debuted after her as a soloist or just debuted after her.. if just debuted after her and kcharts.. there is one digimon soloist that even groups can't touch.
Ah I meant like she's one amongst successful gg idol soloists. Outside the kpop genre there are several successful soloists but they cater to a genre like trot or rap...
Ah I meant like she's one amongst successful gg idol soloists. Outside the kpop genre there are several successful soloists but they cater to a genre like trot or rap...
The oft debated question "is IU an idol soloist' or not. In any case, within or without Kpop, IU is the chart leader for soloist sor even groups included, across genres. So let us leave her aside.
Ex-GG Idol soloist is the context here. Yes Taeyeon is probably the most successful. But the comparison is between Taeyeon the soloist vs. SNSD.
And the 2 questions,
even when the same artist is involved
#1. Why companies prefer and promote groups over soloists?
#2. Why fandoms prefer groups over soloists?
Display MoreThe oft debated question "is IU an idol soloist' or not. In any case, within or without Kpop, IU is the chart leader for soloist sor even groups included, across genres. So let us leave her aside.
Ex-GG Idol soloist is the context here. Yes Taeyeon is probably the most successful. But the comparison is between Taeyeon the soloist vs. SNSD.
And the 2 questions,
even when the same artist is involved
#1. Why companies prefer and promote groups over soloists?
#2. Why fandoms prefer groups over soloists?
Companies prefer them because they can split the costs between x members, where each member has something that will speak to at least someone. Its easier to put together a group of people that cover each others shortcomings than to find that one in a million person that have it all. its also less of a risk for them as even if one is involved in a scandal, retires or whatever they still have the group/brand and the rest of the members.
As to fandoms, they build up around idol groups because thats specifically what they cater for, with image, fanservice, merchandise etc etc.
It can be done for soloist but again, why risk it for one person where everything is much more tied to the individual, which the companies can never really own?
Display MoreAre soloists who are/were a part of a group less successful compared to their group careers?
Particularly if the group is no more promoting.
Taeyeon is not as successful as a SNSD-Taeyeon
Soyou is not as successful as SISTAR
Hyuna, Sunmi as well - even though they did not spend much time in groups.
Is it because companies prefer to manage groups and don't put in much for soloists?
Or is it because the fandom actually dug the group dynamic and don't care as much when their faves go solo? - Over time.
Now that former Iz*one idols are going solo, how will they fare?
And if Twice, BlackPink members go solo - with groups on long hiatus or disbanded, how will they fare.
They might do better than many solo-from-start soloists, but for that Great Exception - IU. But will they fare as well as their groups did?
What happened is they already showed most of what they have on their group days, so they have not too much to show for.
It is interesting that Sunmi, who had taken a long hiatus from WG; Chungha, whose IOI days were only for a few months; and Ennik, ditto; have more successful careers than the people named above since they didn't show too much of themselves during these days.
They are rarely more popular than their groups since they are just 1/n of what their group was.
Companies prefer them because they can split the costs between x members, where each member has something that will speak to at least someone. Its easier to put together a group of people that cover each others shortcomings than to find that one in a million person that have it all. its also less of a risk for them as even if one is involved in a scandal, retires or whatever they still have the group/brand and the rest of the members.
As to fandoms, they build up around idol groups because thats specifically what they cater for, with image, fanservice, merchandise etc etc.
It can be done for soloist but again, why risk it for one person where everything is much more tied to the individual, which the companies can never really own?
Those was my speculation as well. Companies' strategy is rather obvious, But I am interested in how mass psychology of fandoms - preferring the group dynamic, than individual idol adulation - that would be an interesting subject to study.
I think someone like GD could be argued to be bigger then his group when it comes to korea, but thats with him being the main factor for his group success to begin with.
What happened is they already showed most of what they have on their group days, so they have not too much to show for.
It is interesting that Sunmi, who had taken a long hiatus from WG; Chungha, whose IOI days were only for a few months; and Ennik, ditto; have more successful careers than the people named above since they didn't show too much of themselves during these days.
They are rarely more popular than their groups since they are just 1/n of what their group was.
Produce/TV drive dynamic is its own variation. As to "Ennik", to early to speculate on her success. Chungha and Kang Daniel have definitely made a mark, coming from those teams.
And BlackpinkHouse too early to say anything about your Izone favs either. I think Ive will do far better than the soloists.
The industry agencies missed a great opportunity with I.O.I, just crunching data I.O.I did better than Blackpink in 2016 and did better than Izone at their peak in 2020.
I think someone like GD could be argued to be bigger then his group when it comes to korea, but thats with him being the main factor for his group success to begin with.
Yes - GD, Hyuna basically carried their groups. Soyeon could be in the list, but I do see GIDLE members active outside the group as well. So maybe not that dependent.
I don't know too much about 4minute but if i'm not mistaken Hyuna had/has a bigger solo career than 4minute as a whole, no?
as for soloists vs groups in general, i don't think it's the company that makes the difference, it's idol culture, fangirls/fanboys want to stan a group of people with shipping and biases and photocards, so soloists have smaller core fanbases. that's why to be a soloist with a loyal fanbase you have to have a career that appeals more to the gp than kpop stans (ex. IU and Taeyeon)
I don't know too much about 4minute but if i'm not mistaken Hyuna had/has a bigger solo career than 4minute as a whole, no?
as for soloists vs groups in general, i don't think it's the company that makes the difference, it's idol culture, fangirls/fanboys want to stan a group of people with shipping and biases and photocards, so soloists have smaller core fanbases. that's why to be a soloist with a loyal fanbase you have to have a career that appeals more to the gp than kpop stans (ex. IU and Taeyeon)
4minute was basically Hyuna and others. But you are correct, Rain, Hyori are exceptions to this dynamic and Hyuna somewhat in the range. But probably she is the last such case.
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