Girls Generation is among the most popular of this new wave of girl groups. Girls Generation, also as known as SNSD, had their Japanese debut in September of this
year, and their first
Girls Generation in Taiwan (Photo: Yonhap News)
single jumped straight to fourth on Japan’s prestigious Oricon charts. In just ten days, their single had climbed all the way to second. When their album Gee was released in October, it immediately jumped to second, before finally becoming the top ranked album on the Oricon chart.
Social media has been an essential component of their success, bringing together fans from around the world.
Social media channels, especially youtube.com, have helped spread the fame of Korean pop music by bringing it into homes and handheld media devices worldwide. Music videos, photos, and news articles are actively consumed through social media by overseas fans.
Korea.net conducted a survey on which social media channels fans use to get the latest information on their favorite Korean musicians. Most respondents said Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and blogs were their favorite sources, allowing them quick access to new information, and an easy way to spread their favorite clips and news stories among their friends and networks.
These same contents have also grabbed the attention of international record labels. Youtube is credited with helping the Wondergirls get their American contract, and 2NE1’s newest song, “Clap your Hands,” has had nearly a half a million hits on the video sharing site, with viewers in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and England. With the internet and social media helping to make Korean hits instantly available to a far-flung and diverse audience, the chances that Korean bands will find fame away from home is growing
Many of K-pop's biggest idol groups and solo acts, including BoA, TVXQ, SS501, BIGBANG, KARA, Girls' Generation, BEAST, MBLAQ, 2PM, Super Junior, SHINee and 2NE1. began targeting the Japanese market. The group members conduct interviews and sing in Japanese.
K-pop is steadily gaining influence in foreign markets outside of Asia, most notably in the United States , Canada, and Australia. In 2001, Kim Bum Soo became the first Korean
singer to place on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with his single, "Hello Goodbye Hello".In 2009, Wonder Girls, one of Asia’s most successful music artists who sold millions of singles including the international #1 songs “Tell Me,” “So Hot” and “Nobody”, debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In a push to further globalize the genre, K-pop artists are increasingly working with talent outside of Korea. In the United States, Korean artists are touring with groups such as the Jonas Brothers and collaborating with well-known producers including Kanye West, Teddy Riley, Diplo, Rodney Jerkins, Ludacris, and will.i.am.
By 2011, K-Pop had become popular in Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Ireland, China, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Russia, Spain, Germany, Romania, Croatia, Australia, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the United States (including Puerto Rico).
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