Seven K-pop, rap and indie acts that can make it in US after BTS’ breakthrough
After the chart success in America of the seven-member boy band, we look at the other Korean musical stars with a shot at following in BTS’ footsteps and breaking into the mainstream US music market
As K-pop continues its unstoppable rise, South Korean artists are not just looking to China or Asia to further their careers. Like artists all over the world, many also dream of making it big in the United States – and most that have tried have failed.
During the past decade, acts such as Wonder Girls, BoA, Se7en and most recently CL have tried to penetrate the American market. They had varying degrees of success, but none became bona fide stars in the US.
The K-pop superfans who can make, and break, musical careers in South Korea
Even Psy, who was seen as the next big thing after the his earworm song Gangnam Style became a smash on YouTube, was not able to follow up.
Experts attribute the Korean artists’ failures in the US to cultural differences, marketing strategies and a lack of an overall game plan. But there has been one exception to the rule so far – and their name is BTS.
The seven-member boy band have managed not only to have two tracks certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America – a first for a Korean act – they also became the most retweeted musical act on Twitter in 2017. Last year, the BTS EP Love Yourself: Her – containing the hit US single Mic Drop – also hit No 7 on the US album charts, the highest ever for a Korean act.
“Because of BTS’ success, the entertainment industry in the United States is now a lot more clued into the power of K-pop and their fans,” says Jenna Gibson, a K-pop enthusiast and director of communications at the Korean Economic Institute of America.