logo
Naver signs licensing deal with Universal Music to elevate creators' content

Naver signs licensing deal with Universal Music to elevate creators' content

Korea Herald18-04-2025

Naver said Friday it has signed a music licensing agreement with Universal Music Group, the world's largest record label, allowing creators on its short-form video platform Clip to use a vast library of global music in their videos.
Through the agreement, Clip creators will have access to over 2.1 million tracks from top international artists including The Beatles, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
The latest deal builds on Naver's efforts to expand its music offerings, following the addition of a wide range of K-pop, indie and jazz tracks last month.
The timing of the partnership aligns with Clip's newly launched location-based challenge, Today's Clip, which encourages users to freely share content from trendy hotspots without thematic restrictions.
According to Naver, the campaign has driven a 35 percent increase in user-generated videos compared to the previous month's Clip Power Challenge, with a particularly strong turnout from users in their teens and twenties.
To further support its creator ecosystem, the IT company has also rolled out a series of updates to the Clip video editor.
These include easier background music integration, recommendations for newly released or trending tracks and a new feature allowing users to bookmark frequently used songs for quick access.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Where do Korean celebrities stand in politics?
Where do Korean celebrities stand in politics?

Korea Herald

timean hour ago

  • Korea Herald

Where do Korean celebrities stand in politics?

In politically charged Korea, celebrities walk tightrope of neutrality Following South Korea's presidential election on June 3, a seemingly innocuous act by one of the nation's most celebrated actresses ignited a storm. Actress Song Hye-kyo pressed 'like' on now President-elect Lee Jae-myung's then-election campaign video on his HR policy. The simple gesture came under fire, drawing fierce backlash from those accusing her of breaking an unspoken rule: Celebrities in South Korea must remain politically neutral — or even near-total political abstinence. The controversy underscores a long-standing tension in Korean pop culture, where public figures in the fields of entertainment and culture are expected to suppress even the slightest hint of political affiliation. During the June election, numerous celebrities, from K-pop idols to comedians, were compelled to apologize or explain their actions for reasons as mundane as wearing red or blue, the symbolic colors of the rival People Power Party and Democratic Party of Korea, respectively. In one widely discussed case, League of Legends esports team Gen.G abstained from their usual 'V for victory' gesture after setting a historic win streak, fearing it could be mistaken as a political statement for candidate No. 2, Kim Moon-soo. Similarly, popular figures like Karina of aespa, entertainer Hong Jin-kyung and rapper Beenzino faced criticism for wearing red clothing, widely associated with Kim's People Power Party during the campaign period. Others, like comedian Park Sung-kwang and actress Ahn So-hee, were accused of showing political bias simply by posting images with blue rooftops or red roses. This hyper-vigilant policing of neutrality has left many wondering: Why are Korean celebrities held to such extreme standards? Idol as 'cultural blank slate' 'Korean celebrities, particularly idols, are not merely entertainers. They are seen as projections of fan ideals — cultural blank slates,' said cultural critic Kim Heon-sik. 'This makes any personal expression — political or otherwise — subject to public interpretation and judgment.' The term "idol" in Korea has come to denote more than admiration. As The Independent put it, idols are expected to embody fan fantasies while remaining void of personal beliefs that may challenge that image. In this framework, political neutrality is not just preferred, it is mandatory. 'Fans don't see idols as individuals with agency. They are shaped, controlled and even owned — emotionally — by their followers. A 'like' on a campaign post can be perceived as betrayal if it's not in line with what the fan thinks,' Kim added. This leads to K-pop idols often avoiding using primary colors, hand gestures or even certain numbers during election periods. Some go so far as to post black-and-white photos to preempt controversy, a trend that was lauded as 'socially aware' during the most recent campaign. South Korea's hypersensitivity to political expression has deep historical roots. As a country marked by ideological division and rapid democratic transition, political affiliations have long carried career-altering consequences. Even now, expressing support for one party or another can result in social ostracism, economic repercussions or online attacks. Bae Sang-hoon, a sociology professor at Chungbuk University, explained, 'South Korea's political environment is emotionally charged, and people project these tensions onto public figures.' "The issue is compounded by the country's deepening culture of fan attachment. The emotional investment that fans place in idols, often described as 'parasocial relationships,' can blur the lines between admiration and control. That emotional ownership has only intensified as fans use celebrities as a proxy to process their own social anxieties," Bae added. Some observers suggest that intense attachment to celebrities serves, in part, as an emotional coping mechanism. 'In a highly competitive society, where people feel disconnected and under pressure, celebrities serve as emotional anchors,' Bae added. 'This can turn into a toxic dynamic when fans begin to expect moral purity and political conformity from people who are essentially strangers.' Calls are growing for a more mature fan culture — one that allows room for artists to engage as citizens without fear of professional ruin. But such a change will require a fundamental reevaluation of the role celebrities play in society and the emotional needs they are often expected to fulfill. 'If we want to continue celebrating the rise of K-pop and Korean soft power, we must also ask whether we are granting our stars the same freedoms we expect in a democratic society," said a 31-year-old surnamed Kim who is active in fandom activities.

QWER paves its own path
QWER paves its own path

Korea Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

QWER paves its own path

Band christens own music as 'Q-pop,' emphasizing unique qualities With its third mini album 'In a Million Noises, I'll Be Your Harmony,' QWER showcased an evolved musicality as well as the growth the group has achieved. Since its debut in October 2023, QWER has quickly risen to become one of K-pop's representative all-female bands, earning enthusiastic responses from fans at various festivals and live shows. 'This album completes the first page of QWER's story and promises moments that will remain unchanged forward,' said bassist Magenta. The album includes six tracks: the main song 'Dear,' along with 'Be Happy,' '#QWER,' 'Overdrive,' 'D-Day' and 'Yours Sincerely.' Notably, the members participated directly in the songwriting and composition for all the tracks, further shaping the group's musical identity. Drummer Chodan shared, 'We wrote lyrics while traveling on concert tours and recorded between concert schedules. It was tough, but it left us with a strong sense of pride.' The Korean title of the track 'Dear' is 'Holding Back Tears,' and it conveys the determination to bravely carry on despite overwhelming sadness. 'The instrumentation is powerful and energetic, but it carries a deeply emotional story within. I think this track perfectly fits the summer vibe,' explained Chodan. Magenta stressed that the instrumentation of the new songs was more difficult than before, and they practiced endlessly to the point where her fingerprints were worn down — a testament to QWER's tireless dedication. The music video centers on themes of tears and rain, featuring emotional acting and intense performances. 'There's a scene where I cry in the rain, so I practiced crying a lot. It was my first time acting, so I was really nervous, but the director gave detailed direction, which helped me a lot,' recalled vocalist Siyeon. Even before the band's debut, QWER faced popular doubts due to the individual members' unconventional backgrounds on livestreaming platform Twitch and TikTok. However, with a distinct musical identity and continued success on the music charts, QWER has been collecting invitations to major music festivals. 'We're so grateful for all the love. Last year, we even attended year-end music award shows. The growth we made together truly defines who we are,' said Chodan. Guitarist Hina expressed her ambition to define QWER's unique musical identity as 'Q-pop,' saying, 'We hope our sound becomes so distinct that when people hear it, they immediately know it's a QWER song.'

National Museum of Korea seeks to broaden reach of Korean culture overseas
National Museum of Korea seeks to broaden reach of Korean culture overseas

Korea Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Korea Herald

National Museum of Korea seeks to broaden reach of Korean culture overseas

State-run museum supports over 23 museums in 10 countries through Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program South Korean culture has much more to offer than K-pop. Setting its sights on making South Korea one of the top five nations in terms of soft power, the state-run National Museum of Korea has been actively promoting Korean art and culture by providing grants to Korean galleries at overseas institutions through its Overseas Korean Galleries Support Program since 2009. A total of 23 museums in 10 countries are part of the program as of May this year. They include the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi, to name a few. For example, the Reitberg Museum in Switzerland is hosting a special exhibition titled "Hallyu! The Korea Wave" from April 4 to Aug. 17, showcasing Korea's vibrant and diverse pop culture. With over 200 objects on display, the exhibition invites visitors to delve into the genesis of hallyu, its links to traditional Korean art, and its global influence on artistic fields, including pop culture, film and fashion. On view at the Reitberg Museum are works by video art pioneer Paik Nam-june, a replica of the set from the four-time Oscar-winning film "Parasite," and hanbok worn by Korean celebrities. The exhibition also features a Google Art Dance Room where visitors can learn K-pop moves and dance along with choreographers. The exhibition is part of a traveling series that began in 2022. The show was created by a curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum in the UK appointed through NMK's support program. The exhibition has toured internationally, with stops at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco in 2024. A special touring exhibition will showcase artifacts donated by the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee starting in November. The exhibition will feature various Korean cultural artifacts, including several National Treasures, according to a senior official at the state-run museum. Also, curatorial staff members have been dispatched to the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and the Art Institute of Chicago to prepare for the exhibition. The first stop will be at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in the US in November, followed by the Art Institute of Chicago in March and the British Museum in September next year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store