Tag: K-pop

BLACKPINK and Spotify Celebrate New Album ‘BORN PINK’ With a Pop-Up Experience and Special Gift for BLINKs Around the World

September 20, 2022

Two years after their last release, The Album, BLACKPINK’s fab four—Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa, and Rosé—have finally dropped their new studio album, BORN PINK. 

And BLINKs, your patience has paid off. BLACKPINK collaborated with Spotify to give fans around the world* the ability to listen to the album for free as many times as they want, and in the order they wish, for the first week of release. In addition to accessing the “listen free” feature exclusively via the BORN PINK by BLACKPINK playlist, fans can also treat themselves to exclusive bonus content available on Spotify K-Pop ON! Track.

Pulling from a wide range of influences, including classical music and ’80s pop, the eight tracks that make up BORN PINK truly offer something for everyone. “Shut Down” samples Niccolo Paganini’s “La Campanella,” blending classical music with hip-hop to create a track with a mysterious and alluring edge. Meanwhile, the fun synthy production on “Yeah Yeah Yeah” is nothing short of an earworm that you can’t get out of your head. And perhaps most impressively, BORN PINK’s lead single “Pink Venom” generated the most single-day streams of any song released by a female artist or group in 2022 so far. 

To mark this momentous occasion, we hosted BORN PINK: The Pop-Up Experience in Los Angeles this past weekend, and BLACKPINK went all out. The group’s four members curated every element of this three-day pop-up, which included custom photo moments, a pink boba tea bar, the opportunity to purchase BLACKPINK merch, and an exclusive giveaway. 

Choreographer Bailey Sok Brings Her K-Pop-Inspired Dance Routines to Roblox’s Spotify Island

September 8, 2022

Back in May, we debuted Spotify Island on Roblox to connect fans and artists in an otherworldly digital destination. Then came K-Park—which celebrates the K-Pop genre, the launch, and the culture it inspires as the first of several themed islands unveiled on Roblox. Now, we’re bringing professional K-Pop choreographer Bailey Sok into the mix. 

Bailey Sok’s K-Park avatar

We’ve partnered with Bailey to create her official Roblox avatar, and from September 8 through September 19, fans globally will be able to visit K-Park and join her for a virtual dance session. In addition to dancing alongside Bailey herself, players will also be able to engage with her avatar.

Bailey’s dance career took off at a young age when multiple videos of hers on YouTube went viral. Since then, she’s been dancing professionally, teaching young dancers, and choreographing routines for K-Pop groups like Red Velvet and SHINee. 

In celebration of Bailey’s arrival to K-Park, we invited some of her biggest fans to Spotify’s downtown LA campus where they had the opportunity to connect with Bailey in person and learn a dance routine fit for a K-Pop star. 

The class was part of a K-Park-themed event that captured the magic of this new island almost precisely as it blurred the lines of reality and the metaverse. Guests mingled on K-Park cafe’s checkerboard flooring and admired the Korean Hangul signs, bright crystals, and larger-than-life foliage that seemed to be plucked directly from the digital experience. They also enjoyed traditional Korean foods while taking a virtual trip to Spotify Island on a Roblox gaming station. Then it was time to get in a formation with Bailey, who taught guests a routine set to SUNMI’s “Gashina.” 

South Korea’s Legendary Band JAURIM Curates 25 Years of Inspiration

August 7, 2022

Jaurim band standing in a room filled with pink balloons. they are in red clothing attire and are holding various objects like a sword, rabbit mask, and axe

This year, South Korea’s legendary band JAURIM, which led the popularization of band music in the nation and helped pioneer a new genre there, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its official debut. 

And to commemorate the impact of this iconic band, Spotify has invited the group to be the first contributor in our newest series, Kurated by [     ]. These playlists will be curated by K-culture’s finest creators and masters themselves to share their own stories and present their musical inspirations and tastes.

JAURIM is a natural choice for inaugural curator. After two and a half decades on the scene, JAURIM holds the title of the country’s longest existing and performing coed band. Today the iconic group continues to use its unique, authentic sound to tell stories as profound and mysterious as the band’s name—which translates to “purple rainforest” in English.

Consisting of three members (vocalist Yuna Kim, guitarist Sun-Kyu Lee, and bassist JinMan Kim), JAURIM has established its own genre and solidified a distinctive position in the South Korean music scene. Because of its uniquely wide spectrum of music and performance, the band serves as an inspiration to various fellow artists and creators both locally and globally. Most recently, BTS member and leader RM showed his love and respect for JAURIM, visiting the band’s celebratory “Happy 25th JAURIM” concert held in early July in Seoul.

Jaurim band standing in front of a gray backdrop with flowersThe band debuted in 1997 with the song “Hey, Hey, Hey” and has since made numerous hits that touch upon youth, people, and social issues. Some of its popular songs include “Beeswax Angel,” “I’m my fan,” and “Song of Ha Ha Ha,” with special track titles “Boxing Helena,” “Fanya,” and “Song of Ha ha ha,” respectively—named so by the band to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Not to forget “Magic Carpet Ride” and “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One,” the original soundtrack of the K-drama series with the same title. The band dives deep into dark human emotions like angst and reflects on societal illnesses, but it also calls out for hope and love that speak across time and generations. 

JAURIM continues to connect with listeners worldwide through a variety of Spotify editorial playlists. Most recently, JAURIM’s “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One,” released in 2013 and currently featured in Spotify’s official partnership playlist of the K-drama, captured the hearts of many K-content fans and listeners around the globe thanks to the popularity of the K-drama.  

Commemorating the band’s 25 years, Spotify and JAURIM put together the exclusive playlist Kurated by [ JAURIM ]—to help fans and listeners around the world connect and feel even closer to the band. The band members chose 15 of their own representative songs and selected 10 additional tracks from other artists who have inspired them, including Sinéad O’Connor’s “Why Don’t You Do Right,” Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times,” Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” and Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy.” 

Check out the full playlist below.

Spotify’s Kurated by [     ] series aims to connect more Spotify listeners worldwide with artists of various South Korean music genres and with masters who have led various sectors of the Korean cultural and entertainment industry.

대한민국 밴드 음악의 거장 자우림, 25년간의 영감을 큐레이션하다.

August 7, 2022

Jaurim band standing in a room filled with pink balloons. they are in red clothing attire and are holding various objects like a sword, rabbit mask, and axe

한국 록 밴드 음악의 대중화를 이끈 자우림은 1997년 ‘Hey, Hey, Hey’를 시작으로 ‘밀랍천사’, ‘매직 카펫 라이드’, ‘팬이야’, ‘하하하쏭’, ‘스물다섯, 스물하나’  등 다채로운 콘셉트의 곡을 통해 청춘과 인간, 사회에 관한 주제를 꾸준히 다루며 대중에게 큰 사랑을 받아왔습니다. ‘자줏빛 비가 내리는 숲(紫雨林)’을 의미하는 밴드명만큼이나 신비롭고 몽환적이면서도 현실적인 이야기를 전하는 자우림, 이들이 올해 25주년을 맞이했습니다.

보컬 김윤아, 기타리스트 이선규, 베이시스트 김진만으로 이뤄진 한국 최장수 혼성 3인조 밴드 자우림은 한 장르에 국한하지 않은 폭넓은 음악 스펙트럼을 기반으로 독보적인 음악 세계를 구축했으며, 지금의 K팝뿐만 아니라 국내외 다양한 아티스트와 창작자들에게 영감이자 뮤즈가 되어왔습니다. 일례로 지난 7월 초 서울 올림픽공원에서 열린 자우림 단독 콘서트 ‘해피 25TH 자우림(HAPPY 25th JAURIM)’에는 방탄소년단 RM이 다녀가 화제가 되기도 했습니다.

자우림은 다양한 스포티파이 플레이리스트를 통해 전 세계 청취자들을 계속해서 만나고 있습니다. 가장 최근에는, 2013년에 발표한 자우림의 ‘스물다섯, 스물하나’는 드라마의 스포티파이 공식 파트너십 플레이리스트를 통해 전 세계 리스너들과 한층 더 가까워지고 사랑받기도 했습니다.

스포티파이는 이처럼 올해 25주년을 맞이한 대한민국 밴드 음악의 아이콘 자우림과 함께, 25년의 발자취와 이들의 영감을 전 세계에 소개하는 ‘Kurated by [ JAURIM ]’ 플레이리스트 그리고 콘텐츠를 공개했습니다. 자우림 멤버들이 직접 큐레이팅한 25개 곡으로 구성된 해당 플레이리스트 중 15곡은 자우림이 직접 꼽은 밴드의 대표곡입니다. 나머지 10곡은 자우림에게 영감을 준 타 아티스트의 곡들로, 세 멤버가 공통으로 또는 각자 선정했습니다.

특히, 이번 25주년 기념 앨범 ‘HAPPY 25th JAURIM’ 수록곡 ‘Hey, Hey, Hey 25th’, ‘매직 카펫 라이드 25th’, ‘our song’ 등이 포함되어 신보에 대한 애정이 돋보이며, 보컬 김윤아에게 영감을 준 곡인 Sinéad O’Connor의 ‘Why Don’t You Do Right’을 비롯해 자우림 멤버 모두가 꼽은 Led Zeppelin의 ‘Good times bad times’, Queen의 ‘Don’t stop me now’, Pearl Jam의 ‘Jeremy’ 등 다양한 곡을 담고 있습니다. 

스포티파이의 ‘Kurated by [     ]’는 다채로운 장르의 아티스트를 비롯해 대한민국의 다양한 문화산업 분야를 이끌어온 거장들을 더 많은 전 세계 스포티파이 청취자들과 연결하기 위해 마련되었습니다. 대한민국 문화의 아이콘으로 자리매김한 아티스트 및 창작자들이 직접 큐레이션한 Kurated by [   ] 플레이리스트를 통해 이들의 영감과 발자취를 돌아봅니다.

‘K-Pop ON! Track’ Is Spotify’s Newest Site Dedicated to All Things K-Pop

June 20, 2022

K-Pop has long dominated the charts on Spotify, thanks in part to its passionate fans and their streams of our K-Pop ON! (온) playlist. The genre has no plans of slowing down, and neither do its listeners. That’s why Spotify launched K-Pop ON! Track, a website dedicated to all things K-Pop that brings casual listeners and veteran superfans alike closer to the artists and music they love. With news, exclusive artist interviews, industry updates, trends, and more on the site, there’s no shortage of ways fans can keep their fingers on the pulse of this global phenomenon.

Explore while you stream

Got BLACKPINK or Billlie blasting in the background? K-Pop ON! Track complements your streaming experience with handy tools and how-tos, including a glossary dedicated to K-Pop terminology, a step-by-step guide on creating a Spotify Blend playlist with BTS, and a series dedicated to the artists and groups we love, called We Stan. Created for K-Pop fans by the people who love K-Pop most at Spotify, the site has three main sections where you can discover all the in-depth content:

  • Recent News: As ON! Track’s home base, this is where our most recently published stories will greet visitors when they first open the website. This includes artist content, genre stories, trends, data, milestones, and interviews with both artists and industry players. 
  • K-Pop ON!: This section is dedicated to our flagship playlist, K-Pop ON! (온), where you can find updates about what’s new, like artist takeovers and spotlights on the hottest new talents.
  • Spotlight ON!: Here we take a closer look at the musicians and playlists that are making waves on Spotify, from featured artists to classic K-Pop tracks and new releases of the month. 

Making records, breaking records 

K-Pop fans have long been streaming in droves, helping break records for artists and bringing much-deserved exposure to the genre. Each month, K-Pop receives over 8 billion monthly streams on Spotify, and our newly renamed K-Pop ON! (온) playlist has racked up over 3.9 million followers.* 

The greatest number of K-Pop ON! listeners are streaming from the U.S., Indonesia, and the Philippines—evidence of the genre’s worldwide appeal. And as the popularity of K-Pop continues to grow, we want K-Pop ON! Track to be a destination that fans from all corners of the globe can visit to stay in the know. 

March to the beat of K-Pop by visiting Spotify’s newest site, K-Pop ON! Track.

https://kpopontrack.byspotify.com/ 

*As of May 2022

Take a Tour of Spotify Island’s New K-Park on Roblox

May 24, 2022

K-Park on Spotify Island on Roblox

Just a few short weeks ago, we unveiled Spotify Island on Roblox and invited fans to explore our new, otherworldly digital destination for audio. Today, we’re taking the allure of Spotify Island to the next level with K-Park, a whimsical wonderland dedicated to the vibrant world of K-Pop. 

Now, players can portal from Spotify Island mainland to discover the brand-new destination inspired by the genre. It’s the first of a variety of themed islands that will pop up around Spotify Island in the coming months—and the first in a long line of opportunities for artists and fans to connect in the digital world. By starting with Spotify Island’s K-Park on Roblox, we’re continuing our focus, commitment, and celebration of the global genre. 

K-Pop has a widespread global appeal, dedicated fan following, and unique set of cultural elements that reach far beyond music. It’s a genre that started with music but has become a movement—encompassing an entire world of standom, fashion, community, and more. In fact, since 2018, K-Pop streams on Spotify have increased by 107% in the United States and 230% globally, resulting in almost 8 billion streams per month around the world. The U.S., Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, and the U.K. top the list for streams of K-Pop. 

Ready for a tour?

To begin, you’ll have to find the mysterious portal on the Spotify Island mainland. But once you do, you’ll be transported to a whimsical wonderland where you can discover exclusive K-Pop experiences, interactions, and quests. 

Portal to K-Park from Spotify Island on Roblox

First stop at the K-Pop cafe for a special Korean treat, like Dalgona Coffee, Patbingsu (Korean shaved ice with toppings), or Boong Uh Bbang (Korean fish-shaped bread).

K-Pop Fans Can Now Blend With Some of Their Favorite Groups on Spotify

May 20, 2022

K-Pop fans, Spotify has a listening experience that will let you connect with your favorite bands in a new way. Through Spotify’s Blend feature, you can sing and dance along to an all-new set of playlists that merge your personal music taste with that of some of the biggest names in K-Pop.

Blend was introduced last year as a new way for two Spotify users to combine their musical preferences into one shared playlist made just for them. Earlier this year, we announced updates that included the chance to Blend with some of your favorite artists. 

Now Spotify is expanding the collection of Blend artists to include K-Pop superstars BTS, Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, NMIXX, and AB6IX. When you Blend with these artists, you’ll get a curated playlist that combines your favorite tracks with theirs. You’ll also receive a share card showing your taste-match scores and the songs that bring you two together. The cards can be shared directly to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter so you can show off your matches with other members of the ARMY, Stay, ENGENE, MOA, NSWER, and ABNEW fan bases.

Ready to see what these bands have been listening to lately? Grab your headphones and Blend by following the link for your favorite K-Pop artist below.

Blend with BTS

the band BTS is standing in front of a gas station looking at the camera posing

 

Blend with NMIXX

the band NMIXX are standing in front of the camera posing. Some members are kneeling and others are standing.

 

Blend with Stray Kids

The band stray kids are standing in front of the camera posing. their shadows are showing behind them.

 

Blend with TOMORROW X TOGETHER

the band tomorrow x together are on a white backdrop posing in front of the camera.

 

Blend with ENHYPEN

the band enhyphen are posing in front of the camera in this black and white photo. they are holding a sign that says "just stop."

 

Blend with AB6IX

the band ab6ix are standing outside in front of a concrete structure and are posing for the camera.


Update as of October 19, 2022: BLINKs rejoice: You can now also Blend with BLACKPINK on Spotify. Find a full list of all available Blends here.

Through Breakups and Heartbreaks, TOMORROW X TOGETHER Shares All the Feels in Its New Spotify Enhanced Album

May 9, 2022

K-Pop fans, Spotify has a treat for you. Today, South Korean boy band TOMORROW X TOGETHER is releasing its fourth mini album, minisode 2: Thursday’s Child, and Spotify listeners have access to an exclusive enhanced version of the album.

This new five-track album follows the story of the boy who fell in love in the band’s previous album series, The Chaos Chapter. In minisode 2: Thursday’s Child that boy experiences a breakup with his first love. Fans will experience three themes (hate, end, mess) as they listen to the group’s tracks, which feature a mix of hardcore rock, hip-hop, and R&B.

The enhanced album, available only on Spotify, includes never-before-seen content. Fans have access to new videos, storylines (which are personal written commentaries from the band on each track), and audio liners, where the band members give insight into the songs. The enhanced album also features videos of the individual members of the group talking about the fun they had and the memories they shared while creating the new music.

the playlist cover art for tomorrow x together's enhanced album which depicts TXT in red and black on a beige background

“We are thrilled to present this new, immersive content to MOA and all listeners on Spotify,” said TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s leader, SOOBIN. “We put tremendous effort into making our new album and collaborating with Spotify, so we hope you enjoy the special behind-the-scenes experience and feel a deeper connection through our exclusive, personally curated content.”

For the Record chatted with members of TOMORROW X TOGETHER to learn more about their new album.

What can fans expect in the new album, minisode 2: Thursday’s Child? 

SOOBIN: Through this new EP, we showcase a side of ourselves that we’ve never shown before. We tried to express how one could be corrupted and changed by his first heartbreak. The lead single “Good Boy Gone Bad” has some fantastic choreography that’s sure to make a lasting impression in your minds, so be sure to check it out!

In what ways does the enhanced album share more about the intent behind your new music for fans and new listeners worldwide?

SOOBIN: I hope our fans, MOA [Moments of Alwaysness], will be able to dive deeper into the EP as they listen to the behind-the-scenes stories and the episodes that we reveal for the first time.

YEONJUN: We all had a great time discussing the album in such depth. In the process, I’ve definitely grown more attached to every song.

BEOMGYU: We had a heart-to-heart talk on each of the tracks from the album, and I hope our MOA will love it too. Also, I really enjoyed thinking back to the emotions I had while working on and recording each song. 

TAEHYUN: It’s some great content. We go into detail about how each member tackled the recording process. Listening to how each song came to be definitely makes me appreciate them more. 

HUENINGKAI: I have so much love for this EP, especially with all the effort and passion we all put into it. It’s our first unit track, so the producer and YEONJUN and I talked a lot about how we want this track to feel. I hope our intentions are delivered to you successfully. 

What messages do you want people to take from your music? 

SOOBIN: Through music, we always strive to give voice to what many people feel and experience throughout their lives. We pursue music that many people can empathize with and relate to. We would like to be remembered as artists who are not confined by genre. We want to become artists who linger on in your minds even as time goes by. 

What figures have most influenced your music and your artwork? 

SOOBIN: I watched a lot of shows that deal with love and heartbreak. I took these works as inspiration to delve into and understand these emotions with more depth.

HUENINGKAI: Since I was a child, I have admired my dad. And I have been inspired by many artists, like Bruno Mars and Christopher, since I was a trainee.

YEONJUN: For this album, I was inspired by Post Malone’s music.

BEOMGYU: I referenced some TV shows as well, but I also think all people go through heartbreak or farewell in one form or another, whatever that may be. While working on this album, I tried to think back and put myself in those shoes.

TAEHYUN: I was inspired by The Weeknd’s albums and by a friend who had recently been through a breakup. 

As you look to TOMORROW (the future), what are your goals as a group TOGETHER?

As a group, we still want to meet and enjoy being with MOA from all over the world.

 

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Start streaming TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s minisode 2: Thursday’s Child, the enhanced album, below:

 

Spotify Celebrates Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by Spotlighting Creators and Activists

May 5, 2022

Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month banner

Each May on our platform, Spotify has amplified and honored the cultures and traditions of the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This year, our campaign expands from an American observance to a global celebration and highlights the full Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora. We’re proud to now mark May as Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month at Spotify.  

To celebrate, we’ve refreshed our Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month content hub with new activist-created playlists and a spotlight on up-and-coming artists. With Asian and Pacific Islander artists representing every genre and in all stages of audio creation, this campaign continues our ongoing efforts to create awareness and expand the API community’s presence on Spotify. Read on to learn more about our plans. 

Turning the volume up on API voices

Our API content hub is a space dedicated to the API community that showcases the work of activists while also highlighting fresh new releases from creators across the audio landscape. This year’s hub is adorned with new cover art and features a variety of audio content, from Punjabi and K-Pop playlists to podcasts from API creators around the globe. It’s also home to a variety of specially curated playlist takeovers. 

 

Letting activists take the lead 

This year, we worked with prominent API activists Malavika Kannan, Amanda Nguyen, and ALOK to create a series of playlists, each with a special theme and message. 

Malavika’s playlist is a musical love letter to fearless immigrant daughters, strong diaspora children, the proud queer community, and multilingual Asian Pacific Islanders. Amanda’s playlist includes music that celebrates API culture year-round. And ALOK’s playlist is a curated collection of API musicians across a wide array of genres and geographies. 

K-Pop Girl Group NMIXX Brings the Buzz as Spotify’s New RADAR Korea Artist

March 3, 2022

Two years ago, Spotify announced the launch of RADAR, a new emerging-artist program aimed at spotlighting rising talent from around the globe. From Sweden and the United States to France and India, the artists on Spotify’s RADAR have gone from being nascent figures in the industry to stealing the hearts of fans around the world. Now, following NMIXX’s successful first year in South Korea, home to K-Pop, Spotify has selected the girl group as its first RADAR Korea artist of 2022. 

NMIXX (pronounced “n mix”) came onto the scene last year as part of JYP Entertainment’s latest global K-Pop project. The group comprises seven members—LILY, HAEWON, SULLYOON, JINNI, BAE, JIWOO, and KYUJIN—and together, they embody the meaning of NMIXX. 

“Our name, NMIXX, combines the letter ‘N’—for now, new, next, or an unknown variable—and ‘mix,’ which symbolizes harmony and diversity. It’s about being the ideal mix for the new world,” NMIXX told For the Record. “We think the best substitutes of the letter ‘N’ for us are the words ‘now’ and ‘need.’ We chose the word now because we, NMIXX, are just getting started! And we chose the word need in the hope that more people will want and need us in the future.”

The group’s debut EP, AD MARE (which means “to the sea” in Latin), was released in early February. Along with the EP’s four tracks, NMIXX shared audio liners in which they greet Spotify listeners and express their excitement—in multiple languages, no less—about their new music. 

To celebrate NMIXX’s selection as Spotify’s first RADAR Korea artist of the year, For the Record asked the group to share their thoughts and experiences as they take on K-Pop’s global music scene. 

What was your reaction when you heard that you were selected for RADAR?

Spotify RADAR is a project that reaches many people from all over the world, and when we heard that we had the honor of being selected, we were moved and delighted! We are excited for the opportunity to connect with such a diverse audience.

What do you hope to take out of the RADAR experience?

It’s a real pleasure and honor to be able to get closer to more fans with our music through RADAR. We are looking forward to being featured on Spotify Singles with music that is unique to us, and we dream about one day being featured on the billboards in New York’s Times Square. We would also love to collaborate with other artists from around the world who work in different genres, like the project between AleXa and Bader AlShuaibi.

As a new K-Pop group, what do you want prospective fans to know about you?

We want people to know that we are an all-around group whose music features everything from rap to vocals to dance. Our goal is to make MIXX POP a worldwide phenomenon. It’s our own genre that brings multiple genres into one, and we want everyone to know its magic so they can really get into our music.

What messages do you want people to take from your music?

Our title track, “O.O,” symbolizes our eyes being wide open after peeking into the unknown. And our worldview became bigger with our discovery, so we would like you to join us in this incredible journey by listening to this song. “TANK” is about the tank-like confidence that burst from us when we were finally unveiled. We hope that those who listen to our music will take away the same powerful energy that’s been propelling us as we introduce the new genre of MIXX POP.

Why was it important for you to incorporate multiple languages into your audio liners?

We wanted to reach our fans around the world, and we thought the language was an important way to show more people who NMIXX is. That’s why we’ve been putting a lot of effort into learning different languages and sharing audio messages on Spotify both in English and Spanish, and we’re so thrilled by all the compliments we received!

Which artists have most influenced your music?

LILY: Taylor Swift has always been a role model for me, and I love and respect her dearly. I look up to her songwriting skills so much. She is also a strong and smart business woman who has done so well in this industry, and I hope I can navigate it with as much grace and wit as her.

HAEWON: For me, it’s The Weeknd and Imagine Dragons. The Weeknd is the artist that opened my eyes to R&B, and Imagine Dragons got me into pop. I first heard the song “Demons” when I was in elementary school, and although I didn’t understand the lyrics in English, the song touched me deeply.

SULLYOON: I listen and sing to Anne-Marie’s music a lot. It was her albums that made me love music even more.

JINNI: Beyoncé for me. I was blown away by how professional she was on stage. Just one line of her song, and she had the whole crowd wrapped around her finger. She has an incredible stage presence and energy, and I always try to learn from her.

BAE: Ariana Grande’s music has always comforted me and made me feel better. I have been listening to her songs since I was young, and the songs still remind me of the seasons, situations, scents, or emotions I experienced when I first listened to them. She’s the role model who started my dream of becoming a singer. I still listen to her music and see my own image in her songs.

JIWOO: I’d say Billie Eilish. She always has this confidence when she sings, and she delivers all the emotion and depth in each song to her fans, which really touched me. I learned a lot by watching her perform.

KYUJIN: I get a lot of my musical influence from TAEYEON! I absolutely love her unique stage presence, her voice, and her emotional depth. Her music has allowed me to feel and experience so much. It’s because of her that I first dreamed of becoming an artist.

As you look to the future, what are your goals as a group?

We want NMIXX to be a group that brings smiles and happy energy to our fans every time we go on stage. We want to become the kind of artists who are loved by many for a long time to come. And we always want to keep growing and improving. We want to follow the footsteps of the Korean groups that have come before us and become the kinds of artists who continue spreading K-Pop love worldwide.

Spotify Celebrates K-Pop With a Relaunch of Its Flagship Playlist, Now Called ‘K-Pop ON! (온)’

March 2, 2022

It’s been one year since Spotify debuted in South Korea and almost eight years since the launch of our flagship playlist, K-Pop Daebak. Since its unveiling in 2014, the playlist has racked up billions of streams for Korean artists and has expanded their reach around the world. As K-Pop continues to dominate the charts, Spotify is building on this momentum with a complete relaunch of its K-Pop Daebak playlist, now called K-Pop ON! (온). 

K-Pop is more than a music genre—it’s a cultural hub for fandoms, superstars, fashion moments, and more. With K-Pop ON! (온), Spotify is creating a destination that gives fans and artists even stronger ways to connect with each other. That’s the reason for the new playlist name and the addition of the Korean word “온,” which means “100” or “whole.” When combined with the English word “on,” the playlist’s name embodies the idea that K-Pop is always on 100 for the whole world. And that couldn’t be more true; every day, K-Pop brings new songs, styles, and trends to the world. With K-Pop On! (온), fans aren’t just tuning in to a playlist, they’re immersing themselves in a worldwide phenomenon. 

Since 2018, K-Pop streams on Spotify have increased by 107% in the United States and 230% globally, resulting in almost 8 billion streams per month around the world. The love of the genre is truly global, with the U.S., Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, and the U.K. rounding out the list of the top countries that stream K-Pop. The music has taken over the Spotify platform. In fact, in the last 90 days, there have been over 4.7 million searches for the term “K-Pop” on Spotify. 

These searches include a wide array of artists and songs, ranging from big hits by top stars to deep cuts from emerging artists. Since the playlist’s original launch in 2014, BLACKPINK and BTS have been the most-streamed artists, while the most-streamed songs have been “DDU-DU DDU-DU” by BLACKPINK, “FANCY” by TWICE, “DALLA DALLA” by ITZY, “Kill This Love” by BLACKPINK, and “SOLO” by JENNIE (from BLACKPINK). 

 

 

Spotify couldn’t launch K-Pop ON! (온) without help from a few fan-favorite artists, so it’s rolling out star-studded billboards around the world to celebrate. Fans will find larger-than-life images of NMIXX in LA; BTS, aespa, and NMIXX in NYC; ATEEZ, Red Velvet, NCT DREAM, and more in South Korea; aespa, SEVENTEEN, BLACKPINK, and more in Indonesia; BTS, NMIXX, and IVE in Japan; and BTS, TWICE, and ENHYPEN in Toronto—with more exciting content to come, across the platform and on Spotify’s own channels. 

Want to join the millions of fans around the world singing and dancing along to K-Pop? Stream our newly minted K-Pop On! (온) playlist here.

한국 론칭 1주년, 스포티파이가 공개하는 데이터와 그간의 성과

February 14, 2022

스포티파이가 한국에서의 서비스 론칭 1주년을 맞아 지난 한 해 동안 스포티파이와 한국 아티스트들이 이뤄낸 주요 데이터와 성과를 발표했습니다. 

전 세계 리스너들이 보다 많은 대한민국 그리고 한국계 아티스트를 발견하고 깊이 연결될 수 있도록

데이터에 따르면, 지난 1년 동안 K팝 음원은 전 세계적으로 월평균 79억 7천만 회 이상 스트리밍된 것으로 나타났습니다. 이는 스포티파이의 한국 론칭 이전과 비교했을 때 약 27% 증가한 수치입니다. 나아가 전 세계 4억 6백만명 이상의 청취자를 보유한 스포티파이의 184개 국가 중 한국 아티스트를 새롭게 발견한 청취자가 가장 많은 상위 10개국은 미국, 브라질, 인도, 인도네시아, 멕시코, 독일, 영국, 필리핀, 일본, 프랑스 순으로 나타났습니다.  

앞서 언급한 데이터 비롯하여 지난 1년간 더 많은 아티스트들을 더 많은 전 세계 청취자들과 새롭고 깊이 있게 연결하기 위해, 스포티파이는 아래와 같이 다양한 방식으로 쉼 없이 달려왔습니다. 

또한, 폭넓은 한국 음악과 아티스트를 전 세계 청취자들에게 소개하는 ‘K팝 허브(K-Pop Hub)’는 스포티파이가 국내 론칭된 지 1년도 되지 않아 총 스트리밍 횟수 14억 3천만회를 달성, 이 역시 코리아팀의 론칭 전과 비교했을 때 19.5% 증가했습니다. 지난 1년간 인도, 인도네시아, 미국, 일본, 필리핀, 말레이시아, 태국, 브라질, 멕시코, 대만 순으로 K팝 허브에 가장 많이 접속한 것으로 나타났고, 전 세계적으로 K팝 허브에서 가장 많이 스트리밍된 상위 10개 플레이리스트는 K-Pop Daebak, TrenChill K-R&B, WOR K OUT, Women of K-Pop, Dalkom Cafe, Girl Krush, K-Pop Rising, KimBops!, Korean OSTs, 그리고 Best of Korean Soundtracks 순이었습니다. 

박상욱 스포티파이 코리아 매니징 디렉터는 “긴 여정의 초기단계에 있는 만큼, 앞으로도 한국의 아티스트, 창작자 및 업계 파트너들에게 신뢰받는 글로벌 파트너로서 함께 성장해갈 것“이라고 강조, “아티스트들에게는 전 세계 곳곳의 청취자들과 연결될 수 있는 기회를, 청취자들에게는 새로운 음악을 발견하고 일상 속 듣는 기쁨을 드리기 위해 스포티파이 코리아팀에서 항상 노력할 것”이라고 소감을 밝혔습니다.

S4A의 확산, 더 다양하고 많은 한국 아티스트들이 국경 없는 음악 생태계 속 활로 개척할 수 있도록

론칭 이후 한국 아티스트 및 레이블에 대한 지원 역시 대폭 강화해왔습니다. 그 중 특히 아티스트 전용 플랫폼이자 혁신툴인 S4A의 확산과 교육을 통해, 아티스트들이 전 세계 청취자와 팬에 대한 깊은 이해를 바탕으로 보다 효율적으로 활동을 기획할 수 있도록 도움을 제공해왔습니다. 

S4A는 실시간 글로벌 청취 통계 분석과 다양한 리소스를 무료로 제공하는 만큼, 레이블과 아티스트에게는 유용한 데이터 및 툴로 작용합니다. 현지 뮤직팀에서 S4A의 확산을 위해 노력해온 결과, 1년도 채 안 되어 한국 아티스트의 S4A 가입률이 국내 론칭 전보다 42.4 증가한 것으로 나타났습니다. 또한, 각 수록곡을 시각적으로 표현하는 디지털 아트워크 개념의 캔버스(Canvas) 영상 기능을 이용한 한국 아티스트의 수 역시 254% 증가한 것으로 집계됐습니다.