As someone who has been following kpop for some time now. I can claim to have seen many kpop groups come and go over the years. If the stats from my Yearly Kpop Debut Chart doesn't shock you with just how many groups debut and are never heard from again then I don't know what will.
It should come as no surprise to my regular readers that I really can't stand kpop fans who whine every time a new group debuts. Because frankly speaking, groups have very little hope of success to begin with, so you should give them a break. Very few groups have what it takes to become successful. I mean really sit and think about it. For every no-name group who gets to debuts and is never heard from again. There are hundreds of hopefuls who train under companies and never debut or enter academies to train in the hopes of becoming a trainee and never make it that far. There are even people who hoped to enter an academy and couldn't even accomplish that. So for all the nugu groups who get their fifteen minutes of fame there are thousands who don't even make it that far.
I thought it might be interesting to look at what it takes to break through the pack and make a name for yourself as a group in the kpop world.
For my lazy readers here's a short list:
1. Money
2. Music
3. Gimmick
4. Talent
5. Timing
6. Luck
For those who care to look more in depth on these topics keep reading.
MONEY: I think it goes without saying that money is the number one thing that can help guarantee that a rookie group stands out. It buys better music production, music video quality, costumes, advertising, etc. I think it is also important to note that influence and money go hand and hand. Have you ever wondered why rookie groups from SM and YG seem to get a lot more attention then a group from a no-name company? It's not necessarily because those groups are better but those groups have the backing of a big company who have personal and financial ties with television stations and various entertainment companies.
Now granted often this influence is earned from years of producing groups that have done well leaving music goers looking forward to what the big name companies will put out next. What it all boils down to in the end is that groups from no-name companies (and by no-name I mean unknown companies or companies with no established artist) have more to prove. There are no set exceptions like with the big name companies. For example when SM releases a new group it is excepted that they will have beautiful or handsome members, as well as at least one or two very strong vocalist, and lets not forget amazing dance skills. If a group comes out of YG expect them to have their own innovative flare, there will likely be someone who writes their own songs or produces their own songs.
MUSIC: This may be the most understated thing on the list. A song doesn't have to be an act of musical genius to shoot you to stardom. Honestly all it takes it one song with a good hook to put a group on peoples radars. (Crayon Pop would be a great example of this)
While fans love to complain that many of the songs that top the charts are mindless pop songs that only seem to repeat the same lyrics over and over again and lack any true vocal ability. I think you could look at a group like SPICA who has major vocal talent and really good songs yet haven't topped the charts yet. People complain they hate sounds that are repetitive and simple, but SPICA is often criticized by netizens for lacking that one defining song that will push them into the realm of relevant groups in Korea.
GIMMICK: Continuing from my last point having a certain defining style or image and promoting it well is integral for gaining a fan base and maintaining it. I'm willing to bet that if SNSD came out with a song and dance like RaNia's Dr. Feel Good right after they released Gee many of their fans would have jumped ship. The same can be said if RaNia promoted a song like Gee right after they released Pop Pop Pop i'm sure the reaction from fans would not be a favorable one. Why you may ask? The answer is simple really. It's not that SNSD couldn't pull off a RaNia song or RaNia couldn't pull off a SNSD song. It's that fans come to expect a certain image and appeal from a group and when groups deviate from that they are seen as tryhards. Honestly speaking very few groups out there are capable of promoting drastically different concepts each time and meeting with success. When a group has a certain image label that isn't necessarily a bad thing as long as they are considered the top group in whatever category they are labeled as.
On the other hand a drastic shift in image can help a group rise to the top. I think it's fair to argue that while Girl's Day had some success with Twinkle Twinkle. It wasn't until they changed to a very sexy concept with Exceptions that they shot to the top tier of girl groups.
TALNET: I think it can be debated that talent could be at the bottom of the list considering some of the groups that debut. I think it's important to realize with idol groups that even though their main focus is music that isn't their only focus so it can be argued that while many groups may not have amazing vocalist they make up for it by having members who are talented and help the group gain recognition through acting roles, variety show appearances, and CF's, and hosting gigs.
I think Super Junior is a good example of a group that doesn't have enough time in each song to let all the members shine, yet the members are all well known thanks to their various jobs in acting and variety gigs. Ever hear of Tiny-G? I bet you have recently thanks to Dohee who was on Reply 1994. Her group has gained a lot of exposure thanks to her praise as an actress in a popular show.
TIMING: Timing and luck could go hand and hand. There are a number of groups that had great potential but simply debut with a concept that was overused or out of fashion. Or they debut at a time when some of the big name groups were having comebacks and they simply fell under the radar.
LUCK: I think kpop fans forget that a lot of things happen by chance and on a whim. Something that initially was never really given much attention before becomes a fad and suddenly everyone's into. I remember when Crayon Pop first came out with Bar Bar Bar. Most of the comments were from people that thought they looked ridiculous. This changed however once it became cool for being something different from the normal mainstream pop music.
Conclusion: When it comes down to it the most important thing a rookie group must do is find who they are as a group, stick with that image and sound, and persevere. Or if nothings working change everything and hope for the best.
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