How to Attend K-pop Music Show Pre-Recordings and Live Audiences: From Notices to Entry
During comeback week, you can catch performances on several weekly music shows, and if you're lucky, you can attend a pre-recording or a live broadcast in person. There are two main ways in: pre-recordings you apply for through agency (fan club) notices and audience applications run by the broadcaster. Methods and conditions change for every episode, so use the information below only as a general overview and follow the official notice for each episode when you actually apply.
Route 1. Pre-recordings via agency and fan club notices
A pre-recording is a separate taping of a specific artist's stage before the live broadcast. In most cases, a "pre-recording participation guide" notice is posted on the artist's official community (Weverse, the official fan cafe, a fan platform, etc.).
- Eligibility: Conditions often apply, such as being an official fan club member or verifying purchase of the album.
- How to apply: Apply through the channel and within the period stated in the notice; you'll be informed whether you were selected in the way the notice describes.
- On-site check: Bring exactly what the notice requires, such as a physical ID and your membership verification screen. Many notices do not accept screenshots or copies.
Route 2. Broadcaster audience applications
Broadcasters sometimes recruit audience members through the program's official website and other channels. The application channel, period and winner notification method differ for each program, so check the latest information on the official channels below.
| Program | Broadcaster | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| M Countdown | Mnet | Mnet official website and program notices |
| Music Bank | KBS | Audience information on the KBS program website |
| Show! Music Core | MBC | Audience information on the MBC program website |
| Inkigayo | SBS | Audience information on the SBS program website |
Music shows are sometimes canceled for specials or sports broadcasts, so check whether the show is airing that week before you apply.
Rules to follow on site
- If you're late for the headcount, you may not be allowed in.
- Filming and recording during the taping are usually prohibited, and in many cases you can't leave partway through.
- Notices can change depending on on-site circumstances, so check once more before you head out.
Warning: proxy applications and spot trading
Most notices prohibit buying or selling pre-recording or audience eligibility, and if caught, you may be refused entry or barred from future participation. If someone outside the official channels offers to sell you a spot, it's safest not to accept.