Welcome back.
ON VIEW POINT... today...
we shed light... on South Korea's music industry...
ranging from BTS... to K-TROT.
For more...
I have James BALMONT... a freelance journalist...
based in London.
James...
it's good... to have you... with us.
I also have TAMAR HERMAN... with the South China Morning Post... who is currently...
in New York.
Tamar... welcome to the program.
1) James...
last week...
BTS shared plans... to pause group activities... and to pursue solo projects.
Now...
these plans were shared... via... a video... of a dinner... among members...
celebrating their 9th anniversary.
What are your thoughts... on
this
manner of communication?
2) Tamar... how do you respond... to BTS's PLANNED SOLO ventures... and... their potential
impact... on the group's FUTURE MUSIC aspirations...
as a team?
3) James...
some pundits
believe...
BTS's absence...
as a group... in the music scene...
may serve... to offer...
other K-pop stars...
their time... under the limelight.
Do you agree?
4) Tamar...
I believe...
you wrote a book...
on BTS... titled...
BTS: Blood...
Sweat... and Tears.
Do tell us a bit about your book...
AND... what do you believe... is behind...
BTS's phenomenal success?
5) Beyond BTS...
James...
you
wrote
an amazing piece on Korea's TROT... a rather colorful music genre... that goes back...
to the beginning of the 20th century... and...
is largely linked... to our older generation.
First then...
what prompted
your
interest in TROT?
6) Tamar... strictly speaking within your capacity as a foreign listener... whose exposure
to TROT would have most likely come after your encounter with K-pop... what are your
thoughts... on the tunes... of TROT?
7) James...
TROT... like you covered in your article... is gaining quite a fanbase... among young
Koreans... as well.
How do you care...
to explain...
this trend?
8) Tamar.... do you see...
TROT... making greater inroads...
into the Western music market... perhaps?
All
right