K-pop continues winning streak in Japan
The popularity of K-pop is showing no signs of waning in Japan, with the genre outperforming Western pop on a major music chart in the neighboring Asian country.
Nikkei, a Japanese daily newspaper, reported Sunday that in 2023, no Western pop song grabbed a spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart - a key indicator of musical popularity in Japan that combines physical sales and streaming data.
Western pop only accounted for a mere 0.3 percent, lagging behind K-pop which took up approximately 20 percent. This marks a significant transformation from 2008 when Western pop held a 29.8 percent share.
On the other hand, K-pop has been revving up its presence steadily in Japan since it first edged out pop songs on the aforementioned chart in 2018. In that year, K-pop comprised 14.2 percent, outstripping Western pop by nearly 6 percent.
Since then, K-pop has been consistently hitting high notes in Japan, the second-largest music market in the world, with total sales of $2.4 billion in 2022, according to the International Trade Administration.
The analysis attributes K-pop's appeal to its incorporation of catchy English lyrics and pop elements.
"Many K-pop songs contain elements of original pop songs such as English lyrics," the Nikkei analyzed. "K-pop has complemented the demand for pop songs."
The newspaper added that while K-pop thrives, J-pop remains influential as well, as evidenced by the popularity of Japanese singer Ado and J-pop duo Yoasobi. Ado reigned atop the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart with her tune, "Show," while Yoasobi pulled off the same feat with its track, "Idol." The latter became a smash hit through a viral challenge video featuring various K-pop singers.
"Young people these days tend to accept good cultures without being conscious of national boundaries," Nikkei said.
K-pop's unrivaled power is also evident in live performances. The All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (ACPC) - a music association dedicated to developing Japan's live music industry - recently revealed that some 2.75 million people attended K-pop concerts in Japan last year from Jan. 1 to June 30. It is about a 12 percent jump from the 2.42 million figure in 2014 - and a high for the past 10 years.
The notable rise has stemmed from an increase in the number of large-scale concerts, the ACPC explained. The ticket sales of K-pop concerts in Japan reportedly stood at 35.2 billion yen ($234 million), accounting for 14.8 percent of the total sales of the Japanese performance market.
For K-pop record labels, Japan is one of the most preferred options for concert organization, as it offers a handful of large-scale venues like Tokyo Dome, which can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators. The situation in Korea is not quite the same, with only a few facilities left available to use for big concerts.
source: The Korea Times
Nikkei, a Japanese daily newspaper, reported Sunday that in 2023, no Western pop song grabbed a spot on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart - a key indicator of musical popularity in Japan that combines physical sales and streaming data.
Western pop only accounted for a mere 0.3 percent, lagging behind K-pop which took up approximately 20 percent. This marks a significant transformation from 2008 when Western pop held a 29.8 percent share.
On the other hand, K-pop has been revving up its presence steadily in Japan since it first edged out pop songs on the aforementioned chart in 2018. In that year, K-pop comprised 14.2 percent, outstripping Western pop by nearly 6 percent.
Since then, K-pop has been consistently hitting high notes in Japan, the second-largest music market in the world, with total sales of $2.4 billion in 2022, according to the International Trade Administration.
The analysis attributes K-pop's appeal to its incorporation of catchy English lyrics and pop elements.
"Many K-pop songs contain elements of original pop songs such as English lyrics," the Nikkei analyzed. "K-pop has complemented the demand for pop songs."
The newspaper added that while K-pop thrives, J-pop remains influential as well, as evidenced by the popularity of Japanese singer Ado and J-pop duo Yoasobi. Ado reigned atop the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart with her tune, "Show," while Yoasobi pulled off the same feat with its track, "Idol." The latter became a smash hit through a viral challenge video featuring various K-pop singers.
"Young people these days tend to accept good cultures without being conscious of national boundaries," Nikkei said.
K-pop's unrivaled power is also evident in live performances. The All Japan Concert & Live Entertainment Promoters Conference (ACPC) - a music association dedicated to developing Japan's live music industry - recently revealed that some 2.75 million people attended K-pop concerts in Japan last year from Jan. 1 to June 30. It is about a 12 percent jump from the 2.42 million figure in 2014 - and a high for the past 10 years.
The notable rise has stemmed from an increase in the number of large-scale concerts, the ACPC explained. The ticket sales of K-pop concerts in Japan reportedly stood at 35.2 billion yen ($234 million), accounting for 14.8 percent of the total sales of the Japanese performance market.
For K-pop record labels, Japan is one of the most preferred options for concert organization, as it offers a handful of large-scale venues like Tokyo Dome, which can accommodate more than 10,000 spectators. The situation in Korea is not quite the same, with only a few facilities left available to use for big concerts.
source: The Korea Times