Are you outside of academia yet do research on K-pop music or related topics? Are you an advanced undergrad or grad student researching K-pop music, but lack a research community? Do you want an opportunity to hone your analytic skills and publish on K-pop music? Consider applying to HWAITING! The K-pop Music Research Accelerator!

HWAITING!: The K-Pop Music Research Accelerator cultivates and produces public scholarship on global Korean popular music (K-pop). Managed by KPK: K-pop Kollective, the oldest and only aca-fansite for K-pop, HWAITING! houses an online research community that also publishes small-scale music analyses. Its mission is to generate comprehensive, well-informed discourse around K-pop music that contributes to an understanding of its content, history and impact. The HWAITING! Accelerator functions as a: 

• study group that reads scholarly writing and discusses topics related to K-pop music to keep members current with K-pop music discourse
• listening group that shares music recommendations to expand the knowledge base of its members and help them find music beyond their favorites  
• writing group that publishes music analyses accessible to a general audience to provide opportunities for members to share their knowledge

Criteria. Ideal applicants come from within or outside academia, work on K-pop or related topics, and would benefit from being a part of an active K-pop research community. This includes advanced undergraduates, current/former graduate students, bloggers, journalists and podcasters. Knowledge of or familiarity with multiple K-pop artists/groups is required.

Expectations. Generally, members can expect to spend 1-2 hours a week on HWAITING. They will be expected to:

• write a 150-200-word musical analysis of at least one K-pop track bi-monthly, to be published on KPK: Kpop Kollective. (For an idea, see What We Are Listening To: ‘Rising Sun’ by TVXQ!)  
• recommend at least one K-pop track to the group every two weeks 
• participate in weekly discussions about scholarly writing and critical topics relevant to K-pop music
• provide progress reports on individual projects as needed

To apply. Complete this short form, which will also ask you to provide a reference, someone who can confirm your interest in K-pop. References will be contacted. Deadline: Oct 18, 2021. Questions? Contact Dr. Crystal S. Anderson, csaphd5@gmail.com.