The artist becomes a successful fan, and 'Live Wire' opens its doors.
On the morning of the 19th, a press conference for Mnet's 'Live Wire' was held at the Community House Masil located in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. The press conference featured PD Shin Yoo-seon along with Jung Jae-hyung and Code Kunst, and music critic Kim Yoon-ha served as the host.
'Live Wire' is a new concept music entertainment that goes beyond a simple stage, connecting artists with each other, audiences with each other, and the stage with viewers through 'music'. It aims to continue the legacy of live music programs previously presented by Mnet while conveying the value of experiencing vivid performances live.
'Live Wire's most significant feature is the relay nomination, where the guest artists in each episode directly nominate the next participants, giving rise to unpredictable musical combinations. This fosters authentic bonds between artists as well as unexpected musical consolidations, adding a distinctive charm as 'a unique music show.'
Here, Jung Jae-hyung and Code Kunst have been selected as MCs, showcasing their different charms. The two MCs, who traverse the realms of music and entertainment, convey refined conversation and chemistry through 'Live Wire'. Additionally, the audience is categorized into four types based on tests: 'core insider emotional exchange,' 'core insider blunt exchange,' 'homebody emotional exchange,' and 'homebody blunt exchange,' enhancing the entertainment of observing distinctly different reactions from the audience in each category.
According to the guest lineup revealed by Mnet's 'Live Wire,' the first episode will feature DPR IAN, The Kim Chang-wan Band, Roy Kim, Lee Young-ji, and Touched, while the second episode will include Kim Kwang-jin, NCT's Doyoung, Bolbbalgan4 (An Ji-young), and Lee Mu-jin. The third episode will showcase N.Flying, Ozone, Jannabi, Car the Garden, and Han Ro-ro, and the fourth episode will highlight Nuksal x Kadeko, Dynamic Duo, NMIXX, and Jeon So-mi. Additionally, it has drawn attention that idol members will appear in every episode except for the premiere.
On this day, as they began the talk with three keywords, the first keyword that emerged was 'authenticity.' PD Shin Yoo-seon opened up about the reason for the program's launch, saying, 'I felt that the way people consume music has changed from merely listening to focusing on live performances. I felt that older live broadcasts were more loved on digital platforms. Seeing people visiting the performance venues, I thought it would be great to rebirth this program with authenticity, given the current era and cultural flow, and that's why I decided to create the program.'
In a situation where music talk shows are quite rare in the country, expectations for the program are rising because of the increased desire among audiences to enjoy live performances post-COVID. PD Shin noted, 'We have invited legendary artists like Kim Chang-wan, indie bands, and those gaining attention in overseas festivals, as well as loved figures like Lee Young-ji and Roy Kim from the MZ generation. We have already filmed up to the fourth episode, and many collaborations between seniors and juniors have taken place, and special stages emerging through behind-the-scenes talk are also expected to make for an entertaining watching experience.'
Why did the two MCs, who are showcasing their performances across music and entertainment, accept the offer to be hosts for a music program? Jung Jae-hyung said, 'I was actually someone who had declined at first. My schedule was too busy with drama music, making it a bit difficult to balance between music and entertainment. There aren't many places for musicians to stand, and there are limited ways to showcase oneself apart from performances. After some contemplation, I discussed it with the producers at Mnet, and since I would be co-hosting with Code Kunst, I thought this show would stand out from the traditional music programs, so I decided to take part.'
What captivated Jung Jae-hyung about the producers' stories? He explained, 'I think it was the passion. Many people are working hard for the same program, but for 'Live Wire,' a lot of effort goes into the format itself, so I thought if they are that enthusiastic about creating this program, it might be worth a try, especially since music programs struggle in ratings. Thus, I thought it could be something we should do.' His speculation that it might also be a kind of responsibility as a senior was met with, 'I don't feel a sense of responsibility. I think everyone should walk their own path, and if we can create opportunities, I think we should.'
Code Kunst explained his reasons for participating, saying, 'First of all, I joined because my senior is involved. Before entering, it's important for me to feel if I'm needed or if I'm interested in this program. My main interest came from the fact that the senior, who I respect, is joining. The topic of 'consolidation' also resonated with me. When I started music, I used to meet people in person, but over time, I regretted that I mostly worked via contact rather than meet-ups. I found it intriguing to see people who couldn't meet each other do so through this program.'
When the second keyword of 'consolidation' came up, Code Kunst mentioned, 'I'll give you a hint: there's a big age gap, right? A highly senior artist invited a much younger artist. You'll also see that kind of consolidation, and I was curious how that mechanism applies here in terms of musicians. There's a visible respect when I see musicians I admire, and I found that very interesting. While there's enjoyment in juniors seeing seniors, there's also a reverse consolidation where seniors feel good about seeing junior musicians.'
Jung Jae-hyung stated, 'I feel that musicians can sense each other's music without words, and we can see such moments in 'Live Wire.' There needs to be some kind of hub for consolidation; in a way, we act as intermediaries. There's a certain catharsis when I, or Code Kunst, connect very young seniors and juniors in one place. That's portrayed quite candidly on the broadcast, and it's evoked a greater emotional stir for me than when I initially decided to join. I mentioned during the first recording that I was glad to make music, and I think I felt that even more while listening to others' music.'
'Live Wire' is characterized by its appeal to viewers or music fans, showcasing active audience participation. PD Shin Yoo-seon said, 'These days, many people communicate in a non-face-to-face manner online, but what they truly desire is offline interaction. Those who share common interests want to unite, so we thought about how to recruit audiences and decided to connect them through music; conducting music preference tests allows us to reveal their consumption patterns.'
PD Shin noted, 'We can distinguish whether someone is the type of person who is a core insider or prefers to quietly appreciate the music, and when they enter, it showcases four zones, which makes it very easy for people with similar tendencies to quickly become friends. It was fascinating from the first recording how the audience's tendencies were clearly visible.' Jung Jae-hyung added, 'What was most enjoyable was that the audience members need to be comfortable. Some may find it burdensome to shout, but everyone enjoyed the music in their own way, and many people liked it.'
Regarding the final keyword 'live,' PD Shin Yoo-seon explained, 'While planning the program, I pondered a lot. What's most important in a live program? I hope it becomes a program that moves the audience through sound. We had many meetings with the sound director and invited artists; I wanted to create a stage where immersion is possible through sound. Furthermore, we have a house band in our program, and there have been rumors about how good the sound is. Jung Jae-hyung recommended capable individuals, so we are collaborating with them, and the artists provide a lot of feedback regarding sound and audio.'
Jung Jae-hyung remarked, 'They are incredibly talented friends; they don't have broadcasting band experience. They are musicians participating in actual performances, and I remember being surprised when they readily agreed to join after the first recording. The performance is so good that just listening to it uplifts my mood. When you think of Mnet, it relates to music, and I think this is a music program carefully crafted, just like their high-quality sound.'
PD Shin Yoo-seon mentioned, 'Many artists have commented on how they enjoyed watching the performances they've always seen backstage in a new light from the side.' Code Kunst echoed this, saying, 'Being a musician who plays from the back, I've watched from behind before, but it's my first time seeing from the side. Seeing a person's profile brings personal imagination and emotions into play. When observing music head-on, individual thoughts are integrated, making lonely music lonelier and lively music more energetic. It was entertaining to see from a new angle.'
How was the chemistry between Jung Jae-hyung and Code Kunst? Jung Jae-hyung shared, 'I was quite anxious about meeting for the first time. It's uncommon to host together from the first meeting, but it felt fresh. Meaningfully fresh. Talking about music in front of an audience is not easy. Explaining things that are not seen can be boring, so if I had just acted as a conventional MC, would it have been enjoyable? I wonder. But within that, Code Kunst would suggest, 'Jae-hyung, let's step out briefly from Hongdae,' which made the experience tremendously enjoyable with his explanations. I was impressed by his MC skills.'
Code Kunst also stated, 'I actually had similar thoughts as you. It takes time for musicians to become closely acquainted. They often have their guards up; if we don't create a comfortable atmosphere here, the four musicians who are linked may end up in a situation where they see each other for the first time.' He continued, 'Since I have been curious about the music and words that Jae-hyung has shared for a long time, I decided to be part of this program. Interestingly, I often find myself digressing when talking, and I tend to provide a lot of TMI, speaking casually like you would in a bar. So, Jae-hyung anchors the conversation, allowing us to share sincere stories. He feels like the captain while I'm the helmsman.'
Considering the program's nature of bringing in artists whom the artists wish to see, it's also a point of curiosity how far they can go with invitations. In response, PD Shin Yoo-seon said, 'For the first episode, we invite artists we have approached. We decide the first guest ourselves, and after confirming the guest, we ask which artists they would like to see, and many artists provide us with names. We proceed to invite artists from the list provided based on availability.'
Code Kunst added, 'Although I think it may be somewhat challenging, there's actually no major problem; if you ask who they want to see, I feel about a hundred names would come up. It's almost overwhelming to have too many options.'
Who would these artists want to invite? Jung Jae-hyung expressed, 'What worried me about participating in this program is that the friends around me are those who don't readily accept broadcasting invitations. I felt envious seeing Code Kunst's friends on the show. I hope those friends can join comfortably too. I want to do this with Lee So-ra and Lee Jeok-ah. They are friends I really wish to collaborate with after seeing this interview.'
Code Kunst shared, 'I could talk about musicians I want to see for about two and a half hours. I actually dream of it happening at least once. Since my profession is that of a producer, I have many fellow musicians, and there have been instances where a musician I know has appeared. I would love if Lee So-ra, whom Jae-hyung has mentioned, could come out; she was someone who accompanied my emotions when I was young and I want to watch from the audience seating instead of being the MC.'
Lastly, PD Shin Yoo-seon stated, 'I loved Panic's songs when I was younger. I thought about significant artists, and it turns out this year marks their 30th anniversary. I was hoping they could reunite on 'Live Wire' to celebrate this milestone.'
Meanwhile, Mnet's 'Live Wire' will air simultaneously on Mnet and tvN at 7 p.m. on the 20th.
[Photo] Min Kyung-hoon reporter, provided by Mnet.
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