Selective Hearing Radio

The Selective Hearing team returns from KCON LA 2026 to discuss the entire weekend, from the convention floor and media experience to the KCON M!Countdown concerts.

In Episode 64, we compare this year’s KCON with previous editions, discuss the layout, crowds, booths, fan activities and artist interactions, and share which performances and unexpected discoveries stood out during the weekend.

We also take a broader look at KCON’s place in the K-pop landscape in 2026. With more K-pop artists touring North America than ever before, does KCON still serve the same purpose it once did? Is artist discovery still an important part of the experience? And what can KCON offer fans that individual tours cannot?

Finally, we give our overall verdict on KCON LA 2026, discuss what could be improved and whether we would return for KCON LA 2027.

Opening

• Introductions.
• What are you drinking?
• Light banter and catchup

Before KCON

• Expectations going into KCON 2026.
• What were you most interested in seeing or doing this year?
• Were there artists, panels or activities you had marked as priorities?
• Anything that immediately seemed different from previous KCONs?

Media / Press Experience

• Check-in and credentialing.
• Media orientation and communication.
• Press areas and working conditions. How was the cookie room this year? 

KCON Convention Experience

• The 2026 experience vs. previous KCON experiences.
• Layout, crowds and organization.
• Booths, merchandise and giveaways.
• Fan activities and interactive experiences.
• Artist appearances on the convention floor.
• Favorite unexpected discovery.
• Anything that felt missing or underdeveloped.

KCON M!Countdown

• General thoughts about the lineup.
  • Special stages.
  • Favorite performances.
  • Biggest surprises.
  • Artists who exceeded expectations.
  • Artists you were already excited about who delivered.
• Collaborations, covers or special KCON stages.
• Production: sound, screens, lighting, staging and cameras.
• Best performance of the weekend.
• Best individual song/stage.
• Biggest surprise.
• Artist you want to see in a full concert now.

KCON as a K-Pop Event in 2026

• Does KCON still serve the same purpose it did several years ago?
• With so many K-pop groups touring North America now, how important is KCON?
• Is discovering artists still a major part of the experience?
• Is KCON primarily a convention, concert festival or a way of pushing various Korean products on attendees?
• What does KCON offer that individual tours cannot?

Was KCON 2026 Worth It?

Final Verdict

• Overall rating for KCON 2026.
• What could KCON improve?
• Would you attend KCON again?
• What would make you return in 2027?

• (00:00) - TAG

The Selective Hearing staff review the 2025 STAYC Tour: [Stay Tuned].

DISCLAIMER: Review Ticket Provided by LiveNation, Kakao, and High Up Entertainment

Introduction

• What have you been doing?
• What are you drinking?

Topic 1: Our Previous History with STAYC

• Quick reminder of how you got started with STAYC
• Cliffs Notes on the previous shows you have seen them at (KCON Tour, Teenfresh)

Topic 2: How many stops did you attend?

• Total stops (23)
• 2025 STAYC Tour [Stay Tuned] | Kpop Wiki

Topic 3: “Official Review” of STAYC at Irving Show (Oct 10th)

• Allen talks about his thoughts on the Irving show
• Start with the approval process, getting last-minute travel in order, etc (thank everyone)
• Met a fan on the bus 
• Talk about the team and their matching soccer jerseys and the meaning behind them.
• Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
  • Cool area with lots of restaurants, Alamo Drafthouse
  • Intimate venue, very easy to move around and get to the bar and merch area, comfy seats
• The guys went ahead to the Pre-show benefits, while I waited outside and walked around to the bars for my entrance, which was through the VIP Lounge.
• The guys discuss all the pre-show activities they did. Any fun soundcheck notes?
• VIP benefits and goods
• Overall concert thoughts
• Setlist
  • Are there any songs you'd like to listen to?
• Crowd
• Highlights
  • Ments talking about the use of ChatGPT and the explanation of Buc-ees. (Monkey, muffin? There was a guy in a Buc-ees outfit.
  • The tradition of STAYC encores, walking up and down the aisles, and interacting with fans.
  • GoPro
• Production
  • (Remixed rock versions of songs?)

Topic 4: Any Differences Between Cities?

• We discussed that STAYC is quite flexible. Were there any other differences you noticed between the stops you went to?
• Pros and cons of venues
  • Boston benefits (connections to the venue and VIP Lounge)
• No differences in soundcheck
• Seeun is sitting out in D.C. Any changes to accommodate her absence
• Notable differences between TEENFRESH and STAY TUNED tours?
• Which show did you like better?

Topic 5: Other Cool Moments in Other Cities

• ASAP Freestyle
• Funny moments  (ex, “Oh My... Ass” )

Closing Comments

• Final thoughts of the tour
• How have things changed for you as a SWITH during and after this tour?
• Thanks to Livenation, Kakao, High Up Entertainment and STAYC for the review ticket

Goodbyes

Photo credits to thomasma__ on Instagram.

The Selective Hearing staff review (G)I-DLE's World Tour I-DOL in Cinemas concert movie. 

Topic List:

0:00 - Site ID/Intro Song - SUPER LADY.

0:21 - Introductions.

2:37 - Have you watched any K-pop concerts in theatres before?

7:10 - What screenings were available in your area?

9:56 - What type of screening did you attend?

30:10 - Thoughts on the concert movie.

56:59 - Would you recommend this movie to casuals?

1:02:56 - Your rating of this movie out of 10.

1:04:19 - Upcoming K-pop concert movies.

1:09:44 - Goodbyes/Site Promo/Outro Song - FATE.

Selective Hearing discusses the IU HEREH World tour stops in New Jersey, Oakland and Los Angeles.

Recorded August 18, 2024

Introductions (Opening song: Good Day)

• What are you drinking?

World Tour Announcement

• How hyped were you for this tour?
• Which American tour stop(s) did you choose to attend and why?
• How difficult was it for you to get tickets to your chosen show(s)?

Pre Concert

• What seat did you end up getting?
• We all went to different cities to see IU. Were there special fan zones to keep you entertained while waiting in line?
• Briefly describe the demographic of the crowd at your stop. Were they different from the types of crowds you usually see at K-pop events you attend?
• What kind of free things did you get from other fans?
• Did you buy merch? What did you get?

Concert

• How enforced was the “No Photography” rule at your stop?
• What did you think of the concert? Did it meet your expectations?
• The second encore was one of the most anticipated parts of this concert. How was it at your stop?
• What did the banner for your tour stop say?

Post Concert

• Did you suffer post-concert depression?

Goodbyes (Outro Song: LILAC)

• (00:00) - Selective Hearing Intro Tag

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Recorded on August 4, 2024

Selective Hearing’s Greg speaks to LST K-Pop’s Ping about his time at KCON LA 2024.

Introductions (Intro Song: BINI – Cherry on Top)

What was the main reason you decided to attend KCON 2024?

Lineup

• The lineup of KCON 2024 had a good mix of up-and-comers, established mid-tier acts on the cusp of breaking through to the next level and industry veterans. What did you think of this year’s lineup?
• Which act(s) were you most excited about seeing, and why were they our fellow Filipinos BINI and the virtual personality APOKI?
• Why was the I-LAND girl group MIA?

Ticketing

The ticketing structure for KCON 2024 offered several packages: three-day premium at $1024.65, three-day plus at $843.28 for P1, and $542.76 for P2. There were also one-day packages: plus level at $309.54 for P1 and $188.06 for P2, and regular one-day at $124.02. 

These tiers offered access to the convention/festival grounds, KCON Stage, and M&G stage. How close you ended up being in these areas depended on how much you were willing to drain your bank account or credit card balance. The M&G was only included as a perk in the Premium level ticket. Everyone else had to pay $128.75 for one session of being quickly rushed past a table of idols to wave at them.

So, what are your thoughts on these packages? Did you end up getting a ticket at any of these levels?

KCON Experience

• How would you compare KCON 2024 to previous KCONs? What was it like attending as a regular visitor?
• You were once again admitted access as press. What was it like this year compared to previous years?
• Besides the regular level of access with the badge, did you experience any difficulties covering what you wanted?

Briefly describe your highlights or memorable moments on the convention floor/festival grounds.

• KCON STAGE
• Did you participate in the zoo monkey wave sessions? There was no plexiglass this year, right?
• Booths
• Panels

How were the M Countdown concerts?

Did you like the Dream Stages?

What are your thoughts on it being broadcast live on the CW network in the States?

What are your closing thoughts on the 2024 KCON experience?

Attendance numbers

MAMA Awards in LA and Asia

Outro/Goodbyes (Outro Song: god – 거짓말)

• (00:02) - Selective Hearing Intro Tag

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This month’s mix features tracks from Cafe 432, Pat Bedeau, Mike Dunn, Deon Cole, Martina Budd & Erica Faria and Yvonne Gage.

Track Listing

1. Cafe 432 feat. Nina Jayne - On My Mind (Extended Club Mix)
2. Jerome O & Rona Ray - Making Things Clear (Original Mix)
3. Pat Bedeau feat. Jodie Erica - Set Me Free (Main Mix)
4. Greg Van Bueren & Dutchian Soul - Hear The Voices (Original Mix)
5. Mike Dunn - Git Cha House On, Baby (MD Soulful of House Mixx) 
6. Walter G - The Vibe Inside (Extended Mix)
7. Deon Cole feat. Terisa Griffin - Where The Freaks At (Terry Hunter Club Mix)
8. Emeli Sandé - More of You (Booker T Emeli Soulful House Vocal Mix)
9. Martina Budde & Eric Faria feat. Praximus - Look At Me (Original Mix)
10. Larry Espinosa feat. Tasha LaRae - Something Special (DJ Spen & Reelsoul Remix)
11. Mark Di Meo & Sadi Major - Out Of My Mind (Original Club Mix)
12. Yvonne Gage - I Feel Love (Maurice Joshua Club Mix)

Selective Hearing discusses the STAYC concert experience from the Los Angeles stop of their first world tour.

Greg and Ping discuss their experiences at the last stop in the North American leg of aespa's SYNK HYPER LINE world tour. Topics include pre-concert excitement, the relaxed atmosphere of the VIP, bias wreckers and thoughts on seeing the concert live as opposed to online.

Greg and Ping discuss their experiences at the inaugural Krazy K-Pop Super Concert. Topics include our thoughts about attending this new event, what VIP was like, and opinions of the concert. 

Please note if you are listening on Spotify, the opening music may be muted due to copyright. The podcast starts at 17 seconds in.

Greg and Ping discuss KCON 2023 in Los Angeles. Topics include differences in procuring tickets compared to last year, the downsizing of the convention and super-sizing of the concert and the highs and lows of the weekend.