How BLACKPINK Has Redefined What It Means to Be a Pop Star
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Tallahassee
BLACKPINK’s debut in August 2016 was met with immediate success. Belonging to YG Entertainment, the group amassed a substantial following under the record label in anticipation of its release. With their catchy debut and charismatic performances, BLACKPINK cemented themselves as leading figures in the pop scene. Their edgy style and sound attracted people who already enjoyed K-pop, and also brought in fans who had never experienced the phenomenon of K-pop before.
With their immediate international success, fans expected the group to release new music regularly to maintain their presence. Instead, fans receive a handful of new songs a year, if they’re lucky.
But why is this? If they’re a music group, why not have them release music? As musicians, wouldn’t this be the most obvious strategy to garner new fans and keep their current ones interested? It seems YG Entertainment has other plans to keep BLACKPINK in the public eye.
The members of BLACKPINK have been appealing to the international market with appearances both in and out of the music scene. Most recently, member Jennie Kim was cast in the upcoming HBO series The Idol.
Image Courtesy: Variety
The show is set to release in November of this year and has already gathered buzz and high expectations. Jennie’s role in this show is likely to draw in a completely new audience of BLACKPINK fans who have never listened to a note of K-pop before.
What’s the point of this strategy? By keeping members in the public, BLACKPINK generates enough hype for when the group does eventually come back. Newly acquired fans who have yet to experience an album release eagerly anticipate the experience, while returning fans admire how much the group has grown and seen a new maturity in their music.
Is this tactic working? Yes, it is. BLACKPINK’s music videos are some of the most viewed K-pop videos of all time, only coming second to Psy’s Gangnam Style. Furthermore, BLACKPINK is set to go on their Born Pink World Tour in the upcoming months this year. The group is set to perform in arenas that hold tens of thousands of people, including the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia!
Image Courtesy: BLACKPINK Update
As exemplified by BLACKPINK, K-pop has cultivated a culture where the music comes secondary to the performer’s personality and artistic pursuits. The star power of BLACKPINK’s members creates a sense of urgency for international fans to see them on tour, as the opportunity may never arise again. While BLACKPINK barely has enough original music to headline a stadium tour, international fans are still going to wait eagerly to try and snag a fast-selling ticket the second they drop.
BLACKPINK’s success raises a lot of questions for the future of pop. What separates a celebrity from a pop star? Should music as a group take priority over individual press opportunities? Will BLACKPINK’s formula to success prove fruitful for other groups, or is there something special about these four girls that simply cannot be done again? There’s no way of knowing for sure what is in store for the future of K-pop, as it is rapidly evolving. For now, all we can do is sit back and enjoy BLACKPINK’s newest album BORN PINK, as it might be all we hear from them for a while.
Strike Out,
Writer: Dana Liberto
Editor: Noelle Knowlton
Graphic Designer: Kelly Hammer
Tallahassee