BTS Focuses on Solo, BLACKPINK is expected to be the next K-Pop leader

BTS Will No Longer Participate In K-Pop Race As A Group For A Time. Then Who Will Be The Brilliant Candidate To Lead The K-Pop Wave?

With BTS (Bangtan Boys) focused on solo activities, K-Pop fans are wondering who the next K-Pop leader will be. Many mention the name BLACKPINK (Black Pink).

Recently, BTS announced that they will be reducing group activities in the near future to focus on each member’s individual projects.

This means that BTS will no longer be participating in the K-Pop race as a group. Then who will be the brightest candidate to replace BTS leading the K-Pop wave?

Among the listed candidates, BLACKPINK is considered the strongest candidate to become the next K-Pop artist (after BTS) as they are currently the most popular K-Pop girl group in the world.

According to the global Hallyu trends report in 2021 published by the Korea International Culture Exchange, the top Korean artist in the K-Pop field is BLACKPINK, following BTS. This is also the second year in a row that BLACKPINK has ranked 2nd in the report.

In fact, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the influence of the Hallyu wave continues to grow globally. Korea’s Hallyu-related exports are still growing steadily, reaching 10.175 billion USD in 2021, up 9 percent from the previous year.

This could also mean that the Hallyu wave will not stop after the news that BTS has temporarily suspended group activities, but that K-Pop is said to need another leader.

Experts point out that BTS and BLACKPINK have become the center of attention in the global popularity of K-Pop in recent years. If you look at the ranking of the most popular K-Pop artists voted for by foreign viewers last year, it’s easy to see that BTS tops the list with 22 percent of the vote, followed by BLACKPINK with 12.5 percent.

It should be noted however that the percentage difference between these two positions is very large, up to 10 percent. In 3rd place but far behind are PSY with 2.5 percent, TWICE with 2.4 percent and EXO with 2.1 percent.

On YouTube, BLACKPINK’s popularity is increasingly evident. As of June 16, 2022, the number of subscribers to the YouTube channel of the YG Entertainment group has reached 74.7 million, ranking first among artists worldwide.

Since their debut in 2016, BLACKPINK has become very popular. Two years after their debut, they signed with Interscope Records, a record label under Universal Music.

Not much different from BTS, BLACKPINK has built international recognition through collaborations with world-class pop stars such as Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Dua Lipa and Cardi B.

Apart from that, another aspect of BLACKPINK that can be considered as one of the reasons why the group has easily reached the world is that the four members have different cultural backgrounds.

Jisoo grew up in Korea, Rose grew up in Australia, Jennie grew up in New Zealand, while Lisa is from Thailand.

According to information from YG, BLACKPINK will make a comeback this year after two years of hiatus. Thus, BLACKPINK’s 2022 comeback may be more explosive than ever. (wk/chus)

BTS Focuses on Solo, BLACKPINK is expected to be the next K-Pop leader
Pinoy Daily Facts