RedVelvetCupcake2009
New Arrival
This question is always asked whenever a new group comes on the scene, and they get a big break. I have seen this issue asked about groups like SNSD, SJ, EXO, Big Bang, 2NE1, BlackPink, and most recently BTS. BTS' fans were very adamant about breaking into the West. They campaigned strongly for them on all forms of social media like Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, etc. I have witnessed this social phenomenon myself. I was amazed that a group from another country that spoke another language was able to break social, cultural, and racial barriers. Asian Americans have historically struggled with making an impact in the mainstream pop world. However, I want to be honest. I'm not very sure if this success means much in terms of kpop breaking into mainstream American culture. I say American because everyone knows, whether they like it or not, that America is known as the hub of entertainment, all over the world, and if you can make it in American, you can make it anywhere. I don't care if any kpop groups make a huge impact in the West, but when I see people always say they want their bias group to debut in America, I am kind of cautious. There are so many reasons that kpop is incompatible with Western culture, such as racial, social, and cultural reasons just to name a few. With so many groups not knowing a word of the language, that weakness is also a barrier. We have seen huge groups like SNSD, Wonder Girls, and 2NE1 try to make it big in the West, but none of them were able to make it mainstream. America on its own has a saturated music industry, with American raised artists struggling to make a mark as well. The groups that succeeded in the West the most are groups like BTS that wasn't trying to debut in America. They tried to get known in America, but they didn't try to become an American artist. They are Korean artists first and I admire them for trying to stick to their roots. I also think other k-pop groups should follow their lead and continue making music and simply try to appeal to as many people as possible. You don't need to become an American artist to survive.
