Build your fanbase using the K-pop method • Hacker News Board

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#61

Post by treme » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 1:05 AM UTC

ziml77 wrote: post #9

Is any of this much different from pop boy bands of the 00's? You make generic, catchy songs that are hard to resist. Then have a group of four or five attractive teens perform the song. And then Highlight each individual so people form a parasocial relationship with the band members. The fanaticism follows quite easily from there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TH3A6zMMfc

These days, the members get involved more in every facet, including doing their own choreography & writing / producing their own songs.

Seventeen in particular pushed their choreography to the point where it feels like they made it a new sub-genre. Kinda feels like a concentrated Broadway show.

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#62

Post by exolymph » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 1:16 AM UTC

mikrl wrote: post #21

PuppyTailWags wrote: post #8

Question about not getting involved with politics in your fandom: how does this apply to pop stars like Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, Nicki Minaj? They all have huge, highly fervent fandoms too. And they're pretty darn political all the time.

I’ve liked Azealia Banks for ages even through her politically incorrect meltdowns and her music just keeps getting better. A zoomer I was at a party with recently said “yaaa she’s good but like sooo controversial” in a hushed and nervous way like we were in high school and about to go smoke a cigarette.

She's unhinged but nonetheless a treasure. And her music does bang.

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#63

Post by cableshaft » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 1:17 AM UTC

chiefalchemist wrote: post #42

Not as bad as I expected to read. - Keep in mind these bands are disposable. They're typically tied to a generation, a slice in time, and then they fade away. Perhaps that's by design because sustaining such a high sugar diet isn't possible? - That said, ultimately it's about connecting with your audience. Marketing is typically about awareness and/or driving sales. But these bands go further and connect with their a…

> Keep in mind these bands are disposable. They're typically tied to a generation, a slice in time, and then they fade away.

That applies to most media. There are some art/music/games/tv/movies that stand the test of time, but that's not the rule and you can't really create assuming you're going to last forever, even if you're hot for fifteen minutes.

How many people are still doing Wordle right now? I bet it's less than 5-10% of how many people were doing it at its peak near the beginning of the year, and that was huge at the time, seemed like pretty much everyone on social media were doing it (and/or one of its variants).

For music, how many people can keep creating hits for more than a generation? Pretty much just Weird Al and Madonna, isn't it?

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#64

Post by nharada » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 1:29 AM UTC

_8j50 wrote: post #16

oarsinsync wrote: post #10

> But activism on unrelated issues, even important ones, puts up barriers for no good reason. It’s interesting framing. Some might view this as pure to your values, some might view this as lacking in values, but it certainly got my attention. Reducing this quote down, the claim is “activism on unrelated important issues has no value [to your business].”

I hate corporations being activists so much. That's individuals' role, if you don't vote you don't get to be an activist. In reality this means corporations have loud voices and fat wallets drowning out the small guy's voice and effectively changing democracy to corporocracy. Maybe companies should run for office too then since they are now persons. But that quote I think is just saying to pick and choose your battle…

Are you okay with companies being politically involved when it comes to their business?

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#65

Post by zwkrt » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 1:34 AM UTC

PuppyTailWags wrote: post #8

Question about not getting involved with politics in your fandom: how does this apply to pop stars like Lizzo, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, Nicki Minaj? They all have huge, highly fervent fandoms too. And they're pretty darn political all the time.

I feel like I have to comment. I can't speak to the others, but Lil Nas X is hardly political. He is just black and gay. And people don't like that, because it undermines cultural expectations of black people and gay people at the same time. He doesn't fit into an advertisement checkbox. This makes people with narrow viewpoints uncomfortable. And so his very existence becomes 'political'.

He does regularly troll on twitter, but it isn't like he is pushing an agenda other than trying to exist /how he exists/ and not for /how you would like him to exist/.

If Lil Nas X is political, then so is Kieth Urban. Both of them are just writing songs about what they know, but somehow only the less mainstream artist is considered 'political'.

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#66

Post by _8j50 » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 2:02 AM UTC

nharada wrote: post #64

_8j50 wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hate corporations being activists so much. That's individuals' role, if you don't vote you don't get to be an activist. In reality this means corporations have loud voices and fat wallets drowning out the small guy's voice and effectively changing democracy to corporocracy. Maybe companies should run for office too then since they are now persons. But that quote I think is just saying to pick and choose your battle…

Are you okay with companies being politically involved when it comes to their business?

I am not, but i am ok with executives doing so as individuals.

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#67

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 2:08 AM UTC

bee_rider wrote: post #44

googlryas wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's pretty much what every boy band creator does since nkotb in 1984. The truth is 16 year old boys don't get together with 4 friends and make music like this. So you need someone in the industry to bring talent together, write their songs, etc. Compare that with rock, rap, punk, emo, etc which happens more organically usually.

I'm beginning to suspect The Monkees might not have been a completely spontaneous and organic situation, either.

[deleted]

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#68

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 2:10 AM UTC

threeseed wrote: post #31

jenny91 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It seems the K-pop industry has come up with a somewhat repeatable machine for churning out these bands: they manage everything from scouting young talent and training them, writing the songs, merch, events, etc?

It's no different to what has been happening in the music industry for decades. Many of the most popular pop songs are written by third parties and the recording companies will often pair artists with experienced producers and tour managers. The popularity of K-pop is more an artefact of the US mainstream favouring individual rap/hip-hop over dance-centric boy/girl bands and leaving a large opening in the market.

[deleted]

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#69

Post by WalterBright » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 2:19 AM UTC

consumer451 wrote: post #58

thaumasiotes wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But they aren't. The headline of that very article (ok, the subhed) notes that they aren't capable of writing Korean songs and don't try. This is repeated in the text: > Carlebecker writes in English, and then Korean songwriters add new lyrics to her melodies

> Korean songs I believe the correct term would be lyrics, not songs. A song can have its lyrics translated/altered into an entirely different language and still carry the same weight. Many pop songwriters would argue that the lyrics are one of the least important components. Non-anglophone countries are full of such songs based on English language originals. Though this musical localization seems have be have been m…

> Many pop songwriters would argue that the lyrics are one of the least important components

    A B C
    It's as easy as 1 2 3
    Doe Rae Me
    You and me

or:

    1 2 3 4
    I am going to keep on counting
    5 6 7 8

Yep.

Re: Build your fanbase using the K-pop method

#70

Post by WalterBright » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 2:25 AM UTC

_8j50 wrote: post #16

oarsinsync wrote: post #10

> But activism on unrelated issues, even important ones, puts up barriers for no good reason. It’s interesting framing. Some might view this as pure to your values, some might view this as lacking in values, but it certainly got my attention. Reducing this quote down, the claim is “activism on unrelated important issues has no value [to your business].”

I hate corporations being activists so much. That's individuals' role, if you don't vote you don't get to be an activist. In reality this means corporations have loud voices and fat wallets drowning out the small guy's voice and effectively changing democracy to corporocracy. Maybe companies should run for office too then since they are now persons. But that quote I think is just saying to pick and choose your battle…

What do you think about the public school teachers union? They present their politics to the kids for a thousand hours a year, for 13 years.