Can K-Pop Succeed in Europe?

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

A few recent news reports have highlighted the popularity of Korean pop music in France. On TV, there were interviews with young French K-pop fans, who gathered in front of the Louvre calling for an extra concert of Korean teen idol groups after the tickets for the first sold out. Another report covered the arrival of 50 French teens who visited Seoul for a fan meeting with a pop band. Many Koreans felt that the "Korean Wave" has finally arrived on Europe's shores.

And why not? Impeccably groomed, their dances worked out to a T and with addictive rhythms to boot, they are bound to dazzle young audiences. But it may be too early to conclude that the Korean Wave has gripped Europe after a few performances by a handful of groups.

Paris is a melting pot where people from a wide range of different cultures co-exist and a culture of mutual respect has grown up. Also, the French are interested in learning about unusual things and are very open to other cultures. It is quite common to see different cultures becoming chic among the French. Interest in Asian culture has been around for some time, with Japanese and Indian culture among the favorites. Asian food, comics, geishas, Jacuzzis, yoga, meditation and Buddhist beliefs have spread.

Also, France has no manufactured bands of its own, and it has become increasingly difficult to find them even in the U.S. But teens are always searching for figures they can look up to, and French youngsters are getting a taste of teen idols from around the world from YouTube and other Internet sources. That is the medium offering Korean idol groups a chance to reach European audiences.

The European market is huge, but it is also very difficult to break into. Korean singers need to offer more than beats and tunes familiar to European audiences and must appeal to their craving for originality and pizzazz. They have to offer something fans will love even when they grow up, otherwise they will be a flash in the pan. They need to appeal to audiences' emotions.

I have met French people who told me that the synchronized dances of K-pop bands remind them of Fascism or other ideologies that stress group uniformity, while others said all of the singers look the same. Others said they have never heard of Korean pop music.

In fact, the popularity of K-pop may remain restricted to a small niche market. People in each European country have vastly different tastes. Many people in Europe may simply think Koreans, Japanese and Chinese are more or less the same and refer to all of us as "Asians." We should not overestimate the fad.

Unlike other industries, the music industry is cultural in essence and reflects a constant flow of feelings and moods among the people of a particular era. Before calculating their potential profits and taking on the European music market, Koreans in the industry need to get a feel of the emotions and cultures of each European country.

Source: Shin Yeon-ah of Big Mama @ The Chosun Ilbo

Comments

[sailorgraphics.livejournal.com]

You know... Boys band are over in France since 2Be1 left...
So I don't really know if they can succeed with 'normal' teenagers (I mean those you don't listen to Kpop already)

Partir un jour sans retour..Effacer notre amour <3

[amina-yui.livejournal.com]

I love 2Be1!!

[walkingparadoxx.livejournal.com]

Not with that juliet concept they won't

[baboboy.livejournal.com]

A+

wtf

[kishikiari.livejournal.com]

I have met French people who told me that the synchronized dances of K-pop bands remind them of Fascism or other ideologies that stress group uniformity

Re: wtf

[yasmine2009.livejournal.com]

Damn!

[kimivalkyrie.livejournal.com]

I dunno, with Eurovision coming up and all...

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Semi final 2 today! YAY!

[miszmba.livejournal.com]

i thought this was gonna be another article saying that 'kpop is taking over Europe OMG'. But it wasn't, which is cool.

But yeah, in the UK at least, I think K-Pop will always remain as a niche market and that may grow but I doubt it will go national soon, if ever.

i can see why KPOP wouldn't appeal to the masses but it only irks me when people look down on it, cause it's Asians.

[verinka1.livejournal.com]

"only irks me when people look down on it, cause it's Asians"

Exactly, and they often tend to laugh at you, that you listen to it.

[drfaith101.livejournal.com]

Possible. Just depends on the song and concept tbh.

[breathless31.livejournal.com]

I really can't see that happening, at least not up here north

[luvey.livejournal.com]

i think Kpop needs to take it slow, expanding to the western markets. see the opening but don't oversaturate. the two shows in Paris are fine, but i saw a petition for a show in the UK. i think that would be a waste and non profitable.

when JYJ came to the states, i liked the thought behind their shows, but i think they went too big too soon. if kpop is to be profitable in the western market, it needs to stay small and specified. having a few bigger shows in a central location (like SMTown is smart), but not one in every/every other country.

smaller shows like the one SMe will be doing for SHINee (unfortunately this is only for Japanese fans being shipped to) in England is the way they should go to get more fans introduced.

overall it comes down to the music and getting the shows the groups are on translated into english and on their youtube channels.

[http://users.livejournal.com/reminisce__/]

I don't really know how JYJ could've been big too soon - they adjusted the size of their concert audiences to the current fanbase that they have that were willing to see them.

I agree with your last sentence, but I guess I'm not really seeing how "kpop can be taken slowly" if it is to be actually integrated - waves fade out, and it has to be ultimately dependent on the music + performance + talent first, and then marketing second. Feel free to elaborate~

[isinuyasha.livejournal.com]

I agree...

Problem is: For us Europeans or even people in the US boy- or girlbands are mostly unpopular or things from the past...I mean there are mixed bands of course (Black Eyed Peas etc.) but when people hear 'boyband' they're often reminded of time where Backstreet Boys or N'SYNC etc. created a hype...

Here in germany all the girl oder boybands came and went before you could blink...they had some success in the past but nowadays you have more chances to become popular if you're solo or a duo or something...
Maybe bands like CNBlue where others play instruments at least could have a bit succes but bands who're just 'dancing in sync and sing catchy tunes'...I don't know.

But that's just my opinion, maybe they would rock the charts nontheless, I don't know^^

[sailorgraphics.livejournal.com]

yeah I agree it's the same in France and I guess in surely all Europe...
Boys/Girls band's generation is clearly over, Europeans really don't listen to this kind of music, they prefer US music (Even French music in France isn't that listened...)
I guess for the population the term 'Boys band' is really... "1990/2000" and pretty hasbeen

[devilstay.livejournal.com]

The only reason I don't see kpop taking over UK, is because it's Asian and the west in general has many misconception of Asia, which don't help anything...ever. I mean in the UK we got boybands, 'The Wanted', 'Take That', 'Westlife' and I'm pretty sure 'One Direction' will be coming out with something soon.

/Completely ot and shameless BUT has ANYBODY seen 'Attack The Block', it is EPIC! I did not thing, it would be as good and full of subtext as it was, I usually hate youth movies about the south-east.

[aures.livejournal.com]

Many Koreans felt that the "Korean Wave" has finally arrived on Europe's shores.


been here all the time, just nobody noticed yet because no1curr about europe really

[itangeisha.livejournal.com]

I have met French people who told me that the synchronized dances of K-pop bands remind them of Fascism or other ideologies that stress group uniformity
Who are those people? ô_______________o

As a french/european i'd say: NO. It will be like jrock: 'underground', some articles in specialized magazines/culture magazines, some mvs on tv (NOLIFE anyone? lol), some concerts (harder for kpop considering their schedules) and in 5/6 years it will be over.

Bands, if not rock, are not popular tbh.

They should only come and make some concerts. That's all people are asking for.

[elasticbanana.livejournal.com]

Well said.

[bulleusekat.livejournal.com]

Even Jpop hasn't succeeded in France with all the mangas' trend so no it'll never be a success as SK think a success is...

[freezing-flames.livejournal.com]

I don't think so tbh

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

first, they are just talking about France. they aren't talking about the other countries that equaly important, because they can't call Europe sucess if they are just famous in one country.

second, Europe isn't that of a fan of girl or boy groups. the last girl group to have sucess here was probably the Spice Girls, and that years ago. If they came with songs like RDD or Sorry Sorry, maybe, but I doubt the rest of the europeans would like to see 20 year old girls or boys act cute.

third, I do believe that the groups that would suceed in Europe would be FT Island and CN Blue, because they have a music style that pleases many people, they are like alternative rock (which is very popular in Portugal), and those two groups are what most of people here listen to.

[shimbi.livejournal.com]

Honestly, NO.
but if I had to choose, why not Tae Yang and Miss A

From SM, I can only see BoA do well here if she comes with good stuff

[ss501pixie.livejournal.com]

I can see Taeyang and Miss A but anybody else would be awkward
Boa could work i guess but i don't think she would do well tbh

[maximumtimo.livejournal.com]

If SM is really considering to ship off SHINee to Europe to test out the waters I am going to go to Korea and personally slap a few people at SME Headquarters. SHINee deserves better than to be such lab rats. Though they do have the most international appeal and their looks can easily adapt to european styles (expecially Key), while SNSD for example would just be a whole bunch of awk. But still. Not sure if I want tbqh.

Kpop concerts in Europe: YES PLEASE MORE
Kpop debuts in Europe: NO D:< the most I'd accept from them, is them teaming up with European agencies to set up a new system to train European talents into becoming a boy or girlband that has all the high standards of a kpop band.

[hitsujiga.livejournal.com]

i thought of this too, when the article about shinee's debut came out. as much as i love them and as much as they would maybe appeal to a wider audience i just feel like they're testing out the waters for european debuts or something. while i would want to see shinee more often i'm not sure if i ever want them to be...how can you call it...outsourced? be lent to other nations to milk success out of them? ugh T_T

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

I think some groups like 2NE1 could do immensely well if promoted right way, but as a whole kpop will probably remain a niche thing. However, even a niche thing can be profitable if that niche is big enough (for instance gay community). Also Europe is much less judgmental than say America is in many ways. If you come out with a right song you can be hit here regardless how you and your group looks and what is your group's composition.

[haymitch.livejournal.com]

it could happen. could if they were prepared for the way the western world thinks. i cringe at the thought of some of our talk show hosts interviewing shinee.

[omissnyo.livejournal.com]

idk,boybands are not so popular and the cute image is not going to work

[831panda831.livejournal.com]

Kpop cant make it in france , period.
Its so hard for Girl Groups and Boy bands to succeed nowadays unless you're like backed-up by disney. For example , does anyone know what happened to the sugarbabes?

[bekkiglitz.livejournal.com]

They're still kinda active in England..I think their last song was Wear My Kiss, released last year..or maybe 2009? It feels like a long time since I've heard them on the radio, tbh. But I read in a magazine, that they're recording a new album.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Most people don't like to admit that they dig Pop music. Kpop would still work. Not in the mainstream but more like itangeisha said: jrock style.

It's still big money so SME, be welcomed here. If you could bring Cube along the line that would be nice.

[morgenderper.livejournal.com]

Once I've seen Chinée and Gueulze Génération, I will just have to wait for Biste, Block Bé and Miss Ah to come. Then I could catch fire I wuoldn't even care.

[nekohae.livejournal.com]

Korea, give us concerts from time to time and we'll be happy~