Category: KPOP ALBUMS

Stray Kids recently dropped the official music video for their pre-release Japanese track “Social Path (feat. LiSA).” This video offers fans a unique window into the group’s lesser-known rebellious side, revealing a different kind of allure. The narrative, masterfully interwoven into the track, sees them harnessing superpowers to take on the world.

Stray Kids 『Social Path (feat. LiSA)』 Music Video

Bang Chan, the group’s leader, shared his thoughts on working with Japanese music icon LiSA: “This time, I had the honor of collaborating with LiSA-senpai. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate with LiSA-senpai, an artist whom we deeply respect. This song has become even more exceptional and special for me through this collaboration.” 

He further delved into the song’s lyrics, stating, “The lyrics are based on my own experiences. But as I was writing them, I thought that others might have gone through similar things. I’ve endured a lot myself, and I believe there are people out there who are still enduring hardships. The lyrics are meant to convey the message, ‘I understand what you’re going through.’ I listen to LiSA-senpai’s songs often, and they give me a lot of strength. I sincerely hope that this song, which we created together with LiSA-senpai, can give all of you a lot of power and strength as well.”

Who did Stray Kids’ do ‘Social Path’ with?

LiSA, born Risa Oribe, is a celebrated Japanese singer and songwriter from Seki, Gifu. Affiliated with the label Sacra Music under Sony Music Artists, she draws inspiration from artists like Avril Lavigne, Oasis, and Rihanna. Recently, Netflix premiered a documentary titled LiSA Another Great Day, spotlighting her illustrious career. In 2022, her hit single “Issei no Kassai” was chosen to be the theme song of the 2022 FIFA World Cup broadcasts by Abema TV and TV Asahi. In May 2023, LiSA announced her contribution to the Japanese dub of the animated movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, marking her first foray into creating theme songs for Hollywood films.

After this collaboration, Stray Kids is set to drop their first Japanese EP on September 6. This EP will feature “Social Path (feat. LiSA)” and the Japanese version of “Super Bowl.”

From their Korean hits to Japanese tracks, Stray Kids continues to expand their musical horizons, collaborating with iconic artists and delivering powerful messages through their songs. With “Social Path,” they continue to prove their versatility, immense talent, and commitment to connecting with fans worldwide. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: ‘Social Path’ mirrors Bang Chan’s experiences. Source: Twitter/@CaptainCB97s.

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.