National News
K-Popping Onto the Scene by Kaylah Bozkurtian
For people unacquainted with the international music scene, the end of 2017 and first few months of 2018 have likely been punctuated by more than a few Google searches. Unfamiliar names-at least in the western pop industry--have been making their way not only to the tops of music charts, but also to American stages; not even Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve or the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards has escaped the phenomenon. With sleek, painstakingly choreographed performances, matching wardrobes, and catchy tunes, the genre colloquially referred to as “K-pop” (Korean pop) has made its break into the American music mainstream. What does this mean for the music industry? For one, this change seems to be serving as a reminder that pop stars exist outside of the borders of the U.S. The rise of K-pop in the United States
is living proof of the idea that music can transcend both language and cultural barriers to connect people around the world. In a far less serious way, the popularity of certain groups is also testament to the universality of the boy-band and girl-band craze; this new introduction to the American mainstream has primarily taken the teen demographic by storm. The community comes with its own lexicon of slang terms and Internet bubble, as well, indicative of its target demographic. (A handful of my friends have even complained that it’s inescapable--a few of their Twitter mutuals became K-pop “stans”, or avid fanatics, and suddenly their timelines were flooded with performance videos and the like.) Casual listeners certainly exist, but the overwhelming majority of fans are incredibly involved, buying albums and merchandise to support their favorite
idols. In fact, some American fans cough up some major cash to visit KCON, a K-pop convention that takes place in both New York and L.A., where they are able to watch live performances, purchase official fan goods, and potentially even meet their favorite artists. If you’re currently unfamiliar with the genre and enjoy pop music, it may serve you well to check it out, as you’re likely to see some groups on American soil in the near future. In fact, on May 20th, South Korean boy-group BTS is slated to perform at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards and are currently up for their second nomination in the category of “Top Social Artist”, which they won at last year’s Billboards.
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