Spotify Celebrates K-Pop in Pakistan
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Loading... - Xamak Dhavse
- 28 Jun 2022
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Never before has Pakistan’s music scene witnessed a fan base more dedicated to the artists they love than with K-Pop. From birthday celebrations held for their favorite musicians to social media trends on the release of new albums, we’ve seen it all. In a country where many would imply that foreign language tracks might find it hard to gain traction, K-Pop has defied all odds.
It all started with BTS, the groundbreaking group of seven Korean youngsters who rose to fame in 2013 with their debut albums’ 2 Cool 4 Skool’ and ‘O! RUL8,2’, the first extended play by the idol group released in the same year, and soon made in-roads into the Pakistani market. Their popularity has hit unprecedented levels, and it seems to show no signs of receding soon as their music continues to top the charts.
According to the data revealed by Spotify between March 2021 to March 2022, streaming of K-Pop tunes saw a 56% rise with Gen Z, the segment falling between 18 to 24 years of age, being the most avid listeners of the genre making up to more than 50% of the total streams of K-Pop in the country.
The love for K-Pop and BTS in particular is evident from dedicated fan bases in the form of social media groups that go all-out for the acts that they hold close to their heart. BTS Pakistan Official is a prime example with more than 16,000 followers as of June 2021, the page is one of the biggest and most prominent communities of BTS loyalists in Pakistan.
“Back in 2014, I discovered the world of K-Pop through my friend who introduced me to some great music. The unique fashion style, vibe and of course the synchronized dance moves had me really intrigued. However, I officially became an ARMY in 2015, during the ‘I Need You’ era,” commented Hajra Gilani. Studying in South Korea, Hajra is the Head Admin and founder of the BTS Pakistan Official Fan Club.
Hajra’s journey started from attending a single BTS concert live. Terming “post-concert depression” as a real phenomenon, she was plagued with a plethora of questions. Was there a possibility to interact with more BTS Armies and how could a community be built around this love in Pakistan? These queries stirred a new dream in her to get BTS recognized in Pakistan and Pakistan to be recognized by the boys themselves. Read More…
