Ballad Singers Becoming Obsolete in the World of Kpop

Everything in Kpop is now revolves around idol groups. It is not easy to see other genre's singers through Kpop chart show programs in Korea. Idols have dominated online music charts too.

In this situation, ballad singers are losing their footing in Kpop world. Of course, the ballad song 'Breath' sung by Girls' Generation's Taeyeon and SHINee's Jonghyun is gaining popularity, but they are idols too.

10 years ago, there was a different story. Many mournful ballad songs were so popular in Korea. Then, what is the reason why ballad singers are becoming obsolete in the world of Kpop?

"There is no demand for ballad singers"
A person concerned in Kpop industry told me, "There is no demand for ballad singers not only in Kpop chart programs but also in performing arts field."

According to him, there is a few demand for bands in performing arts field, but ballad singers even can't get an opportunity to perform on the stage.

The more entertainers are exposed, the more attention they receive from the public, which means ballad singers are placed in a difficult situation.

 

On online music charts, ballad singers are losing ground to movie and drama's OST. In Korea, OSTs are getting stronger on online music charts, and ballad singers are beleaguered.

"It takes 5 years to raise a ballad singer"

Kpop agencies have to spend whopping hundreds of thousands of dollars to manage their artists.(Check out how much Kpop agencies invest in their singers)

The problem is that it is not easy for the agencies to create profits through ballad singers. In the companies' views, investing in ballad singers is pretty risky.

Usually, it takes about 2 years to make idol group popular, and producing girl groups are more suitable for high temporary profits than boy groups. However, It takes at least 5 years to make ballad singers popular.

So it is more than double, but it's not that profitable. Kpop agencies are increasingly avoiding producing ballad singers. For such a reason, ballad singers are becoming obsolete in the world of Kpop.

 

No Chance for turn of events?

Then, can the era of ballad come again in Korea? It doesn't look easy, for now. It seems probable that the current situation will continue for the next 10 years.

However, Fashions change quickly. We shouldn't rule out the possibility that the era of ballad will come some time or other.

 

Experts has focused on the fact that many emotional songs are recently gaining great popularity on online Kpop charts. Mournful songs like Soyou x Junggigo's 'Some', Hyolyn's 'Good bye' and Sung Si Kyung's 'Every moment of you' are at the top of various music charts.

Officials said, "It means that there absolutely is demands for emotional songs like ballad in Korea. In that sense, We can not say there is a cloud hanging over ballad singers' future."