Why Isn't BLACKPINK as Famous as Other K-Pop Groups?

Fame in the K-pop world varies for a bunch of reasons. BLACKPINK is one of the standout groups in the industry but its fame might not seem as widespread due to factors like its release strategy, market competition, and focus on international markets. Different groups have different paths to fame in this dynamic industry.

Popularity Factors in K-pop

Every K-pop group can achieve the same level of fame achieved by groups like BTS and BLACKPINK. It simply comes down to preference. What one group may have in music that appeals more to a certain audience, another might not possess. A group's music is the biggest factor in their fame.

There are numerous K-pop groups that are popular internationally and are doing well in the global market. However, if the standard of popularity you are looking for is as high as that of BLACKPINK and BTS, they need to release songs that can attract the global listener, not just the typical K-pop listener but the domestic people in a certain country.

Both Blackpink and BTS are popular among the K-pop community and even the local people. BLACKPINK has now earned over 1.1 billion streams on Spotify in 2021, according to BLACKPINKSTATS5. BTS, on the other hand, has gained over 4.3 billion streams this year, as reported by BTS Graphs. When you look at these numbers, it becomes evident that it's not just about fandom power. These statistics are only from Spotify, not to mention other streaming platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, and more.

The Role of Timing in K-pop Success

It's all about timing. K-pop groups can't just instantly achieve global fame, especially when it is still not widely accepted and some people still find it weird. People are just growing on it and getting used to it. For example, K-pop was not widely accepted in Southeast Asia more than 5 years ago when people did not mock and find K-pop fans as corny and cringey. I remember when I was in fifth grade, I used to secretly listen to SNSD, but my classmates found it odd. Now, I can openly express my love for K-pop without getting weird looks. This trend is even more pronounced in Western countries where K-pop is just emerging globally.

With time, we can expect groups to achieve greater fame, potentially surpassing even BLACKPINK and BTS. However, for now, both of these groups will always be legends in the K-pop industry. As K-pop continues to grow and evolve, more global acceptance and recognition are on the horizon.