2023.11.10
Right now, KPOP is taking the music scene by storm not just in Asia but around the world.
Whenever I say this, there are always people who respond, "Only a handful of KPOP fans listen to that, right?" It's true that a few years ago, it might have been content consumed only by fans, but as of 2023, various statistics clearly show that it has already spread from the hands of fans to the general public. This year alone, several groups have ranked high on the Billboard 200, the main album chart of the world's largest music chart, Billboard.
NewJeans achieved the incredible feat of reaching number one on the Billboard 200 with their 2nd mini album "Get Up" just one year after their debut.
As a KPOP girl group, NewJeans accomplished what only BLACKPINK had achieved before: reaching number one on the Billboard 200 just one year after their debut.
Other girl groups like TWICE ranked second, aespa third, and Le Sserafim sixth. Among boy groups, TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) and Stray Kids reached number one, SEVENTEEN and ATEEZ ranked second, and ENHYPEN came in fourth.
Furthermore, BTS members Jimin and Jungkook's solo debut songs each topped the Billboard HOT 100 main single chart. While some KPOP groups like BTS and BLACKPINK have made it onto the Billboard charts, there has never been a year where so many different groups and solo songs have charted so high.
This is clear evidence that a KPOP bubble is definitely rising worldwide.
Recently, at one of Europe's largest music award ceremonies, the "MTV EMA" (unfortunately, the ceremony was canceled due to unstable global conditions, and only the winners were announced), Jungkook's "SEVEN" won the Best Song Award, achieving another remarkable feat by beating out renowned global artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Doja Cat.
This also proves that not only sales but the songs themselves are being recognized.
So, why are we KPOP fans so passionate about KPOP?
It lies in the competitive system of KPOP.
In South Korea, music shows air every day from Tuesday to Sunday, except for Monday.
On Tuesday, there's The Show (commonly known as "Doshow"), Wednesday features Show Champion (commonly known as "Showchan"), Thursday is M COUNTDOWN (commonly known as "M Countdown"), Friday is MUSICBANK (commonly known as "Mubank"), Saturday is Show! Music Core (commonly known as "Umachun"), and Sunday is Inkigayo (commonly known as "Inga").
At the end of each of these shows, the number one song of the week is announced, which is one reason why KPOP fans get so excited. When a group takes the top spot, an encore stage is prepared, allowing fans to see a more relaxed and joyful performance as they share the moment with the audience, and groups that achieve their first number one often cry about it.
Music Bank (with subtitles) | KBS World
For idols, achieving number one on a music show is a special and joyful event, and it’s the best opportunity to feel the enthusiasm of their fans. That's why fans work hard to see their favorite groups celebrate their victories.
So, what exactly do we fans do?
Each show has a different scoring system, and even in the same week, the number one artist can vary from show to show. The scoring includes album points (CD sales), digital points (downloads & streaming numbers), SNS points (MV views), voting points (pre-voting & live voting), and broadcast points (appearances on the same network's TV or radio and the number of times the song is played).
The total of these scores determines the number one for that week, but since the scoring distribution varies greatly by show, it’s not enough to just buy CDs or stream songs. To help their favorite groups achieve more number ones and to see their joy more often, fans buy lots of CDs, stream songs, watch MVs repeatedly, and vote.
Show! Music Core | Good Friends MBC
The reason we often see KPOP idol MVs surpassing tens of millions or even a hundred million views is precisely because of this. I only understood this after becoming a KPOP fan myself; when a new song is released, I literally spend all day watching the MV on my PC. If one person plays it more than 100 times in a day, it’s no wonder that groups with many fans quickly reach tens of millions or even a hundred million views.
However, no matter how hard fans try, achieving number one is not easy. This is because fans of all groups that have a comeback at the same time are also buying CDs, streaming songs, watching MVs repeatedly, and voting. It’s not uncommon for a group to take two or three years after debuting to achieve their first number one, and many groups disband without ever reaching that milestone.
That’s why when a group achieves number one, fans feel just as happy and think, "I’m glad I worked hard!"
And if they don’t achieve number one, fans feel sorry for their favorite group and think, "Let’s definitely get number one together next time!" In other words, if they achieve number one, it’s a validation of their efforts, and they feel motivated to keep trying. If they don’t achieve number one, they resolve to work even harder to avoid disappointing their favorite group, creating a cycle of perpetual effort. Once this cycle starts, there’s no turning back.
Realizing you’ve fallen into the KPOP rabbit hole is truly what this means.
M COUNTDOWN | Official Vote | On-site Photo | Official Website | Mnet
And finally, there’s one more thing. The infamous seven-year problem also plays a role.
Most KPOP groups sign a seven-year contract upon debut (by the way, my favorite group Kep1er is a limited-time group with a two-and-a-half-year contract, tears), and if they don’t achieve certain results within those seven years, there won’t be an eighth year. Even if they do achieve results, disputes over contract renewals can lead to disbandment. Even BLACKPINK, which is currently selling like hotcakes worldwide, is facing uncertainty about contract renewal as they enter their seventh year this year.
This year, "New School Leaders," which had a major breakthrough in Japan, finally found success in its eighth year, and considering that KPOP might not have allowed for that eighth year, seven years can seem both long and surprisingly short.
In short, KPOP idols embody the idea of "support your favorites while you can."
Even if your favorite group disbands after seven years, you don’t want to have regrets at that time! That desire may be what drives KPOP fans to be so passionate.
The end
Written by: Nekomachi Peko
SKOOTA KPOP Team Leader
Originally a Western rock music enthusiast, I even considered working at Rockin' On for a while. I started listening to KPOP thanks to BTS, then got hooked on BLACKPINK, and dipped my toes into the KPOP world. I became obsessed with the survival audition show 'Girls Planet 999', commonly known as Galpra, and as a result, I became a hardcore fan of Kep1er, fully immersing myself in the KPOP scene.
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