What is "stand out member" ?

A standout member is a member who stands out.

You're welcome.

The group member who brings the most attention to the group out of all the members. Probably has the most Instagram likes (if they have that), non-fans always seem to talk about them the most and so on.

I interpret it as the member that draws in the most GP attention.

Like Tsuki from Billie became that stand out member.

Or, it can also be the member that draws in the most fans. Like Karina who has both a large fanbase and GP recognition.

someone who is noticeably more popular than almost of all the other members. Most egregious examples in kpop history are Cha Eunwoo (Astro), Hongki (Ft Island), Suzy (Miss A) or Hyuna (4minute)

Stand out member in a group? or in Kpop as a whole?

If group, then a combo of whoever is the most popular in fandom and general public.

If kpop as a whole, then imo the one or two members that have the best chance of being above average successful in their solo activity (if one exists in a group) + has the popularity within fandom and gp.

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So that's mean not every group have stand out member even in BIG4 group. So why some people explain that nugu group are not popular cause they don't have star factor ? i'm confused now

For smaller groups, having one member getting all the popularity can be a good way to gain a lot of recognition early, (Chuu with Loona, Gyuri participating to Produce 48 for Fromis_9) but in the long run if the other members can't make up the gap it could lead to tension and sales declining or stagnating and full group fans leaving. The very large popularity gap is often cited as one of the reason why 4Minute and Miss A were not able to reach the very top despite having some huge hits. For some companies it also can be easier and less expensive to intensely promote one member rather than the full group.

Those people are strange, nugu groups often don't have a standout member because they literally just debuted...

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So it's someone popular. and if a member of a nugu group becomes popular 3 years after their debut, how can that be justified?

Nugu groups can have standout members imo. It's just a matter of whether that group is ever able to get lucky and catch the attention to gather a large fanbase or the attention of the general public.

Standout members can definitely help a groups popularity, but that's not something that is ubiquitous.

Sometimes the standout member can boost a nugu group. Like in the case of Tsuki, Eunwoo, Hani, Hyeri, etc. But sometimes, the group itself is what catches people attention and standout members are able to stand out even more like with BTS, Mamamoo, and Brave Girls. There is more than one way for a group to blow up, and having a stand out member can be one of those ways.

But having a standout member does not guarantee success.

i think it works a bit like with natural beauty, some people are just born prettier, you can't influence it.

you can have idols with the same traits like pretty or handsome, talented with nice personality, good fanservice and more but some of them just stand out from the crowd as if they were born for something. 'stand out member' is objectively the most marketable in Korea as well as outside of Korea, which mainly concerns visuals cuz they simply get people's attention effortlessly such as Lisa, Jungkook, Wonyoung, Joy, Sana or Karina. when I look at the group and I have in my head "when they all enter the room most people will only be looking at that one member" then I know this is the so called "stan attractor"

I don't want to be mean but some people also call it "A and friends"

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I don't want to be mean but some people also call it "A and friends"

I know what you mean. I remember when people did that to Mia and Soyeon in their groups.

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But BIG4 manage really well to have popular member in every group why ? they have more recruiters? Best casting method? Better glasses?

I'm going to tell you a secret

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I know what you mean. I remember when people did that to Mia and Soyeon in their groups.

that's why I don't want to make a long speech because "A and friends " explains everything

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But brave girls and Mamamoo don't have stand out members they're flop

what are you talking about, Hwasa is a stand out member

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So why so many people tell nugu groups don't have star factor and that's why they'll never be popular. What's the difference between them and BIG3 group for example ?

But brave girls and Mamamoo don't have stand out members they're flop

And BTS is the most popular group, so that's mean all member have star factor like BIG3 group ? Bang PD got some power to find out these 7 members, idk why big company didn't cast them before

Are you being sarcastic lol?

But yeah, either way, I can't say why people say that about nugu groups. That's not my personal opinion, so I can't speak for people who say things like that.

And, I don't agree with your statement on Mamamoo or BG. As for BTS, they weren't always popular. For me, it is not about Big 3 or small agencies, so the points we are making come from very different persepctives.

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So they recruit the best idol first and nugu only cast the loosers so that's why their group are always at the top. It's cruel but it makes sense

exactly !! but not only the best idol
the best producer ,the best stylist ,the best brand ,the best stage , the best angle

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No she's flop you didn't see her last album, even newcomer sell more than her and chart better. She got luck for 1 year cause real popular girl don't go solo, she lost her opportunity while she renewed with her flop group

I'm sorry

Visuals mostly. Or charisma. Or both

But small companies don't always have good styling budget or mediaplay for their visuals to make them big.

Quote from citron-icy

No she's flop you didn't see her last album, even newcomer sell more than her and chart better. She got luck for 1 year cause real popular girl don't go solo, she lost her opportunity while she renewed with her flop group

i understand.

Their last album flopped for both group, they lost their momentum.

So that's mean nugu also have stand out member ? But how these member have no stand out first comeback and while they become popular have this factor that's what i don't understand

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I explained it in my post before that one. I said imo, the nugu members were already standout. They just weren't lucky enough to catch the GP's attention at that time. Some people have luck and some don't. Doesn't change the fact nugu groups have standout members.

It's luck. Some groups come at the right time with the right concept and just click with the GP. Some groups can have all the talent, visuals, and all the right song choices and not make it. The Big 3 has money and influence to push their groups to the forefront while other groups are drowned within the circus. Just like you have big brands like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Nestle, Frito-Lay etc that have reputations for tasting good. People know exactly what to expect when they buy from those companies. On the other hand, that does not mean the smaller brands do not also sell tasty products. They just have a more difficult time getting their product recognized. Even the Big 3 has idols that fall into obscurity.

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So that's mean if i stan a nugu group and they didn't become popular that's mean they're ugly ?

No, as said above, it's also a matter of promotion, brand awareness and such. Nugus don't have the same opportunities and leverage as big companies, which makes it hard for them to get out of nugudom, even if pretty/talented. Obvisouly. Otherwise we would live in a world where we would all bow down to queen Nana.

Quote from citron-icy

Sorry, I misunderstood, it's clearer now. So nugu need luck to stand out, and BIG4 have money and GP recognition.

but all this is not due to the member of the groups, it is therefore linked to external factors. Or that's mean star facor is ability to have luck to get in BIG agency or to become popular with your nugu group

It's linked to external factors. You can have the star factor. Aka visuals, talent, likability, marketability etc., but that only gets you to the starting line. You need either luck (for Nugus) or privilege/money (Big 4) to get past that (sometimes a combination of both).

Quote from citron-icy

And BTS is the most popular group, so that's mean all member have star factor like BIG3 group ? Bang PD got some power to find out these 7 members, idk why big company didn't cast them before

A lot goes into making a group and it could be a possibility that when they tried out for other companies (Jin or J-Hope for JYP I think) that they didn't see them fitting into any of their upcoming groups? That's just a guess though.

Quote from citron-icy

but all this is not due to the member of the groups, it is therefore linked to external factors. So what is star factor/stand out member i've seen many people tell this for explain popularity of popular group and explain why nugu are nugu so i'm confused.

It's a matter of money, and it's a matter of star power. But then we have to define star power which is already what we've been trying to do.

Nugus are nugu because they don't have the same kind of money as big companies have, and because they don't have enough star power. Star power basically is a combination of talent and visuals, and because big companies use to snatch the trainees with the highest potential before anyone else, smaller companies have to do with the "leftovers". There are exceptions of course but in broad stokes it's kinda how it works.

So nugu idols might be very skilled, but their visuals not appealing enough; or the other way around. Again, with some exceptions. Even if a smaller company manages to get its hands on a jewel, maybe one top tier idol won't be enough for the group to be noticed. There are only a few examples of idols who single-handedly hard carried their group.