The world of music internationally is changing faster than you can blink. At the forefront of this change is K-pop, taking root in various cultures including Australia’s. Artists who are making waves in the likes of K-pop have connections to Australia, creating a potent cross-cultural cocktail. Similarly, Rose from Blackpink was born in New Zealand and raised in the suburbs of Melbourne. At the same time, Jake from Enhypen grew up in Brisbane, having moved there at the age of nine. Bang Chan and Felix of Stray Kids fame now consider Sydney their home. Their presence would further strengthen the growing Australian connection to the Korean pop music scene.
As K-pop builds a more aggressive production and artistic model, it has gained multitudes of fans worldwide. The genre’s introduction to the global stage in the 90s brought Western musical influences that justified the excitement and the doubt. Associate Professor Jimmyn Parc observes that there was initial reluctance to accept modern K-pop, with critics voicing concerns over its authenticity. He said that all of the United States was there, everything under the environment from hip hop to reggae. People would publicly and loudly complain about it. Indeed, the changing tides are a welcome reminder that K-pop is more accepted than ever these days. Parc represents this shift, explaining, “Now, after nearly two decades, people are excited about K-pop, and most of them are really proud about it.”
Cultural Connections Through Music
K-pop artists like Suga and the members of BTS, including RM, exemplify this transcultural, intercultural blend of influences that deepen their work. Ivana Yue is an early career sound designer and artist. As a true collaborator, she heavily borrows on her Australian and Asian backgrounds during her worldwide day-to-day musical creation. She hopes to establish a successful career in the world of musical theatre. Simultaneously, she doesn’t shy away from the unique points of view that her upbringing provides her.
Satsuki, an artist who transitioned from Sydney to Osaka nearly a decade ago, shares her experience navigating two distinct music industries. She highlights Japan’s vibrant musical landscape as being “incredibly interesting and very diverse.” Satsuki’s initial reluctance to embrace physical media underscores a generational shift in music consumption. “I didn’t have any CDs at the start because I didn’t have any use for them,” she remarked. She’s aware of the increasing demand for physical formats. “It’s a miracle that we even still sell them and have CD stores,” she countered.
In a time where digital platforms dominate the music industry, Satsuki points out that fans still value physical media: “People love having physical media and physical cover art, lyric books and all that kind of stuff.” Younger generations are changing how we listen to and interact with music. Today, they’ve become more likely to recognize the artistry that goes into housing and laying out an album.
The Economic Impact of K-Pop
The financial fortune of K-pop has been mind-boggling. By 2024, projections indicate that 45 percent of all global revenue from physical sales of recorded music will derive from Asia. A few key things are behind this increase. Large and growing populations, fast-growing incomes, and deepening digital connectivity throughout the region are all major factors at work. As more artists become a global presence, they raise the visibility and awareness of emerging local music industries.
Chris Fields, an academic specializing in music studies, notes that since the 1990s, there has been a noticeable shift in how audiences engage with music. “Since at least the ‘90s, there’s been this kind of push for alternatives to directly accessing music,” he said. Fields importantly illustrates how totally universal rhythm and melody are. While doing this, he’s careful to recognize those traditions which shape musical expressions in each culture around the world.
The beautiful, continuous engagement between artists of all backgrounds reflects this rising tide. Today’s K-pop offers a kaleidoscopic blend of styles, including hip hop and reggae. This combination inspires thrilling cross-cultural experiments that reach audiences everywhere and it builds demand.
A Bright Future for K-Pop and Its Influence
As K-pop goes from strength to strength internationally, Australian artists are becoming more and more involved in the cultural exchange. Those personal connections are having an impact. As a result, the ties between Australia and Asia are being strengthened through collaborations and shared experiences within the music industry. Humanities institutions are already making these connections with their counterparts in South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and India. This means there is incredible potential to build on this momentum.
Clearly the interest from Australian audiences for K-pop has never been higher. While there remains historical skepticism regarding its acceptance, the current landscape reveals an enthusiastic fan base eager to embrace this genre. As Jimmyn Parc aptly summarizes the sentiment surrounding contemporary K-pop: “They said, ‘This is not Korean. We should not accept these kinds of things.’ Yet today we witness a celebration of what K-pop has become—a fusion of cultures and styles that resonates with people across the globe.
