K-Pop's Global Expansion Kickoff 'MUCON' In-Person Event Returns After 3 Years

Forty Musician Teams Participate in Showcase... Zico, KARD, 10cm Also
Business Matching with Management and Agencies from Around the World

The Seoul International Music Fair (MU:CON) is returning as an in-person event for the first time in three years. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), this is a global music market event. From the 19th to the 21st, it will feature global music business programs such as showcases, open sessions, workshops, and business matching at Nodeul Island in Seoul.

Over three days, forty musicians from various genres will perform showcases at the Nodeul Island Live House and the multipurpose hall, Sup. Artists performing on the 19th include Solutions, Annyeongbada, Ocean from the Blue, WeDance, and Just B; on the 20th, Dabda, Rakuna, J-Yuna, cotoba, and TRPP; and on the 21st, Gaho, Grizzly, D’allant, SURL, Woo Jin Young, and Idiotape. Popular musicians such as Zico, KARD, P1Harmony, Lucy, ADOY, N.Flying, KARD, 10cm, SAAY, Wonstein, and George will also grace the stage as guests.

The showcase musicians will also participate in online and on-site business matching sessions aimed at promoting their global expansion. They will meet with management companies, booking agents, and PR agencies from around the world to explore overseas activities. A KOCCA official stated, "Participants include Mushroom Group, Australia's largest entertainment group; Downtown Music Japan, which manages and services music copyrights; and Sweden's Music Help, which organizes the Future Echoes Festival."

KOCCA has also introduced a business workshop this year. It is a platform to share know-how and experiences that awaken business acumen in the music industry. The open session on the 20th is themed "Power Players Leading Korea to the Global Stage." Speakers include Tricia Arnold, Senior Vice President of Orchard; Tom Windish, Head of Business Development at Wasserman Music; and Moon Han-kyu, Managing Partner of UC Global, who will share their experiences promoting Korean musicians' global expansion. Orchard is a major distributor with branches in 45 countries, handling global distribution and promotion for K-pop artists such as BTS and CL. Wasserman Music successfully led world tours for artists like Billie Eilish. UC Global hosts the world-renowned Ultra Music Festival in the Asian region.

The business workshop will also share work know-how under the themes "Content Making That Builds Fandom" and "Directions of Global Tour Changes After the Pandemic." Speakers include Matt Felici of Liquid State and Guillaume Pichot of Kayak Music Management. Liquid State is a dance label jointly established by Sony Music Entertainment and Tencent Music Entertainment, while Kayak Music Management is the management company representing the British duo HONNE.

KOCCA will also hold a session reviewing the Japanese music industry to commemorate next month's Tokyo K-pop showcase. Masato Taira, CEO of The Qoo, and Yohei Yashiro, producer at Sony Music Entertainment, will participate to introduce changes in the Japanese music industry after the pandemic. The Qoo operates Pannicorn, Japan's largest membership-based fan community platform. Producer Yashiro is credited with leading YOASOBI to the top of the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.