2NE1, SNSD, and Wonder Girls at Forefront of U.S. K-Pop Invasion

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

K-Pop girl group’s representing the top three entertainment agencies in Korea (JYP, SM, and YG Entertainment) plan to release their albums one after another in the United States beginning this January.

Wonder Girls will start things off with their American single, “The DJ is Mine,” which will be released later this week on January 11. SNSD plans to release a special edition album of “The Boys” in the U.S. as well as Europe. The album will be avalible for purchase offline as well as through digital downloads with the group directly challenging the Billboard charts. 2NE1 has been working with famous American producer Will.i.amas their recording sessions have come to a close, while the countdown for their expansion into the US market has begun. At this time, however, the exact date for their U.S. debut is still unknown.

On February 2, the Wonder Girl’s TV movie “Wonder Girls at the Apollo” will air on the U.S. cable stationTeen Nick. In conjunction with the debut of their TV movie, a full-length studio album will also be released.

This past December, 2NE1 was crowned the “MTV Iggy’s Best New Band in the World” for 2011 and even headlined a concert in New York City at the MTV Studios to celebrate their win. Just recently Will.i.am posted about 2NE1 through his Twitter account saying, "2NE1 is coming out crazy.” The post has grabbed the attention of the public. Also back in December, the U.S. public broadcast radio station, NPR brought up the topic of the Hallyu Wave, more specifically focusing on K-Pop’s advances in America, mentioning the genre's front runners SNSD, 2NE1, and the Wonder Girls in their report. Since then, SNSD had already begun selling reserve copies online of their special version of "The Boys."

Together these three girl groups will be taking on the US market soon. The drive to breakthrough into the world’s largest music market has always been there, but up until recently the attempts haven’t yielded the desired results. As the popularity of K-Pop has grown throughout the world, the chances of K-Pop doing well in the western world have increased. Some argue that now just might be the right time for K-Pop to take off abroad.

Which group do you think has the most potential in the U.S.?

Source: Soompi

Comments

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

Yep. USA is a tough market. It's so huge it's like a continent.

[drownanddive.livejournal.com]

2ne1 has the most 'American' vibe to them, IMO, then Wonder Girls. I think Girls Generation will just confuse people because of the amount of members they have.

[luvey.livejournal.com]

the amount of members, and also the small amount of fluent english speakers in the group, sadly.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

I think 2NE1 has more chance because they have better connexions (Will.I.Am might be doing shit right now but he is know in the industry) and their music suits the actual market.
Moreover they don't look like the typical girlband which is a good thing in that particular case cause girl/boyband are not "in" in the US nor in Europe.
SNDS and Wonder girls will probably sell to an existing fanbase but 2NE1 really has the chance to open up to a new audience,IF and only IF they are provided with a good album and an efficient marketing strategy.

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with your comment.

In addition, I don't think the girls will, of course, get that instantaneous popularity that everyone in the KPOP industry is expecting. Just like every artist trying to break in, they may not have a single that would debut well on the Billboard charts unless you have connections (e.g. Charice with her "A Note To God"). Far East Movement took years to become mainstream.

2NE1 may have a good start, write ups / press releases here and there, collabs etc, but we need to wait until a few years time if they really have that x factor to win the ears (and I guess eyes, whatever) of Americans. We need to wait a few years time to know if they will really sell and hopefully it will be earlier than Park Bom and Sandara reaching their 30s.

[toygrass.livejournal.com]

2ne1. DUH.

[periodpains.livejournal.com]

are shit. we know.

[lydzi.livejournal.com]

The thing is, you can't half-ass do it. If they really want the north american market, they need to go full blast and be there.

Is it really interesting in terms of finance? Not so sure. Maybe in terms of prestige.

[analapana83.livejournal.com]

2NE1 will pbly have the most appeal upon first look. The Wonder Girls have the good luck of being known by some teenagers due to their Jonas Bros. association. SNSD...the amount of girls will pbly cause some head-scratching from many Americans. They'll pbly think "Pussy Cat Dolls" at first, then stumble onto Gee or Mr. Taxi on youtube and go "hmmmm". Jmo. Good luck to them all.

[funkaliciousss.livejournal.com]

ia, 2ne1 is probably gonna get the most attention at first but they'll just end up as one hit wonders since they are pretty much just the cheaper version of anything else they can find in the USA. SNSD might work if they target kids from 5-13 and their fathers.

[toshi830.livejournal.com]

2NE1 IATB is probably the closest to what gets played on the Top 40 anyways so they probably have the best chance. Wonder Girls is probably second, due to their Nick movie and Jonas bro/tween association. That teaser sounds hella dubstep which is kinda popular right now so maybe in their favor.

SNSD I expect to flop due to boys remixes being pretty terrible, but I can't underestimate sones.

Not optimistic about any of them though

[soheefan.livejournal.com]

I work part time at a restaurant and heard 2ne1 being played a lot this past weekend on the radio there for the first time. I was kinda shocked at first but people around me sort of liked it I noticed. I was always so sure that 2ne1 would not do well here because they dont look hot enough but maybe they will

I truly think the WG will do the best though. They just have something that makes people like them for the most part

[naturalhonee.livejournal.com]

hot as in just purely stunning looks? america doesn't always need that though... i think if you work the right attitude, confidence and style, america could still love you - and 2ne1 have that covered as long as CL is around.

[suzieeq-luv.livejournal.com]

Have to agree with the ranking of :

2ne1

Wonduh Guhls




SNSD

[hurtmybones.livejournal.com]

I don't think any kpop act will make it big there but out of these three 2NE1 obv has the biggest chance.

[konichiwacobra.livejournal.com]

Good luck to them all. If I'm completely honest, I don't think any of them will really succeed. But maybe I'm just a pessimist.

SNSD can keep The Boys.

[icedevil0289.livejournal.com]

I do hope they all do well, though the pessimist in me thinks they'll all fail. either way slightly rooting for my snsd bbs and wg a bit more.

[bmo.livejournal.com]

i say again 2ne1 is the only one w/ a real chance of succeeding in the market even as one hit wonders if the right decisions and good music r made. everyone else has 0 chance.

[bmo.livejournal.com]

i dont understand how ppl forget most americans dont give a fuck about the artist as long as they can dance or cry to a song???? if the song has good beats and they can understand it, it's a good song 2 them.

[bishieaddict.livejournal.com]

I think 2ne1 has the most chances. They have the similar style and is catchy. And they have the language skills.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

2NE1 has the look and the sound to get noticed, if they can be popular will be down to collabs and if the cool DJs etc like 2NE1. They're never going to be household names though, probably have a couple of hits at most.

Sorry WG and SNSD but not gonna happen, SNSD are too manufactured with their music and dance for people to take them seriously tbh. The only other way is to get with White Girl's Oppas like Taylor Lautner and make headlines.

[uniqlos.livejournal.com]

jype have equipped the wg with the most chances for success tho i don't know if it will pay off.

[funkaliciousss.livejournal.com]

yea! their strategy was good imho but it doesn't seem to be paying off just yet...

[periodpains.livejournal.com]

the stans in this post...

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

... are qt.

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

2NE1 is the only one with any chance making it as the group looks and sounds current. Also unlike WG/SNSD, 2NE1 doesn't really need to change anything else than language 'cause YG had a sense to style the members differently from each other since the beginning and female empowerment is ok topic also in the western world. Also they have sort of kept their concept instead of coming out with a new one with a every comeback, which makes them more easier to understand compared to for instance SNSD which has done both Gee and Run Devil Run.

[devilsatin.livejournal.com]

i don't think any of them will be rly successful but i do think wg going for the childrenz is the smartest

[funkaliciousss.livejournal.com]

ERM PLEASE. 2NE1 IS JUST A CHEAPER SUBSTITUTE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE THEY CAN FIND IN THE US.

I predict moderate success for them only, I think their biggest contribution would be to help the other two bands get notices and make people think 'OMG! Kpop isn't that odd afterall!'

SNSD will do reasonably well if they go for the 5-13 crowd and their horny parents. I hope WG does well tho, they have that distinctive k-pop flavour but are american friendly enough as their album proves.

[thisoneputa.livejournal.com]

i agree with chu

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

This combo should be 2NE1, F(x) and Miss A tbh.

[obeytheempress.livejournal.com]

I could see f(x) doing well with the tween market here if they ever really went for it.

[cordyceps.livejournal.com]

There are some v. pressed people in here.

I'm optimistic. I can see 2NE1 doing okay.

[stesabsea.livejournal.com]

Some people are quite adamant about these groups failing in the American market and they're taking every opportunity to state this. Especially when it's a group they don't like. Biases, biases...

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

SNSD HAHAHAHAHAHAA
WonderGirls is my vote. They are much improved and they are radio friendly.

2NE1 will have the "it" factor they are hott hott hott until hey look something else that's hotter. 2NE1 cound face a backlash due to those dropping their name saying they're sooo cool.
But it's nice to see what will come of it, YG prob is wheeling and dealing daily to make sure that MTV award wasn't because of fan votes.
I do want all but SNSD to do well because clearly these companies know the boys can't do it for them. It's sad too, America will never let "boy bands" happen ever again.

[eishastan.livejournal.com]

Congrats if any of them make it.

It would be horrible if WG don't make it since they've put so much time and effort (and even lost a member in their attempts), 2ne1 still has to make a move to see what their plans are, and GG is just releasing a maxi single without actual promotion, so i think they are only catering to their american fanbase; also they don't need the US they have Japan and Korea in the bag, while JYP and YG could use the money.

Good luck to all of them.

[bmo.livejournal.com]

cause boy groups have a lower chance of making it lol. americans would make fun of 2pm more than any of the girls.