New! Masterclasses
K-Pop and Beyond: The Rise of a Global Sensation
Led by
How did K-pop evolve from a regionally successful industry into a global powerhouse? In this masterclass, we’ll dive deep into the forces that shaped K-pop’s meteoric rise from its roots in Korean culture to its explosive impact on the global stage. Led by a pioneer in K-pop education at Berklee, you’ll examine the genre’s history, key artists, musical characteristics, and business mechanics. Along the way, we’ll spotlight major moments—from the early influence of artists like Seo Taiji and Boys, H.O.T. and EXO to the global breakthroughs of BTS and BLACKPINK—and analyze how K-pop continues to reshape the international music landscape.
First, we will discuss an overview of K-pop’s history and cultural background with a few examples from key artists to establish foundational knowledge. Then, we will examine the business of K-pop, focusing on each stage of a K-pop label’s operations. Lastly, we will review real-world business practice cases within the K-pop industry.
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Thursday, September 18, 2025
(Enrollment closes 5PM ET, Wednesday, September 17.)
- 7 - 9 PM ET
$99
What You’ll Learn
- How to discuss and outline the history and evolution of K-pop
- How to identify significant milestone K-pop artists and select K-pop repertoire
- How to describe the musical, cultural, and stylistic characteristics of K-pop
- How to explain how the K-pop industry operates
- How to analyze recent K-pop business cases and discuss their impact on the global music industry
Meet Your Instructor
Ray Seol
Dr. Ray Seol is a faculty member in the Professional Music Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a visiting fellow at Henley Business School in the United Kingdom. He is also a renowned jazz bassist and producer with decades of experience in the New York jazz scene. He has pioneered a unique approach to improvising and visualizing jazz as an art form through interactive technology.
His interactive jazz project, Seu Aprendiz, achieved significant acclaim, ranking No. 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Top 50 World Song Chart and No. 2 on the North American College & Community Radio Chart. Dr. Seol was also a key contributor to Yeahwon, the first Korean album nominated for a Latin Grammy. In 2024, he was honored as a recipient of the Grants for Creative Individuals, awarded by the Mass Cultural Council.
At Berklee, Dr. Seol has been a trailblazer in K-pop education, offering a popular course and delivering lectures at prestigious institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Boston and Wellesley College. He successfully launched two Berklee student idol groups, X-Change and B-Girls, transforming them from academic projects into professional-level concepts.
Dr. Seol holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from The New School, a Master of Music in Music Technology from New York University, a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Columbia University, and a Doctorate from Northeastern University, where his research focused on the sense of belonging and career development of international students majoring in contemporary music. Read Less
Requirements
Suggested Prerequisite Knowledge and Materials
- An interest in general Korean culture and media
- An interest in learning how the overall K-pop industry operates
- An appreciation for current K-pop hits (A playlist will be provided in advance, if you’re not already familiar with the repertoire)
General Masterclass Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements for enrolled students to access the learning environment and participate in Masterclasses. If you opt to use any recommended software for your Masterclass, please check that your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for those as well.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband internet connection
Higher Learning with Lower Stakes
A Masterclass from Berklee Online is ideal for you if you’re looking for a shorter, more free-form learning experience from Berklee—no deadlines, and no grades—just one live session with a Berklee instructor, and an award-winning curriculum to explore at your own pace.
- One session, lasts two hours
- Access remains open for 30 days after the Masterclass
- No registration fees
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT’L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
Policies and FAQs
Masterclass Change
Students may request to transfer their enrollment/payment to an alternate Masterclass (provided there is room in the alternate Masterclass) until one week before the class. After this time, a student cannot change into an alternate Masterclass. To request a course change, students should send an email to registrar@online.berklee.edu.
Withdrawal Policies
All withdrawal requests must be sent to the Berklee Online Registrar’s Office in writing and must include the following information:
- Your full name
- The Masterclass you are enrolled in
- Reason for withdrawing
Requests to withdraw will not be accepted over the phone. Requests to withdraw must be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.
All withdrawals from Masterclass must be received prior to 5 PM ET the Friday before the Masterclass opens. No withdrawals will be accepted after this date.
If a student is requesting an exception to the withdrawal policy for medical reasons, please see the Medical Withdrawal/Transfer section below for information on this process. If a student feels they have extenuating circumstances other than medical reasons and wish to request an exception to our policy, please see the appeal policy.
Please note students are expected to have reviewed the computer requirements for each Masterclass in advance of the Masterclass start. Computer or software issues are not cause for an exception to the withdrawal/refund policies. If a student is experiencing issues with their hardware or software, they can contact Berklee Online’s Student Support via telephone at 1-617-747-2146 option 3 or by email at support@online.berklee.edu.
Masterclass Transfers
Students enrolled in a Masterclass cannot request to transfer their Masterclass to a future semester. Students can opt to move their funds from a Masterclass to another Berklee Online course or program. Requests to transfer must be in writing to registrar@online.berklee.edu and received by the Friday prior to the opening of the Masterclass.
Refund Policies
- By 5 PM ET Friday prior to the opening of the Masterclass: 100% refund of tuition paid.
Refunds will be based on when the withdrawal is received in writing. No additional refunds on courses in progress will be given once the Masterclasses are opened. Students can find the withdrawal and refund dates above. Please note that all refunds will be provided in United States dollars (USD). Berklee Online cannot be held responsible for any currency rate fluctuations between the date of purchase and the date of the refund.
Students should be aware of the following details:
- If a student’s payment was made by check, the refund will be issued in the form of a check.
- If payment was made by credit card, every attempt will be made to process the refund back to the card used within 30 days. In the event we are unable to do so, the refund will be issued in the form of a check.
- If payment was made using a Berklee Online eGift card, a refund will be issued back to the eGift card. eGift Cards are not redeemable or refundable for cash. Please refer to our eGift Card Terms and Conditions as well as our eGift Card FAQs for more information.
For questions regarding the payment methods we accept, please contact finance@online.berklee.edu or call 1-866-BERKLEE or 1-617-747-2146 if outside the US, Monday through Friday 9 AM–5 PM ET.
Credit Card Payments
Berklee Online accepts the following credit cards:
- American Express
- Discover
- JCB Card
- MasterCard
- Visa
If you do not wish to use the online process, please contact us directly at advisors@online.berklee.edu or our Finance department at finance@online.berklee.edu or call 1-866-BERKLEE or 1-617-747-2146 if outside the US, Monday through Friday 9 AM–5 PM ET.
PayPal
Berklee Online accepts payment via PayPal. Students can choose PayPal as an option during the checkout process.
eGift Cards
Berklee Online accepts eGift cards purchased online via GiftUp. eGift cards can only be applied towards eligible Masterclass, course, and certificate program offerings. Further information regarding the use of eGift cards can be found within our Terms and Conditions.
Wire Transfers
Berklee Online has partnered with Flywire to streamline the tuition payment process for our students. You will be able to log in to your Flywire account, at any time, to track the progress of your payment and you will also be notified via email or text when your payment is received by Berklee Online.
Before initiating your transfer, please take note of your Student ID or Order Number to help ensure your payment is posted to the correct account. Your Student ID can be found on your My Home page, and your Order Number is located in your Order History.
https://payment.flywire.com/pay/paymentHow much is a Masterclass?
Masterclassees are Berklee Online’s most budget-friendly offering at $99. There are no registration fees.
Can I reach out to the instructors for extra help or for additional questions?
No, instructors will be available to students during the 2 hour live sessions. In our 12-week courses, instructors are available to answer questions outside of live class sessions.
Will I be able to access my course after it has finished?
You will be able to access the Masterclass for 30 days after the end of the Masterclass. After that 30-day period, we are unable to allow students further access to the Masterclass. If you have any questions, please contact Student Support via email at support@online.berklee.edu.
What happens if I miss the Masterclass?
Each Masterclass is recorded, so you can always play back any portion you'd like to review up to 30 days after the Masterclass has taken place. We do recommend joining during the scheduled Masterclass time if you can, so that you can interact with your instructor and peers.
Will I receive course credit for a Masterclass?
Masterclasses are a non-credit offering.
Who are the instructors?
Our instructors are Berklee faculty and widely-recognized experts in their field. All instructors are Berklee faculty or professionals in the industry.
How long are the Masterclasses?
Each Masterclass will be one, two-hour live session.
Are textbooks, software, and hardware included in tuition costs?
No. The required/recommended materials for Masterclasses are not included in tuition.
How many Masterclasses can I take at a time?
You can choose to enroll in as many Masterclasses as you would like. You should keep in mind that some of the scheduled sessions could overlap. We recommend reviewing the days/times for each Masterclass before enrolling.
What happens if my Masterclass is canceled?
While we will make every effort to run all of our Masterclasses, sometimes it is necessary to cancel a Masterclass. If this happens, you will be sent an email letting you know your Masterclass has been canceled. You will be given the option to transfer into a different Masterclass, move your funds to another Berklee Online program, or request a refund of tuition.
Where do I go to find the Masterclass I enrolled in?
Simply log in to Berklee Online and go to your “My Home” page. Links to the Masterclasses you are enrolled in will be located under the My Courses heading.
How do I participate in the Masterclass?
Masterclasses consist primarily of live, synchronous sessions hosted via Zoom on the Berklee Online platform. These Masterclasses will be interactive and will include instruction, breakout group discussions, question and answer portions, and more. In addition to the live session, you will have access to discussions where you can interact with your peers, as well as the ability to upload projects you’re working on for feedback from your peers.
Who do I contact if I am having technical trouble with the Masterclass?
You may contact Student Support by email at support@online.berklee.edu or telephone at 1-866-BERKLEE (or 1-617-747-2146 if outside the US), Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM ET. Student Support will assist you with any problems you have and will do their best to provide a response to your question or inquiry within one business day.
Are there assignments that need to be completed? Will I receive feedback on assignments?
Each Masterclass will include material for students to go through as well as suggested projects for students to complete. These are not required, will not be graded, and will not be critiqued by an instructor. Students are encouraged to provide feedback to their classmates.
Will I receive a grade and/or credit at the conclusion of the Masterclass?
Students enrolled in these Masterclasses will not receive college credit and will not be graded on their participation.
Do I get a certificate or letter of completion when I finish each Masterclass?
No, you will not be issued a certificate or letter of completion at the end of the Masterclass.
Can I request a transcript or proof of completion?
Masterclasses are not part of a student’s academic record. For this reason they will not be represented on a transcript. In addition, we cannot provide proof of completion of the Masterclass. We can, however, provide proof of enrollment in the Masterclass if that is needed. Requests of this nature can be emailed to registrar@online.berklee.edu.
