There are nuances in claiming boygroups don't need hits to grow a big fandom

Hear me out.

I do think they need less effort than female groups and soloists to grow a following, but It's still necessary to expand their fandom and elevating their popularity by a lot.

The thing is that when a K-pop fan thinks about a 'hit song', they think about Korea and It's general public only. But It's an outdated perception, from my point of view.

With the heights K-pop has reached globally, It comes to a point It's international niche/community is bigger than the demographic that consistently listen to K-pop in Korea. So, thanks to that wider reach, a lot of korean songs can be well known by a large audience outside Korea. Including boygroups songs.

I personally can't think of a boygroup that don't have one or more popular songs in any way and became somehow big.

When they don't do, even If they have a good fanbase, they will stagnate before becoming too big, as their reach will find a limit.

Quote from Icaro_Ribeiro

Humm

I agree they need hits to keep the fandom growing

But I disagree this is the main driver to increase their album sales

Let's say, having hits (even if it's mid sized) is the minimum requirement for them to expand their fandom

But what really catapult their sales is the bond they create with their fans

This can be achieved in many ways. Cumulative discography and fan content is a good way. Reality shows like Kingdom, year end awards, everything helps a lot. Having a hit dows not mean the next album will have a explosive sales

For example. TxT released many hits during their emo phase, their sales kept growing but they exploded during Sugar Rush era after the song the received the least attention (GBGB). Love Song and Loser Lover bring attention to TxT, but it took years for their fandom to become solid

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Actually, you agreed with my only point of the thread. I meant that, when they have hits, It puts them in more evidence and wide their reach to a certain public that will stan.

I didn't say fans will stan only because of the music and It's popularity.

Let's be honest, most people won't watch boygroup's performances, youtube variety shows and fan content If they aren't already interested in the group or interested in knowing the group further. It doesn't capture many casuals. It builds loyalty to make them hardcore fans.

The popular songs are the opening door. When they don't have, they stagnate fast