Evolution of Music Audition TV Programs and Exploration of K-Pop’s Characteristic

This Study analyzed music audition TV programs aired in South Korea to categorize them into periods and explored the musical characteristic of K-Pop covered in the programs. This research questions are what is the historical trend of music audition programs in South Korea, what are the music that has recorded high topicality, and what characteristics of K-Pop music in the programs. The subject of the study included all music based audition programs broadcast on terrestrial, cable, and general programming channels, from MBC’s in 1977 to JTBC’s scheduled to air in 2025. At this time, survival programs featuring veteran singers were excluded. As a result, music audition programs could be dived into four eras; 1st period: one-time audition, 2nd period: introduction of reality and survival format, 3rd period: diversification of genres, 4th period: trot era. The programs representing each period are , , , and , and the music that recorded high topicality was Shin Hae-cheol’s “To You,” Akdong Musician’s “Don’t Cross Your Legs,” Produce 101’s “Pick Me,” and Young Woong Lim’s “The Story of an Old Couple in their 60s.” The number of views on YouTube increased for the most recent content, identifying a positive trend in music audition TV programs. The contest songs from each program often swept first place on domestic music charts, showing a high market share in the popular music market, and the genres ranged from folk and band music to ballads, EDM, hip-hop, and trot. This study has great significance in that it academically summarizes historical trends by identifying the changes of music-based TV audition programs, and the level of public interest represented by SNS indicators and music charts.