KPOP is too fcking saturated

Quote from SendFoodPics

I don't think kpop will ever get into the virtual idol concept simply because of stan behavior not being as possible with that.

Quote from paradise52

Well there’s KDA that do extremely well, but I doubt the company/artists have them as priority which makes things even more impressive

1) a lot of people are company fans, they will support whatever their favourite company sells.
2) the KDA is a good example, vtubers and vocaloids are also good examples
3) parasocial relationships as one of the biggest selling points in kpop, they can be applied to virtual characters as well (see point no. 2, also game fandoms and anime fandoms)
4) the investment in virtual idols while high on entrance level (design, system building, application design etc), in the long run is much cheaper in terms of maintenance costs and risk managment. Virtual idols will not ask for a raise, or a break, get into relationships or get involved in scandals of any kind, since they are 100% controllable and adjustable. They cannot get sick, they cannot get injured. They will not leave the project. They have no limitations on traveling and visas and corresponding expenses and they can be at multiple places at the same time. And they can offer a truly 24/7 outlet to fans, especially as we move towards personalized usage via applications, virtual assistants, virtual friends or companions, home holographic setups etc
5) I am not talking about taking over the industry but they will certainly take a percentage of the available pie, thus increasing competition.

Quote from mariaVSkpop

get involved in scandals of any kind

They absolutely can, just like a company that have people behind it and therefore actions of people involved or related projects etc can be considered an extension. Like an anime game character with a questionable wording, clothes, behavior etc we know they’re designed by a person but it doesn’t stop people from being annoyed at that or boycott the show/character. AT THE SAME TIME, people have short memory, scrapping it all and completely replacing said persona without changing the team behind it works plenty and it’s easier lol

Quote from paradise52

They absolutely can, just like a company that have people behind it and therefore actions of people involved or related projects etc can be considered an extension. Like an anime game character with a questionable wording, clothes, behavior etc we know they’re designed by a person but it doesn’t stop people from being annoyed at that or boycott the show/character.

which ironically supports the notion that virtual idols can be seen as idol alternatives, since the reactions to perceived transgression will be the same as in the case of a real idol.

What I posit would follow such occurrence is a split of opinion in the following way, the virtual idol viewed by the fans as a construct of innocence tainted by the mismanagement of an "evil corporation". This narrative allows fans to view the virtual idol as free of any wrongdoing, since it is not an actual individual existence, but an unwilling victim of an evil force against which the virtual idol has no ways of defending. Which will probably create a stronger psychological connection with the virtual idol. Such a response mechanism already exists in the kpop fan culture.

I think the important element will be this, will there be a real person behind the virtual idol providing the voice and mannerisms, or will it be 100% artificial as vocaloids are. Because if it is fully artificial, then you can easily remove any possible complain for transgression from said virtual idol and place it on the company.

Morally, countries can limit companies' acts of hoarding trainees and the ability to have many debuts.

Quote from Yumeku

Morally, countries can limit companies' acts of hoarding trainees and the ability to have many debuts.

No, no, definitely no! this is a slippery slope 100% of the time. With the exact same logic of market sustainability a government can limit the number of tv stations, news outlets, ISPs, music clubs, web services like online shops, libraries, dance schools and so on.

For example, you can read on what the previous government (SYRIZA party - a radical leftist party mind you) tried to do in Greece in 2016 in order to gain control over the media, by closing down tv channels and allowing only four national licenses (of course in a system devised and controlled by the government itself without independent oversight), all based on a report by the European University Institute in Florence about market sustainability (later revealed to have been published by individuals which supported the anti-EU positions of SYRIZA and in close coordination with SYRIZA-associated individuals from Greece). Thank god for the council of state and its judges.

https://www.ft.com/content/444…0f-11e6-a80e-bcd69f323a8b

https://www.reuters.com/articl…edia-ruling-idUSL8N1CV64G

Quote from mariaVSkpop

No, no, definitely no! this is a slippery slope 100% of the time. With the exact same logic of market sustainability a government can limit the number of tv stations, news outlets, ISPs, music clubs, web services like online shops, libraries, dance schools and so on.

For example, you can read on what the previous government (SYRIZA party - a radical leftist party mind you) tried to do in Greece in 2016 in order to gain control over the media, by closing down tv channels and allowing only four national licenses (of course in a system devised and controlled by the government itself without independent oversight), all based on a report by the European University Institute in Florence about market sustainability (later revealed to have been published by individuals which supported the anti-EU positions of SYRIZA and in close coordination with SYRIZA-associated individuals from Greece). Thank god for the council of state and its judges.

https://www.ft.com/content/444…0f-11e6-a80e-bcd69f323a8b

https://www.reuters.com/articl…edia-ruling-idUSL8N1CV64G

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Interesting. I meant more like companies that produce groups in general while indie artists (or just those who manage themselves except for distribution) can be limitless. But I am not really informed about this tbh.

Basically everything rn is saturated lmao

Quote from Yumeku

Interesting. I meant more like companies that produce groups in general while indie artists (or just those who manage themselves except for distribution) can be limitless. But I am not really informed about this tbh.

I get it, and on the surface it makes sense. Oversaturated market, limit the entry, desaturate the market. The problem is that such a government involvement gives an indirect advantage to some artists (and companies) over others, thus creating artificial market imbalance and at least in EU countries, break regulations with regards to unfair competition.

As I recently found out, the SK government offers tax breaks and other benefits to kpop companies, so there is already a level of warping in the market in favor of kpop (why the SK government does this is another subject and I am not an expert in korean politics.In my country the musicians that are supported in this way are mainly traditional music and folk music groups, classical orchestras, avant garde and experimental artists and so on, but this also probably has to do with EU law and market/competition regulations).

Kpop has always been very saturated. It's just that we are still in the beginning of a new generation (4th gen) where debuts happen much more often, that's why now you notice it more. In a few years there will be less debuts occuring since we will be in the middle of the generation. Kpop will remain saturated always, just like it was in 2nd, 3rd gen and will be in 10th, 18th gen

What's sad is that some groups will have to disband and you won't be able to see a particular idol that you like from the group that disbands...also you won't see a talented group anymore that will disband...oh well. such is life.