이벤트

The reality in the domestic music market is that producers are fostering addictive but forgettable hits. To make things worse, similar-looking and sounding new teen idols are popping up every week. Surely, K-pop has done well in foreign markets and created a strong cult following that spans across the globe. However, producers need to consider that the attention span of foreign listeners is very short. A fundamental reform in K-pop is essential. Without genuine creativity, K-pop will soon fade into oblivion.

music sales don’t really bring in the paycheck for artists and their agencies. Korean music download services are very affordable and nearly half of the already small income goes to distributors. Furthermore, K-pop idols are now making an appearance with a hit single, which contains a catchy hook and dance, for a month or two then disappear completely from the charts. Although there have been very few exceptions, this formula has been consistent. Instead of a full album, a mini-album is released, which contains only three or five fillers. The idea is to save money and generate as much income as a single when purchased as an album. As soon as the track is released, idol members appear on just about every variety show on TV, talking about personal stories that are attractive enough for tabloids and online blogs.

It now appears that music is no longer the end product but a tool to stay hot or relevant in the entertainment business. That coveted status is what brings in the real income-generating opportunities like sponsorships, commercials and films. In the case where there are many members in a single group, the possibility of individuals or sub-groups working in different deals and fields also maximizes profit.
Music artists are now judged by status, not skills. Recently, all eyes have landed on YG Entertainment. The agency behind 2NE1 and Big Bang is now listed on the KOSDAQ exchange. Although it relys heavily on its signature group Big Bang, it is consistently producing popular artists.

When talking about the music itself, there isn’t much to say. From a musical standpoint, K-pop isn’t all that better than other genres. Although this may sound harsh, most of the popularity of K-pop happened unexpectedly through the surge of interest in its music videos on YouTube. Of course this is where the government and various authorities came in. officials are jumping on the bandwagon and expressing their support. Sadly, there is no specific business model to develop the music itself.

Believe it or not, the majority of music and concert ticket sales go straight into the hands of foreign distributors like AVEX or Live Nation. Substantial leaps in overseas music sales seem very unlikely if music producers only focus on idols, performances, and the status quo. Remember that most pop listeners buy an artist’s music because the main element is great. And the main element has always been and always will be the music itself.

한국가요의 하락

한국가요에는 성공 공식이 있다. SM 엔터테인먼트의 가장 인기 있는 걸 그룹, 소녀시대와 JYP 엔터테인먼트의 대형 여성 그룹, 원더걸스가 그 전형적인 예들이다. 수년 이상, 한국 음악 소속사들은 일련의 무한한 기억하기 쉬운 음과 매력적인 가수들을 생산해 내는데 성공해 왔다. 안타깝게도, 관찰자들은 그 많은 음악 공장들이 머지않아 성공률을 지속시킬 수 없을 것이라고 말한다.

국내 음악 시장의 현실은 제작자들이 중독성은 있지만 쉽게 잊혀지는 히트곡들을 조성하고 있다는 것이다. 엎친 데 덮친 격으로, 매주 비슷하게 생기고 비슷한 목소리를 가진 새로운 십대 아이돌들이 등장하고 있다.

물론, 케이팝은 외국 시장에서 성공했고 전 세계를 포괄하는 강한 추종을 이끌어냈다. 하지만, 제작자들은 외국 청취자들의 주의 집중 시간이 매우 짦다는 것을 생각해 볼 필요가 있다. 한국가요의 근본적 개혁이 필수적이다. 진실한 독창력이 없다면, 한국가요는 곧 잊혀질 것이다.