Welcome to WWLT, or What We’re Listening To, which features mini music analyses that provide context and introduce readers to K-pop music that may be new-to-them. This issue features analyses of tracks by Super Junior, ATEEZ, Shinhwa, TVXQ!, Sam Kim, Suho, B.I., and Jo Jung Suk by members of HWAITING!, KPK’s K-pop music research accelerator….
Tag: Shinhwa
Spotify, YouTube and the Shaping of the K-pop Listening Audience
Spotify has become a benchmark for measuring K-pop success, but it limits the growth of the K-pop listening audience. Despite changes in its algorithm, YouTube remains the place to develop and grow as a K-pop listener because of the input of other K-pop fans. Spotify is recognized for spearheading the music streaming revolution, changing the…
Shinhwa: Music and Video
By Crystal S. Anderson, PhD Associate Professor of English, Longwood University Shinhwa’s longevity is in part due to the quality and consistency of their music production seen in their comeback releases. The Return is Shinhwa’s highly anticipated release following a four-year hiatus. Overall, critics note a dual nature to the album, juxtaposing the classic sound of the…
REVISED Last Fans Standing: Veteran Fans of K-pop
Crystal S. Anderson, PhD Associate Professor of English, Longwood University One of the things that happens when conducting qualitative surveys is that they can raise more questions than they answer. This is what happened with the preliminary data from Last Fans Standing: Longtime and Adult Fans of Korean Popular Music (K-pop). Response rates were unusually low,…
Shinhwa: Perfect Men
Crystal S. Anderson, PhD Associate Professor of English, Longwood University Shinhwa debut in 1998, the same year as 1TYM, 4MEN and Fin.K.L. The group is best known for being the oldest K-pop group that has maintained its original lineup, paving the way for longevity for other K-pop “idol” groups. Not only is the group one of…
Shinhwa Essentials
Crystal S. Anderson, PhD Associate Professor of English, Longwood University The ‘Essentials” series is part of my digital humanities project, KPopCulture, which curates the music, visual culture, choreography, promotions, media and fan culture of K-pop that support this global cultural production. “Essentials” items tell you about a group through playlists of key music videos, performances, choreography…
Colors and Consequences: Branding and Fandom in K-pop
Crystal S. Anderson, PhD Associate Professor of English, Longwood University While recent reports about arguments over K-pop fanclub colors may seem superficial, they reveal the value of branding for group promotion as well as the emotional relationship between K-pop groups and their fans. The ire of fans of Shinhwa (one of the oldest K-pop groups…
Don’t Call It A Comeback: Old School K-pop and Its Fans
Often believed to appeal only to teenagers, K-pop is experiencing a trend with old school groups making successful comebacks. Some believe that K-pop has a short shelf life. Several point to the “five-year curse,” a trend where male K-pop groups break up or disband, often in the face of mandatory military service in Korea. Others…
Son Dam Bi: Sound of Dam Bi
Son Dam Bi is a solo female artist who debuted in 2007 on the Pledis Entertainment label. That same year, FT ISLAND, Wonder Girls, and Girl’s Generation also debuted, making Son Dam Bi’s introduction as a solo artist even more unique. In addition to her singing and dancing skills, which she has won several awards…
iFans Case Studies Status Update
If you keep with research on K-pop, you may be aware of the iFans: Mapping Kpop’s International Fandom project. The surveys that make up the qualitative studies seek to understand how the fandoms differ from one another and their relationship to the groups they support. K-pop fans know that the fandoms are unique. Because they…
KPK: Kpop Kollective 