K-Pop Star 2 Winners Akdong Musician – Where Do They Go From Here?

Already with several chart-topping singles under their belts from their time on the reality singing competition show K-Pop Star, it was no surprise when brother-sister duo Akdong Musician were named the season two winners. They follow in the footsteps of other popular singers in Korea who got their starts on such reality shows including Busker Busker, Lee Hi, Huh Gak, and John Park.

Akdong Musician is a little different, however. Sure, they are very young like last season's runner-up Lee Hi, and they have that folksy sound them like Jang Jae-in (and many others for that matter), but Akdong Musician is special. Youthful and creative, the original songs the siblings performed on TV became instant hits rocketing to the tops of music charts. At this point, future success is almost guaranteed for the teenagers. They have all the talent they need, and with a little more time and some good direction, they could easily become even bigger stars.

And now, as the official winners, Lee Chan Hyuk and Lee Soo Hyun have a difficult decision to make: just what label are they going to sign with? This is a very important decision to have to make at such a young age, and it is one that could potentially determine their entire futures.

On the one hand, there is SM Entertainment, the label behind mega groups Girls' Generation, Super Junior, and SHINee. A well-respected company that has put out some of the biggest names in the industry. If Akdong Musician was to sign with SM it would help launch the label in a new direction, away from the super group dance-pop formations they are so well known for. On the other hand, the duo's sound does not really fit well in the current catalogue of artists with the entertainment company, and therefore it is a bit uncertain how they would be managed and whether or not they would be able to get the kind of guidance they need at their young age.

YG Entertainment is another option for Akdong Musician. The company is heralded for the creative license given to their artists and their groups are wildly popular across the globe. While there are no members of the YG Family that currently have a similar sound, the artists are incredibly varied and boast a fantastic working relationship with one another. Season one runner-up Lee Hi joined YG and has seen incredible success in just the past several months alone. However, YG did drop the ball with the SuPearls, causing many to second-guess the company's integrity when it comes to reality show singers.

JYP Entertainment is probably the best option for the brother-sister pair. For starters, while judging K-Pop Star, Jin-young Park (JYP) always seemed the most engaged and impressed when watching Akdong Musician perform on stage, intently listening and smiling. Furthermore, he has experience with very young artists already (2AM's Jo Kwon and Miss A's Min being two of the youngest trainees in the history of the industry) and he offers a unique vision for each of the artists under his label. It may just be the right move for Akdong Musician.

At any rate, as the brother and sister continue to write and compose more songs and dabble with arrangements, there is no doubt that whatever company they decide to sign with, they will continue to have a big say in the music they produce.

Tags
akdong musician
JYP Entertainment
SM Entertainment
YG Entertainment
Join the Discussion

Latest Photo Gallery

Real Time Analytics