First I will address the fact that the Billboard Awards are global, not just American. If you would like to exclude foreigners, please make Celine Dion give back her awards and send Justin Bieber back to Canada (just to name two). We have all races here in America; therefore, we have all types of music. For someone to say send those KPOP boys back to Korea where they belong makes me laugh - do you realize how LONG and HARD we have worked to GET them here?!?!? BTS (Bangtan Boys) just finished a world tour, with sold out in under an hour, concerts here in the US. Their goal is to play the Stadiums and we their fans would welcome that, we might actually get tickets!
There are many Americans that live in South Korea and sing in KPOP groups or as solo artists. Peniel from BTOB (Chicago), Amber from Fx & Solo (LA), Ailee from soloist (NJ), Eric Nam from soloist (GA), Johnny from NCT (Chicago), Mark from GOT7 (LA), Nichkhun from 2PM (CA), Joshua (LA) and Vernon (NY) from Seventeen, Jay Park rapper previously from 2pm (WA), Jessica and Tiffany from Girls Generation both from (CA), and I could go on.
What is KPOP? Korean Pop Music. Ever since PSY hit the internet with Gangnam Style back in 2012, people have started to notice what is going on in the Entertainment world in South Korea. At last count there were around 52 Entertainment (Talent) Agencies in South Korea, it is big business there. They start recruiting anywhere from 10 yrs old, sometimes younger. World famous rapper, hip hop artist, leader of Big Bang; GDragon debuted when 13 yrs old in 2001. His group Big Bang have been together for 10 yrs and have completed sold out world tours. They hit Forbes Top 100 last year (2016) by grossing $44 Million as a group (in one year). These men have individual careers and other interests also, they made much more than that.
Entertainment Companies recruit young and they train them in voice, instrument, acting, dancing, language (if not Korean speaking) - all the aspects of the Entertainment field. A few lucky ones debut immediately; such as American, Benji from the group B.I.G, who studied at Julliard. Some unfortunate ones never debut and watch their dreams fade. Others debut but because their company is so small they never receive the recognition or play time they deserve. There are many, many talents groups out there still waiting for their chance to show they are just as good as any other group.
Schedules for these idols, as they are called, can be hectic. The groups starting to get recognition try to release mini-albums (at least 5 songs) once or twice a year. Most of those groups have members that write the music & lyrics. Along with releases come creating video's, fan meet and greets, photographs, and concerts.
The difference between buying a CD from a KPOP group and an American artist? Most KPOP CD's run between $15 up to $125. Why? Each CD comes with a photo BOOK or mini posters, one or multiple laminated wallet photos, or a full size poster. The upper costing CD's usually also include a DVD of a concert or performance.
Why do they have such big fandoms? What makes them so popular? They are a drug. Seriously. They have the best use of SMS that I have ever seen. Without totally invading their privacy, they try to allow fans into their lives. They post selfies, art, their pets, their food, anything and everything. They use VAPP which allows them to start live feeds with fans worldwide where they can read comments from fans in real time and respond. They tweet about other groups in their company and keep you posted on what is on their schedules. By doing this they become more real, especially when you see just how dorky and human they are. Being that it is such a competition there for fans, merchandise is big business. Groups don't eat well when first debuting if they don't make money. No, I'm not exaggerating. The more you are out there, the more merchandise is purchased, the more your videos are played, the bigger your fandom becomes, the better they eat.
My side? My daughter watched a Youtube video in 2015 about KPOP. It had videos from EXO and Big Bang. Hot men that can sing and dance? Like her mother, she said Yes please and was hooked. I was like others and skeptical at first, she showed me videos and I too was like, is that eyeliner? Honestly? I am so hooked on KPOP now that one of my sons best friends from high school just married a really cute Asian girl that I've met several times and I had to look at their wedding invitation really close when my daughter told me she was Asian. I didn't notice! I think that is a wonderful thing - to be able to see people and not notice their race just see them as people. What did it take for me to get hooked? The magical voice of Hyunsik from BTOB singing Moonlight in English. I am a sucker for Frank Sinatra and I had to make her prove to me it was really Hyunsik singing. From there I was lost. I listen to ALL genre's of music - my father was born in the late 1920's, my mother in the 1930's and my siblings from 1950 through 1970. The only music I wouldn't listen to was rap and now that I listen to KPOP, I listen to rap. They have expanded my genre.
My daughter's bias group is BTS (Bangtan Boys) and mine is HISTORY who just disbanded. We can have many bias groups and belong to many fandoms, since we live in the US. Just some (I'm sure I'll forget some) of our favorite groups are: BTS, HISTORY, JYJ, TVXQ, BIG BANG, 2PM, VIXX, BTOB, VICTON, B.I.G, MAMAMOO, Girls Generation, 4Minute (Disbanded), APink, CLC, MissA, GOT7, BLOCK B, Black Pink, BEAST, EXO... there are so many and their music is amazing. They work incredibly hard, are trained in manners (besides it being their culture), and extremely talented. They deserve praise, not criticism - especially if they are winning over other worldwide known artists that they look up to.
Just my 2 cents.
BTS (Bangtan Boys) Top L-R Jimin, Suga, Jungkook
Bottom L- R V, Jin, J-Hope, Rap Monster (leader)
BTOB (Born to Beat)
Top L-R Peniel, Hyunsik, Sungjae, Eungkwang (leader), Changsub
Bottom L-R Illhoon, Minhyuk
BIG BANG
L-R Seungri, GDragon (Leader), Taeyang, T.O.P., Daesung
