The rise of easy listening ends the heyday of KPop and leads to its downscaling

An ominous change of KPop's direction is plaguing it

At the end of the 1st quarter of 2024, exactly one song, from Babymonster (in anticipation of them being a successor of BlackPink), had a view north of 100 million.

The hit songs of 2024 in KPop mostly had views lower than 50 million, a far cry from the days when songs which exceeded 50 mil views on the first 24 hrs came out every month.

Fifty Fifty did kill KPop, in a way it did not anticipate. Although Jeon Hongjun's tantrums (yes, it is tantrum - I don't pay attention to whatever he is doing now since it will go nowhere just like everything he has ever done), did save the idol system, the change of direction did take place and now every hit song is easier-listening, with lower views (read: less relevant to the international fans).

Even BM's new song, while retaining some of the old YG style, is notably softer than the regular stuff YG produced.

The formula which put KPop to the top of the world is now gone, and IU's style of sleepy songs has won, ironically when she had abandoned that style herself.

The whole rise of easier listening music downscales it, although they are liked by the companies since they cost less and bring more immediate profits.

But long term it loses foreign fans since they have their brand of easier listening songs.

I do not think the return of BTS (BP does not count since Teddy has left YG so whatever YG might give to it will be just Teddy copycats) will change that. The trend has changed decisively, and it is very possible that even if BTS returns, some easier listening song will beat its comeback song, ending its return attempt.

Quote from ThePhantomThief

I kind of agree with you, for once.

The issue with some of the chiller, easy listening style of music thats becoming trendy is that theres nothing that makes it stand out as quintessentially "kpop". Alot of earlier gen stuff, no matter what sub-genre a group went after, there was something different to the music that most of us had never really heard in Western musical acts. I'd say this difference was a big draw card for most of us into kpop.

But in the pursuit of more Western fans and profits, I do think that more kpop look, feel and importantly sound is being diluted. It's not necessarily offering fans something they can't get elsewhere as much. Except the more parasocial and close knit feel of fandoming. That isn't yet going away and that is what will keep kpop afloat.

Yes, that is a short term measure, but will undermine KPop's viability for the longer timeframe since it robs Kpop's biggest strength

Quote from Wateris

Industry will evolve with time, and 'K"(pop) becoming mainstream is inevitable.

The problem is it will lose its international appeal as the foreign fans will find alternatives in their own countries

Quote from Catgirl

I have always disliked noisy songs

K-Pop is changing in exactly the way I like

And away from world conquest

Quote from Slayurfaves

easy listing is boring like I miss the days we have different genres to pick from

at first it was refreshing it's getting repetitive

Yes, after a short while it gets old