Asia News: The Killers In For SZA At Fuji Rock; NewJeans, Billie Eilish On TV; China Cancels Say Sue Me Concert

JAPAN

The Killers Replace SZA At Fuji Rock

Smash Corporation has announced the replacement act for SZA, who cancelled her Friday night headlining slot for Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival several weeks ago. The new headliner on the main Green Stage July 26 will be The Killers.

The Killers were scheduled to play Fuji Rock in 2009 but cancelled about two months before the festival was to take place.

Smash also announced the first lineup for its other outdoor festival Asagiri Jam, which will take place much closer to Mt. Fuji October 12 and 13.

The acts scheduled to appear include Caribou, Charlotte Day Wilson, Elephant Gym, Ghostly Kisses, Hitsujibungaku, JJJ, Todd Terje and Stuts.

NewJeans, Billie Eilish Make TV Appearances

Two of the world’s biggest pop artists, K-pop girl group NewJeans and American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, appeared June 21 on the Japanese TV music program “Music Station,” where they mingled backstage and posed for photos together.

NewJeans were in Japan to debut their first Japanese-language single, “Supernatural,” which immediately topped Japan’s Oricon singles chart.

However, the mood surrounding the group soured somewhat when they received anonymous death threats ahead of their upcoming concerts in Japan. Security has been tightened for the concerts.

Eilish was in Japan to promote her new album. Related activities included an in-store appearance at Tower Records in the Shibuya district of Tokyo as well as a pop-up Billie Eilish store in the Harajuku area of Tokyo, which is considered a mecca for young people.

Eilish’s new album includes the song “CHIHIRO,” inspired by the2001 anime film “Spirited Away.”

CHINA


China Cancels Say Sue Me Concert

A concert by Korean guitar band Say Sue Me scheduled for Beijing in July, which would have been the first live performance by Korean pop musicians on the mainland since Big Band performed in 2015, was canceled by Chinese authorities, the Korea Herald reports.

China has banned concerts by Korean artists since 2016 because of diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Seoul involving an American missile system in Korea. No reason was given for the cancellation of the Say Sue Me concert, but the newspaper mentioned “speculation” that it “may have been influenced by the differing attitude toward cultural exchanges between the more proactive local governments in China and the relatively passive central government.”

Still, Korean soprano Jo Sumi performed in Beijing in May and Hybe announced girl group Illit will participate in the Tencent Music Entertainment Awards in Macau July 19. It’s unknown if Macau, as a Special Administrative Region, is under the same restrictions as the rest of China.