Abstract
In 2013, Australia’s 4th season of the X Factor — a reality singing competition — was won by Dami Im, a 25-year-old Korean-Australian music teacher. As an Asian-Australian, Im is a rarity in the habitually Anglo-Celtic Australian media landscape. Since her win, Im has released three albums, all debuting in the top ten of the Australian music charts, and has experienced remarkable continued popularity for a reality TV contestant, representing Australia at multiple national and international events such as Australia Day and Eurovision 2016. Her successful immigrant narrative — having moved from Korea to Australia at age nine — has fascinated both Australian and Korean media; she has been called Korea’s ‘pride and star’ and praised by the Korean prime minister. This chapter traces Im’s journey as an Australian pop artist crossing boundaries between Australia and Asia, analysing media coverage of her career, her fans, and her representation of Australia.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Notable Australian Albums 1967–2016 |
Editors | Jon Stratton, Jon Dale |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
Publication status | Accepted/In press - 15 Oct 2018 |