SBS's "The Ballad of Us", which sparked a heart-wrenching ballad syndrome across the nation last year, is officially opening applications for the 'Top-100 Ears' jury for its second season to help discover new stars.
"The Ballad of Us 2" is a large-scale audition project co-planned and produced by SBS and SM C&C. Starting today, July 7, the production team will begin accepting applications for the 'Top-100 Ears,' a viewer judging panel that will help discover budding stars.
Season 1 of "The Ballad of Us", which premiered last year, featured young participants with an average age of 18.2. They reinterpreted classic ballads from various eras with their own fresh and deep sensibilities, resonating with audiences of all generations.
During its run, the program consistently ranked first in its time slot for the 2049 viewership rating, a key indicator of popularity, and appeared in the top 10 on the global OTT platform Netflix in the Korean series category every week. Furthermore, it dominated both the music and video markets, surpassing 100 million cumulative views across digital platforms including YouTube. The 12 finalists, including winner Lee Ye-ji, Lee Ji-hoon, Cheon Beom-seok, and Choi Eun-bin, formed a powerful fandom, even selling out their nationwide tour concerts after the show concluded.
For this second season, which aims to continue the legacy, the role of the 'Top-100 Ears'—who will identify hidden gems from the perspective of the general public—is expected to be crucial. Anyone who loves popular music and is confident in their ability to identify a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, regardless of genre, can apply regardless of age or gender.
Applications will be accepted for approximately three weeks, from July 7 to Sunday, July 26. Detailed application procedures and guidelines can be found on the official SBS "The Ballad of Us 2" website. Those selected as the 'Top-100 Ears' squad through a lottery will be granted the opportunity to attend the first recording of the highly anticipated Round 1, held on August 8 and 9, where they will be the first to watch and evaluate the performances of the contestants.
"The Ballad of Us 2" will begin full-scale filming in August and is scheduled to premiere in the second half of this year.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)
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