Spotify launches in S. Korea amid fierce competition

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

Global streaming giant Spotify Technology SA said Tuesday it launched its music streaming service in South Korea, the home market of K-pop. The service, which originally launched back in 2008, has more than 60 million songs and over 320 million users across 93 markets.

The latest launch comes amid the growing presence of K-pop in global markets. The service said it has been running K-pop playlists since 2014 and noted last year that the portion of K-pop listening has jumped by more than 2,000 percent over the last six years, with total streaming time reaching 180 billion minutes.

Spotify said it aims to capture the local market with its playlists specifically tailored for South Korean listeners.

The music streaming service faces stiff competition here, the sixth-largest music market in the world, from rivals such as Melon, under top messenger operator Kakao Corp., and Genie Music, an affiliate of telecom operator KT Corp.

Apple Music, which launched back in 2016, has struggled to take off in the country.

Spotify will offer two monthly subscription plans in South Korea starting from 10,900 won (US$9.75) but will not offer its free ad-supported version, unlike in other markets.






source: Yonhap News

Comments

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

“but will not offer its free ad-supported version, unlike in other markets.”

Interesting. I would not use it lol

But I am interested to see how it does over there. Idk if the no ad-free option will hurt it

[tsubaki874.livejournal.com]

My guess is this will be tied to phone contracts since adding streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify to a phone plan is increasingly common nowadays

[hallyujah.livejournal.com]

Ya that's how I first got it in Canada and never quit

[dior-chic.livejournal.com]

Oh this too stood out to me

“ The service said it has been running K-pop playlists since 2014 and noted last year that the portion of K-pop listening has jumped by more than 2,000 percent over the last six years, with total streaming time reaching 180 billion minutes.”

This really stands out to me since I saw the change myself. I think I started actively using spotify in late 2014? I had a friend in college in the early 2010s try to get me into it and I was like nah I have my iPod. Wow things change lol!

But looking back at what I added in 2015, there really wasn’t a lot of kpop added on my playlists and even less jpop. I was listening to Kpop still but tons of songs I loved were not appearing on the app. I’d say around 2017-18 on I’ve seen it get taken more seriously on Spotify as most new Kpop songs appears on the app now. FINALLY certain groups (looking at you JYPE especially) had unfinished libraries that have finally or at least almost completed. It’s a huge improvement since the mid 2010s.

My main gripe is some stuff can get pulled at any moment like Ladies Code, DC, and Loona experienced. They came back but it was a reminder how you don’t own any of it. But I don’t remember any western artist I listen to getting pulled? Also stuff like SNSD. For awhile they had their Japanese songs up but now they’re gone.

[frequency.livejournal.com]

Also stuff like SNSD. For awhile they had their Japanese songs up but now they’re gone.

this doesn't surprise me at all, lol. a lot of labels have gotten better about putting music up but there's still a lot that are reluctant to do so (that or remove anything that was up). :/

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

Kpop/Jpop music being pulled left and right at any given moment really is sad. Atleast we never had that problem with our trusty iPods (oh the amount of stuff I illegally downloaded in the early 2010s.... so much kpop too).

Now all I need is for more Cpop to become available, but that doesn't seem likely. Yuehua has been nice enough to put up the solo releases of WJSNs China line through their Korean subsidary recently, which was a nice surprise.

[kashiyaek.livejournal.com]

omg i'm still so sad about snsd's stuff being pulled. their jpn discography is some of my all-time favorite music

[timetobegin.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I remember for years Apple didn't launch iTunes/Apple Music in SK because there was no competing with domestic streaming services offering up music at absolutely bargain prices. There aren't any other free streaming services right? I feel like that might make Spotify stand out a tiny bit from the competition, curious to see how they'll do.

[thatchicksaywha.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine this achieving any sort of real success since Apple Music markets itself on playlists too... Also Spotify's hyping up of their K-pop playlists shows me that they don't seem to understand the Korean market that much to begin with! The K-pop playlists are most popular internationally anyway.

[rainstormraider.livejournal.com]

“Spotify will offer two monthly subscription plans in South Korea starting from 10,900 won (US$9.75) but will not offer its free ad-supported version, unlike in other markets.”

It’s gonna tank if they don’t include the free version. That’s why Apple is tanking in SK too.

Also they should be promoting international music in Korea not K-Pop. Korea wants to listen to non-Korean music too, that’s the underrepresented market they should be chasing.