The K-pop wave shows no signs of slowing down as new data from Spotify reveals a massive 362% surge in global streams over the past five years. According to statistics shared by Yonhap News Agency, Southeast Asia led the charge with a staggering 423% rise, while the U.S. saw a 182% increase, making it the top market for K-pop listeners.
The U.S. stands as the largest hub for K-pop fandom, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, and Thailand. Other countries showing strong support include India, Brazil, Malaysia, and Canada.
“K-pop has become a global force, with artists breaking into international charts like Billboard,” explained Park Jung-joo, head of Spotify Korea’s music team, at the recent ‘K-pop Talks Session’ event in Seoul. “What began in Korea has become a worldwide phenomenon, connecting fans to a diverse array of artists.”
Notably, several K-pop tracks have earned a place in Spotify’s prestigious Billion’s Club, reflecting the genre’s explosive growth. Hits like Jimin’s “Like Crazy,” Jungkook’s “Seven,” BLACKPINK’s “How You Like That,” and Lisa’s “Money” have all racked up billions of streams.
The rise of K-pop isn’t just driven by heavyweights like BTS and BLACKPINK. The platform is also seeing a growing interest in emerging acts, further expanding the genre’s global footprint.
In other news, rookie group BABYMONSTER is set to drop their new single “Drip” on November 1, co-written by K-pop icon G-Dragon from Big Bang. The track will appear on their debut full-length album, making it one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
