Idol Live Singing Competition After LE SSERAFIM’s Coachella Controversy: From Planning Sound Issue To Performing With Hand Mics

Recently, university festivals have become a popular platform for idol groups to demonstrate their vocal abilities. Unlike on music shows, where they often lip sync, idols must perform live with MR music at university festivals, providing a more authentic and transparent opportunity for listeners to assess their singing talents.

In recent weeks, girl groups like aespa, (G)I-DLE, NMIXX, IVE, NewJeans, and StayC have been praised for their performances at university festivals. These groups have not only garnered support from their dedicated fanbase, but have also left a positive impression on the general public and non-K-pop fans.

Among all the performers, NMIXX stood out the most, particularly due to their impressive performance at Shinhan University festival on April 27th. During their rendition of “DICE”, the MR music suddenly stopped, but the NMIXX members quickly improvised and continued to sing live and dance to the rest of the song. This incident gained attention online, with many fans sharing viral fancams and praising the members’ talent. However, there was some controversy when it was revealed that JYP had coordinated the sound accident with the student council beforehand, in order to showcase the members’ singing abilities and enhance the festival’s atmosphere. This revelation caused a divide in public opinion.

Pop music critic Lim Hee-yoon, on June 2nd, provided an explanation for JYP’s decision to plan such an incident. She stated that the “music for watching”trend is still prevalent in K-pop, but there is a growing demand for skilled singers who can deliver impressive live performances. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of fancam as a crucial content in the industry. Lim also noted that despite the members’ talents and the quality of their content, NMIXX’s promotions did not yield the expected results. Therefore, it can be assumed that the company was highly motivated to showcase the members’ exceptional live performance abilities.

He went on to say, “In addition to the rise in content, such as self-produced material and live performances, there is now a higher demand for idols to showcase their entertainment abilities and vocal talents, in addition to their looks.”He also mentioned, “With the revival of band music, good singing skills have become an essential requirement for idols.”

Despite initially struggling on music streaming charts, BABYMONSTER ultimately reaped the benefits of the controversy surrounding idols’ live singing abilities. Their debut single “SHEESH”was released in April and did not receive high rankings. However, their live performances with a band, which were shared on YouTube and radio programs, caused the song to gradually rise on the charts. As of 4 p.m. on June 2nd, “SHEESH”is now at No.15 on Melon TOP 100. This success has led BABYMONSTER to bring their hand microphones to music shows and perform with a live band.

In the meantime, there has been an increase in criticism and malicious comments towards groups with poor live singing skills, such as LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT. According to an official from the entertainment industry, the encore stage on music shows has become a crucial test for idols’ singing abilities. As a result, there is a growing focus on the vocal skills of idols, and it is important for them to prioritize improvement through vocal lessons.