Why haven’t K-Pop labels learned by now?

Quote from OP

I don’t actually consider that level of promo significant. Artists need constant and consistent exposure to reach new audiences, not one appearance on a niche stage at Coachella and an underpromoted slow tempo song at radio. GMA was the best promo Aespa did and it was just a START.

But I’m also not necessarily saying Aespa is a group destined to be GP favorites.

There are other acts with more broad appeal.

There is simply no demand for kpop dude despite the push by companies.

I was just citing Aespa as an example.

Kpop is just a bit cringe for gp ( aside from the language barrier).

I do think SKZ have potential but kinda surprised JYP isn’t really pushing much aside from the usual English Youtube based shows here and there (Buzzfeed, Seventeen). Thought JYP had more US connections compared to SM but seems like the latter has more. Maybe JYP will push them after their world tour is done.

For girl groups, BP obviously has the most potential but YG is just too lazy lol. I think next year (with rumors of repackage, English song release/big collab, festivals attendance and “something big” happening from a Billboard/UMG article) could be some kind of breakout for BP in the US depending on the songs. But again it’s just a prediction. It could also be just hype like when Jeff Benjamin wrote there will be a focus on US promotions for Shut Down and The Happiest Girl but not much happened and nothing happened for The Happiest Girl 🤷🏻‍♀️

Quote from OP

What’s JYP doing with SKZ? Two #1 albums and they’re not even attempting to the cross this group with massive potential over to the GP? They weren’t even in the US the week Maxident came out….

Stay here, trying to explain.

First of all, JYPE often seems to be actively AGAINST the fact SKZ are more popular internationally than domestically. They have been caught literally delaying the release of English subtitles they had, during stayweek no less (which also means they did than on purpose on last year's stayweek too, because what happened this year was not an isolated event). International fans are often treated as second rate fans by the company, this has been going on for years. Istays often get less than the bare minimum of what is expected of a big company in 2022. This is most likely done because...if you have ever seen how a non-negligible chunk of kstays are, you'd understand. They hate when SKZ do anything overseas, they hate when they speak English, they consistently "cutely" threaten on bubble and video calls to unstan if they leave Korea for a few days to see who are technically the reason the kids are successful, and there's a subset of them, especially the danceracha akgae-like "stays" who have been often xenophobic against Chan himself when he expressed the slightest distaste against being mobbed at the airport. Why? I assume it's because they're worried if they focus on the international fandom and become even bigger there, it will be more difficult to get into fansigns, fancalls, and get their Y/N moment; this is apparently a problem in numerous korean kpop fandoms, not just stays. Shoutout to the normal kstays

Second, something odd is going on between Republic Records and Stray Kids. And no one but stays are talking about it. Maxident could have probably sold more units on its first week, was it not for the atrocious understocking. But it wasn't just the understocking. Countless, and I mean, basically every other US stay, has reported with evidence that Stray Kids' albums were not on shelves of stores they were supposed to be in. All other kpop albums, except Stray Kids. If stays wanted to buy albums, they had to ask for the album by its product code (!!) revealing that the stores actually had stock, but weren't told to put it on shelves. And this happened US-wide. And it didn't happen to any other group under Republic, not Twice, not Itzy, and especially not TXT. There is most definitely something happening behind the scenes.

Third, it's just not easy to promote a kpop group in the US, cause they're xenophobic. You need to pump in a lot of money into US promotions to combat that and JYPE is dumb and unwilling.

And lastly, JYPE should also do...anything in Europe and Latam because the kids also have an impressive fandom there too. Hybe groups have some European distribution (even though it's not well known) yet even though SKZ are the biggest 4th gen bg they have nothing.

Either way, I'm really proud of the kids of being the biggest 4th gen group in the US, it's basically all thanks to themselves, because people genuinely love what they do

Quote from Sajaegi Investigator (21)

You act like it's easy to promote in the west, the demand has to exist. 97% of the west doesn't give a shit about kpop unless you're BTS.

99% of the west doesn't give a shit about kpop, BTS included.

Quote from Delightful Anons Poster (339)

Stay here, trying to explain.

First of all, JYPE often seems to be actively AGAINST the fact SKZ are more popular internationally than domestically. They have been caught literally delaying the release of English subtitles they had, during stayweek no less (which also means they did than on purpose on last year's stayweek too, because what happened this year was not an isolated event). International fans are often treated as second rate fans by the company, this has been going on for years. Istays often get less than the bare minimum of what is expected of a big company in 2022. This is most likely done because...if you have ever seen how a non-negligible chunk of kstays are, you'd understand. They hate when SKZ do anything overseas, they hate when they speak English, they consistently "cutely" threaten on bubble and video calls to unstan if they leave Korea for a few days to see who are technically the reason the kids are successful, and there's a subset of them, especially the danceracha akgae-like "stays" who have been often xenophobic against Chan himself when he expressed the slightest distaste against being mobbed at the airport. Why? I assume it's because they're worried if they focus on the international fandom and become even bigger there, it will be more difficult to get into fansigns, fancalls, and get their Y/N moment; this is apparently a problem in numerous korean kpop fandoms, not just stays. Shoutout to the normal kstays

Second, something odd is going on between Republic Records and Stray Kids. And no one but stays are talking about it. Maxident could have probably sold more units on its first week, was it not for the atrocious understocking. But it wasn't just the understocking. Countless, and I mean, basically every other US stay, has reported with evidence that Stray Kids' albums were not on shelves of stores they were supposed to be in. All other kpop albums, except Stray Kids. If stays wanted to buy albums, they had to ask for the album by its product code (!!) revealing that the stores actually had stock, but weren't told to put it on shelves. And this happened US-wide. And it didn't happen to any other group under Republic, not Twice, not Itzy, and especially not TXT. There is most definitely something happening behind the scenes.

Third, it's just not easy to promote a kpop group in the US, cause they're xenophobic. You need to pump in a lot of money into US promotions to combat that and JYPE is dumb and unwilling.

And lastly, JYPE should also do...anything in Europe and Latam because the kids also have an impressive fandom there too. Hybe groups have some European distribution (even though it's not well known) yet even though SKZ are the biggest 4th gen bg they have nothing.

Either way, I'm really proud of the kids of being the biggest 4th gen group in the US, it's basically all thanks to themselves, because people genuinely love what they do

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This was really insightful, thank you. Hopefully their labels get their shit together and give them the exposure and attention around the world they deserve. The idea that K labels expect their stars (with fans all over the world) to spend 99% of their time in Korea is so limiting. Truly global stars (Harry, Dua…Taylor soon) often spend most of their time abroad because that’s what the job is!

Another "Hot100 radio hits"? Lmao. Dude, even Blackpink still struggle to reach top 10 on Hot100

Quote from Fantastic Baby (869)

99% of the west doesn't give a shit about kpop, BTS included.

BTS is a mainstream household name in the West. This thread is about everyone who isn’t them.

Quote from Professional It Girl Debater (490)

I do think SKZ have potential but kinda surprised JYP isn’t really pushing much aside from the usual English Youtube based shows here and there (Buzzfeed, Seventeen). Thought JYP had more US connections compared to SM but seems like the latter has more. Maybe JYP will push them after their world tour is done.

For girl groups, BP obviously has the most potential but YG is just too lazy lol. I think next year (with rumors of repackage, English song release/big collab, festivals attendance and “something big” happening from a Billboard/UMG article) could be some kind of breakout for BP in the US depending on the songs. But again it’s just a prediction. It could also be just hype like when Jeff Benjamin wrote there will be a focus on US promotions for Shut Down and The Happiest Girl but not much happened and nothing happened for The Happiest Girl 🤷🏻‍♀️

For SKZ, I’m curious what will happen next and as another poster in this thread suggested, maybe there’s some internal label tension about how big they want to let them get in the West (foolish but whatever).

For BP, I kind of feel like they’ve had multiple chances to connect? I think UMG hedged their bets on 2020 being their breakout year and it feels like efforts to promote beyond their existing fans for Born Pink actually de-escalated this time around. But who knows.