7 replies to this topic

[sChiZoO14]

K-pop stars have proven their influence in Asia — most of them taking their first steps entering the Japanese pop music scene.

Encouraged by the success in the neighboring country, the agencies — SM, JYP, and YG — are looking to the United States. Or rather, the agencies are once again eying the American market.

Surely, there exists a teen-driven market for stars like Justin Bieber and Senela Gomez. Still, even that niche is difficult to crack into, as seen in the case of BoA of SM and Wonder Girls of JYP. Yet the failed attempts are not stopping the star makers who are preparing to play the American game once again this year.

BoA pioneered the exporting of home-bred artists in 2001 with the Japanese version of her debut album “ID Peace B.� It took her a while to become a star in the island nation -she spent most of her career in Japan much to the Korean fans’ despair. SM tried to make BoA a star in America in 2009 with the album “Eat You Up.� Though the press and the agency hyped things up for the album and the music video’s release, the talk died down quietly — whether BoA was even noticed is questionable.

SM recently flaunted that Girls’ Generation got on the plane Monday to meet with multiple press like the Associated Press and E in America.

The group will appear on the “Late Show with David Letterman� at 1:35 p.m. today (KST) as well as “LIVE! with Kelly� at 11 p.m.
Though Girls’ Generation has been successful at translating the catchiness of their songs in Japanese versions, the English versions of their songs are ambiguous like the line in their title track, “The Boys,� which goes “Call all emergency; I’m watching the phone ring.�

The album ranked 22nd out of 25 albums on the Heatseekers Album chart on Billboard.

JYP, led by singer-songwriter Park Jin-young, has been channeling its American dream into the five-member Wonder Girls. Yet, the group’s ability to succeed in America is still dubious. In November, the artists came back to Korea briefly to release their official second album “Wonder World.� On various talk shows, the members confessed difficulty in learning English.

But the group is knocking on the door of the U.S. market once again. The group’s made-for-TV movie “The Wonder Girls� will premier on Feb. 2 on Teen Nick, a channel for teens. The movie will star a local girl group School Gyrl who also debuted with a movie on Nickelodeon, a TV channel for children. Little is known about School Gyrl outside their appearance on Nickelodeon.

Popular culture critic and professor at Kyonggi University, Jin Jong-hoon, told The Korea Times that K-pop is neglecting great marketing channels — global firms like Samsung and Hyundai are ubiquitous in America.

“K-pop artists can act as the promotional faces for global firms to benefit from collaboration,� Jin said. “Many people are well-aware of the products of such companies but honestly some are still confused whether they are Korean or Japanese.� By featuring in advertisements or campaigns with corporations who already aggressively target the United States, Jin believes K-pop artists can effectively approach the American audience.

Jin admits that K-pop artists are not likely to join the mainstream U.S. music scene. However, he believes K-pop can appeal to specific listeners who are seeking for alternatives similar to their performance in Europe. “K-pop will most likely be received as a temporary uniqueness.� According to Jin, to influence a culture, a newcomer must present advanced content and whether K-pop can offer that to American culture is questionable

Jung Duk-hyun, a culture critic, thinks music agencies’ efforts to tackle the global market deserve credit. “J-pop quickly demised because its suppliers relied on the domestic market. Japan has a substantial market already that the producers only target Japan.
However, makers of K-pop, well aware of the limited domestic consumption, have their eyes on the international market when they produce the songs and choreograph the dances. �

Jung, like Jin, doesn’t believe that K-pop will become the next big sensation in America. “The artists are particularly well received in Southeast Asia because they are considered cultural products from ‘more developed’ countries, but this will not be the reaction in America.�

Korea Times

[Wonderful Wonderland]

Quote

Jung, like Jin, doesn’t believe that K-pop will become the next big sensation in America. “The artists are particularly well received in Southeast Asia because they are considered cultural products from ‘more developed’ countries, but this will not be the reaction in America.�

tat's so not motivated. U never try, u never know. Many Kpop groups oredi proved themselves successful in the US although maybe not super popular yet but well, tis is US market we r talking about. Give them sum time. Big Bang won worldwide act award and 2NE1 won best new band in the world is the best proof ever tat they can be popular?

[MrCritique]

Already! Here are some reactions from a bunch of pop consumer/experts


https://www.youtube....h?v=yd6EQ4MxTWE

[鸽子]

i agree with this article. the only people i know who have even heard about kpop are from towns that are have an asian majority.
i live in a pretty white place...some people don't even know where korea is (serious)

[JenTOP.ForeveR]

鸽子, on 02 February 2012 - 12:33 AM, said:

some people don't even know where korea is (serious)

eh? our bookstores here are selling world maps at a very reasonable price =/

Quote

The album ranked 22nd out of 25 albums on the Heatseekers Album chart on Billboard.

only now that they are promoting the album in the US. cos it failed to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 last year even though they released the album worldwide

Edited by JenTOP.ForeveR, 02 February 2012 - 02:06 AM.

[nomad 822]

I wish they'd just stick to singing in Korean, which they do well and best. Korean ballads, rap and other genres are great when they stick solely to mainly Korean. Most of their instrumentation and orchestration is rock solid too. They are wonderful in their own flavour, why bother to imitate others (Japanese, American?)


No offence. But when it's English words .... the English (penned in , translated or made up) can be so meaninglessly embarassing and lame sometimes.

And while many of the Korean singers are so talented and natural, some of the groups can be so similar (sickening candy bubblegum or hardselling sex or completely bimbo).
The members look like colored-hair clones of each other, and all come across as the uniformly same. Especially so the girl groups. And an embarassment to females.

Even songwriter JYP fares no better. I like the song Brothers and Me, but find the English bits pretty lame.

Girls Generation SNSD's The Boys for eg. The entire thing is pretty embarassingly stupid.
Genie at least was somewhat tolerable.

Another recent one that is inanely cringeworthy is Caramel Candy - Shanghai Surprise.


.

Edited by nomad 822, 02 February 2012 - 06:49 AM.

[mlint007]

Although I like giving everyone a chance, I feel like k-pop isn't innovative.
They are merely copying a format used in America~ that's not hot.
If you are going to conquer America you have to be something different
where we don't say, "been there, done that" to the artist.

For instance, The Beatles, Adele, MIA, artist who are innovative, create a different sound
we haven't heard before.

When you just copy what we are doing then we really don't care. You may gain some
fans but not much~ as I said before, create something new maybe we will listen.

[hailin_elle]

I think before they start all that debut and expansion...they need to let Americans know WHERE Korea is since some Americans doesn't even know what USA means...
it's a bit hard to get in a market where a lot of people are naive even in those small basic facts...
but then again...there's no harm in trying...