November and December 2023 Directory
Links to all of the latest episodes and articles!
An Update
17 Carat K-Pop will be on a semi-hiatus for the next couple of weeks, but here is what you can expect in your podcast feed and inbox in the meantime:
A couple of minisodes I made at the end of 2023 and have not yet released!
Continuous lists of new music recommendations if you’re a paying subscriber!
Some new interviews!
Possibly some surprise bonus posts!
While awaiting my shows’ and blog’s next chapter, catch up with these guides to my past writing and podcast episodes!
My “23 Day” End-of-Year Project
Day 8: J-pop, C-pop, T-pop, and P-pop
My “Best of 2023” Episodes & Articles
Best Non-K-Pop Releases of 2023: Fifty different artists from the worlds of J-pop, C-pop, T-pop, and P-pop who released the most interesting, creative, and/or overall excellent music in 2023!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Best Songs of 2023: A guide to the best songs of the year from Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai artists!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Check out the corresponding article here!
Best Albums of 2023: A fast-paced guide to over 100 of 2023’s best albums released by Korean, Japanese, and Chinese artists!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Check out the corresponding articles here and here!
Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2023: The best music videos released by Korean artists in 2023, a list revealed in the form of a guessing game!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Check out the corresponding articles here and here!
More of 17 Carat K-Pop
ORANGE BLOOD Album Guide: I decode all of ENHYPEN’s ORANGE BLOOD pre-release material: the concept trailer and other video teasers, the pictures, and even the tracklist! From the context behind some key words to the details from ENHYPEN’s live shows that reappear in the teaser videos, this is my in-depth look at how ENHYPEN’s newest era picks up where the last one leaves off - and adds intriguing plot twists!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
ROCK-STAR Celebration!: My thoughts and theories about everything related to Stray Kids’ new album and corresponding videos: what the clown characters represent, how different parts of the multiverse influence each other, what to make of the “SKZFLIX” and “LALALALA” video endings, how new Stray Kids songs relate to older ones, and so much more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
The Star Seekers: The Ultimate Guide: A comprehensive overview of TXT’s Webtoon: a guide to the characters and themes, an episode-by-episode summary, and a look at the many nods to TXT’s music videos that are present throughout the series!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Phantom of the BOPera: HYBE and MBC’s olive-branch moment, BLACKPINK’s visit to Buckingham Palace, interesting data about how English language in K-pop songs has changed, FIFTY FIFTY updates, SEVENTEEN’s UNESCO Youth Forum speeches, and even more of the latest K-pop news!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Gyubin Interview: Artist-to-watch Gyubin addresses her “super rookie” label, shares why she admires IU, explains why she’s content with not clearly defining her musical style, and more!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
K-Pop Year in Review: After revisiting my 2023 predictions, I recap both the year in K-pop headlines and in episodes of this podcast, while adding new commentary and story updates!
First: revisiting 2023 predictions!
Starting around the 23-minute mark: a summary of 2023’s 17 Carat K-Pop episodes!
Starting around the 36-minute mark: a fast-paced recap of all the major headlines in the world of K-pop this past year!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
“STAY Tuned,” Ep. 17: I cover a WIDE range of news stories related to the music industry, starting with recent (separate) lawsuits involving Genius and the team behind Internet Archive. Around the 17-minute mark is a brief guide to the past, present, and future of music streaming. Spotify’s heated departure from Uruguay is discussed starting around the 23-minute mark, followed by an explainer about recent Harry Styles demo “leaks” and the scramble to buy them. Lastly, around the 33-minute mark is a lightning round of other music-related news, with stories about everything from Grimes to gum!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Best New Music: November 2023: My ranking and review of the best new releases from K-pop, J-pop, and C-pop artists!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Best New Music: October 2023: My ranking and review of the best new releases from K-pop, J-pop, T-pop, and C-pop artists!
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Catch up on older 17 Carat K-Pop episodes here!
On Enthusiasts
Pras Michel, AI, and an Unusual Trial: As strange as Fugees member Pras Michel’s corruption trial was, featuring everything from a fugitive accomplice to Leonardo DiCaprio’s testimony, the news that came out after the verdict was even stranger: Pras Michel’s lawyer used artificial intelligence to draft his closing argument. In addition to this, Pras’s motion for a retrial includes damning descriptions of his former lawyer’s behavior that range from a preoccupation with legal troubles of his own to showing extreme ignorance towards basic legal statutes. Pras further argues that his defense was weak enough that he deserves a new trial because his lawyer has a financial interest in the AI company whose program he used, a clear conflict of interest. This episode digs into the contents of both Pras’s superseding indictment and motion for a retrial. Together, they tell two surprising stories, one about a years-long illegal lobbying effort spanning multiple presidential administrations and one about a lawyer who was in over his head, took ideas from AI, and raised questions about whether AI can or should be relied on at all in the legal realm.
Stream this episode on Spotify here!
Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts here!
Stream this episode elsewhere here!
Catch up on past episodes of Enthusiasts here!
My Writing
KIMSEJEONG’s and TXT’s Related Life Lessons
Fun Facts About HeeJin’s New Songs!
PURPLE KISS’s “FESTA” USA Tour Review
LUN8wave on “Playground” and Their Big Year!
Moon Jong Up Describes His Latest Release!
The Stories and Sincerity Behind So Soo Bin’s Songs
Adios Audio on the Future of K-Rock and Redefining Genres
Sori Sawada on Authenticity and Reaching People Through Music
Kimmuse’s Inspirations and Aspirations
Get to Know “All-Rounder” Group EASTSHINE!
A Band That Will Leave You Feeling “TOUCHED”
New Link: The Stories Behind the Name, Cover Art, and Songs
“I have already done my job, which is to express myself”: How POPO J Found Contentment
“Fall In Love Again” with P1Harmony’s New Single & Shows!
The Best New Music: November 2023
The Best New Music: October 2023
“Best of November” Honorable Mentions (paywalled)
A Summary of My ROCK-STAR Theories (paywalled)
The Star Seekers: An Overview (Part Three) (paywalled)
The Star Seekers: An Overview (Part Four) (paywalled)
The Star Seekers: An Overview (Part Five) (paywalled)
Catch up on older interviews and other articles here!
Sources and Further Reading
The 2021 Pras Michel case
The Department of Justice’s announcement of the Pras Michel 2023 verdict
Older Department of Justice announcements about the guilty pleas of others involved in the scheme
Pras Michel’s motion for a new trial
Some reading on the ORANGE BLOOD “kalpa” and “ksana” references
An explainer about the “Netflix vs. South Korea” feud
The rising costs of fandom life
“Live Nation Entertainment Announces Support for a Fair Ticketing Act”
The Bruce Springsteen fanzine that shut down in protest over ticket prices
A 2018 GAO (Government Accountability Office) report on ticket sales
“Is Transparency The Music Industry’s Next Battle?”
The lawsuit music companies filed against Internet Archive
The music industry’s “incredible resilience”
The RIAA’s mid-year revenue report
A UK inquiry into the economics of streaming
“Universal Music Declares War on Streaming Noise”
Spotify’s initial plan to phase out its service in Uruguay…
… and the backtracking
More on the world of music streaming: where listeners’ money goes, what a leaked contract tells us about royalties, and more
Proof that not everyone who owns vinyl records owns a record player!
A study on audio authenticity evaluation
The alleged Harry Styles leaks and the fans willing to pay LOTS to obtain them
Some information about HYBE Latin America
A “bungled” Auckland K-pop festival
Information about the proposed “FIFTY FIFTY Act”
TikTok’s music competition show
2023’s Bamboozle Fest’s cancellation
5 Gum’s unique marketing idea