Has Manufactured K-Pop Run Its Course?

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Fans cheer wildly at a concert by JYJ in Barcelona, Spain in October last year

June 10, 2010 was a momentous day for Korean pop music. A large-scale live concert of K-pop stars like Girls' Generation, Super Junior, SHINee and f(x) was staged in Paris, and some had high hopes that this would mean the Korean Wave had splashed beyond Asia into the wider world.

There have since been some 260 K-pop concerts in the West, from New York via Barcelona and Berlin to Santiago de Chile, according to Korea Creative Contents Agency. But is K-pop really moving in the right direction?

Some industry sources believe the focus on manufactured bands is losing its luster. Singer Kim Chang-wan said, "Those who are leading the Korean Wave are professionally trained bands manufactured by mega management agencies. Most of them sing the same way in similar productions and tend to launch their careers abroad. Their goals are far too commercial."

Another problem is there are no notable newcomers to succeed Girls' Generation, Wonder Girls, Kara, and 2NE1, who have been leading the K-pop's sweep abroad. Music critic Kim Zakka said, "Many groups and singers like Lee Seung-gi and IU launched their career in Japan, but the result was underwhelming. If there are no charismatic newcomers, K-pop could regress into a niche market."

Others say the K-pop PR machine has failed to introduce the variety of Korean pop music to the wider world. Roh Jun-seok at Korea Creative Contents Agency points out that manufactured bands account for just 10 percent of the U.S. pop market, but some 90 percent of Korean musicians who have launched their career overseas are manufactured bands. "It's not surprising that K-pop is losing its appeal after 10 years of that," he added.

Core Contents Media CEO Kim Kwang-soo, who manages T-ara, said, "In Japan, where K-pop has been very popular, we're now seeing bands who resemble Korean ones with their pretty looks and good singing skills. Only K-pop singers who can distinguish themselves from foreign groups of similar style will be able to survive the competition."

Nam Tae-jeong, a former head of MBC's Music Center, said, "Although nobody intended it, there is now a strong impression that K-pop equals manufactured bands. We should be showcasing a greater variety of music, more individual character and greater sincerity."

Some believe that Korean musicians can only succeed abroad if they play not only in big, meticulously planned concerts but also smaller, more informal gigs.

Kim Chang-wan said, "The K-pop scene has been excessively dominated by manufactured bands. We need to create an environment where musicians with individual character and music can flourish, like Lady Gaga."

And Kim Zakka points out that there is governmental organization in Japan which makes sure that Japanese indie musicians are heard in various parts of the U.S. "That's what we need in Korea as well."

Source: The Chosun Ilbo

Comments

[toomanysides.livejournal.com]

I for one am glad that KKS was able to put his two cents in.

[jae-bias-bitch.livejournal.com]

couldn't agree more.

[suhbangshinki.livejournal.com]

about time someone realized this.

[my-faux-pas.livejournal.com]

Definitely yes. I suggest everyone following Tohoshinki's Japan debut footsteps, little by little. It's humbling and if they have the talent, they'll totally succeed. But idk if anyone would even venture that type of course anymore since KPOP is like famous everywhere.

[falling-empress.livejournal.com]

true fax no one is gonna oust the queens of kpop it seems like...the last year and this year was really just a bunch of nugus

[confuqued.livejournal.com]

I think YG's trying to.

[miyuse.livejournal.com]

SMTown Paris was in 2011, not 2010.

[asiapopsecret.livejournal.com]

mte. lol

[kanbinayume.livejournal.com]

I would love to have smaller-venue concerts

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

I love how a few groups go to Japan for a week, play a few shows and apparently the groups have made it. When all they do is pander to the few Hallyu fans and make zero impact on the wider Japanese market. Make the effort in japan, don't expect results from day one, same goes for the fans.

[pepper.livejournal.com]

I completely agree.
Most K-Pop groups sound exactly the same now... there is not a distinguishing style anymore.
It's all about electro/dance repetitive autotuned crap nowadays.

[goldenrosalie.livejournal.com]

if they play not only in big, meticulously planned concerts but also smaller, more informal gigs.
I really love this part. It feels like ~kpop masterminds~ just don't get that they can't expect huge arenas to be filled if they visit some new country for the first time without any real promotion there. Yes, maybe you're a big star in Korea but with every new market it's like you're starting everything again. It will take time and you can't expect results right away. Test the waters, play a few small concerts and see where it goes. And obv they need some proper marketing strategy.
Actually... All bolded parts are very true. I really liked this article.

[liferule91.livejournal.com]

Wasn't 2ne1's I am the best big though? Or was that just me who thought so?

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

I think one of the key problems is that agencies and bands want to make profit from get go instead of seeing for instance making a club tour (that probably doesn't make any profit at that very moment) as an investment into the future. For instance it might be a very smart move to have a club tour covering most of the European countries with just band members, manager, sound guy, and maybe stylist. And in every country arrange a meeting with local press as well as invite them to the gick.

Also why on earth Korean musicians/idols don't have official international fanclubs so that they could really see where their fans are and in which countries the fandom is growing? Setup that asap with $5 registration fee (in order to keep trolls away) and give them assignments to promote you in their country like requesting radio play. Also make your music available for radio stations in other countries.

[cottonowl.livejournal.com]

K-pop needs to hire you asap.

[kawaiisis86.livejournal.com]

I think the problem with a lot of the K-pop groups being exported internationally is the fact that they are arena artists. Could anyone really see SNSD doing a small intimate gig which consisted of mostly live singing?
No shade to them but thats such an unlikely scenario (even though I know they could do it).

I think the Hallyu needs to incorporate acts like 10cm and other adult contemporary acts. I always say that I could see Americano becoming a huge song this side of the planet.

But I agree with the article, the agencies lack focus. They need to concentrate on gaining a solid fanbase in certain countries and they have to do this by doing smaller shows, fanmeets and other stuff like that.

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

lol! but pop music has always been manufactured. and honestly, very few acts will become superstars. some of them may get some relative fame, but not all of them will hit it big time. you can't really expect all these kpop acts to become international superstars (or even local superstars).

and really, a lot of these kpop acts need to be seen live. non-fans who've seen kpop acts perform live become even bigger fans, because of how much effort they put in performing. and unfortunately for them, if they don't perform in big arena-type stages, they won't get much attention. that's why mbc/kbs are the ones bringing the kpop acts to different countries. they have the budget and resources to showcase kpop acts.

but of course, the quality of the songs need to be considered. and it seems like ever since kpop groups started catering to the international fans, the music hasn't been as great. but then again, it's all about taste. and people have different tastes. it's really hard to please everyone.

[aleksu7.livejournal.com]

More indie going international please. That's all I ask.

And lol at the pic, my god that jyj concert in bcn was crazy. And I don't even like jyj I went with a friend but it was really funny.

Btw, lady caca is not better than most big kpop groups. Pop is manufactured, ephemeral,etc. Pop will always be there, maybe in the future kpop will be more about solo artists, maybe different kind of sound..don't know.

[cottonowl.livejournal.com]

We should be showcasing a greater variety of music, more individual character and greater sincerity."

Some believe that Korean musicians can only succeed abroad if they play not only in big, meticulously planned concerts but also smaller, more informal gigs.

YES, FINALLY. DO IT. DO EEEET.

Re: about the pic...

[rikayla.livejournal.com]

idk how this gif relates exactly but it does.

but even even if it doesn't, i want to use it at least once anyway.

[uledy.livejournal.com]

I'd love to go to k-pop shows in smaller venues. A huge venue doesn't necessarily make a concert good. The hyped up audience and fan/artist relationship does. All my favorite lives have been in clubs, pressed up against others who were just as passionate as me, feet away from my fave artist.

Besides, I feel like smaller venues may mean more opportunities to reach fans because it'll allow you to add more stops and set cheaper ticket prices. Merch is where you make a lot of your concert profit anyway, so that won't really be effected.

[miracle-candle.livejournal.com]

i think the problem most likely lie on how k-pop fans refused to give newbies a chance especially if they're from smaller companies. they keep voting or listening to the big groups from the big 3 companies and refused to try the new groups despite the obvious talents these new groups possessed.

[djlancerock.livejournal.com]

it's true that people aren't always willing to listen to new stuff but listeners don't really owe artists their time. most people, not just kpop fans, will just go for whatever's popular and whatever sounds good to them at the moment.

[taecish.livejournal.com]

ia all rookie groups are awful and ur all doing kpop a disservice by stanning them
unless it's hongkong from a-jax

[akaich0u.livejournal.com]

Seems like every "K-pop takes over the world" article is necessarily accompanied by a "K-pop is over" article.

I think common sense sums up both. Stuff that is new, catchy, attractive and fun will be popular, but ultimately all good things come to an end, especially in a fast-moving industry like pop music. Just enjoy it while it lasts.

[lobotronic.livejournal.com]

Will it slow down and become less saturated? Absolutely. In a few years we won't have the 50+ debuting idol groups like we've been seeing since 2010; the strongest will survive and solo singers, rock bands, and indie acts will have more room to breathe and more spots on TV.

Will it go away completely? Not likely. Say what you want about manufactured sounds, carefully crafted performances, and forced acting on variety shows--we know most of it is like this, and we accept that. But these idols are actually artists. THEY ACTUALLY, GENUINELY, WANT TO PURSUE MUSIC AND POP IDOL CAREERS. That is never going to change. As long as there is at least SOME talent wanting to get through, it will.

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

In a few years we won't have the 50+ debuting idol groups like we've been seeing since 2010; the strongest will survive and solo singers, rock bands, and indie acts will have more room to breathe and more spots on TV.

tbh that sounds great; no complaints from me.

[ladykaoz.livejournal.com]

lol /ot but the girl with her raised arm wearing a grey cardigan is actually one of my closest friend xD

[hisjulliet.livejournal.com]

South Korea really needs to stop with debuting groups every week. If they keep making cookie cutter groups with cookie cutter concepts, they might as well make their own grave.

[thebluemonk.livejournal.com]

the solution is that we need more noona groups

MORE
NOONAS

GANGKIZ FTW