Kim Jae-joong to Deliver Keynote on 'From Superstar to Architect' as MU:CON 2026 Opens Next Month

[Financial News] Singer and iNKODE Entertainment CEO Kim Jae-joong will examine changes in the K-pop ecosystem, drawing on his experience of shifting from artist to producer responsible for discovering and nurturing new talent.
On the 26th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) announced that they will host the 2026 Global Music Fair (MU:CON 2026) from Sept. 2 to 4 at the CUBE Convention Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and at Yongsan Children's Garden in Yongsan-gu.

A conference examining key issues in the music industry and changes in the global market will be held from Sept. 2 to 4 at the CUBE Convention Center in Sangam-dong.
Kim Jae-joong will serve as the keynote speaker and deliver a talk on the theme, "From Superstar to Architect of the New K-Music Ecosystem."
The event will also look at the role of media in discovering new music in an era dominated by short-form content and recommendation algorithms. SBS Radio director Eun Ji-hyang and music critic Lim Hee-yoon will discuss "How media digs into indie music," exploring ways to find music outside the algorithm and connect it with the public.
The Indian market, which has emerged as a new global hub for K-music, will also receive close attention. A special panel talk will feature Pooja Singh Gujral, vice president of T-Series, India's largest music label, and Shikha Badwaj, marketing and artist strategy manager at Warner Music India.
On the final day, Sept. 4, the MWM Conference, in partnership with the Korea Music Content Association, will be held. Tony Li, co-founder of ACRCloud, and Dora Jin, general manager at Tencent Music Entertainment Group, will lead an open session and panel talk on the music industry in the era of AI transformation and AI-generated music.



Now in its 15th year, MU:CON is a global music market that supports the overseas expansion of domestic musicians and music and entertainment companies, while also providing business and networking opportunities for music industry professionals at home and abroad. It launched in 2012.
This year, the event will introduce a new "convergence matching" program for the first time to broaden the scope of the music industry. Beyond the existing consultations between musicians and companies, it will invite representatives from advertising, gaming and brand marketing to identify collaboration opportunities and new business prospects using music intellectual property (IP). Pitching sessions will also be held so participating musicians and companies can introduce their businesses and brands.
A total of 42 acts will take part in the global showcase, including 30 musicians selected for MU:CON, three outstanding acts from the 2026 MUSE ON program, and two musicians linked to regional music creation centers. Performances will be held on two stages at the CUBE Convention Center in Sangam-dong on Sept. 2 and 3, and on an outdoor stage at Yongsan Children's Garden on Sept. 4.
A wide range of artists will take the stage, including Say My Name, CLASSy, KIIRAS, Sanmanhan Siseon, Ha Jin, Kkachisan, GOGOHAWK, Rothy, Stella Jang, sEODo Band and KARDI. Also joining are W24, Band Nah, Redoor and SIMILE LAND, which previously participated in MUSE ON, as well as this year's participants Jung Soomin, Eddie and the Bricks and the Oysters. The performances will be livestreamed on KOCCA Music's official YouTube channel.
Kim Yoon-ji, head of KOCCA, said, "As MU:CON marks its 15th edition this year, we will actively support it so that it can establish itself as the center of K-music business, discover new opportunities for promising domestic musicians and music companies, and serve as a foundation for sustained expansion into overseas markets."
[email protected] Shin Jin-a Reporter