Something is wrong when Through the Night (2017) and Hype Boy (2022) are part of the top 10 songs according to Gallup

Quote from bbgc

WhyKnock

Did you read the Lefsetz Article on WSJ, he argues that the music industry is fragmented that it is incorrect to assert that Taylor Swift is the most popular/dominating artist of the year in West etc., because she does not reach a variety of population. Most people "know of her" than "know her music". She is definitely super successful in business, but not as ubiquitously listened to, as previous greats.

I would think it is the same with Kpop, particularly so since the 2nd gen, even among Koreans. The same can be said of BTS, Blackpink etc., that more people "Know of them" than "Know their songs". but within their specific demographic of teens/twenties, they are extremely popular. And vice versa for Trot or rather with Trot the young might not even "Know of them"

That is also why IU indeed might be the "Last National Singer" in S.Korea. The listenership has fragmented since the mid-2010s. And TTN is her song that cuts the most across demographics, even if something like You & I, Celebrity etc., have more sheer numbers.

Display More

It is no longer possible or necessary to be popular over all age and cultural groups nowdays since people's lives are very atomized.

She had the largest concert of all and brought the most revenue so for all practical purposes she was the most domineering artist of the year.

TTL is probably last song which will have a more or less 'universal' appeal over the general population.

Quote from bbgc

It was never necessary, as long as money comes.

But that it's not possible, is a development of recent years and worldwide.

In one sense, it is fantastic that people can consume content very specific to their tastes.

But if society across all sections can't share content, how will it impact culture, is something so "atomized" even culture?

That's a big question.

But more trivial is the delusions of Kpop fans who look at the numbers their faves pull and think their faves are greater than Beatles or Apt is greater than Gangnam Style etc

It would be rude awakening to find out that various demographic have no idea of what they hold great.

In any case, IU in Kpop is indeed a landmark inflection point and TTN the last nationally relevant song.

Lefsetz holds that in US it was Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" that was last song to reach everybody. That was 2011.

Display More

I was in USA in 2011 and have never heard "Rolling in the Deep" so it did not reach everyone. In fact I hear it for the first time in my life after reading your comment.

With a plethora of media venues it is no longer possible for a style of music to gain universal acceptance.

At least in USA country and country-style music , even if sung by Shaboozey, descended from the Igbo people (a tribe in Nigeria which was briefly famous in 1973 when it tried to break away), have more relevance than , say, KPop tunes.

Lee Jieun was the last of the 'popular singer' lines, someone who did gain acceptance over most demographics, but after her there will be no more.

Eight seems to be the last song which gained national acceptance, but after Dynamite that became meaningless as songs who are relevant in the overseas began to lead the trends there.

Quote from bbgc

Neither have I, but "everybody" here implies every demographic group and not 100% of population.

Did "Eight" really reach every demographic in Korea? gallup is probably the only way to check

I don't think entirely English songs that too by Koreans will have such permeation in Korea.

At that time Dynamite was hyped up to the hilt so it did top the 10s-30s demographic and charted among the 40s. Eight didn't do so among the 40s