🎶🎵 ‘Cause I-I-I’m in the stars tonight
So watch me bring the fire and set the night alight (hey)
Shining through the city with a little funk and soul
So I’ma light it up like dynamite, whoa oh oh 🎶🎵
Have you heard these lines before? If yes, then you are without a doubt a citizen of this world. If you haven’t heard of Dynamite, BTS’ 2nd all-time hit song, or any of their songs, you’ve probably been off-the-grid for a while!
South Korea has become a powerhouse in the music industry, and K-pop kings BTS is a big part of this phenomenon.
K-Pop has taken the world by storm in recent years. K-Pop groups such as BTS, Black Pink, and EXO have become household names, and the genre is only getting more popular.
What is K-pop?
For those who are unfamiliar, K-Pop is a popular music genre from South Korea. K-Pop bands are usually made up of youthful singers and dancers who perform catchy, upbeat music. K-Pop is noted for its flashy aesthetics and catchy hooks, and it has a devoted global fan base.
The Rise of K-Pop
K-Pop has its roots in the Korean music scene of the early 1990s. The first K-Pop group, Seo Taiji and Boys, debuted in 1992 and quickly became a sensation in South Korea. Their success paved the way for other K-Pop bands, and by the early 2000s, K-Pop was beginning to gain a global following.
In the present day, one of the most iconic bands is BTS. In spite of the group’s initial success in South Korea, they’ve gone on to achieve even greater success in the United States and beyond. The first K-pop group to have a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Love Yourself: Tear (2018) was also the first album in a language other than English to do this in more than ten years.
So How Did K-Pop Capture the World?
In this article, we will explore 10 Marketing Lessons From the K-Pop Industry. From their use of social media to their willingness to experiment, there is a lot that marketers can learn from K-Pop. So, let’s get started!
10 Marketing Lessons From the K-pop Industry
1. K-Pop is Not Just for Koreans
One of the things the K-pop industry does well is market to a global audience. K-pop is not just for Koreans, it’s for everyone. The industry has seen a lot of success by breaking down barriers and expanding its reach. K-pop has found success by marketing to Asia, North America, and Europe. The industry has also found success by partnering with other industries, such as the fashion industry.
If you want to market your product or service to a global audience, you need to go where your customers are.
2. There is Power in Collaboration
The K-pop industry is all about collaboration. Many K-pop groups consist of members who collaborate with different industries. This makes room for a lot of different ideas and creativity. When promoting your product or service, you should consider potential partners.
Collaborating with other companies or industries can help you reach a new audience and tap into new resources.
3. Creativity is King
K-pop is known for its creative and innovative music videos. The industry puts a lot of emphasis on creativity and originality. Cute repetitive movements, yet addicting to watch and easy to follow. Great aesthetics from head to toe, such an eye candy for their viewers. They are always creative and original in their approach. This is an excellent lesson for any business.
When marketing your product or service, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. This will help you stand out from your competition.
4. Don’t underestimate the power of social media
Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a wider audience. K-pop groups are very active on social media, and they use it to connect with their fans. Name every social media platform, and you will find them there.
If you don’t use social media to market your product or service, you’re leaving money on the table. Social media is a great way to build a community around your brand and connect with your customers.
5. Timing is everything
They release their music when they know it will be a hit. They also plan their promotional events around holidays and other special occasions. This is a great lesson for any business. When you’re planning your marketing campaigns, timing is everything.
You need to release your product or service at the right time and promote it when you know people will be interested.
6. K-Pop is all about the experience
K-pop groups go above and beyond to create a great experience for their fans. They have regular lives, teasers, and constant updates, you name it. And, for the ultimate fan experience, K-pop idols are known for going on international tours only to meet and greet their fans, leaving an unforgettable experience for everyone. They put on incredible shows during meet-and-greets, and engage with their fans on stage. They usually call this “fan service”.
Creating a great customer experience should be a priority for any business. When you’re marketing your product or service, think about how you can create a memorable experience for your customers.
7. Keep it fresh
The K-pop industry is always evolving and changing. Groups are constantly debuting new music and new looks. This helps keep things fresh and interesting for fans. If you want to keep your customers interested, you need to keep your products interesting or service fresh. This means continually innovating and evolving.
Don’t be afraid to change things up and try new things.
8. Appealing to a global audience
As was already said, the K-pop industry does a great job of reaching people all over the world. K-pop groups often sing in more than one language and put out music videos that people from all over the world can watch. BTS began with only a few members who could speak English, but they learned the language so they could reach fans all over the world. Now, with one English song after another, they are taking over the world by storm!
If you want to expand your reach, you need to appeal to a global audience. This means creating content that can be consumed by people from all over the world.
9. Connect with your fans by building communities
One of the things K-pop groups do well is connect with their fans. They interact with them on social media and give them a behind-the-scenes look at their lives. This creates a strong bond between the artist and the fan. It’s important to connect with your customers and create a loyal fan base.
When you’re marketing your product or service, think about how you can create a connection with your customers.
10. Have A Clear Vision
The K-pop industry has a clear vision of where it wants to be. The industry is always looking for ways to innovate and stay ahead of the curve. Even when the pandemic made in-person fan gatherings and live performances impossible, the K-pop industry relied on e-concerts and virtual live meet-and-greets. For K-pop, there is no such thing as a “slow” season. They make ways to always stay relevant.
When you’re marketing your product or service, make sure you have a clear vision of where you want to be. Set goals and target a specific audience. This will help you create a successful marketing campaign.
Map of the Soul ON:E (two pay-per-view streaming concerts by BTS)
The K-pop business uses these and other forms of advertising to promote its products and attract new fans. All things considered, it’s safe to say that the K-pop industry employs one of the best marketing tactics from which the rest of the business world may learn and profit. Some of the strategies used to promote K-pop can be used by marketers to increase revenue.
Contributor: Ynna Floresta
Ynna writes for small businesses, coaches, and solopreneurs. She helps develop our customers’ online presence through the creation of social media posts, marketing collateral, and blog content. She loves K-pop.