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[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Big Bang and 2NE1 Evolve the International Face of K-Pop
 


K-Pop has been laying down its foundation and quietly deepening its roots within the global music industry. SNSD and Kara in Japan, Wonder Girls in America, the whole SM Family and JYJ in Europe, it is without a doubt that K-Pop has increasingly globalized. 
The driving force behind the mass accumulation of fans for K-Pop are the large entertainment companies that train and invest in their idol groups for a long period of time. Powerful performances and amazing vocal abilities have widely captured the hearts and ears of those who are tuned into mainstream K-Pop culture and have even contributed to the universal pop genre with new sounds and a distinct style. Social networking services have helped disperse K-Pop to different countries all over the world. 
In the midst of the K-Pop diaspora all around the world, YG's Big Bang and 2NE1 have made a big jump in receiving awards in renown American and British music award ceremonies. They have proven that other genres such as hip hop (a little different from general K-Pop market)  are also making waves and becoming a competitive force in foreign countries. 
Already known for their record selling music as a group and solo artists on iTunes, Big Bang received the award for "World Wide Act" at the MTV Europe Music Awards. 
 


Big Bang, representing the Asia Pacific, was up against other global artists such as Lena representing Europe, Britney Spears representing North America, Abdelfattah Grini representing the Middle East and Restart representing Latin America. Competition seemed tough, but Big Bang came out on top. The fact that they surpassed Britney Spears in this category is a huge feat, and proves that K-Pop stars are no push overs in the global market. Although a scattered one, Big Bang's achievement proves that K-Pop has a solid fan base all over the world. 
On November 11 YG's representative girl group 2NE1 received the honor of the "2011 Best New Band in the World" award at the MTV Iggy Awards. Starting in October, there was a six week voting process for world renown bands, and 2NE1, receiving the most number of popular votes dominated for the win. 
 


Similarly to Big Bang's feat 2NE1 surpassed other global musicians that represented nine different countries such as America, Mexico, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Venezuela. Not only did fans from Korea pitch in to vote, but fans from all over the world made this possible for 2NE1. Most of 2NE1's votes came from America and the Philippines, not Korea. 
Big Bang and 2NE1 are both groups that have their own style of music and sense of expressing themselves, something that is different from the milieu of other K-Pop groups. They have something more to offer other than another group of cute and sexy girls/boys that come with catchy tunes. 
Their achievements in the global market reached another milestone for K-pop as a whole, as well as open the world to a different face of K-Pop. The day K-Pop sits down with a confident niche in the global sphere doesn't seem too far off. 
 


Source: Soompi

Comments

[notochrasy.livejournal.com]

Whether you're a fan or not, you can't help but acknowledge how accessible Big Bang and 2NE1's music is on an international level and especially to the US music market.

But the article does kinda push it in terms of indulging the two groups a bit. But eh, not fussed ^^ I'm proud of them.

[nono-dono-k.livejournal.com]

lol yes it's true, they're doing US music o/

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

"Most of 2NE1's votes came from America and the Philippines, not Korea."

The power of Sandara Park, tbh.

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

Well, I've always found their music/concept more accesible to the Western market, imo. That doesn't mean those accomplishments are not something to be proud of, ofc :D

[evivante.livejournal.com]

..everything I do, I do it for you.

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

Whats up with all these articles praising YG/big bang/2NE1 lately.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Well, since they won major "internatioal" award people probably see them as the "commercial" face of K-pop oversea.
It was the same during the SM tour, because they had attention from outside Korea SM band were praised by korean media. I guess it's the same here. BB and 2NE1 are gonna be K-pop new "international" face until someone else come.

[geekpants.livejournal.com]

Pretty much. Most people I know who are into K-pop cite Big Bang and 2NE1 as their entry points.

OT question: who was everyone's first entry into K-pop? Mine was DBSK.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

DBSK too^^

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised. I see SM TOWN Paris as a kind of "test", as if SM Ent. was trying to see if Europe was a market to conquer too.
But I'm not suprise that YG has more "distinction" in westernize countries. BIG BANG was always considered with an "americain sound" like YG's other artists, and they turn pretty fast to more electronic sounds that are trend in the USA and Europe. 2NE1's too, plus they don't really have this "perfection image" as other Korean girl-group, I think they're more attractive to a larger public. (Maybe Wonder Girls too since they're really down to earth and humble).
As much as I like SM artists, I don't really see them break into European market ; most people won't recognize them or see them in a bad way. I think those other groups might have a better chance, in terms of characters, musics.

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

IAWTC ♥

OT, tho. Are you French? I just noticed how you spelled the word "americain", and it made me assume you are :)

[toygrass.livejournal.com]

2NE1 has the biggest marketing power in the US of all Kpop groups IMO.
YG should srzly release their US album and stop trying to promote them in Japan bcuz their music just doesn't appeal to the Japanese.

<3 2ne1 so proud of them!!!

[stormsandsins.livejournal.com]

iawtc

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

lol! most popular kpop songs, if they're in english, would be popular in the western market. bigbang's and 2ne1's music are just "cooler." but pop is pop.

and articles like this kinda overestimate the kpop's popularity and underestimate the fan's dedication/obsession (especially when it comes to voting).

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

"...and articles like this kinda overestimate the kpop's popularity and underestimate the fan's dedication/obsession (especially when it comes to voting)."

Couldn't agree more.

Ok, imma go back to work nao.

[stopjustlisten.livejournal.com]

I know the majority of my friends got into Kpop during Big Bang's Last farewell period but we're youngins. And then everyone loved 2ne1 because of Lollipop.

And then I think Wondergirls Nobody and Tell me were like the first kpop songs to actually get spread around my whole school and everyone was dancing to it all the time. It was constant flash mobs of boys and girls haha.

:$

[hajar-a.livejournal.com]

all what I can see the second pic of BB

*waving tabi* is so cute 0_0

[ohprecioustime.livejournal.com]

they sing top 40 in Korean as far as I am concerned

couldn't get into their music,I could just listen to my radio

[hugtimes.livejournal.com]

mte.

[ifuckingluvya.livejournal.com]

lol

[taylorniw.livejournal.com]

they sound more like club music than mainstream western pop

[myrobotvoice.livejournal.com]

i just cannot get over seungri's face on daesung's shoulder in that second pic.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

But it's so cute

[lightspeedsquid.livejournal.com]

[hurtmybones.livejournal.com]

[eyryg.livejournal.com]

YOUR ICON <33

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Well since BB and 2NE1 are becoming more and more Mainstream US dance music I'm not surprised they're getting attention. But the articles seems abit flimsy with all the exaggerated stuff, it's hard to take them too seriously. Let's not forget fan voting is a big part of it all.

[kawaiiairbender.livejournal.com]

awesome, love big bang and 2ne1. Waiting patiently for a yg fam concert in the states and worldwide.

don't have anything useful to add but most people that i've let listen to kpop are fans of YG artists and not really so much of other artists i've played for them. I think the only non yg artists people i know like are Epik High.

[vanilla-09.livejournal.com]

I'm a YG stan but I don't think they are going to make it in the U.S. They only won at the EMA's because we cheated ,loool, and kpop overall is just second best to American music. I don't think they'll be able to hold their own with Gaga, Britney, Rihanna and co not because they aren't good but because America is xenophobic when it comes to music the music entertainment. Also, for those who aren't as involved in the world of kpop, it's still considered a guilty pleasure not even in the Katy Perry kind of way but more so in the ¨I listen to this with my headphones on really low when I'm in public, please nobody ask me what I'm listening to¨.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Don't know much about the US but regarding their reaction to asian and foreign movies in general I do agree with you on them (or at least a big part of them) being xenophobic, but I'm not sure that it's relevant here. Japan is known for being xenophobic yet K-pop is hitting big there. You might say that it's because boysband/girlsband are an intitution there but still.
Moreover there's a big asian community in the US and artist like Jin Akanishi, whom is doing good, can increase public awareness regarding asian muusic... the SM tour was also very successful in NY.
And even if they don't work in the US I think they have a good shot in Europe. Maybe not for a very long tour, but at least for 1 or 2 show in each capital.

[amandaplan.livejournal.com]

sooo proud of 2ne1 and Big Bang and I'm still waiting for the release of 2ne1's US album.

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

A lot I can say about this but I'll just stick to:

I really LOVE Lollipop. Like it's pop perfection. I forgot how much I loved that song.

[crucifiedhearts.livejournal.com]

i like wondergirls, but wtf is this "wondergirls in america" stuff... i HIGHLY doubt that will fly. their english tracks need work, especially on pronunciation.