Streams of K-pop music jump over 300 per cent in five years

K-pop music on a global scale have seen a jump of over 300 per cent in the last five years, according to new Spotify data.According to Spotify data cited by Yonhap News Agency, streams of K-pop music have surged 362 per cent in the global market over the past five years. The largest increase was recorded in Southeast Asia, with a 423 per cent jump, while the US recorded a 182 per cent rise.However, the US has emerged as the country with the most K-pop listeners.

It is followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Mexico, Thailand, India, Brazil, Malaysia and Canada.“K-pop has become a global force, with artists breaking into international charts like Billboard,” Park Jung-joo, head of Spotify Korea’s music team said during a ‘K-pop Talks Session’ event held in Seoul, South Korea. “K-pop, which started in Korea, is being connected with fans around the world through many artists.”Spotify also noted the addition of several K-pop songs to the service’s Billion’s Club over the years as indications of the genre’s growth.

They include songs like Jimin‘s ‘Like Crazy’, Jungkook‘s ‘Seven’, BLACKPINK‘s ‘How You Like That’ and Lisa‘s ‘Money’.The streamer also stated that the genre’s expansion has not been limited to top artists such as BTS and BLACKPINK, with the growth also being observed in up-and-coming acts.In other K-pop news, BABYMONSTER have announced their new single ‘Drip’, co-written by Big Bang’s G-Dragon. ‘Drip’ will be released alongside the group’s first full-length album, due out November 1.