Why are groups so much more popular in Kpop? (1 Viewer)

[Moguri]

In Kpop, groups are gerenally a lot more succesfull and popular than solo artists. They can build a lot bigger and more loyal fanbases and usually also sell a lot more albums due do this.

Most of the solos that see any success have been in a groups before, like Taeyeon, Hyuna or Sunmi and even them are nowhere near the level to what a popular groups can achieve.

I wonder what the reasons for this is, as we have other music markets in the world, where we can observe different outcomes and solos like Taylor Swift also having very dedicated and huge fanbases.

When it comes to kpop, even the western fans that are used to solos, also do not seem to care for solos at all and only focus on the groups instead.

So please share your thoughts whats the reason for this discrepancy

Beartrap: The existence of a very very few outlieres like IU or some solos finding a modicum of success, does not invalidate the general state of things.

 

[Moguri]

@Abeamus @litc as promised I made a sperate thread for this!

 

[litc]

@Abeamus @litc as promised I made a sperate thread for this!

As u can see I’m not smart enough to answer

 

[Ahsoka]

I don't really know but the fact that having multiple members gives people more options for biases and stuff, and akgaes are a part of the fandom sort of too. At the very least akgaes boost numbers even if they don't care about the whole group. Also that in a group you can divide up parts based on skill and have more options that way. Sure soloist idols who can rap, dance, and sing well exist, but I think they're pretty hard to find compared to a group where the best rapper, dancer, singer, or performer doesn't all need to be the same person. They can be very skilled in one area and still be a valuable member that attracts others to the group. Also they just feel like the standard to me, there's a lot of groups compared to soloist in my opinion. I don't know if these are necessarily correct or whatnot, they're just things I think could possibly play a role.

 

[seungfloral]

Big fandoms and naming your fandom is a new thing to westerners tho. Started like with Beyonce and Nicki Minaj i think.

Kpop uses the bias method. To build a fandom that supports the group u need a lot of dedicated fans. So they make groups with lots of members where fans can choose who to bias. Notice how in groups every member has a role? The funny one, the handsome one, the tsundere, the bad boy/girl crush, boy next door type. It is their own personality but the company advises them to emplify it. The more different interesting ppl there are in a group the more ppl relate to them, a.k.a. more fans. It all has to do with parasocial relationships in the end.

Also as a foot note, kpop groups do a lot more content than western groups. They dance, sing, sometimes act, MC, do vlogs, lives etc.

 

[Moguri]

As u can see I’m not smart enough to answer

I wish you weren't so angry all the time

 

[Moguri]

I don't really know but the fact that having multiple members gives people more options for biases and stuff, and akgaes are a part of the fandom sort of too. At the very least akgaes boost numbers even if they don't care about the whole group. Also that in a group you can divide up parts based on skill and have more options that way. Sure soloist idols who can rap, dance, and sing well exist, but I think they're pretty hard to find compared to a group where the best rapper, dancer, singer, or performer doesn't all need to be the same person. They can be very skilled in one area and still be a valuable member that attracts others to the group. Also they just feel like the standard to me, there's a lot of groups compared to soloist in my opinion. I don't know if these are necessarily correct or whatnot, they're just things I think could possibly play a role.

Yeah but aren't the Akgaes behaving in a very paradox way? They would be much better of stanning solo artists, but instead they follow groups and decide to get mad at everyone in the group but their bias

I'm not sure how many kpop soloists exist, I would think most of them are way too nugu for us too ever know them

 

[Moguri]

Big fandoms and naming your fandom is a new thing to westerners tho. Started like with Beyonce and Nicki Minaj i think.

Kpop uses the bias method. To build a fandom that supports the group u need a lot of dedicated fans. So they make groups with lots of members where fans can choose who to bias. Notice how in groups every member has a role? The funny one, the handsome one, the tsundere, the bad boy/girl crush, boy next door type. It is their own personality but the company advises them to emplify it. The more different interesting ppl there are in a group the more ppl relate to them, a.k.a. more fans. It all has to do with parasocial relationships in the end.

Also as a foot note, kpop groups do a lot more content than western groups. They dance, sing, sometimes act, MC, do vlogs, lives etc.

this is not meant to compare western groups to kpop, but group vs solo within kpop mainly

And yes ofc I understand how the groups are build, but lets say you are really drawn to the tomboy style, it would still be easier to follow a solo artist that represents that, but we still chose to follow the entire group instead

 

[litc]

I wish you weren't so angry all the time

I’m not

the other time tho you saying you’re a cat and being the only non serious response on a serious thread was valid reason for me to tell you to get out of the thread

 

[Ahsoka]

Yeah but aren't the Akgaes behaving in a very paradox way? They would be much better of stanning solo artists, but instead they follow groups and decide to get mad at everyone in the group but their bias

I'm not sure how many kpop soloists exist, I would think most of them are way too nugu for us too ever know them

They are but I guess the don’t see it that way for some reason
Well yeah many are nugu but most groups are also nugu. I would definitely think there’s more nugu groups than nugu soloists, though I could be wrong. But on Wikipedia’s page of those who debuted in 2022 there were I think 20 groups (not counting subunits) and no soloists (except those in groups). Which yeah the nuguest of nugu probably wouldn’t be listed there but the semi nugu are.

 

[Kamistar]

having multiple members gives people more options for biases and stuff

Agree, also it's easier for people to feel identified if there are many options
Also you can like x member for the personality and you can dislike the personality of y member but like the vocals, etc. For a soloist you need to like everything about that only person to stan

 

[RandAlThor]

Groups are more fun.
not many soloists are fun Yena excepted. and former group members like Yena can interact with the o groups still and that give them access to more stuff to release for the fans.
Groups can release much much more content to keep fans invested.
Some groups built their entire early fandom thru interaction then those crazies went out as disciples the right song or music hits that combo and bam.

you get stuff from bts to 50/50 and all the hues in between

Even IU or the other soloist many make their bones in acting or osts. Taeyeon for example had 2 MONSTER OST's in 08 just scarry number pre any of the current metrics.
There are kpop ish soloists bu t most non korean speaking kpop fans are only going to know outliers like ya said and ppl from groups.

 

[seungfloral]

this is not meant to compare western groups to kpop, but group vs solo within kpop mainly

And yes ofc I understand how the groups are build, but lets say you are really drawn to the tomboy style, it would still be easier to follow a solo artist that represents that, but we still chose to follow the entire group instead

Maybe cause ppl are more drawn to a grpup dynamic? Series like Friends and How i met your mother is more popular than Biopics xD

 

[Moguri]

They are but I guess the don’t see it that way for some reason
Well yeah many are nugu but most groups are also nugu. I would definitely think there’s more nugu groups than nugu soloists, though I could be wrong. But on Wikipedia’s page of those who debuted in 2022 there were I think 20 groups (not counting subunits) and no soloists (except those in groups). Which yeah the nuguest of nugu probably wouldn’t be listed there but the semi nugu are.

If really only so few soloists exist within kpop, then its probably as the kpop agencies don't see it as profitable to debut someone as a solo... so they rather put them all in groups or let them go

 

[Moguri]

Agree, also it's easier for people to feel identified if there are many options
Also you can like x member for the personality and you can dislike the personality of y member but like the vocals, etc. For a soloist you need to like everything about that only person to stan

Its a good point! Like the groups talents combined result in like a perfect version of someone? So a single person will have hard time to match that!

 

[Moguri]

Groups are more fun.
not many soloists are fun Yena excepted. and former group members like Yena can interact with the o groups still and that give them access to more stuff to release for the fans.
Groups can release much much more content to keep fans invested.
Some groups built their entire early fandom thru interaction then those crazies went out as disciples the right song or music hits that combo and bam.

you get stuff from bts to 50/50 and all the hues in between

Even IU or the other soloist many make their bones in acting or osts. Taeyeon for example had 2 MONSTER OST's in 08 just scarry number pre any of the current metrics.
There are kpop ish soloists bu t most non korean speaking kpop fans are only going to know outliers like ya said and ppl from groups.

I also think groups are a lot more fun personally, so I'm 100% in line with what everyone else is doing. I just thoughts its interesting to think about why that is!

Yeah the content stuff plays a big role for me too and groups can always produce content without relying on anyone else outside their company. A soloist could produce content too, but if they have no one they can interact with, it makes it really hard.

 

[Ahsoka]

If really only so few soloists exist within kpop, then its probably as the kpop agencies don't see it as profitable to debut someone as a solo... so they rather put them all in groups or let them go

Sure but whatever the reason for there being so few it remains that there are many more groups which makes peoples impressions of kpop be group centered most likely. That’s what I think at least in regards to that.

 

[Moguri]

Maybe cause ppl are more drawn to a grpup dynamic? Series like Friends and How i met your mother is more popular than Biopics xD

poor biopics

Makes sense yeah, the interactions and dynamics of a group is what makes it often most fun for me too!

 

[Selfmate]

for me personally - one of the reason I like a group is the members personalities and the fact that they "bounce" off each other

 

[izcream]

the more the merrier