Do you agree with this article?: February Music Trends in Korea: Where Have the Idols Gone?

[JJJ]

From “Let It Go†off the Frozen OST, Soyu and JunggiGo’s duet “Some†to Park Wan Kyu’s single for the Empress Ki OST, “Wind Breeze,†music charts have recently begun to look richer in variety. The charts are flush with movie and drama OST tracks, indie band offerings, as well as releases from solo singer-songwriters. The February music charts so far feature a diversity of genres and musicians, leaving one wondering if the idol chart domination of music charts is a thing of the past?

“Let It Go†hit the charts shortly after the release of animated Disney movie Frozen, and has ranked highly on music charts since, along with other songs from the OST. The track is Elsa’s theme song in the movie and Idina Menzel’s original has attracted countless covers, a sign of the song’s staying power.

“Someâ€, a duet by project duo SISTAR’s Soyu and singer-songwriter JunggiGo, shot to number one as soon as it was released on February 7. JunggiGo has been known for his rich vocals since his indie days and his sensitive voice pairs well with Soyu’s clear vocals in this track.

Next up is actress Shim Eun Kyung’s “White Butterfly†off the “Miss Granny†film OST, in which she played the lead character. The song is a remake of Kim Jung Ho’s original. Shim Eun Kyung’s version reveals a maturity beyond her years and has continued its steady rise on the charts. Park Wan Kyu’s “Wind Breeze†for the OST of MBC Monday-Tuesday drama “Empress Ki†has been creeping slowly up the chart as well.

Originally part of the band Mate, now solo singer-songwriter Jung Joon Il released his second album, “I Missed You†earlier in February after being discharged from the military in October 2013. His title song “Confession†has stayed on the charts for three weeks. Seats for his solo concert last December sold out quickly and apparently scalpers were able to resell tickets for 1 million won (US$931). Indie band Cold Cherry gained recognition for their contribution to “The Heirs†OST, “Growing Pains.†Their new single “What Were We,†released on February 7, has been spreading rapidly by word of mouth.

Mainstream artists are, of course, ever present. Rain’s title track, “I Love You,†off his repackaged sixth album is at the top of the charts. Spica’s “You Don’t Love Me†is also doing pretty well. SISTAR’s Hyorin and Younha’s contributions to the SBS Wednesday-Thursday drama “Man from the Stars†OST are also up there in the top 30.

One music industry representative commented on the issue. “It is also evidence of the public’s broadening music preferences, as music portals have made it easier for people to listen to music as well as gain access to different genres of music. One of the reasons for this is that drama and music OSTs have increased in quality.â€
 

http://www.soompi.com/2014/02/07/february-music-trends-in-korea-where-have-the-idols-gone/#.UvXJDIX3O6U

 
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They mention Soyou but she's an idol, and Hyorin's version of Let It Go was also topping and she's an idol too and the article is implying that idols aren't charting anymore as much as they used to

[t-errorist]

Soyu is an idol tho

 

anyway

only the "top idols" will be the only ones to be bothered to look at with all these nugus running around

[김민주]

But Soyu

But Girls' Day is still in Top 10

But Hyorin

 

I swear there is an article like this every time it's a dry season for idol groups. No top group releases a song so there aren't many idol songs topping the charts and suddenly "indie is taking over! idols are wanted no more!" but in a few weeks everyone sees that was premature (as always) and idols aren't going anywhere

[Junkrat]

Korea needs a ChoColat come back

 

 

[The Dense One]

They just need to wait until the YG returns/debuts and SNSD's comeback, then they'll change their tune XD

[초췌]

a bunch of idol songs that sound the same or a bunch of ost that sound the same

such rich variety

[A Boy Like Troy]

Since we're talking about music in February...

 

 

Please continue to support Ladies' Code's comeback next week with

 

 

It will be a flawless comeback. Everyone and their mother will love the song and they will all be Lavelys. It's supposed to be a mix of Wonder Girls and miss A. Please look forward!

[Heavenly]

I think the journalist is probably talking about the lack of idol music(?) because I can honestly name a few idols on that list.

[versace]

Spica’s “You Don’t Love Me†is also doing pretty well. 

 

 

yessss stan Kpop's Female Messiah reporter nim!!

[Guitargeekette]

Originally part of the band Mate, now solo singer-songwriter Jung Joon Il released his second album, “I Missed You†earlier in February after beingdischarged from the military in October 2013. His title song “Confession†has stayed on the charts for three weeks. Seats for his solo concert last December sold out quickly and apparently scalpers were able to resell tickets for 1 million won (US$931). 

 

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS!!!!! I feel like a failure. 

 

I positively loved Joonil in Mate and his solo stuff is nice

 

Spica’s “You Don’t Love Me†is also doing pretty well. 

 

 

yessss stan Kpop's Female Messiah reporter nim!!

 

YASSS! let this be the age of people who can SANG! begone to all else LOL

[Shavon Jovi]

snsd need to comeback asap

[TAE ZONE]

osts and ballads always do well, how is that a surprise

[MszzStephoa]

They are avoiding snsd that will comeback this month and make everyone irrelevant

[Haewon]

"Let it Go" makes me cringe so much.  It's awful.

[dragonfly0915]

This point of view is utterly short-sighted. One month is a small sample, and especially since it is typical for things to be relatively quiet on the idol front from November to February, it is no surprise that non-idol songs are the ones topping the charts.

 

There have been few comebacks so far this year from idol groups in the first place, and even fewer from any that have a track record of good digital charting--basically Girl's Day is really the only one. TVXQ, Dal Shabet, AOA, Rainbow Blaxx, B1A4, B.A.P--none of these groups have any particular reputation for doing well digitally; naturally you do not see them dominating the top 10 on the charts. Once idol comebacks start picking up again, especially those of girl groups, I guarantee that they will top the charts just as much as they did before.

 

One music industry representative commented on the issue. “It is also evidence of the public’s broadening music preferences, as music portals have made it easier for people to listen to music as well as gain access to different genres of music. One of the reasons for this is that drama and music OSTs have increased in quality.â€

 

Music portals have been the primary way for people to listen to music for about 6 or 7 years now, and idols have grown more popular in that era compared to the years between 2001 and 2006 before the digital market grew to its current dominance.

 

If music portals-->access to different genres-->declining idol popularity, it does explain how idol popularity grew from 2007 to 2014.