How K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink cracked North America
K-pop stars rarely used to tour North America, but that’s changed with the success of bands like BTS, Red Velvet, Blackpink, NCT 127, and Sunmi
Not too long ago, attending a K-pop concert for anyone living in North America meant flying to Korea. To many overseas fans, K-pop was something that was happening far away, because K-pop labels preferred to tour their artists within Asia.
But with the increasing popularity of K-pop in the West, more K-pop groups are performing in North America. Times are changing, and Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York are now frequent stops for K-pop tours.
K-pop labels never used to be interested in cracking the North American market, but now they are happy to send their artists there. Several K-pop groups have amassed strong followings in the West, and the growing number of concerts in North America reflects this.
From 2013 to 2016, there were over 100 K-pop concerts in North America – 102 in the US, 14 in Canada, and 16 in Mexico. The figure has been rising rapidly. In 2017 and 2018, over 70 concerts took place in North America each year. This year, 50 concerts will have taken place in 2019 from January to June alone.
Popular K-pop artists that have toured, or will tour, North America include BTS, Red Velvet, Blackpink, NCT 127, and Sunmi. Coachella 2019 featured Blackpink and Hyuk Oh, while the summer K-pop events, KCON New York (June) and Los Angeles (August), plan to invite an estimated 20 to 30 artists.
It’s not just idol groups who are making the trip. Rappers from the rap reality programme Show Me the Money toured the US in January. Tiffany Young, who transitioned from a K-pop idol to a solo singer in the US, had a Mini Showcase Tour in March. Hip-hop trio Epik High’s North American tour runs until May.
The roots of K-pop’s American invasion began over a decade ago.