# Superband (TV program)

Superband (Korean: 슈퍼밴드) is a South Korean talent show produced by JTBC in 2019, where indie musicians were invited to perform and eventually create a "superband", competing against each other.
The average viewership rating was around 3%, and the show received positive and negative feedback, as well. The concept and its genre diversity was praised, while the media heavily criticised the lack of female participants. Only involving the viewers in the decision process at the end of the show drew criticism, as well.
Besides the winning band, the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th place bands also signed with different production companies after the show.
The winner was Hoppipolla. The show was produced by the same production team of Phantom Singer and Hidden Singer.

## Concept

The show invited 121 indie musicians, from street performers to classical musicians, representing a variety of genres. The judges pre-selected a handful of participants, whose task was to create ad-hoc bands during the show and compete against each other. The main prize was a hundred million KRW, a recording contract, a world tour, and an SUV.
Out of the 121 participants, 53 were selected for the show, the pre-selection process was not aired. The selected musicians staged introductory performances during the first two episodes, during which some performances were only uploaded to an online platform. During the first two rounds, each stage consisted of one battle of two ad-hoc bands. 16 frontmen for these bands were picked by the judges (named 'Producers' in the show), the frontmen then picked their desired team members. A musician could only be picked for one team. Stages were evaluated by judges, who gave points for each performance. At the end of the rounds, weakest musicians from the losing teams of the battles were eliminated.
The show was mainly pre-produced and recorded, and broadcast heavily edited. The finals were aired live. During the finals, points from the first and second semi-finals (35%), online pre-voting (5%) and text message voting from viewers during the live broadcast (60%) decided final ranking.

## Judges

The judges, named "Producers" in the show:
* Yoon Jong-shin singer-songwriter, producer
* Yoon Sang (member of the OnePiece production team)
* Kim Jong-wan (Nell)
* Joe Hahn (Linkin Park)
* Lee Su-hyun (Akdong Musician)

## Participants

| Instrument | Name | Rounds (R) | Rounds (R) | Rounds (R) | Rounds (R) | Semi-finals | Finals | Note |
| Instrument | Name | 1R | 2R | 3R | 4R | Semi-finals | Finals | Note |
| Singer | Kim Woo-sung (김우성) | | | | | | | Member of The Rose |
| Singer | Kim Ji-beom (김지범) | | | | | | | |
| Singer | Shin Gwang-il (신광일) | | | | | | | Member of LUCY |
| Singer | I'll | | | | | | winning team | No Min-woo's brother, member of Hoppipolla |
| Singer | Ahn Seong-jin (안성진) | | | | | | | member of The Vipers |
| Singer | Lee Yong-hun (이용훈) | | | | | | | |
| Singer | Lee Ju-hyeok (이주혁) | | | | | | | Member of the Gift (기프트), 5th place in Sing again2 |
| Singer | Lee Chan-sol (이찬솔) | | | | | | | Member of Bandage |
| Singer | Im Geun-ju (임근주) | | | | | | | Member of Kaneungdong baendeu (가능동밴드) |
| Singer | Zairo (자이로) | | | | | | | |
| Singer | Jo Gon (조곤) | | | | | | | Member of 9001 |
| Singer | Jo Han-gyeol (조한결) | | | | | | | |
| Singer | Yu Ji-sang (유지상) | | | | | | | Son of Yoo Dong-geun (유동근) and Jeon In-hwa (전인화) |
| Singer | Chanhwi (찬휘) | | | | | | | |
| Singer | Chae Bo-hun (채보훈) | | | | | | | The VANE |
| Singer | Choi Sang-yeop (최상엽) | | | | | | | Member of LUCY |
| Singer | Kevin Oh (케빈 오) | | | | | | | Winner of Superstar K 7 |
| Singer | Ha Hyun-sang (하현상) | | | | | | winning team | member of Hoppipolla |
| Singer | Hong Isaac (홍이삭) | | | | | | | |
| guitar | Kim Yeong-so (김영소) | | | | | | winning team | member of Hoppipolla |
| guitar | Kim Jun-hyeop (김준협) | | | | | | | Member of 9001 |
| guitar | Park Ji-hwan (박지환) | | | | | | | Member of Yaenebara (얘네바라), member of The Midnight Romance |
| guitar | Sin Hyeon-bin (신현빈) | | | | | | | Member of Bandage |
| guitar | Yang Ji-wan (양지완) | | | | | | | Member of Cardean (카딘) |
| guitar | Lee Gang-ho (이강호) | | | | | | | |
| guitar | Im Hyeong-bin (임형빈) | | | | | | | Pastmember of Bandage |
| guitar | Hwang Seung-min (황승민) | | | | | | | Member of Shirts Boy Frank (셔츠보이프랭크) |
| bass guitar | Kim Ha-jin (김하진) | | | | | | | Member of Cardean (카딘) |
| bass guitar | Kim Hyeong-u (김형우) | | | | | | | Member of Gift (기프트) |
| bass guitar | Lee Jeong-hun (이종훈) | | | | | | | |
| bass guitar | Jo Won-sang (조원상) | | | | | | | Member of Yaenebara (얘네바라) and LUCY |
| drums | Gang Gyeong-yun (강경윤) | | | | | | | Member of Bandage |
| drums | Kim Chi-heon (김치헌) | | | | | | | |
| drums | Park Yeong-jin (박영진) | | | | | | | |
| drums | Lee Si-yeong (이시영) | | | | | | | |
| drums | Jeong Gwang-hyeon (정광현) | | | | | | | |
| drums | Choi Yeong-jin (최영진) | | | | | | | |
| drums | Hwang Min-jae (황민재) | | | | | | | Member of One Nation (원네이션), member of D82 |
| piano keyboards | Kim Gyu-mok (김규목) | | | | | | | Member of HOA (호아) |
| piano keyboards | Lee Na-u (이나우) | | | | | | | |
| saxophone | Kim Dong-beom (김동범) | | | | | | | |
| saxophone | Mellow Kitchen (멜로우 키친) | | | | | | | |
| classic guitar | Kim U-tak (김우탁) | | | | | | | |
| Violin | Nam Geun-hyeong (남근형) | | | | | | | |
| Violin | Benji (벤지) | | | | | | | Member of B.I.G |
| Violin | Shin Ye-chan (신예찬) | | | | | | | Member of Kaneungdong baendeu (가능동밴드) and LUCY |
| cello | Park Chan-yeong (박찬영) | | | | | | | |
| cello | Hong Jinho (홍진호) | | | | | | winning team | member of Hoppipolla |
| disc jockey | Nomad (노마드) | | | | | | | |
| disc jockey | DPOLE (디폴) | | | | | | | |
| harmonica | Park Jong-seong (박종성) | | | | | | | |
| accordion | Lee Ja-won (이자원) | | | | | | | |
| percussions | Jeong Sol (정솔) | | | | | | | |

## Performances
### Episodes 3–5: 1st round

| Episode | Battle | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | Producer points |
| 3. | 1 | Jo Won-sang | Jo Won-sang Lee Gang-ho Im Hyeong-bin Kim Yeong-so | Adventure of a Lifetime | Coldplay | 5:0 |
| 3. | 1 | Ha Hyun-sang | Ha Hyun-sang Shin Ye-chan Hong Jin-ho | Viva La Vida | Coldplay | 5:0 |
| 3. | 2 | Hong Isaac | Hong Isaac Jeong Sol Lee Na-u Lee Ja-won | Childhood Memories (내 기억 속의 소년) | own composition | 1:4 |
| 3. | 2 | Kevin Oh | Kevin Oh Lee Jong-hun Gang Gyeong-yun | Fireflies | Owl City | 1:4 |
| 4. | 3 | Benji | Benji DPOLE Jo Han-gyeol | Fairy of Shampoo (샴푸의 요정) | Bitgwa sogeum [ko] (빛과 소금) | 3:2 |
| 4. | 3 | Im Geun-ju | Im Geun-ju Kim U-tak Nam Geun-hyeong Park Chan-yeong | Oh You Are My Beautiful Lady (오 그대는 아름다운 여인) | Deulgukhwa (들국화) | 3:2 |
| 4. | 4 | I'll | I'll Kim Dong-beom Kim Chi-heon Park Ji-hwan | Spring Day | BTS | 2:3 |
| 4. | 4 | Zai.Ro | Zai.Ro Sin Gwang-il Lee Yong-hun Yu Ji-sang | Hard To Say I'm Sorry | Chicago | 2:3 |
| 4. | 5 | Yang Ji-wan | Yang Ji-wan Kim Ha-jin Jeong Gwang-hyeon Chae Bo-hun | Paradise Lost | Gain | 1:4 |
| 4. | 5 | An Seong-jin | An Seong-jin Hwang Seung-min Kim Gyu-mok Choi Yeong-jin | Marble (대리암) | own composition | 1:4 |
| 5. | 6 | Kim Woo-sung | Kim Woo-sung Lee Chan-sol | Sign of the Times | Harry Styles | 3:2 |
| 5. | 6 | Choi Sang-yeop | Choi Sang-yeop Park Jong-seong | Strange (이상해) | Lee Juck | 3:2 |
| 5. | 7 | Lee Ju-hyeok | Lee Ju-hyeok Kim Hyeong-u Nomad | O | Coldplay | 4:1 |
| 5. | 7 | Mellow Kitchen | Mellow Kitchen Park Yeong-jin Chanhwi | Problem | Ariana Grande | 4:1 |
| – | – | Kim Ji-beom | Kim Ji-beom Sin Hyeon-bin Lee Si-yeong | 5GLOVE | own composition | not broadcast (winner: Kim Ji-beom's team) |
| – | – | Jo Gon | Jo Gon Kim Jun-hyeop Hwang Min-jae | Kidult | own composition | not broadcast (winner: Kim Ji-beom's team) |

### Episodes 5–7: 2nd round

| Episode | Battle | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | Producer points |
| 5. | 1 | I'll | I'll Kim Yeong-so Nomad Hong Jin-ho | Castle on the Hill | Ed Sheeran | 3:2 |
| 5. | 1 | Chae Bo-hun | Chae Bo-hun Jeong Gwang-hyeon Lee Na-u | Stop Crying Your Heart Out | Oasis | 3:2 |
| 6. | 2 | Jo Won-sang | Jo Won-sang Lee Gang-ho Jeong Sol Ha Hyun-sang | Virtual Insanity | Jamiroquai | 0:5 |
| 6. | 2 | Kevin Oh | Kevin Oh Gang Gyeong-yun Sin Gwang-il Park Chan-yeong | Is There Nobody? (누구없소) | Han Yeong-ae [ko] (한영애) | 0:5 |
| 6. | 3 | Kim Ji-beom | Kim Ji-beom Sin Hyeong-bin Jo Gon | Love Me Through the Night | own composition | 2:3 |
| 6. | 3 | Benji | Benji Kim Dong-beom Lee Ja-won | TEASER (예고편) | own composition | 2:3 |
| 6. | 4 | An Seong-jin | An Seong-jin Kim Gyu-mok Choi Yong-jin Hwang Seung-min | F=ma | own composition | 2:3 |
| 6. | 4 | Park Yeong-jin | Park Yeong-jin Kim Ha-jin Yang Ji-wan Hong Isaac | Royals | Lorde | 2:3 |
| 7. | 5 | Kim Woo-sung | Kim Woo-sung DPOLE Mellow Kitchen Kim Hyeong-u | ILYSB (I Love You So Bad) | LANY | 1:4 |
| 7. | 5 | Lee Jeong-hun | Lee Jeong-hun Hwang Min-jae Lee Chan-sol | Skyfall | Adele | 1:4 |
| 7. | 6 | Lee Ju-hyeok | Lee Ju-hyeok Im Hyeong-bin Kim Jun-hyeop | Adolescence (소년) | Yoon Sang | 4:1 |
| 7. | 6 | Sin Ye-chan | Sin Ye-chan Kim U-tak Nam Geun-hyeong Im Geun-ju | Days of Our Past (지난 날) | Yu Jae-ha | 4:1 |
| 7. | 7 | Park Ji-hwan | Park Ji-hwan Lee Yong-hun Yu Ji-sang | There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back | Shawn Mendes | 1:4 |
| 7. | 7 | Zai.ro | Zai.ro Jo Han-gyeol Lee Si-yeong | Smooth | Santana | 1:4 |

### Episodes 8–9: 3rd round

| Episode | Battle | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | Producer points |
| 8. | 1 | Kevin Oh | Kevin Oh Gang Gyeong-yun Kim Jun-hyeop Nomad | Halo | Beyoncé | 0:5 |
| 8. | 1 | Zai.ro | Zai.ro Lee Si-yeong Jo Han-gyeol | Sucker | Jonas Brothers | 0:5 |
| 8. | 2 | I'll | I'll Kim Hyeong-u Ha Hyun-sang Hong Jin-ho | 1000x | Jarryd James | 5:0 |
| 8. | 2 | Lee Na-u | Lee Na-u Kim Yeong-so Kim Woo-sung | Home | Park Hyo-shin | 5:0 |
| 8. | 3 | DPOLE | DPOLE Kim Dong-beom Im Hyeong-bin Hwang Seung-min | Ghostbusters | Ray Parker Jr. | 0:5 |
| 8. | 3 | Choi Yeong-jin | Choi Yeong-jin Park Chan-yeong Lee Chan-sol | Say Something | A Great Big World | 0:5 |
| 9. | 4 | Lee Jong-hun | Lee Jong-hun Jeong Gwang-hyeon Chae Bo-hun | The Dance in the Rhythm (리듬 속의 그 춤을) | Kim Wan-sun | 0:5 |
| 9. | 4 | Lee Ju-hyeok | Lee Ju-hyeok Sin Gwang-il Sin Ye-chan | Hold Back The River | James Bay | 0:5 |
| 9. | 5 | Park Ji-hwan | Park Ji-hwan Kim U-tak Lee Ja-won | Yo Soy Maria | Astor Piazzolla | 2:3 |
| 9. | 5 | Benji | Benji An Seong-jin Yu Ji-sang | Sing | Pentatonix | 2:3 |
| 9. | 6 | Park Yeong-jin | Park Yeong-jin Kim Ha-jin Yang Ji-wan Hong Isaac | The Time Of My Life | Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes | 4:1 |
| 9. | 6 | Sin Hyeong-bin | Sin Hyeong-bin Kim Ji-beom Jo Won-sang Hwang Min-jae | You In The Vague Memory (흐린 기억 속의 그대) | Hyun Jin-young | 4:1 |

### Episodes 10–11: 4th round

| Episode | Battle | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | H. p. | L. P. | Total |
| 10. | 1 | Kim Yeong-so | Kim Yeong-so Jeong Gwang-hyeon Park Chan-yeong Park Yeong-jin | Arirang Fantasy (아리랑 판타지) | own composition (Kim Yeong-so) | 90 | 75 | 422 |
| 10. | 2 | Hwang Min-jae | Hwang Min-jae Kim Woo-sung Kim Ha-jin Park Ji-hwan | Cake by The Ocean | DNCE | 86 | 75 | 408 |
| 10. | 3 | Kim Jun-hyeop | Kim Jun-hyeop Gang Gyeong-yun Lee Chan-sol Im Hyeong-bin | Still Fighting It | Ben Folds | 95 | 89 | 455 |
| 10. | 4 | Lee Na-u | Lee Na-u Yang Ji-wan Kevin Oh Hong Isaac | With You (너와 함께) | own composition | 90 | 78 | 423 |
| 10. | 5 | Kim Hyeong-u | Kim Hyeong-u I'll Ha Hyun-sang Hong Jin-ho | Creep | Radiohead | 98 | 82 | 443 |
| 11. | 6 | Jo Han-gyeol | Jo Han-gyeol Zai.ro Yu Ji-sang Lee Si-yeong | Tears in Heaven | Eric Clapton | 88 | 85 | 430 |
| 11. | 7 | Lee Ju-hyeok | Lee Ju-hyeok Sin Gwang-il Sin Ye-chan Jo Won-sang | Swim | Fickle Friends | 93 | 88 | 453 |
| 11. | 8 | Benji | Benji Sin Hyeon-bin Lee Jong-hun Choi Yeong-jin | Dancin | own composition | 95 | 87 | 452 |
| 11. | 9 | Hwang Seung-min | Hwang Seung-min DPOLE An Seong-jin Chae Bo-hun | Umbrella (우산) | own composition (Chae Bo-hun) | 90 | 79 | 429 |

### Episode 12: 1st semi-final

| Ep. | # | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | H. P. | L. P. | Prod. P. | V. P. | Total |
| 12. | 1 | Hoppipolla (호피플라) | I'll Kim Yeong-so Ha Hyun-sang Hong Jin-ho | Hoppípolla | Sigur Rós | 950 | 860 | 4,590 | 2,660 | 7,250 |
| 12. | 2 | Aftermoon (애프터문) | Kevin Oh DPOLE Lee Jong-hun Choi Yeong-jin | Time After Time | Cyndi Lauper | 930 | 830 | 4,480 | 2,600 | 7,080 |
| 12. | 3 | Lucy (루시) | Lee Ju-hyeok Sin Gwang-il Sin Ye-chan Jo Won-sang | Cry Bird | Tennyson | 980 | 830 | 4,640 | 2,820 | 7,460 |
| 12. | 4 | Moné (모네) | Zai.ro Kim Woo-sung Benji Hong Isaac Hwang Min-jae | Take Me Away (가져가) | own composition | 980 | 850 | 4,610 | 2,430 | 7,040 |
| 12. | 5 | Purple Rain (퍼플레인) | Yang Ji-wan Kim Ha-jin Lee Na-u Jeong Gwang-hyeon Chae Bo-hun | Dream On | Aerosmith | 990 | 850 | 4,590 | 2,750 | 7,340 |
| 12. | 6 | People on the Bridge (피플 온 더 브릿지) | Lee Chan-sol Gang Gyeong-yun Kim Jun-hyeop Kim Hyeong-u Im Hyeong-bin | Best Of You | Foo Fighters | 990 | 850 | 4,590 | 2,540 | 7,130 |

### Episode 13: 2nd semi-final

| Ep. | # | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | H. P. | L. P. | Prod. P. | V. P. | Total |
| 13. | 1 | People on the Bridge | Lee Chan-sol, Gang Gyeong-yun, Kim Jun-hyeop, Kim Hyeong-u, Im Hyeong-bin | Find You Again | own composition | 950 | 880 | 4,580 | 2,120 | 6,700 |
| 13. | 2 | Moné | Zai.ro, Kim Woo-sung, Benji, Hong Isaac, Hwang Min-jae | Wooing (우잉) | own composition | 970 | 930 | 4,740 | 2,660 | 7,400 |
| 13. | 3 | Aftermoon | Kevin Oh, DPOLE, Lee Jong-hun, Choi Yong-jin | Before Sunrise | own composition | 960 | 880 | 4,590 | 2,170 | 6,760 |
| 13. | 4 | Lucy | Lee Ju-hyeok, Sin Gwang-il, Sin Ye-chan, Jo Won-sang | Snooze (선잠) | own composition | 980 | 950 | 4,860 | 2,360 | 7,220 |
| 13. | 5 | Purple Rain | Yang Ji-wan, Kim Ha-jin, Lee Na-u, Jeong Gwang-hyeon, Chae Bo-hun | Never Enough | The Greatest Showman OST | 980 | 900 | 4,690 | 2,550 | 7,240 |
| 13. | 6 | Hoppipolla | I'll, Kim Yeong-so, Ha Hyun-sang, Hong Jin-ho | Wake Me Up | Avicii | 990 | 900 | 4,690 | 2,730 | 7,420 |
Results after semi-finals :
| Ranking | Team | Points | Pass |
| 1 | Lucy | 14,680 | Yes |
| 2 | Hoppipolla | 14,670 | Yes |
| 3 | Purple Rain | 14,580 | Yes |
| 4 | Moné | 14 440 | Yes |
| 5 | Aftermoon | 13,840 | No |
| 6 | People on the Bridge | 13,830 | No |

### Episode 14: Final

Finals were broadcast live and viewers could vote for each team via text message.
| Ep. | # | Team | Members | Song title | Original performer | Online pre-vote | Text message voting |
| 14. | 1 | Purple Rain | Yang Ji-wan, Kim Ha-jin, Lee Na-u, Jeong Gwang-hyeon, Chae Bo-hun | Old And Wise | The Alan Parsons Project | 1,974 points | 22,498 points |
| 14. | 2 | Hoppipolla | I'll, Kim Yeong-so, Ha Hyun-sang, Hong Jin-ho | One More Light | Linkin Park | 2,958 points | 30,711 points |
| 14. | 3 | Moné | Zai.ro, Kim Woo-sung, Benji, Hong Isaac, Hwang Min-jae | idc (i don't care) | own composition | 1,844 points | 22,172 points |
| 14. | 4 | Lucy | Lee Ju-hyeok, Sin Gwang-il, Sin Ye-chan, Jo Won-sang | Flare | own composition | 1,562 points | 24,682 points |
Final results :
| Ranking | Team | Total points |
| 1 | Hoppipolla | 48,339 |
| 2 | Lucy | 40,924 |
| 3 | Purple Rain | 39,052 |
| 4 | Moné | 38,456 |

## Reception

The program was generally well-received by viewers, it got positive notes for not limiting genres, thus enabling the creation of a variety of ad-hoc bands. It was also highlighted that the show gave indie musicians a chance to shine, as they generally get less opportunities on television than popular Korean idols or trot singers. The show had an average viewership of around 3%, which is considered good for pay cable channels in South Korea.
On the other hand, the show received criticism that the production team decided to only accept male musicians and this was also a criterion in the call for participation. The background of this decision may have been the assumption that most viewers (and thus consumers) are women, and therefore the production aimed to create a male "superband". During the marketing, however, there was no mention of the show being male-only, only the creation of a band was highlighted, thus the original intention could be misinterpreted as if a band naturally could only be made up of men. The show enlisted only one woman, Lee Su-hyun of duo Akdong Musician, who was a member of the jury. Her role, however, was not well-perceived. Money Today noted that the very young singer (20 years old at the time) was much younger than other members of the jury, and had much less experience as an artist, as well. She was criticized for failing to judge participants' musicality or talent and rather show cutesy moves and praise their external appearances, as if representing female fans. The author of the article suggested that a more experienced female musician like Kim Yoon-ah of Jaurim fame could have been a better choice.
The show was also criticized for heavily relying on judges' decisions and only allowing viewers to choose at the end of the run.

### Viewership ratings

| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (AGB Nielsen) |
| 1 | 12 April 2019 | 2.1% |
| 2 | 19 April 2019 | 2.0% |
| 3 | 26 April 2019 | 1.8% |
| 4 | 3 May 2019 | 2.0% |
| 5 | 10 May 2019 | 2.4% |
| 6 | 17 May 2019 | 2.6% |
| 7 | 24 May 2019 | 3.0% |
| 8 | 31 May 2019 | 3.0% |
| 9 | 7 June 2019 | 2.7% |
| 10 | 14 June 2019 | 3.2% |
| 11 | 21 June 2019 | 3.5% |
| 12 | 28 June 2019 | 3.5% |
| 13 | 5 July 2019 | 3.7% |
| 14 | 12 July 2019 | 3.6% |

## Aftermath

The winner of the show, Hoppipolla signed with Dreamus Company and their first single was released in November 2019, titled "About Time". Second-place Lucy signed with Mystic Story of Yoon Jong-shin and released a single titled "Flowering" (Gaehwa, 개화) in May 2020. The original singer during the show re-joined his previous band Gift, and Lucy chose a new singer, Choi Sang-yeop (who was eliminated during the first round). Third-place finalist Purple Rain signed a contract with JTBC Studio and their single "The King Must Die" came out in February 2020.