Today, idols have fans internationally--not just in Korea. Sometimes, they will go on tour in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americans to visit and perform for their fans. For instance, a hip-hop group from Big Hit Entertainment--BTS--spent three weeks in America to perform and learn hip-hop better.
Idols have gone international, performing concerts in Europe, South America, Asia, and America. The "Big Three" companies (JYP, YG, and SM Entertainment) and other entertainment corporations unite to form United Asia Management. However, Korean TV shows have spread the scene further, with many 'soaps' being a huge hit across Asia and some finding niches in the west. Although many people say that bands like Wonder Girls are actually inspired by the Western girl bands from their make up, to the music that they make, it is in fact that most modern dance music actually has a universal language and style The history of Korean pop music is not very old. Pop music has become quite popular in Korea due to the Western influence of pop music. This doesn’t mean that Western culture is overtaking the Korean culture, but more that it was the start of various popular music channels like MTV and internet sources, that have spread pop music and had a great influence upon the inspiration of Korean musicians, as well as general music lovers. 2012 was a milestone because 33 male and 38 girl groups debuted. |
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Korean Wave:
This is also called the Hallyu Wave. Since the late 1990s, Korean pop culture--such as music, games, movies, and dramas--has been on the rise, growing fame ever since in various countries. This is one of the reasons the Korean culture is so popular in other countries. In 2008, K-pop international sales were about $16.5 million; however, in 2012, over $235 million were raised, having over 13% increase in millions. In fact, in mid-2013, the Big Three companies reported that their earnings were already over $156 million. |
Comparison to the previous years:
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Lately, more and more groups are debuting since the 2010s. However, it is a matter of if they can continue performing and living their dreams as an idol. A majority of the groups that debuted in the past 5 years were disbanded or could not make much money, specifically in 2010-2011. Furthermore, when a group disbands, the members tend to go solo or join another company in a new group. Moreover, sometimes some of the successful idols of the first generation become producers for the newer generation.
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