This year has made me like K-Pop a little less. Anyone else feel the same?

    Yeah, I obviously have some emotional investment and proximity in my favorite current gen group being embroiled in the most divisive scandal perhaps in K-Pop history, but I've spoken before about how toxic this year has been.


    Specifically within the K-Pop community itself, moreso than any other aspect of the industry or its many moving parts.


    Is ANYONE having fun this year? If you're a Hybe girl group stan, you certainly can't claim that. At the very least, the fun has been accompanied with outrageous levels of toxicity and misery, regardless of your alignment on the overarching issues.


    Give me circular arguments and posturing about charts and sales numbers over the mind numbing, malicious dialogues, that have taken certain stage, any day of the week.


    My warm feelings towards K-Pop and its fandoms are slowly transitioning into feelings of apathy and/or misanthropy.


    What a shitty year.


    YamaRant over.

  • AllKill VIP

    Yeah I actually agree with you Yama, this year started well with scandal after scandal but now we are having the same old corporate drama for MONTHS now. I am bored out of my mind and people literally keep repeating same things :skull:


    Music wise I don't think this hear was strong at all.


    If exo has a cb this year I am staying, but without them I am definitely out :Yawnage: Kpop is just not delivering good nusic anymore and exo is not here to even the score.

    In my humble opinion here in akp you are part of the ones that make sure to make kpop difficult for others to enjoy :meme-gretchen-heart:

    Overall I'm happy as a blink where Lisa, Jennie and Rosé will release more songs this year and Jisoo is almost done with her two acting works, next year will be magical if YGE plans go well.


    But like kpop in 4th/5th gens aren't exactly great for me. I like some songs a lot, but as a kpop stan I'm not even 10% active or invested as I was in 2nd/3rd gen.

    Yeah an exhausting year with all the dramas - it was interesting at first but now its just an embarassing shit show everyday, from music pov too i have mentally tuned out as well, i liked fewer songs this year than any year before

    For me it's tbh the opposite since I'm a fan of SKZ, and also Aespa has probably become my fav GG ever with their album this year, and I'm happy they're doing well too.


    There's been a lot of drama and scandals, but I just don't invest time thinking about it and it's unrelated to the artist(s) I like most (if it was it'd ofc probably affect me at least a little bit negatively too).

    489d17e4419016411b36dad88b64df8ffff25ff5.jpg   adfe19c6c403b5343d1458ffba827afe2cf24613.jpg  ae106ac2dca5c430cc8c469d7da001a0ea28bf39.jpg  a373bcf44bc8f3c52101cd2e099b3f0a6598eb9d.jpg

    I will admit to my part in making divisive threads every now and then to liven things up around here, but the worst you can accuse me of is measuring and comparing the relative success of various groups. That's like a pleasant stroll through a beautiful field of flowers compared to the dialogues dominating K-Pop this year.


    I've been in this hobby for many years, keeping relatively locked in and engaged with various communities that entire time, and this is one of those years where it feels like fandoms are doing everything they can to validate how people NOT into K-Pop believe fandoms act.

    Maybe you are just getting old.


    For me a lot of the groups feels a bit boring these days, nothing to really look forward to. But we still get some good songs now and then, even if they are a bit few. It was better during the glory 2nd generation days... Even if not all years was good.

    It's like walking on a rollercoaster being both a fan of Stray Kids and NewJeans.


    Cause It's absolute PEAK Stray Kids at the moment. They are having a hyped/successful comeback, renewed their contracts, are getting top-notch opportunities both on musical, fashion and even hollywood world and ready to start a stadium tour that will, on top of that, visit my region for the very first time.


    However, It's worst scenario ever to be a fan of NewJeans. I try to not be invested in the whole mess, because K-pop is supposed to be a hobby, but just saddens me to see the absolute derogatory, disturbing and inhumane situation the girls have been right now at such young age and I can't fully trust anyone surrounding them.

    Personally this year has made me like kpop more than I have in the past 2-3 years. I'm excited for the 5th gen groups like babymonster and illit, and even more excited now with the potential blackpink comeback.


    Of course your perspective is from that of a NJs stan, so it's expected. It'd bum me out to see my faves going through some BS like that while also seeing a bunch of smug haters absolutely loving the demise of a group of teenage girls.


    General kpop communities are always toxic, which is why I'll go to specific subreddits for groups if I actually wanna experience some positivity lol.

    Kpop is in a transitionary stage. That's why there are such crazy things happening.


    Either hybe gets full monopoly and produces mediocrity supported by payola as the old world is crumbeling (YG, SM and JYP), either new big names will rise as producers and ceos.


    Aka mhj, teddy, attract ceo etc. Old vs new. But the old system is trying hard to maintain it's power and actively sabotages any concurrence.


    Hopefully hybe will fail and a more diverse, independant, free and fair market will prevail. A market full of diversity in concepts and music and lead by music 'creatives' and not by business people only.

    This year feels like a filler episode of all major corporations: SM, Kakao, HYBE and MHJ, you got YG bringing 2en1 back lol. But I do liking some of 4th gen groups nowadays, keeping me interested. MMM and RV doesn't have that much content beside solos, so I am already numbed to it :pepe-sad:


    Sometimes I'd like to open allkpop to see which poor soul is on YAMAYAP radar or who's lightin' a fire under your ass, only then it will be fun. :meme-elmo-fire::meme-elmo-fire::meme-elmo-fire:

    ---======--

    LOL 1

    Musically this year has been not really good for my personal taste at all. Like IVE’s comeback disappointed me so much. Gidle’s first comeback didn’t click well with me, and for summer cb I hate it honestly. For Stray Kids I didn’t like it either seemed similar to their older tts, thus nothing new on the table(I didn’t like a single song in Ate album). For Itzy I liked born to be and Untouchable, but again nothing exciting(other songs from album I didn’t like at all). For NCT dream and NCT 127 and WayV also a miss(last year I really loved all NCT unit cbs). Twice very dissapointing compared to last year when I loved set me free- my top 2 song from them, even tho I hate moonlight sunrise, for Jimin I didn’t like his cb at all, compared to face album, Babymonster- disaster cb(except like that, but it is Charlie’s song), treasure- disaster, ateez-very disappointed and cringe, le sserafim - a big downfall in interest with easy and smart(do not like those songs at all), boy next door- dissappointed, bad villain- big noo. Seventeen - didn’t vibe with Maestro and didn’t like b sides at all. Hwang Minhyun - worst cb that he had before enlistment. Yook Sungjae - very disappointing song. Taeyong - tap not my vibe at all. Doyoung- his solo debut disappointed me(tho I loooove his voice) .If I will remember more cbs I will edit and add them.


    For half disappointed cbs - 1) Nmixx. Run for roses is cheff’s kiss, other songs a big noo(I hate Dash), 2) Enhypen I didn’t like Romance Untold album(their weakest and worst cb) at all, but I liked Memorabilia. 3) TripleS smth interesting but that’s it 4) Lisa- didn’t like the song except of the outro(when impala sample begins) 5) Jennie&Zico collab - generic repetitive pop song. 6) tws- plot twist good song others meeh 7) Chungha - eenie menie meh song, “I’m ready” one of the best songs this year. 8) KoF Midas Touch very good song, but sticky cb meh


    Cbs that I liked 1) Aespa- Armageddon-Supernova cheff’s kiss, best songs produced this year imho, but I didn’t like 4 songs from the album. 2) Riize I didn’t like half of the songs from their cbs, but I loved other half. 3) IU - Love wins all almost made me stan her, but her other songs not for me at all. 4) Nayeon- ABCD made me almost a fan. That’s why I liked not loooved


    Cbs that I loveeed- 1) Nct Wish- liked every single song that they released. 2) TXT- best album by Hybe groups this year 3) Key - one of the best Japanese releases by kpop acts ever. 4) Red velvet - the only cb after psycho that I like is Cosmic. 5) Ten -I love his solo debut. Best solo debut for kpop act for me. I think that’s it from what I remember


    As for Corporate Drama - I’m excited and bored at the same time.

    I don’t know why instead of number eight 8️⃣ it becomes smile emoji with sunglasses .


    But I’m honestly surprised that I listen to that many kpop acts.


    Also I don’t like NewJeans, Illit, StayC sounds at all so nothing is disappointing for me from them. Just I don’t like their sound and don’t vibe with it.

  • AllKill VIP

    No I lied. Seulgi “I kiss your brother” song is the best solo debut :iconpepe:

    Quote from ISaidISaid

    It feels like Kai has been in the military for 84 years so yes my year has been terrible.

    Tbh I want Chanyeol to re enlist instead of Kai. He is the biggest disappointment in my life! By now he should have had 2 albums and enough naked pics to put Kai on shame!


    What do I get instead? Bbl about Minho! Fuck Minho, fuck shinee, fuck the gym, lysn, bubble and Chanyeols useless muscles!

    I feel a lot of groups are struggling with having a constant high level on their songs. It's more like 1 hit and 2 misses instead of 2 hits and 1 miss. That makes it hard to really find groups too be favorites.

    Quote from tetetete

    It's not because of the emotional investment It's because you keep reading negative opinions and comments on social media instead of just blocking them out

    No, it's still an awful situation for the girls regardless of the toxic chatter of their antis. I appreciate the attempt at computer chair psychoanalysis, but absolutely the fact their company is trying to kill them (figuratively) is having an impact.

    definitely agree.


    musically it’s not hitting the same and as a tokki it’s been super stressful and honestly pretty upsetting with this constant corporate drama and bullshit. i feel terrible for the girls and i know it must not be easy at all to handle all of this publicly.


    i’m glad at least the girls are going on a break now because they need rest and mental support, im sure this whole thing is so emotionally exhausting to go through behind the scenes.

    IMO Kpop fandoms in 2024 as just as toxic as they were back in 2018. So I don't agree with your sentiment. The music this year is a mixed bag for me on the other hand. Some songs were amazing while others, especially from groups I like, released very disappointing singles and/or albums.

    Is he.....you know?

    투모로우바이투게더 ᛫ 방탄
    레드벨벳 ᛫ 엑소 ᛫ 샤이니 ᛫ 에이티즈

    Quote from MassiveKpopFan

    IMO Kpop fandoms in 2024 as just as toxic as they were back in 2018. So I don't agree with your sentiment. The music this year is a mixed bag for me on the other hand. Some songs were amazing while others, especially from groups I like, released very disappointing singles and/or albums.

    2018 was at least good music wise

    ~ Retired exol, don't ask me about that group. ~

    Quote from MassiveKpopFan

    IMO Kpop fandoms in 2024 as just as toxic as they were back in 2018. So I don't agree with your sentiment. The music this year is a mixed bag for me on the other hand. Some songs were amazing while others, especially from groups I like, released very disappointing singles and/or albums.

    Nah. I was EXTREMELY active in K-Pop fandoms during 2018. I was at the peak of my YT content creation back then. It was not this toxic. Not even close.

    You know you can listen to kpop and consume kpop content withought keeping up with all the scandals and drama.

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    Quote from Yseki

    You know you can listen to kpop and consume kpop content withought keeping up with all the scandals and drama.

    The very existence of my favorite active group was being threatened, and the members themselves were candid about how much it impacted their mental health.


    I think we need to stop acting like big K-Pop fans, which I clearly am, are ONLY this deep down the rabbit hole ONLY for music.


    Really, I don't even have to limit this to K-Pop. If you're a big fan of an artist, you will care if external forces threaten their career.

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