Does it feel like K-pop is finally slowing down?

  • From the second to the third generation, there has seemed to be constant, rapid increase. The result of this was that third-generation bands became well-known, and fourth-generation bands—like NJ and IVE—started to grow at previously unheard-of rates. However, during the past year or two, K-pop has seemed somewhat quiet. Fewer huge releases/sales, fewer record breaking releases? I'm not sure; it's difficult to measure. Keeping up with major K-pop news used to overwhelm me, but now days it's not as difficult. Is the K-pop scene waning? Are we returning to a specialised fandom akin to the second generation? Or is everything just going to be okay for a minute before blowing up again?

  • We'll 2 of the biggest groups are on a hiatus first of all..


    Also, even tho groups nowadays are getting number one on Billboard 200, entering billboard hot 100, going to Western award shows, etc they don't make any noise because when BTS did it, it wasn't heard of before.


    kpop is doing just fine... you can't expect to be wowed every time...

  • Kpop will always be a small niche outside of the kpop bubble. And I have always said that the competion from other asian contries like China and other asian contries will make it a bit harder for kpop in Asia. I don't mean it's a threat in the international scene, but in contries like China, Phillipines, Indonessia where Kpop is strong the domestic entertainment scence will get strong. And for youth I think idols from their own contry will kind of be more intresting than some koreans, if they are good enough.

  • Decline of Youtube as a music video streaming platform and rise of streaming apps is a major factor. Kpop is a visual genre. Or at least was.

    yeah, Kpops growth goes hand in hand with social media. I mean, I consume 99 % of my kpop on Youtube and would probably never gotten into kpop if it was not for Youtube.

  • No, stop it. Stop stealing from K-Pop subreddits. K-Pop isn't slowing down. It's actually being consumed more than it ever has previously, and all the objective metrics out there indicate this.


    I would say more, but this is just a copypasta thread, so it's not even worth it.

  • Its a year of opportunities with bts and bp on hiatus.


    Stray kids, seventeen and less so txt are groups on the cusp of BTS level super stardom. Any of them can get lucky and have a viral hit.


    Twice could breakout at BTS level in the US, but its less likely unless jyp writes a song for them.


    For the newer girl groups, any of Nj, Aespa, Lsf, BM (the top 4 new ggs globally as the others are kinda tanking) could also get lucky and have a cupid level hit at any time and move up to the stray kids/seventeen level.

  • There was simply more room to grow before.


    Previously, kpop was closed off to the Asian countries only.


    As it opened up internationally, they had the entire world of possibility.


    There were many worlds first. Grammy, US Billboards, Coachella, Stadiums, talked to the president, etc. The achievements now are the same achievements but in higher numeric figures.


    Now that most of it has been achieved by at least 1 kpop group. There are proportionally less unique achievements to be had.


    Kpop has essentially normalized and fans have also desensitized to what would had been huge just 5, years ago.

  • Kpop will always be a small niche outside of the kpop bubble. And I have always said that the competion from other asian contries like China and other asian contries will make it a bit harder for kpop in Asia. I don't mean it's a threat in the international scene, but in contries like China, Phillipines, Indonessia where Kpop is strong the domestic entertainment scence will get strong. And for youth I think idols from their own contry will kind of be more intresting than some koreans, if they are good enough.

    I'm actually perfectly fine with K-pop remaining a niche. I prefer it that way.

  • 110%, youtube views are on all time low even if you use ads, gidle using a lot of ads on super lady barely made it to 50M after weeks. Sales decreasing, since bts left kpop don't make noise outside the kpop bubble. Only hybe by using all the force of their payola is more or less making their acts keep afloat, but even newjeans that is supposed to be the biggest act nowadays struggle a lot with youtube views.

  • It's because of the lack of media presence. Kpop stans thought that while BTS are enlisting, the media will shift to their faves, but the reality is the media will collectively ignore Kpop all together lol

  • It's because of the lack of media presence. Kpop stans thought that while BTS are enlisting, the media will shift to their faves, but the reality is the media will collectively ignore Kpop all together lol

    Oooh I am never forgetting all those celebratory posts on this forum and on Kpop twitter in 2022 when BTS announced hiatus, saying now their faves will finally be on top and how BTS are over....its been 2 years since then, BTS will be back in a year and we can see the state of Kpop in their absence. Instead of Kpop growing, all relevant metrics show Kpop has only declined except for the inflated album sales....lol


    When the most consumed artist on both Spotify and Youtube is an inactive enlisted group in hiatus, you know how deep in the pits Kpop is.


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    Edited once, last by paradis ().

  • Idk about others but my interest for new boy groups has long peaked and don't think it will ever be coming back (tho I am open to surprises). Older ones I still do check.

    GGs are still interesting for me but not 2018-2019 level.


    And tbf Apop, Jpop are hella good these days - definitely giving strong competition to kpop consumption for me.

  • "Cusp of BTS stardom"? How so? Please elaborate.

    >>> 2022.06.10 <<<IMG-4283.jpg

  • BTS have been the main face of Kpop especially in the West. They bring in the buzz and this buzz taps Kpop into a market who would not normally pay any attention. This overwhelming international buzz created by BTS also resulted in other Kpop groups getting more attention. IMO, Kpop is not actually slowing down. It is just not getting much exposure as it once did because BTS are in the military.


    BTS got the west attention because they did it all.

    They were the first group to land in #1 on both Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 chart multiple times (to date, no other Kpop group has successfully gotten close at all).

    They were the first to grab Grammy nominations.

    They were the first Korean group to sell out US and European Stadium tours in minutes.

    They hold the biggest views in 24 hours on You Tube at 108.2 million views.

    The first Korean act to win Best Duo Group awards and eventually, Artist of the Year title at the American Music Awards.

    They were the first Korean act to win Billboard awards year after year after year.

    They were the first Korean act to win at the VMA multiple times.

    The only Kpop act to be invited in the White House

    The only Kpop act to be invited 3 times to speak at the United Nations

    A BTS member also was the first Korean act to HEADLINE a major US festival.


    in 2025, the world wide spotlight will be on BTS when they finish their military duty and reunite on stage. Once again, Kpop will get the media highlight because of this.

  • ''on the cusp of BTS level super stardom'' lmaoo not even close

  • "Cusp of BTS stardom"? How so? Please elaborate.

    The just need a very catchy song like Dynamite or Butter. They have large and organised fanbases that if they have a catchy song, the fanbase can make it viral, and push them into the next level.


    like this level of crazy in the US with only 30 mins notice

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  • like this level of crazy in the US with only 30 mins notice

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    Well ARMYs speculated he was going to perform because they saw someone cleaning so they went there before the announcement.... :pepe-life-support:

  • The just need a very catchy song like Dynamite or Butter. They have large and organised fanbases that if they have a catchy song, the fanbase can make it viral, and push them into the next level.


    like this level of crazy in the US with only 30 mins notice

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    You really think the groups you mentioned can pull what JK did in US with TSX with 30 minutes notice...well


    You think BTS only got popular due to viral hit like Dynamite? They had established themselves and broken through way before Dynamite happened in late 2017 and early 2018, they did not need a Dynamite to get famous in US.


    This was fake Love in 2018Screenshot 2024-02-25 at 6.35.56 PM.png


    Fun fact, no Kpop act has broken into top 10 of BB Hot 100 ever, this is why I keep saying no Kpop group is even at BTS 2018 levels.


    BTS were debuting their whole album on Global Spotify in 2018, forget the nugu western award shows, they were attending Grammys every year from 2019 onwards and performing from 2020 onwards before any Dynamite happened!!!


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    I know you all aren't BTS fans so will not be aware of all that BTS has achieved which is why you all make these silly comparisons of other Kpop groups and BTS without truly understanding their impact. BTS have sales, streams and touring numbers. Their charting is incredible home and away. They are not your commonplace Kpop act, they are the Kpop GOAT!!! BTS' competition is not Kpop it is top western and global acts.

    Edited 6 times, last by paradis ().

  • Probably, it was better when bts and blackpink were active and having a comeback atht esame time. Armies and blinks fighting for achievements every comeback. But now bts is on military and blackpink has likely disbanded already.

  • Yes, I feel like a lot of kpop fans are slowly drifting away from it and calling it a ''phase'', myself included. There's a lot of reasons why, one being many being uncomfortable with younger idols debuting (you hear now about 12 and 13 year olds debuting, obviously this happened previously with Taemin and Krystal for example), there's payola everywhere (like why are idols that didn't debut or barely debuted yet brand ambassadors?) and the songs aren't hitting as much as before

  • Yes, I feel like a lot of kpop fans are slowly drifting away from it and calling it a ''phase'', myself included. There's a lot of reasons why, one being many being uncomfortable with younger idols debuting (you hear now about 12 and 13 year olds debuting, obviously this happened previously with Taemin and Krystal for example), there's payola everywhere (like why are idols that didn't debut or barely debuted yet brand ambassadors?) and the songs aren't hitting as much as before

    It's nothing new that people are "drifting away" from kpop, it's just a normal step for many that get in to kpop when they are young, maybe teenagers and when they are older adults they start to lose intrest and it's understanbable. Big difference being 15-19 compared to +25.

  • Just what age range is Kpop supposed to be aimed at? I noticed a lot of K pop reactors are adults. I just get triggered when I see old creepy men in the crowds or in the audiences. I'm a young female so I'm not really sure what age range its supposed to gear towards???

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