k-pop will never be mainstream in america

bts went number one. blackpink went number one. katseye is growing in popularity and k-pop demon hunters is everywhere. so why does k-pop in america still feel like a series of exceptions instead of a true mainstream genre? in this video, i talk about why i don’t think k-pop is failing in the us, but i also don’t think it has become a real mainstream genre here in the way a lot of people assume. for me, there’s a huge difference between being successful in america and actually becoming part of everyday american culture. i get into why groups like bts and blackpink broke through, why that still doesn’t mean the floodgates opened for everyone else, why group size and perceived authenticity matter so much in the us, and why i think k-pop demon hunters is such an interesting case study. this is not a “k-pop is bad” video. i’ve been a fan for years. this is more about why k-pop creates huge moments in america without fully becoming a mainstream habit, and why i honestly don’t think that’s the worst thing in the world. come hang￬ instagram: instagram.com/cedricjohnsonn business contact: [email protected] 0:00 why k-pop in america feels like a series of exceptions 1:48 what i actually mean by “mainstream” 3:28 k-pop is built for intensity, not casual listeners 4:49 america’s obsession with authenticity 6:49 why group size is a barrier 9:36 language is friction, not the main problem 11:42 full english songs are NOT the answer 12:14 how bts became the exception 13:36 why blackpink feels more like an event 15:15 what k-pop demon hunters got right 16:41 americanizing k-pop sucks tbh 17:58 why this isn’t actually the worst 18:36 the one thing i still don’t love about k-pop 19:59 will k-pop ever be mainstream in the US?