How K-Pop is changing the Global Music Industry
K-pop's long overdue explosion onto the Western music scene has impacted the industry not just by their ability to connect with fans through their music, but also from their willingness to push for a more inclusive society as a whole. Since K-Pop’s beginning with the first generation of K-pop idols in the 1990s, it has opened a new realm in music that combines genres such as Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, EDM, and many more while also incorporating their traditional Korean musical roots. This music has rapidly spread across the world in the last few years with artists such as PSY, BTS and Blackpink leading this revolutionary charge in music.
Starting with young teens who train rigorously for several years in dance, vocals, and other areas of entertainment, they are formed into the perfect entertainers and labeled as “Idols.” Their synchronized dancing, powerful ballads, and mix of the Korean and English languages has captured the attention of millions of people making the K-pop industry almost as powerful as the American music industry.
What makes this industry’s success different is how it has proven that music can break language barriers and bring people together. K-pop raises awareness of Asian cultures, breaks down stereotypes, spreads diversity and inclusion to people across the globe, and showcases music in a different view. I remember my first experience listening to K-pop and how I was immediately captivated by it. It was refreshing, new, and had a comforting, positive aura which sparked curiosity in me about Korean culture and this new approach to music.
We have seen several artists making notable marks on the music world. We first witnessed PSY as he broke the internet in 2012 with the hit song, “Gangnam Style” and made everyone around the world sing and dance to it without even realizing that it was Korean. Later, BTS became the first K-pop group to win at American award shows, sell out stadiums in North America, reach number one on the billboard top 100, partner with UNICEF for a Love Yourself campaign and be nominated for a Grammy award. Now we see Blackpink, the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella, and break YouTube and streaming records for fastest views in the shortest time. This exemplifies how K-pop is just getting started with its global take over. Now, as more K-pop groups and artists start being recognized overseas, we see the influence that merging cultures and music has on people.
Despite all this success, K-pop artists and the industry as a whole still face backlash and racism whether it is directly from haters that dislike them or subtly by the western music industry. Groups such as BTS are often attacked for being of Asian ethnicity, their style of genderless clothing, their talent and much more. It seems ridiculous that people would let these factors overpower the success of their music and influence in spreading culture and positive messages. Seeing people being prejudiced towards artists just because of race, ethnicity or nationality is something I and many other passionate music enthusiasts find shocking. K-pop artists strive for an inclusive society, only to be insulted by Western media. Just as people of color and women have been robbed of opportunities, success, and recognition in the music industry for decades, K-Pop artists receive similar backlash.
Additionally, xenophobic comments have been made about the success of K-pop in America by professionals such as comedian Jimmy Carr who said, “When I first heard something Korean had exploded in America, I got worried.” Others have outwardly questioned why idols try to learn how to speak English then proceed to judge them on their English skills. We see K-pop artists being categorized unfairly in award shows, and radio stations refusing to play songs unless the station faced extreme backlash from fans or the songs were in English (something BTS in particular has faced). I even find American interviews frustrating to watch as they always ask the same questions: “What American artists do you want to collaborate with?”; “How would you describe yourself in 3 words?'' rather than asking more in depth questions for fans to learn more about these artists as they do with western musicians.
Regardless of all the hate this industry receives, we have seen how in times of hardship, the K-pop idols and fandoms take a stand against inequality. For example, in the summer of 2020, we saw the Black Lives Matter Movement take over the media, bringing attention to injustices towards people of color. During that time, racists and white supremacists would create hashtags to post offensive posts and spread negativity but no one had the chance to see such posts because soon, the hashtags were flooded with K-pop memes or people’s favorite artists. (Might as well post funny content instead of racist ones.) Later, the fans reserved thousands of tickets for former President Trump’s rally only to not show up and have the stadium be almost empty. K-pop idols and their fans also played a huge role in the Black Lives Matter movement for example when BTS donated $1 million dollars to the Black Lives Matter Movement and their fans stood beside them and raised their own $1 million dollars to donate as well. The constant impact we see from the K-pop industry on not only music, but also on the serious issues we face day to day has been nothing less than positive, and despite hate they receive, they continue to support so many people in their hardest times.
Now, as a result of the rise in Asian hate crimes, we see how K-pop artists, despite being victims of racism and xenophobia, stand strong and support the Asian community in this time of pain and violence. Korean artists such as BTS, Eric Nam, Jay Park, CL and many more have spoken out condemning the hate against their community. We’ve seen how artists in this industry have broken barriers non-stop, raised awareness to serious issues about inequality, mental health or societal standards, and their continuous support towards various social justice movements and issues to make a change.
Author: Ana Stavarache