IU is 3rd most streamed Korean female artist on Spotify in 2021

She was #4 in 2020 only behind BP, Twice and RV. And #7 overall.

It's surprising given that we, UAENA, aren't as numerous as group fandoms.

Quote from atropos

She has a lot of casuals. I am sure u can find many on akp itself who listen to her even if they don't stan.

Yes, I'm one of them. IU's song feel like attracting public without pressuring to join the fandom

A queen❤️

Not surprising

Her international popularity is underrated.

deserved. I really love her album modern times.

Ugh, her power *chef's kiss*

Quote from atropos

I was expecting both itzy and rv to be above. Especially itzy.

Maybe RV. But IU released an album the beginning of this year and RV was later this year.

IU has tons of casual fans too. And her biggest Spotify song, Eight got tons of boosts from BTS releases as Armys tend to stream BTS whole discography during comebacks

Still IU’s soloist popularity is the only one that can compete with groups. I believe if IU ever tries to promote outside of South Korea, she can be one of the biggest International asian acts out there, so much potential

Quote from atropos

I was expecting both itzy and rv to be above. Especially itzy.

Itzy’s catalogue is shorter than iu (they have over 300M streams this year

And RV didn’t release anything until august so

She slays! A true consistent Queen!

Quote from Afriyieau1

IU’s soloist popularity is the only one that can compete with groups. I believe if IU ever tries to promote outside of South Korea, she can be one of the biggest International asian acts out there, so much potential

Soloists that too those known for authenticity of lyrical expression, rarely succeed across cultural boundaries.

Each culture already has such stars.

Dance music can have rhyming nonsense for lyrics, but can succeed across cultures, but melodies rarely do.

If you take the America - outside of English and Spanish, which both have huge consumer markets, when was the last time a non-English/non-Spanish soloist succeeded.

I can only think of Celine Dion - French Quebecois and she broke in by singing the OST for a ginormous hit movie - Titanic.

So IU would need something like that to break into the West.

Otherwise it is extremely tough for soloists

But why bother, she is unassailable in S.Korea and why lose what differentiates her, that Korean lyrical authenticity.

Crappy English rhymes, from IU, to win the west? I hope not.

She's behind only bp and twice. Wow. I think her songs transcend boundaries or translate well to international audiences. It's unexpected.

I wonder how that happened tho. She doesn't have much English lyrics or trendy concepts or a big fanbase like reveluvs or produce groups to stream and buy albums...not bad. I think she was high up with the twice and bp members in the most googled idol list as well.

almost 36 mn views/streams on an audio clip

Quote from bbgc

But why bother, she is unassailable in S.Korea and why lose what differentiates her, that Korean lyrical authenticity.

Crappy English rhymes, from IU, to win the west? I hope not.

How did you even get all this from my post??? And why is the west the only place coming to your mind when I said “internationally” outside of Korea?

Quote from Afriyieau1

How did you even get all this from my post??? And why is the west the only place coming to your mind when I said “internationally” outside of Korea?

I did extrapolate. Any problems?

But after Japan, China, SEA -where IU already has history and presence, the obvious next market is the US, as all other kpop groups prove, to be international.

Or are you thinking Africa, Arabia, India?

Quote from atropos

I was expecting both itzy and rv to be above. Especially itzy.

Red Velvet was above IU in 2020, but then they went into a long hiatus.