𝐵𝐿𝒜𝒞𝒦𝒫𝐼𝒩𝒦 - 𝐻𝑜𝓌 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝐿𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉

Audience

1) What are BLACKPINK fans known as - and what would the demographics / psychographics be for the BLACKPINK audience?

BLACKPINK fans are known as ‘Blinks’ and are largely teenage girls and young women. Their fans are worldwide but they are particularly big in the Philippines and Indonesia as well as western countries such as the UK and USA.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for How You Like That?

Applying Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications theory:

• Diversion: music video conventions – performance, effects, fast pace etc.
• Personal relationships: Fan interaction online through social media is a key element of K-pop’s global success. Fans feel like they ‘know’ the band members.
• Personal identity: K-pop fandom often involves copying the look of band members and seeing their own style reflected on screen.
• Surveillance: Western audiences gain knowledge of Korean music and culture.

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to BLACKPINK fans. Why did you choose those moments? 

• 0.42 push in camera movement: Appeals most to BLACKPINK fans because that's when the beat drops and "how you like that" is first said and the choreography is first introduced. It's the most replayed scene in the music video.
• 1.12: Its a solo scene by Lisa- most favourited band member by most BLACKPINK fans.
• 2.26: All band members and extra members do the choreography in that scene.

4) How was the How You Like That music video marketed and promoted to the audience?

The video’s release was preceded by a series of teasers on the band’s social media accounts (including posters, photos focusing on individual band members and videos) and a reality show (24/365 with Blackpink, available on YouTube). A “dance performance” video including the choreography for the music video was released in July 2020; by March 2021 this had achieved over 600 million views and was placed in the top 20 videos of the year by Billboard magazine.

5) Why is K-pop a global phenomenon and what has helped it to become so popular?

K-pop has become globally known because of Korean culture wave. K-pop is increasingly gaining popularity due to its catchy melodies and choreography, personality, storytelling and through social media.

The K-pop genre reflects the global nature of the media and music industries. Over the last 20 years, K-pop has become a cultural sensation as groups like BTS and BLACKPINK enjoyed global success. This has also resulted in Korean culture becoming mainstream in the West.

Industry

1) How were BLACKPINK formed and what records have they broken?

Blackpink was formed in 2016 by Korean entertainment company YG Entertainment and by 2020 was one of the most successful K-Pop bands in the world. As of 2021, the band was the most followed girl group on Spotify and the most-subscribed music group, female act, and Asian act on YouTube.

2) What other successful artists have YG Entertainment created? 

Artists such as:

• Sechs Kies
• BigBang
• AKMU
• Winner
• Treasure
• BabyMonster

3) How has technology and the internet (known as technological convergence) changed the way audiences consume music videos?

The way people consume music videos has changed – now phones, tablets and YouTube are the primary ways audiences engage with music videos (known as convergence). It also shows music video has become a media form in its own right, not just a way to sell an album. 

4) How do BLACKPINK and K-pop show that the media and music industries are now global?

K-pop demonstrates the global nature of the industry with BLACKPINK selling out arenas across the UK and USA as well as in the East. They played Wembley Arena in 2019 as well as huge US music festival Coachella. 

5) How are UK-based music videos regulated and what types of content require warnings? 

Some UK-based record companies get their music videos rated by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). The kinds of issues the BBFC considers in classifying music videos include bad language, dangerous behaviour presented as safe, drug misuse, sexual behaviour and nudity, and threatening behaviour and violence.

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this Guardian review of BLACKPINK's album. What does the writer say about the band and songs?

Read this Variety feature on a controversy that offended some global fans of BLACKPINK. What was the problem and how did they respond?

Read this Teen Vogue feature on the music video release of How You Like That. How else did the group promote the release of the song?

Here's another Teen Vogue feature offering a brief history of K-Pop. How the genre go global? 

Finally, read this excellent Medium blog on the future of the music video in the digital age. Summarise the main points of the blog in 100 words.