HOW TO BECOME FAMOUS LIKE BTS, KPOP MOST FAMOUS – NEW SINGERS MARKETING STRATEGY EXAMPLE OF FAMOUS SINGERS

I take pride in my ability to listen to a song and decide automatically if its worth anything.

Usually there is a self-talk about how the song could have been better or I’ll just break-it-down in my head as to the influences and what about it is going to appeal to music listeners.

When it comes down to ‘BTS’, I still remember the day I decided to listen to their music. I had heard a few rumors about them being a up and coming famous K-pop group.

 

To be honest, I did not know what K-pop was and why people in my age-group were talking about them. I just assumed K-pop was one of those childish remakes of popular hits from mainstream music. (You know, those renditions, done by a group of kids in a choir or some group?)

Well, on the day I decided to listen to KPOP superstars ‘BTS’, I was utterly surprised and in love with their sound.

It was actually today, that I decided to do more research into KPOP, ‘BTS’ and how they became famous not only in Korea but worldwide.

‘BTS’s’ story will serve as the perfect marketing strategy example for you and I as we try to learn how to become famous like our favorite famous singers and the like.

 

Ok, Back To My Story …

On the day that I decided to tune in to ‘BTS’, I did know the basics, like, they were a group of males in Korea doing pop and dancing pop. It was a total culture shock or should I say enlightenment.

Before listening to their music, due to my love for anime, I predicted the type of sound that I was going to hear. The funny thing about anime is that, it gives you a glimpse into another culture apart from your own.

Respect, introverts, calm, are just some of the ways I might describe the behavior patterns from a culture in Korea. Based on that, I predicted that the ‘BTS’ sound had to be something soulful, calm and mellow.

 

Don’t get me wrong, that is not a bad thing, in fact that is how I like my music. That type of sound, however; does not usually go mainstream, because when you are a pop star, people want to dance to your music. You have to be upbeat, for the most part.

 

So, it was purely curiosity, that got me to listen to ‘BTS’ as I was going home from a long day at work. I wanted to know how they became famous and what lessons other people in the entertainment industry can takeaway as they aspire to become famous.

First song that I heard on their Pandora station, was ‘Dynamite’. Like the song title, it truly was dynamite.

 

My predictions were partly right, because within that song, there were parts that fit into the type of music I want to hear.

‘BTS’ is energetic, upbeat, and truly emulate the qualities of pop music superstars here in the United States. Their music had parts that were meant for mainstream music and parts that incorporates rap music as well.

 

Of-course, since I was partly right, my love for their sound only increased. The mainstream appeal was not bad at all, in fact, in two of their songs “Dynamite” and “Butter” I absolutely heard, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and the Backstreet Boys. Not bad right?

To take it a step further, I even saw Michael Jackson’s signature dance steps in their dance routines. Talk about nostalgia. I now understand the importance of having 7 group members; seems, someone wants to make the Korean group global.

 

So, now let us dig into the study of their music marketing strategy so it can serve as the example for us upcoming famous singers, musicians, and social media influencers.

 

WHO IS BTS AND WHO ARE THE BTS KPOP MEMBERS?

 

Well Let’s Start With The Basics, What is KPOP?

If you have not guessed it already, the K, stands for Korean. So that is it. Korean Pop. If you ask me, there is no need to put the K there because anywhere you go, pop music will still always be pop music, but I digress.

If you don’t know anything about Korea, here are the basics. (This is specifically for South Korea because that is where most of the members of the ‘BTS’ group were born and where they were formed.

According to source, Wikipedia South Korea, or Republic of Korea (ROK) is a country on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia sharing a border with North Korea. There is an approx. amount of 51 million inhabitants and about 25 million of those inhabitants live in the Seoul Capital Area.

 

South Korea is a developed country and ranks as the worlds’ tenth largest by nominal GDP. South Korea is also the worlds’ fifth-largest exporter, and its citizens enjoy one of the worlds fastest internet connection speeds. Lucky huh?

Believe it or not, South Korea is known globally for having massive influence on pop culture (specifically K-pop), Tv dramas, and cinema.  All in all, a good country to be a pop star.

There is a lot of history between South Korea, North Korea, and the United States, but for our purposes, I think we should leave that to the history buffs.

 

WHO IS BTS?

According to Usbtsarmy.com ‘BTS’ is an acronym for Bangtan Sonyeondan. Bangtan Sonyeondan in English is translated to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts”.

J-Hope (one of the group members) was quoted saying the name “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” was chosen to represent the group’s desire “to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim [at] adolescents like bullets.”

Around 2017, however, following some great accomplishments from the group, ‘BTS’ announced that their name would also stand for “Beyond the Scene”. 

 

This added to the group’s name signifying “BTS’s” growth and their focus on going beyond realities as they move forward with their music career.

 

BTS is a Grammy-nominated South Korean group that has been taking the world by storm since their official debut in June of 2013. With 7 members (all males) this energetic group is well constructed with their members having solid looks, dance moves, singing abilities, and just charming personalities.

 

BIG HIT MUSIC FORMERLY BIG HIT ENTERTAINMENT

We can’t talk about ‘BTS’ if we don’t first talk about “BIG HIT MUSIC”. From looking at the history it seems to me this company had the dedication, connections and foresight to become a major player in the entertainment industry and the corporate world as well.

According to source, Wikipedia, “Big Hit Music” formerly ‘Big Hit Entertainment’ is a South Korean entertainment company formed by Bang Si-hyuk  (lyricist, composer, producer and record executive) on February 1, 2005.

 

As of recent, Bang Si-hyuk, as the CEO and Founder decided to rebrand the company due to the successes they had had and the different businesses the company was now conducting.

 

So, on March 10, 2021, Bang Si-hyuk, decided to create a parent company HYBE Corporation and dedicated the music label portion as “Big Hit Music”. 

“Big Hit Music” operates as an independent part of the HYBE Label section and is responsible for artist management, development and music fans communication.

 

When “Big Hit Entertainment” was first formed around 2005, they had sign other music group artists around 2007 and around 2010 secured a management contract over another pop group “2AM” through another entertainment company called “JYP Entertainment”.

 

This is important because, “JYP Entertainment” is a South Korean multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate founded in 1997. The CEO of JYP Entertainment, has a back history with the CEO of “Big Hit Entertainment” mainly as friends and co-workers in the music industry.

If you have been following my previous articles, you will see yet again, how former relationships and connections play a major role in establishing major businesses and famous artists.

So, “Big Hit Entertainment” was making big moves since their founding. One of those big moves was deciding to establish “BTS” around 2010 and holding national auditions in order to select its group members.

 

 

WHO ARE THE BTS KPOP MEMBERS?

The amazing thing I first recognized about the KPOP group ‘BTS’ was their flamboyant look and their ability to transition from singing in their native language to English. That is a feet in-it-self.

Their look is something that will garnish attention for sure. For us here in the United States, it’s outside of our traditional norm, and that’s not to say it’s a bad thing.

I give them major props for being able to transition their songs to English, or should I say kudus to the creators of this group who has made that a factor in their music marketing strategy.

According to source, Usbtsarmy.com ‘BTS’ officially made their debut on June 13, 2013 on M Countdown (a television show that airs on Mnet tv channel) with their song “No More Dream”.

 

These Are The BTS Members And How They Were Selected

• • According to source: Mom.com

• • RM (Kim Namjoon) is the lead rapper of the group and one of the first to be recruited by ‘Big Hit Music’. RM was an underground rapper by the stage name “Runch Randa or Rap Monster” and currently the ‘BTS’ group leader. What’s astonishing about RM is the fact that he has an IQ of 148 and is also the groups English translator.

During an audition with a major talent agency, RM was discovered and connected to “Big Hit Music’s” CEO Bang Shi Hyuk. Bank invited RM to audition for ‘Big Hit Music’ and was welcomed to the group around 2010.

 

• • Jin (Kim Seokjin) also known as Mr. Worldwide Handsome is the eldest member of the group. He was scouted by ‘Big Hit Music’ as he was stepping off a bus.

According to Koreaboo.com Jin was already very famous as a model for his incredibly good looks with one of the biggest cosmetic companies in Korea (Etude House Korea).

He was even reported as being a contestant on the Graham Norton Show which gave him a lot of attention. His face was plastered everywhere on billboards and buses.

 

• • Suga (min Yoongi), considered the fastest rapper in ‘BTS’, started as a rapper under the name ‘Gloss’ when he was still in high school. He became wildly known for his skills and his abilities as a producer making hits for major and local artists.  

 

Suga audition for ‘Big Hit Music’ rap competition after seeing a flyer about the rap audition which was originally called “Hit It”. He became an official ‘BTS’ member around 2010.

 

• • JungKook (Jeon Jeongguk) is one of ‘BTS’ youngest members. Jungkook is one of ‘BTS’ singers whom the rest of the members have nick-named ‘Kookie’. He was discovered when he auditioned for the third season of a television show “Superstar K” in his hometown of Busan.

 

Although he was eliminated in the audition rounds, the show gave him enough attention to at least 7 talent agencies who wanted to sign him. The decision to go with “Big Hit Music” was partly because of ‘RM’. JungKook idolizes RM’s rapping abilities and was hoping to train under him.

 

• • J-Hope (Jung Hoseok) was also someone that was influenced by RM to stay in the group. J-Hope was already a famous and skillful dancer as part of a dance crew name “Neuron” in his hometown of Gwangju. He had auditioned for “JYP Entertainment” but was eliminated, which led him to audition for “Big Hit Music”.

 

Noticing his dance skills and rhythm, “Big Hit Music” signed him onto the group as a trainee. At one point, J-Hope almost had a falling out with “Big Hit Music”, but RM stepped up, like the leader he was, and convinced both parties to continue the relationship.

 

• • Jimin (Park Jimin) was also a very skillful dancer when he was recruited into ‘BTS”. He was in Busan High School of Arts, where he was studying dance under the Department of Dance.

 

A dance teacher, recruited him, and invited him to audition for “Big Hit Music”. It’s important to note, that the first round of auditions was held in his hometown of Busan. When Jimin passed the audition phase, he was flown to Seoul to join the “BTS” crew.

 

• • V (Kim Taehyung) is someone that has always wanted to be a musician from the start. V started playing the saxophone in high school because of the recommendation from his father.
  • V, however, did not initially planned on auditioning for “Big Hit Music”. He had gone with his friend who had signed-up to audition for the competition in their hometown of Daegu.

What was interesting, was that V somehow caught the attention of the recruiters, who persuade V to audition. Upon the approval from his father, V auditioned and ended up being the only one that passed the first round of the competitions that day.

 

WHY SHOULD NEW SINGERS STUDY KPOP’S MOST FAMOUS ‘BTS’ POP GROUP MARKETING STRATEGY AND HOW THEIR STRATEGY WILL HELP US BECOME FAMOUS?

 As new singers or current musicians, the marketing strategy example of ‘BTS’, will teach us many valuable principals with it comes down to music promotion or us becoming famous.

First of all, we’ve seen the grand scale recruiting efforts of “Big Hit Music”. They recruited members not only in their local, but other providences as well, with talent competitions.

They had in mind what group members to recruit, the look they had to have, and the skills these members had already honed. The biggest takeaway, from “Big Hit Music’s” marketing strategy was that they were already familiar as to how to train people into becoming mega famous pop stars.

 

Their recruiting process, revolved around, connections to major dance studios, and other talent agencies. The connections they had with dance studios, allowed those dance studio teachers to recommend students to their talent competitions.

Also, because they had formed partnerships with music talent entertainment companies, it allowed them to get referrals of potential candidates. 

This gives us a very important look into how we are to position ourselves to get these major opportunities that would allow us to use the money and resources of established businesses in order for us to become famous ourselves.

 

FOR A MORE INDEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF MARKETING CONCEPTS, BUSINESS PLANNING, AND SEO (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION) YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT MY BOOK.

WORDPRESS: PLANNING MARKETING SEO (SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)

 

 

HOW DID KPOP MOST FAMOUS POP GROUP “BTS” BECAME FAMOUS?

Based on what you have read so far, it’s easy to say ‘BTS’ became famous due to “Big Hit Music’s’ music marketing strategy savviness. After-all, they had major connections, money and the know how of music promotion.

I would beg to differ; because as we have seen, the way ‘BTS’ members were chosen, there is a lot that goes into making an artist become famous all around the world. Just look at the characteristics of some of its members and the accomplishments they had had.

 

These members had a lot going for them already. Mostly, most of the members had huge audiences based off of their talent. In addition, they had the skills “Big Hit Music” knew would help the pop group.

So, the theme of connections, money and large audiences is at play once again. ‘BTS’ first single “No More Dream” was broadcast on a major Korean television network. 

This is the essence of kicking things in high gear and making individuals become famous really fast. That could only be done with money, connections, and major marketing strategy know-how.

 

BELOW IS BTS’S OFFICIAL VIDEO OF THEIR RECENT SINGLE “BUTTER”!