I don't mean to talk about the big names that we're all aware of. The acts in question I'm referring to here are the mid-tier to smaller groups.
It seems like a ton of groups are trying to capitalize on the foreign market right now. Many are going on tour and quite a few of them are facing very mixed results. Just a few examples which I'll take from some upcoming US tours (since it's a frequent destination/point of comparison): Loossemble, TripleS, and iKON all have shows in the upcoming month with pretty concerning numbers so far. Even Dreamcatcher who have more experience in touring are at a 50% sale rate with just a few weeks to go. Add on: Purple Kiss is another one reportedly having their first US tour after their September comeback, I hope good planning/strategy is employed and it goes well for them.
I feel like the international bubble of Kpop has grown so much, but sometimes perception of popularity gets inflated due to misinterpretation of certain markers. Such as social media engagement; RTs and views don't necessarily equate to shelling out money for tickets. Album sales; with the increasingly common practice of bulk buying and photocard collecting, one fan can buy plenty but when it comes to concerts that fan only fills up one seat.
Is the market oversaturated with so many acts to see? Overpricing? Poor research or planning from the promoters? What's going on with some of the mismatched demand recently?
And a further problem: I would think it to be very unfortunate if seeing "underwhelming" numbers turns these groups away from future tours in those countries. Better to start out slow/small, and gradually build a reputation rather than trying for quick cash grabs as it seems like some companies are doing. Like I remember Oh My Girl attempted a US tour back in 2019 (before they blew up with Queendom) and it was poorly executed as well, and I think that closed the door on them venturing beyond SK to international audiences.