K-Pop Group US Crossover: Who Will Likely Make It in 2018
K-pop groups are taking not only Asia by storm but also the United States of America. From the success of BTS in the U.S., more K-pop groups are expected to follow the band's path this year. Several Korean singer bands are predicted to make it big this year.
The Korean artists' invasion of the U.S. is real. It is evident through the continued success of BTS and the non-stop flow of talents in the states. The seven men crew has also cemented themselves into the American scene when they cracked into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and nailed Billboard Music Awards' Top Social Artist title last year. Moreover, who would disagree with TV host Ellen DeGeneres when she compared BTS' reception on her talk show to the Beatlemania of the 1960s. However, not all Kpop group are like BTS.
How K-Pop Make it Through the U.S.
The K-pop world is very diverse in sound although there are some similarities in style and format. The catchy song lyrics and extravagant music videos make their every album release worth waiting for. All of these make South Korea's young generation of artists successful, not to mention their strong army of fans that flood social media sites every day.
Here are some of the groups that are expected to make a huge K-pop crossover in the U.S. this year. These K-pop groups are already dominating Korea and world's music charts and airwaves already. The list doesn't include BTS since they already made a name in the U.S.
Kpop Groups to Watch For in 2018
EXO
It is safe to say that EXO is the reigning K-pop group alongside BTS. The boy band's global popularity is comparable to BTS and their songs already make it through both in the U.S. and Canadian markets, Time magazine noted. Their EXO'rdium concert is considered as one of the best selling concerts ever in North America.
Their most recent album, The War, landed in No. 87 spot on the Billboard 200 last year. This was the second time EXO landed a spot on the Billboard 200. This achievement put the group into the elite group of K-pop artists who have multiple entries on the tally.
The hip-hop sound of Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, Sehun, Xiumin, Lay and Chen and at times their rap interludes captivate the heart of American fans. In 2017, Twitter named them as the most popular new members of the platform after they signed up last year.
BLACKPINK
The group's versatility in music is expected to further propel them to stardom in the U.S. market this year. BLACKPINK broke several records after the girls were officially introduced in 2016. The band's "As If It's Your Last" was named as 2017 YouTube most viewed K-pop music video with a whopping 198 million views. It also holds the record of most viewed K-pop music video in 24 hours with more than 13.3 million views after its release. BTS' "DNA" music video later broke that record with an impressive 20.9 views in 24 hours. This year, BLACKPINK's music is predicted to gain more awards and recognition, particularly in the U.S. music charts.
TWICE
This nine-member female group from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan broke through the industry with their take on bubblegum pop. The group's superbly choreographed music videos have been instrumental in the group success. Their most recent MV for pop dance song "TT" topped BTS's most recent record as the fastest K-pop video to hit 10 million views on YouTube. Two of TWICE's songs, "Signal" and "Knock Knock," also made it to the top ten most-watched K-pop music videos on YouTube for 2017. This year, the group is expected to make more chart-topping hits and finally make a full K-pop crossover in the U.S.
Seventeen
This 13-member boy group quickly climbed to the top when they were formally launched in 2015. They were able to secure two No. 1 releases over the last two years on the Billboard World Albums chart. Earlier this month, Seventeen released their repackaged second album, Teen, Age, and named it Director's Cut. It includes the title track "Thanks" which reached first place on iTunes charts in 29 countries, including countries from North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. So far, it is the group's most popular release yet worldwide and it is just the beginning of the year for the band.
Red Velvet
The Red Velvet is known for making both pop and R&B-inspired jams, which set them apart from their most of their counterparts. Their soul sound has attracted a primarily female fanbase. Moreover, the five-member girl group is also bumping up their music portfolio by working with known producers like The Stereotypes, who were behind Bruno Mars' "That's What I Like."
Last year, the group's album, Perfect Velvet, topped the Billboard World Albums chart. Earlier this year, the group released their first repackaged album, The Perfect Red Velvet. The album includes three new tracks in addition to all the songs from Perfect Velvet.