Blackpink: Journey of the Most Successful K-pop Girl Group
From the get go Blackpink has taken the K-pop world by storm. They are a phenomena that none of their predecessors could ever match. This begs the question what is the secret sauce in this recipe? Is it hard work, talent, luck or strategy?
Blackpink’s Rise to Fame
Blackpink is a four member girl group from South Korea under YG Entertainment. Their debut in 2016 with songs Boombayah and Whistle is till date the most successful K-pop debut. Boombayah is in fact the first and only K-pop debut song to reach 1 billion views on YouTube so far.
When Blackpink debuted fans had their reservations about them. They were taking the place of 2NE1, former girl group under YG Entertainment that had already made its place by then. Another reason for doubt was that this group was catered for the Western audience. Not just because of the nationality of the members, but also because of their music and concept. And this I believe made all the difference.
During the time of their debut most of the girl groups were making very feminine and cute songs. While these groups were popular in South Korea, this was not something which resonated with the masses especially in the West. Hence when Blackpink made their debut with an entirely new and powerful concept, it was not just loved in Korea but also across borders.
With strong storytelling, good marketing and powerful music, Blackpink soon became the talk of the town. And ever since there has been no looking back. With every comeback their numbers have been solid and their fanbase is ever increasing. They have 6 songs with 1 billion+ views and their song DDU-DU DDU-DU has already reached 2 billion views on YouTube. They have broken so many records that have still been untouched today. Yet their prowess is still questioned, why?
The Hate Wagon
Ever since their earlier days, the hate that Blackpink receives is unmatched. And yes, with more fame comes more hate but this hate is more even in those aspects. In some ways or other Blackpink members have always been marred with controversies. Be it about their personal lives or their credibility and talent, there is always something under the microscope.
Blackpink has always been criticized for not being talented enough. And while this discussion is subjective, it always comes up. Critics have always claimed that their are better rappers than Lisa and Jennie, better vocalists that Rose and Jisoo and well better dancers than all of them. This may be true however talent is not equal to popularity and it has never been!
Another common and relevant criticism is that their contribution in making their music is lesser compared to their contemporaries. Most of their music is produced and written by Teddy Park and the team at YG Entertainment. While the team may be excellent at crafting the next viral song, fans always believe that there is a lack of connection and personal touch in most of their popular music.
The girls are often not seen as serious musical artists because of their other works. All of them are models and brand ambassadors for different luxury brands. And with the lack of comebacks and creating solo brands for Blackpink members, fan often question if K-pop was just a tool for them to reach the next thing. It is commonly believed by netizens that Rose is the only one in Blackpink who is interested in even making music.
Success Strategy
According to a lot of K-pop fans the reason for Blackpink’s success is hit maker Teddy Park. Teddy has been with YG since 1995. And even though his own musical career wasn’t successful or memorable, he is the backbone behind 2 of the most successful K-pop groups Big Bang and 2NE1. His unique production style which involves taking elements from American music and incorporating it in Korean music and flow is a proven success strategy that is common to all these groups.
The side effect is that even today Blackpink’s title tracks are criticized for being repetitive with the same EDM and hip hop sounds. Yet their fandom of Blinks is always in support of their music despite all criticisms. Thus they continue to live by this formulaic music that is proven to go viral and be loved always.
This music coupled with powerful branding is the success mantra of Blackpink. The members were soft launched into the industry. While there was some mystery around them during their debut, they were all well-known in K-pop circles. They featured in music videos prior to their debut making them popular before they even proved their worth. And finally when they started dropping their music, fans just went crazy after them.
Every success story has an element of luck and Blackpink is no different. But no one can deny the fact they were always destined to be the be the biggest girl group of K-pop. It will be interesting to see their legacy after 20 years from now. Will they reinvent themselves or continue on the same path that is proven to be successful.
