Category: KPOP ALBUMS

K-pop album exports soared in the first six months of 2023, setting a new record high. Notably, the United States surpassed China to become the second-largest market for K-pop music exports after Japan. This indicates that K-pop has firmly established itself as a genre in North America.

According to the export and import trade statistics released by the Korea Customs Service on July 18, the export value of K-pop albums from January to June this year amounted to $132.934 million. That’s approximately 168.5 billion KRW, a 17.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This marks the highest total for the first half of 2023.

When examining the target countries for album exports in the first half of this year, Japan topped the list with $48.523 million (approximately 61.5 billion KRW), followed by the United States with $25.519 million (approximately 32.3 billion KRW), and China with $22.64 million (approximately 28.7 billion KRW). They were followed by Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Canada, the UK, and France.

The fact that the United States, often considered the world’s largest music market, has surpassed China to become the second-largest market for album exports says a lot. On an annual basis, China has been the second largest export target country after Japan since 2012, except for 2020.

K-pop stars’ remarkable achievements

Despite the absence of group activities from BTS, K-pop stars have achieved remarkable results in the United States in the first half of this year. BTS member Jimin made history when he became the first K-pop solo artist to debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with his debut solo single “Like Crazy.”

Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER topped the Billboard 200, the main album chart in the United States, with their recent drops. ATEEZ, BTS’s SUGA, SEVENTEEN, and TWICE also made waves. Lastly, FIFTY FIFTY achieved what others thought was impossible when they charted within the Hot 100 for 16 consecutive weeks with their easy-listening song “CUPID.”

As K-pop achieved these results, the U.S. music market analysis company Luminate announced in its mid-year report that Korean was the third most streamed language in the United States, following English and Spanish (based on the top 10,000 songs).

Room for growth

Choi Kwang-Ho, the Korea Music Content Association’s secretary-general, said, “K-pop, represented by BTS and BLACKPINK, established itself as a genre in the North American market. It takes time for content to hit in a specific region after a certain trigger. It took years for K-pop to settle down after BTS received their first award at the U.S. Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) in 2017.”

He believes K-pop can go even further. “There were concerns about the enlistment of BTS, but the solo activities of BTS members and the performance of junior singers SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids are good. The K-pop physical album market has grown, but as seen in the success of ‘CUPID,’ there’s still a lot of room for growth in the streaming market. The peak of K-pop is not yet here.”

— K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: With their Billboard chart success and performances at KCON USA, Stray Kids is actively leading the growth of K-pop in the US. Source: KCON USA/KCON USA’s official website.

The popular girl group STAYC is set to make a comeback in the music scene this August. According to reports, the group has confirmed their return on August 16 and is currently in the final stages of preparing their new album.

This comeback comes approximately five months after the release of their hit single “Teddy Bear” in February. Since they debuted on November 12, 2020, STAYC has been adored for their charms and talent. They owe that to the many hits they’ve dropped, including “ASAP,” a delightful fusion of vibrant bubblegum pop and sultry summer vibes.

STAYC set a new personal record with “Teddy Bear.” It sold 186,405 copies on the first day, more than its predecessor did. A week later, it had sold a staggering 341,047 copies, according to Hanteo Chart, marking a new milestone in the group’s first-week sales. In February, Circle Chart’s monthly update reported that “Teddy Bear” sold 350,738 copies, securing the No. 6 spot on the chart. Two months later, the single album received a Platinum certification from the KMCA for selling 250,000 units, as reported by Circle Chart.

The “Teddy Bear” music video earned 10 million views in one day and has since surpassed more than 40 million views, demonstrating the steady love it has received from international fans. It peaked at No. 3 on the Melon Top 100, the highest ranking recorded by STAYC since they debuted.

Also read: 5 K-pop Debut Songs That Made Legends Out of K-pop Girl Groups

More on STAYC: Which 4TH Gen K-pop Girl Group Will Take Over the K-pop Scene?

The success of “Teddy Bear” is attributed to its energetic and lovely feel. The point choreography, known as the “bear dance,” became popular on TikTok. Many artists have filmed the dance challenge alongside the STAYC members, including the top Japanese girl group AKB48, whose current center is IZ*ONE alum Honda Hitomi.

STAYC’s announcement comes five months after their last single exceeded expectations. The girls are doing everything they can to ensure their next release will be as successful. –K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: STAYC posted a groufie after their performance on YES! MUSIC ON earlier this month. Source: Twitter/STAYC’s official Twitter account.

K-pop group TREASURE has announced their much-anticipated comeback with the release of their second full-length album, titled “REBOOT.” On July 4, the group’s agency YG Entertainment posted an announcement film for the upcoming album on YouTube. The album is set to drop on July 28. 

Early July 17, YG Entertainment revealed the track list for REBOOT. Based on the track list, fans can expect a wide variety of songs showcasing the group’s charms, musical style, and talent. 

TREASURE’s Concept Photos for “REBOOT”

Later that day, TREASURE released individual concept photos and a visual film, raising anticipation for their comeback. The members are sporting black military-style jackets with red detailing in the concept photos—the exact fit they donned for the visual film. Their fashion style was transformed, which is quite telling. In K-pop, such changes often hint at the theme of the upcoming album.

TREASURE, known for their catchy music and energetic performances, has amassed a large fanbase since their debut. The announcement of their second full-length album follows the smashing success of their previous releases and is expected to be a significant event in the K-pop calendar.

TREASURE’s New Album Reception

The announcement film, concept photos, and visual film for REBOOT have already generated buzz. While specific details about TREASURE’s promotional activities for this comeback have yet to be revealed, the anticipation is building as the release date approaches.

Stay tuned for more updates on TREASURE’s comeback and the release of their second full album, REBOOT. The group’s dedicated fans, popularly known as Teume (“트메”) (short for Treasure Makers), are undoubtedly excited to see what the group has in store for this comeback. -K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: K-pop group Treasure’s logo was changed to reflect their new direction. Source: Twitter/The TREASURE members’ shared Twitter account.