▲ This file photo shows a concert stage. (Yonhap)

 

 

SEOUL, April 24 (Yonhap) -- As most of social distancing for COVID-19 prevention are lifted this month, music industries which hold spring festivals and events are vitalizing for the first time in three years.

Especially, famous ballad singers and vocalist teams who are considered as the 0th for casting in various events, have already received series of inquiries about performance.

According to a music industry on the 24th, there have been a lot of love calls to singers after many spring festivals are turned into face-to-face events for the first time in three years, as most of spring festivals were ceased due to COVID-19 after 2019.

Singer Im Chang Jung and 6band will be on celebration stage for 'Gokseong International Rose Festival' which Gokseong County in South Jeolla Province will hold on the 21st next month.

A staff of Im Chang Jung's side said, "There have been a lot of requests for stage performance after the lifting of social distancing," adding, "We have more than 5 events currently on discussion including events already confirmed."

The staff also explained, "The expectation for stage performance is definitely high," saying, "This was unimaginable in the last two years when there was no event at all. The industry is vitalizing."

Along with album release and concert, festivals held by universities and local governments in spring are considered as a golden opportunity where singers and agencies can meet fans and make profits at the same time. However, after 2020 when COVID-19 pandemic started, music industries had difficult times because all events were cut off.

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency, a middle-aged female singer confessed that "I went through financial difficulties due to COVID-19," adding, "I've been comforting myself to hang in there for a year, and one more year, but I became daunted because I lost my job."

However, the tables turned after the government announced the lifting of social distancing.

Especially, veteran ballad singers and vocalist groups are the main target for casting, who have more hit songs than idol groups and are able to smoothly lead the mood of the audience.

A female duo group DAVICHI is a case in point, who have released many hit songs for 14 years after their debut in 2008, including 'War and love,' '8282,' and 'Don't say goodbye.'

An official from WAKEONE Entertainment, DAVICHI's agency, explained, "We have about 10 requests for event after the lifting of social distancing in April," saying, "We will decide on whether to appear or not after discussion."

The official added, "Events' frequency is not yet at an average level, but is in the process of recovering," adding, "It is expected to be normalized by the second half of this year."

Trot singers who should not be forgotten in local festivals, are enjoying a boom.

An official from IMH Entertainment, trot singer Hong Jinyoung's agency, said "Before COVID-19, we would go all over the country in this season," adding, "There was no event at all after 2020."

Meanwhile, the official said, "Though chances for events this year are not as much as the normal years before COVID-19, it is certain that things are getting better," also mentioning, "We've already decided to appear on 5 stages, receiving more than 20 love calls for casting after the lifting of social distancing."

An official from music industry said, "Due to COVID-19 crisis, block chain-based contents such as online concerts and Metaverse have been vitalized, but they cannot get beyond the impression of live concert, unfolding before the viewers' eyes," expecting, "From now on, offline contents which have been suppressed for a long time are likely to pour in."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Kim Jimin.)


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