The Perfect Music Industry Part 1

What makes a good music industry? Why do some industries fall behind others? Why do some advance so quickly?

We will use two examples. Today, we will be analyzing the Korean music industry (KMI).

For those unfamiliar with the KMI, I have two songs that you should watch to get a feel of what I want to discuss. The first is Big Bang's "Bang Bang Bang." The second is Shinee's "Hello." You may want to have a look at Psy's "Gangnam Style" or "Gentleman" for extra reference.

Part of what makes Korean music so appealing is the amount of effort they put into making the MV's flashy and the music closer to a Western type style. The MV's use a lot of capital to do the things they do. For instance, in Bang Bang Bang, imagine how much money was spent producing the MV. Definitely not cheap. Furthermore, the KMI have transformed their stars into amazing dancers. In Hello, do you see the harmony and sharp movements of the five members? These sharp movements and amazing MV features make the MV feel like a high quality.

We must also consider culture and politics. The KMI is using the internet, and especially YouTube, to push their music into foreign markets. The high accessibility of their videos makes it easier for different audiences to see the videos. The government also seems to like the idea. They don't seem to put any restrictions on the what MV's they can make. In fact, they may in fact encourage and pour money into the KMI.

If you have been following Korean music for a while, you may notice that singers tend to sing in other languages as well, especially English, Chinese, and Japanese. If you think about it, Japan and China house a lot of people. If you can penetrate into their markets, you have access to more consumers, and thus more money. Sometimes, Korean groups add Chinese or Japanese members so that they can connect with foreign listeners. Other times, two groups of the same name are created, but each will include members from different countries. For instance, Exo-K (Korean) and Exo-M (Mandarin Chinese).

Next week, we will analyze a music industry that has not been so successful.

The Night Shift

My personal preference is working a day shift. But sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Working a night shift scared me because it was dark out and things can get unpredictable. On the other hand, you meet a lot of interesting people. They do things you never expect. You see them with people and wonder what their relationship is. Working a night shift has really opened my eyes to a different world that I have never seen before.

A Flip Side To Things

Sometimes, it is not the other person you should be scared of. Rather, it is they who should be scared of you.

It's An Art

I hate it when people jaywalk the wrong way. 

If you are going to jaywalk, do it quickly, and look as if you are walking normally. I hate it when people walk across the street like a turtle who didn't breakfast. What if that truck driver decides to run you over?

Jaywalking is an art form. It takes a master to jaywalk like a boss.

Inner Turmoil

They say "the things you regret the most are those things you never did." So, there is this girl. I don't know why, but I'm attracted to her. I can't say what happened. I see her walking around. Back then I didn't feel anything for her. She was simply a face that I vaguely recognized. But today, something clicked in my head. I could not stop thinking about her. I wonder what this foreshadows. But for whatever reason, I'm hesitant about making a move on her. What's holding me back is not my shyness, but rather, a dark judgment. 

What am I to do?

Organic Chemistry

I want to go on google images and search up benzene. Right now.

That ring looks cool, eh? It looks simple, and yet the things it has made shocked and surprised. Search it up, and you'll see the true strength of benzene.

I think students downplay organic chemistry. Perhaps they have yet to see how organic chemistry applies to other aspects of life. Doctors haven't even appreciated organic chemistry, so I suppose normal people like us have a long way to go to appreciating it.

What do you think?

The Poltergeist

I hate watching horror movies. It scares me so much that I can't sleep for the next week. I can't help but imagine what would happen if the supernatural started to haunt me. I thought about this, and I think I know exactly what would happen.

Let us call the supernatural being haunting me "the poltergeist."

The poltergeist would be standing next to me with an axe raised above his head. His drool will drop onto my face waking me up. As I wake up, I'll probably scream. Then my little brothers beside me would wake up and see the poltergeist. The door to our room would close. My parents would be pounding the door outside. The poltergeist is grinning, as my brothers and I group up together in the corner.

But just as the poltergeist thinks he's got us corner, I'll throw my shirt at him to blind him momentarily. As soon as that happens, I'll take him down onto the ground. My brothers will jump in right after. And we'll decorate the poltergeist's face. The end.

I still don't understand why I'm scared of horror movies if my brothers and I are going to decorate the poltergeist's face should he or she come. Would it not be more reasonable to assume that the poltergeist should be the one scared?