In today's K-pop industry, the term "fourth-generation idol group" is frequently used in several articles. The fourth generation of idol groups, known in our country as the fifth generation, these groups, they are called the future generation. For example, we all know SM's latest generation of girl group aespa, their concept is considered to be very novel, but also created their own concept of the universe, but also made a lot of avatars.
These groups of boys and girls, considered part of the new era, began to emerge. They include ITTY, TXT, aespa, ENHYPEN, Rocket Punch, STAYC, DRIPPIN, and more. We call them that all the time, but how are they different from previous generations?
The South Korean news media discussed how these new generation idol groups differed from previous generations
Now that we have entered the fourth generation of K-pop, this shows that the new K-pop community is different from the previous era. But what distinguishes them from their predecessors? Many people may simply think that this is distinguished by their age, but in fact, their generation actually has very significant characteristics.
On May 29, South Korean news outlet YTN (Yes!) Top News！ It lists the differences in the behavior of the fourth generation idol group from previous generations.
Aiming to enter North America and Europe
A music industry official said that the stage of the new generation of K-pop music groups was different from before. In particular, most of the combinations are primarily aimed at audiences in North America and Europe.
The music official went on to give an example. They said that one of the fourth generation of girl groups that recently returned has arranged their own music release date and the official album release date differently.
They said the strategy was for the U.S. Billboard rankings, and so did the result, the K-pop girl group successfully entered the Billboard rankings for the first time since its debut.
Although the official did not specify which combination it was, there were previous reports that ITZY would change the release date for the US market. The music group usually releases their new music at 6 p.m. Korean time, but recently for their GUESS WHO album, they changed the time to 1 p.m. Korean time. ITZY also made it to the Billboard 200 list for the first time.
Yes, the goals of the idol group have begun to change, and it may have paid more attention to the target markets of South Korea and Japan, but now, they are targeting the international market, to put it bluntly, the European and American markets. Such a starting point is high, and in order to adapt to the Western market, their music is also subtly changing.
Communication methods
Another feature that distinguishes the fourth generation of idol groups from the older generation of artists is the way they interact with fans.
A composer who works mainly with third-generation idols explained that the way artists and fans communicate in the new era is different, because there are now a variety of platforms, such as Bubble, Weverse, V Live, as well as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Weibo, etc.
The composer said that if the previous generation of K-pop combinations had a break and remained mysterious, artists of the new era could interact with fans frequently through different platforms.
This kind of interaction is actually more and more common in our lives, many star-chasing people know that if they want to contact idols, then these platforms are what they must register, so that as long as the idol has any every move, they can know at any time. However, these communication methods have already begun to be used by older artists, but their update frequency may not be as high as that of the new generation.
Foreign composers are invited
When it comes to music, the composer said the biggest feature is that the company is now open to songs created by foreign composers who will adopt the K-pop style.
As mentioned above, the fourth-generation idol group is now targeting the North American and European markets, so it's no wonder that composers outside of Korea are invited to compose music for K-pop performances.
The composer also said that since the songs made for K-pop idols have melodies created by international musicians, it will meet the tastes of people around the world.
One example is the upcoming TXT album The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE. The album recently revealed participation from foreign composers such as Alex Hope, Aaron Hibell, Olly Murs, Ashnikko, etc.
Therefore, today's music has begun to converge, and more and more music is beginning to be combined with international music genres, so that the benefit is to get the largest audience. However, on the contrary, it also lacks the unique charm of domestic music.
All in all
In order to better illustrate these generations of K-pop, we may wish to classify them according to this!
The first generation of K-Pop marked the birth of the K-Pop as we know it today. The defining word is "Hallyu", which is the first time it has appeared in this generation. SM Entertainment produced South Korea's first male band, H.O.T., marking the birth of the first generation of the group. Groups like Sechs Kies, SES and Fin.KL also belong to this generation. Experimental groups like Shinhwa, Click-B, God, Chakra, Jewelry, and BoA are all in a transitional phase between this generation and the next.
Combinations like TVXQ, SS501, BIGBANG, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, KARA and Wonder Girls are the most popular among the second-generation K-Pop. These groups emerged at a time when South Korea was experiencing an economic crisis. Therefore, the groups formed and promoted during this time were commercial. Combinations such as SHINee, 2PM, INFINITE, f(x), 2NE1, Miss A, SISTAR, etc. have been incredibly successful by harnessing the strong foundations of second-generation K-pop music. It was also in 2012 that PSY's Gangnam Style revolutionized the KP pop scene.
The third generation of K-pop groups is often referred to as the Golden Age of K-pop because its success transcends the boundaries of Korean vision. With the increasing use of SNS and streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, this generation has tasted successes that were previously unimaginable. EXO, NU'est, VIXX, BTS, GOT7, Red Velvet, TWICE, BLACKPINK, GFRIEND, etc. are all pioneers of this generation of global movements, laying a solid foundation for future artists.
With K-Pop's heyday, survival reality shows became more popular, and that's how the torch was passed on to the fourth generation of K-Pop. Groups like SEVENTEEN, MONSTA X, NCT, Wanna One, Oh My Girl, I.O.I and Cosmic Girls all rose to fame between generations. Although they are not third-generation artists, they cannot be called fourth-generation artists.
Finally, K-Pop today belongs to the fourth era. Standing strong on the foundation created by their predecessors, the fourth generation of idols spares no effort to prove that they are a different era. Today's idols are just another form of art. Super rookies like CAVITY and TRUERY are also slowly and steadily making the top of the list.
In summary, today we introduce the fourth generation of K-pop music "it" boys and girls, their division, and the biggest difference between them and the older generation. So, do you think this division is reasonable? Welcome to leave a message to discuss!
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