videos can also be profitable if they attract viewers on YouTube. All these factors can allow the broadcasters to make consistent profits."
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