B1A4’s Malaysia fan meeting being investigated for ‘inappropriate behavior’

Malaysian authorities are investigating the fan meeting of K-pop boy band B1A4 in Kuala Lumpur last Jan. 10 after a video showed the boys hugging and kissing Muslim fans on the forehead on stage in violation of Islamic code of conduct.
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/b1a4s-malaysia-fan-meeting-being-investigated-for-inappropriate-behavior/
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Winners at the 28th Golden Disk Awards

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Korean rapper Psy and boy band EXO bagged the most-prized trophies at the 28th Golden Disk Awards held on Jan. 16 at the Kyunghee University’s Grand Peace Palace.

Psy took home the Digital Daesang, or Song of the Year, for “Gentleman,” his follow-up track to his viral hit “Gangnam Style.”

(Clockwise from top left) Psy with SHINee’s Minho, EXO, BEAST, SHINee and Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and Tiffany. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com, isplus.joins.com and No Cut News)

Google’s most searched K-pop groups, Korean personalities in the Philippines

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Boy band EXO and SHINee’s Choi Minho became the most searched K-pop group and Korean personality in the Philippines in 2013, respectively.

Google Philippines released its annual year-end Zeitgeist, a collection of the top search queries by Filipinos on google.com.ph.

(Clockwise from top left) SHINee's Minho, EXO, Jang Geun Suk, Girls' Generation, Yoo In Na and SHINee. (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and EXO's Facebook page)

K-pop concert in Singapore cancelled

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

A much-awaited K-pop concert in Singapore that would have featured acts like EXO, SHINee and KARA was cancelled by the organizer due to “contractual obligations” to a Korean broadcasting company.

Fans are angry and scrambling to get ticket refunds after Fatfish Entertainment announced that the “MBC Korean Wave In Singapore 2013″ concert would not push through.

Teen Top, B1A4 and miss A at the press conference in Singapore for the concert last August (Photos from the MBC Korean Music Wave in Singapore 2013 Facebook page)

Girls' Generation, Psy emerge as bestselling artists in Korea for first half of 2013

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

Girls' Generation dominated albums sales in Korea while rappers Psy and Baechigi led in digital rankings for the first half of 2013.

Gaon Chart, Korea's version of Billboard, has released the rankings for January to June 2013 of album sales, digital singles and online downloads.

(Clockwise from the top) Girls' Generation, Psy and Baechigi (Photos by www.newsen.com)

K-pop Artists Win At The Japan Gold Disc Award 2013

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) has announced the winners of The Japan Gold Disc Award 2013 and seven K-pop artists made it to the list.

Established in 1987, The Japan Gold Disc Award recognizes the bestselling artists in Japan based on music sales and downloads.

(Clockwise from left) Winners Jang Geun-suk, KARA, Big Bang and Girls' Generation. (Photos by www.newsen.com)