Entertainment

Hundreds of K-Pop songs by KakaoM removed from Spotify

Including songs from IU, LOONA, Dreamcatcher, GFRIEND, SEVENTEEN, MAMAMOO, and more

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Image by GadgetMatch

K-Pop has been making waves both in South Korea and outside their homeland. And with the recent launch of Spotify Korea, international fans are expecting it to be recognized by major Korean music shows as an additional attempt in making more underrated artists and groups succeed without totally relying on Korean streaming platforms and Korean fans alone. But the recent feud between KakaoM and Spotify put everything to a screeching halt.

What is KakaoM?

KakaoM is a large co-publisher of K-Pop albums by Korean artists. Other than being a music publishing house, they’re also a music and concert production house, events management agency, talent agency, and even a record label. This basically means they can handle everything from handling K-Pop trainees and talents, up to pre-production, production, and post-production phases of a single, EP, mini album, or even a full album.

Image by GadgetMatch

Other than KakaoM’s in-house artists like IU (under EDAM Entertainment), Apink, VICTON, and Weeekly (under PlayM Entertainment), as well as non-KakaoM talents such as LOONA, Dreamcatcher, MAMAMOO, GFRIEND, SEVENTEEN, HyunA, and (G)-IDLE, this long Twitter thread shows the full list of K-Pop groups, duos, and soloists that are handled and/or whose albums were published by KakaoM:

Explaining the fiasco

Image by GadgetMatch

In an article published by the Korean site NAVER, Spotify has informed that KakaoM was unable to extend the validity of the agreement. Thus, effectively ending the contract today, March 1, 2021. Spotify also reported that they’ve been keeping in touch with KakaoM for a year but to no avail. They even said that KakaoM never informed the artists nor their respective agencies prior to the cancellation.

KakaoM isn’t totally a stranger in such issues. This already happened in 2019 when KakaoM failed to mass produce LOONA’s “[X X]” albums despite the large volumes of album pre-orders. That hindered LOONA from getting their first win in a music show. It even came to a point where they failed to renew LOONA’s songs listed under them in Spotify.

This also has a massive effect among international K-Pop artists and fans in general. With the large number of groups and artists alone, Spotify not only helps them get on a larger scale outside Korea, but it also contributes records to music charts such as Billboard.

Streaming charts have always been a big deal among K-Pop fans. With Spotify’s recent entry in the Korean music industry, fans have speculated that this unsettled agreement between Spotify and KakaoM was due to the fact that they don’t want to lose Melon, which is Korea’s top and largest music streaming platform with 28 million subscribers.

Other than the reliance of chartings and rankings by music shows such as Mnet’s M Countdown, KBS’s Music Core, SBS’s Inkigayo, MBC’s Music Core, and more, the streaming platform is owned by none other than KakaoM. This is a speculation all along but the fact that Spotify has 345+ million subscribers in 170 markets dwarfs Melon alone.

Stan Twitter memes everywhere

Some fans were able to make humor out of this controversy.

With KakaoM’s Melon ownership, international fans have joked around that signing up to Melon will never happen.

The fury of the K-Pop international fanbase might have made KakaoM realize their wrong action.

Orbits aren’t late to the meme party

It seems like every K-Pop fan is transferring to YouTube Music (not even Apple Music)

KakaoM as Thanos, anyone?

Memes aside, Spotify has re-assured fans that this issue is temporary and can still be resolved once KakaoM reaches a new global deal. Fans (like me) are hoping that KakaoM will settle this as soon as possible or this might be a huge loss not just to them, but for fans, artists, and their respective agencies as well.

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Entertainment

Netflix unveils official casting for the Korean adaptation of ‘La Casa de Papel’

Featuring Korea’s top talents

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March 31, 2021

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A few full moons ago, we heard Netflix is about to release a Korean adaptation of the popular Spanish Original Series La Casa de Papel, also known as Money Heist. We even made hilarious suggestions on who’s going to perform the role of Arturito.

The Heist comes to Korea! Netflix announces the Korean adaptation of its Spanish original series #LaCasaDePapel 💸

And we all know who’d be the perfect Arturito 😅

Posted by GadgetMatch on Tuesday, December 1, 2020

But, no more guessing. Netflix has just announced the official casting for the Korean Original Series. The show will feature Korea’s top talents including Yoo Ji-Tae from The Swindlers as the Professor, Kim Yunjin from Seven Days, Ode to My Father as Seon Woojin, an inspector at Task Force Team. (Think: Raquel Murillo.)

The Korean adaptation of La Casa de Papel — which will launch globally as a Netflix Original Series — centers around members of the gang recruited by the Professor. It will be similar to the well-loved series, complete with hostages, and a Task Force Team tackling the heist.

More details are yet to come, but one thing is certain. The show’s creators will breathe new life into the familiar storyline to global audiences with 12 episodes. And we’re all aboard the hype train.

The Korean adaptation is directed by Kim Hong-Sun, written by Ryu Yong-jae, Kim Hwan-chae, and Choe Sung-jun. Meanwhile, BH Entertainment and Contents Zium serve as the production companies.

The official cast

Gang Members: Yoo Ji-tae (“The Professor”), Park Hae-soo (“Berlin”), Jeon Jong-seo (“Tokyo”), Lee Won-jong (“Moscow”), Kim Ji-hun (“Denver”), Jang Yoon-ju (“Nairobi”), Park Jung-woo (“Rio”), Kim Ji-hun (“Helsinki”), Lee Kyu-ho (“Oslo”)

Task Force Team: Kim Yunjin (“Seon Woojin”), Kim Sung-o (“Cha Moohyuk”)

Hostages: Park Myung-hoon (“Cho Youngmin”), Lee Joobeen (“Youn Misun”)

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Netflix new anime features Record of Ragnarok, Resident Evil

And many more titles

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March 29, 2021

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Anime fans will have their fill as Netflix is serving a bountiful anime buffet in the following months. Staying true to their announcement at the all virtual AnimeJapan 2021 event months back, more titles are coming our way.

During the virtual stage event, Netflix announced the upcoming worldwide release of Record of Ragnarok (premiering June 2021), an anime adaptation of the hugely successful manga of the same name. The story about the epic fight for the fate of humanity will join an ever expanding slate of anime, including previously announced titles like the comedic, slice-of-life series The Way of the Househusband (premiering April 8, 2021) or the popular RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness (premiering later this year).

Here’s everything that’s coming soon that you should watch out for:

Record of Ragnarok
Global Premiere Date — June 2021

Record of Ragnarok is the story of 13 gods from across the globe and 13 of the world’s most notable humans fighting it out in one-on-one battles to decide the fate of humanity.  Based on the manga created by Azychika, Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui, an earnest battle of transcendental rage begins!

  • Based on a manga by Azychika, Shinya Umemura, Takumi Fukui
  • Director: Masao Okubo
  • Series Composition: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu
  • Character Design: Masaki Sato
  • Music: Koji Takanashi
  • Animation Production: GRAPHINICA
  • Voice Cast: Miyuki Sawashiro, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Tomokazu Seki, Hikaru Midorikawa, Wataru Takagi

Yasuke
Global Premiere Date — April 29, 2021

In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords.

  • Director, Creator, Executive Producer: LeSean Thomas (Cannon Busters)
  • Character Design: Takeshi Koike
  • Music & Executive producer: Flying Lotus
  • Animation Production: MAPPA
  • Voice Cast (Yasuke) & Executive Producer: LaKeith Stanfield

EDEN
Global Premiere Date — May 27, 2021

Thousands of years in the future, a city known as “Eden” is inhabited solely by Artificially Intelligent robots whose former masters vanished long ago. On a routine assignment, within the depths of the city, two maintenance robots accidentally awaken a human baby girl from stasis questioning all they were taught to believe– that humans were nothing more than a forbidden ancient myth. Together, the two robots secretly raise the child in a safe haven outside Eden.

  • Director: Yasuhiro Irie (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
  • Producer: Justin Leach
  • Character design: Toshihiro Kawamoto
  • Concept design: Christophe Ferreira
  • Screenplay: Kimiko Ueno
  • Background art director: Clover Xie
  • Music: Kevin Penkin
  • Animation Production: CGCG

The Way of the Househusband 
Global Premiere Date — April 19, 2021

Feared among the yakuza as “The Immortal Dragon”, Tatsu is a legend of the underworld with an impressive number of defeated rival gangs under his belt. However, hoping to wash his hands of his past, Tatsu gets married and devotes himself fully to the way of the househusband by diligently undertaking the cooking, cleaning, washing and grocery shopping each day. On the other hand, there’s one person who’s not happy about Tatsu’s new domestic life — his tough, former yakuza underling, Masa. As Tatsu tries his best to pursue the way of the househusband, one assassin after another tries their hand at taking him out!

  • Based on a story by Kosuke Oono
  • Director: Chiaki Kon (Nodame Cantabile, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal)
  • Series Composition: Susumu Yamakawa
  • Theme Song performed by UchikubiGokumonDoukoukai
  • Opening song, Shufu no michi / ending song, ”Kiwami”meoto kaido
  • Animation Production: J.C.STAFF
  • Cast: Kenjiro Tsuda, Shizuka Ito, Kazuyuki Okitsu

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness 
Global Premiere Date — 2021

In 2006, there were traces of improper access to secret Presidential files found in the White House’s network. American federal agent Leon S. Kennedy is among the group invited to the White House to investigate this incident, but when the lights suddenly go out, Leon and the SWAT team are forced to take down a horde of mysterious zombies. Meanwhile, TerraSave staff member Claire Redfield encounters a mysterious image drawn by a youth in a country she visited, while providing support to refugees. Haunted by this drawing, which appears to be of a victim of viral infection, Claire starts her own investigation. The next morning, Claire visits the White House to request the construction of a welfare facility. There, she has a chance reunion with Leon and uses the opportunity to show him the boy’s drawing. Leon seems to realize some sort of connection between the zombie outbreak at the White House and the strange drawing, but he tells Claire that there is no relation and leaves. In time, these two zombie outbreaks in distant countries lead to events that shake the nation to its very core.

  • Original Work/Production/Supervision: Capcom Co., Ltd.
  • Full 3DCG animation production: Quebico
  • Production: TMS Entertainment

 

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Entertainment

We’re getting an OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition

For the Marvel diehard

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March 23, 2021

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Marvel fanatics, assemble! OPPO has once again teamed up with Marvel for a brand new collaboration. This is the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition.

It’s the exact same ideal midranger that is the OPPO Reno5 but this one’s in 4G and is heavily Marvel branded. For specs, features, and what the phone can do, you can read this hands-on.

We’re in the endgame now

The OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition takes heavy inspiration from the Quantum Suits worn by the Avengers on the film Avengers:Endgame when they went on a “time heist” to retrieve the Infinity Stones and undo Thanos’ snap.

It’s a combination of black, gray, silver, and red. While in the center of the phone’s back casing is the “A” logo, which combines two iconic Marvel elements —  the Avengers logo and Captain America’s shield. The back of the phone is designed around the letter “X”, taking its inspiration from the logo of Black Widow.

The textured finish creates a unique feel to the phone reminiscent of the high-tech suits worn by The Avengers. The sides of the phone are silver with a black stripe in the middle revealed through laser-etching.

Avengers accessories

Naturally, The packaging and accessories included in the OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition are also Avengers-themed. Everything from the earphones, SIM card extractor pin, charger, and charge cable come in graphical and color elements from Marvel’s The Avengers.

There’s also a protective phone case designed in the iconic Marvel style of a red background printed with theoriginal six avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye.

 

ColorOS 11: Avengers theme

That’s not the official name but it might as well be. The homescreen of the Reno5 Marvel Edition is again reminiscent of Quantum Suits. OPPO app icons also have their own Marvel Universe coating to them.  To stay within universe, there are six different lockscreen wallpapers.

The icons of the original OPPO apps on the home screen have been replaced with those depicting various heroes or items in the Marvel Universe.

The OPPO Reno5 Marvel Edition will be available in select markets including the Philippines.

SEE ALSO: Unboxing the OPPO F11 Pro Marvel’s Avengers Limited Edition

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