Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Niche genre band music finds new popularity
Band Day6 performs during a concert for its world tour "FOREVER YOUNG" at INSPIRE Arena in Incheon on Sept. 22. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
By Lee Gyu-lee
Day6 leads charge with chart-topping hits, global tours
Once regarded as a niche genre in the K-pop-dominated music scene, band music is now experiencing a resurgence, with several groups establishing their presence in the industry.
Leading this resurgence is JYP Entertainment’s band Day6, which debuted in 2015. The band returned from a three-year hiatus earlier this year with their new album "Fourever," following the completion of the members' mandatory military service. This release was met with the unexpected success they had been anticipating in their nine-year career.
Two of its older songs, “You Were Beautiful” and “Time of Our Life,” released in 2017 and 2019, respectively, resurfaced on music charts, triggering a boom in band music and carving out a niche. “You Were Beautiful” reached its peak position at No. 9 on Melon’s Top 100 chart this April, while “Time of Our Life” climbed to No. 5 in August, five years after its original release.
Newly released tracks are also climbing the charts, with "Happy," rolled out this March, topping the Melon Top 100 chart for 26 consecutive days and leading Genie Music’s monthly chart last month.
In addition to its chart success, Day6 has captivated fans with three sold-out solo concerts at INSPIRE Arena in Incheon this September as part of the group's "FOREVER YOUNG" world tour, which includes performances in major cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Manila. Day6 is also set to perform at Gocheok Sky Dome this December, to become the first band to headline Korea’s largest concert dome.
Girl band QWER debuted as a project girl group by YouTuber Kim Gye-ran, last year. Courtesy of Tamago Production
The band QWER, which debuted in 2023 as a project group by YouTuber Kim Gye-ran, has been generating excitement this year with its first mini-album, “MANITO.” The album's title song, “T.B.H.,” surged to No. 3 on the Melon Top 100 chart. Meanwhile, the title track from its latest album, “Algorithm's Blossom,” released in September, landed at No. 2 on the chart and topped YouTube Music’s weekly chart for two consecutive weeks.
Other major label bands, such as FNC Entertainment’s F.T. Island, CNBLUE and N.Flying, JYP Entertainment’s Xdinary Heroes, Antenna’s Dragon Pony and RBW’s Onewe, are becoming increasingly active in music festivals and concerts, capitalizing on the growing demand for live band performances.
Pop culture critic Kim Hern-sik noted that the resurgence of festivals and outdoor concerts post-pandemic has contributed to the boom in band music.
“Gen Z and other young people, who have been consuming contactless content during the COVID-19 pandemic, are now returning to engage in live performance culture. So there's been a huge rush,” he told The Korea Times.
“While idol music may not be the most suitable for festivals, band formats tend to better capture the festive atmosphere and are highly optimized for outdoor performances, which is now acting as an attractive factor.”
Additionally, he noted that the quality and diversity of the bands offer a refreshing alternative for those weary of K-pop music.
“These bands show many aspects that the existing music scene couldn't. First, unlike idol singers who only sing and perform, they play instruments, allowing a wider range of harmonies and collaborations,” he said.
“The music is no longer amateur but can be considered high-quality. In the case of idol music, they're actively incorporating bands. However, the music of bands shows a much more differentiated musical world compared to idol music itself, which is why it's important.”
Indie band Silica Gel's streaming count surged this year. Courtesy of Magic Strawberry Sound
The rise in popularity extends beyond major labels, as indie bands like Silica Gel, Nerd Connection, and Lucy are also gaining increased attention.
Rock band Silica Gel, which debuted in 2013, saw a dramatic surge in its streaming numbers this year, after drawing attention for opening the Melon Music Awards last December. According to the streaming platform, the band saw a 164.5 percent increase in the streaming count of its songs.
Kim, the pop culture critic, noted that Gen Z's preference for uniqueness also played a significant role in attracting more audiences to band music.
“Young generations tend to go for music genres that others don't consume as much, especially showing off and displaying them on social media. These complex factors are fueling the band craze, leading to the formation of bands among college students and the creation of its fandoms,” he said.
He said this phenomenon will help establish band music as a prominent part of mainstream genres.
“In the past, bands symbolized resistance, the underground, and the non-mainstream. However, the bands that Gen Z considers now are completely different. They are emerging as a music genre that can be easily enjoyed,” he said.
“So, I believe that while K-pop-infused bands will lead the way, amateur bands and younger generations will have the opportunity to freely engage in this band culture. Although this music scene may not become sensationally large, it will steadily gain popularity.”