Access K-pop on Your Smartphone with KT's Genie App - HanCinema

Psy amassed millions of fans, raising interest in Korean entertainers in the process. Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/Y2r4MU

Girls' Generation's latest single "I got a boy" racked up over 30 million views on YouTube, but K-pop fans outside of Korea have a new option: Now you can listen to all your favorite K-pop right on your smartphone. KT Corp announced that it was expanding its Genie KPOP mobile music app to 45 countries to meet global demand.

It's undeniable that K-pop fever has only increased with Psy's breakout fame in 2012 and the continued popularity of groups like Big Bang, 2NE1 and SHINee around the world. But it wasn't always easy for fans outside of Korea to buy music and video content of their favorite celebs.

The Genie music service, which helps solve that problem, is already the number 2 music app in the Google Play store. Not only can you purchase the latest songs from entertainment labels like SM, JYP and YG, but music videos, photos and video clips of popular artists are also available.

KT is promising never before seen video footage of K-pop artists as well as fun events to promote new talent on Genie. The only downside to this awesome app that I can discern so far is that it's only available to Android users.

You can listen to Girl's Generation's newest single on Genie KPOP. Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/VXRNLs

If you've ever been undecided about buying a song after listening to the typical 1-minute preview, you'll love the full track previews that Genie offers. This is a unique feature that allows users to listen to an entire track up to three times before purchasing it. Some songs even support full track streaming for free ? just look for the "F Play" icon on the right.

In another groundbreaking move by Genie, the service increased royalties paid to content holders to 70%. In the Korean music industry, where artists typically only pocket the equivalent of about 3 cents per track sold, this is quite radical. This favorable deal convinced Genie's seven major record labels, SM, JYP, YG, Media Line, Empire, Union CAN and Music Factory, to support its global expansion.

Genie has rolled out to 45 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America and Oceania, with a heavy focus on Europe (29 countries). According to KT, Genie will be introduced later in even more countries including Hong Kong, Japan, the UK, and South Africa.

SM Entertainment's iconic boy group Super Junior. Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/YqRThE

A review published by one K-pop enthusiast on Google Play captures why Genie has hit such a positive chord with fans worldwide. "This is the only app that has really satisfied me", the reviewer wrote. She said that not only did the service automatically save all purchases to the phone like a "KPOP iTunes", but that fans could also "help support the artist by paying for [songs]".

Sounds like a win-win situation for music lovers and music producers in the ever-changing world of Korean entertainment.

Source: http://www.hancinema.net/access-k-pop-on-your-smartphone-with-kt-s-genie-app-52421.html

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