Music is a very vital part of our everyday lives as it affects people’s emotions and provides a way of self-expression. When listening to music, people have particular artists or genres that they enjoy. However, nowadays through the use of social media and various streaming platforms, people are hearing all new sorts of artists and expanding their music taste as a result. This is leading to growth in many different genres, especially international ones, such as K-pop.
South Korea, alongside Latin America, Mexico, and Spain, have shown significant growth in their music industries these past few years. America has played a crucial role in the expansion of these industries; American viewers being one of their largest sources of revenue. K-pop, for example, collected $513 million in 2023 from America alone. Since 2023, this amount has only continued to show steady growth.
Due to their technological advancements and cultural ties, America is the leading revenue producer. These advancements also allow other countries to easily share their music. This is causing more people within the U.S to listen to new international artists.
Many students at Carolina Forest High School really enjoy global music.
Shelby Mishoe, a sophomore, responded, “I am a big fan of international music! I love K-pop, especially Ateez and P1Harmony!”
Ateez and P1Harmony have a large following in the U.S, and have even performed at popular events such as Coachella. Ateez’s 2025 worldwide tour [In Your Fantasy] and the [Most Wanted] tour for P1Harmony are selling out very quickly for the U.S portion, showing their popularity within America. K-pop has rising popularity as of now, though it was not always so well-known within the U.S.
“I think others shouldn’t judge it because you never know how good it can be. I used to judge as well, but when I started listening, I became obsessed,” continued Mishoe.
People tend to judge something just because it may seem different; this was the reason as to why K-pop, alongside other international groups, are just now rising in global popularity. Many people’s opinions on this topic have changed after seeing videos, shows, and influencers positively speaking about the genre. This shows how much our music taste has changed and been influenced by online platforms in recent years.
Freshman Charlie McGrath said, “I listen to other music in different languages, German and occasionally Russian.”
German and Russian music is typically not spoken about as much as other genres, especially compared to other international artists. To hear someone mention that they listen to these groups, it shows that even the more unknown international artists are rising in popularity thanks to the U.S.
Even people who haven’t listened to a global group are willing to give it a chance, showing how people are more open to expanding their music taste.
Isabella Moro, a sophomore, shared, “I’ve never really sat down and listened to that, but I do listen to just about anything, so I’d give it a chance.”
As social media platforms continue to bring new types of global music groups to the U.S, people’s music taste will only continue to grow and expand in the future.
Photo Credit – Google
